Scotties now at 27 straight over Hillers
- Updated: November 14, 2021
Christian Washington celebrates following a touchdown. / P.J. Panebianco
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
SAN DIEGO CIF PLAYOFFS – QUARTERFINALS
HELIX 41, GROSSMONT 24
EastCountySports.com staff report
LA MESA – Helix High senior Christian Washington did what the Grossmont Foothillers struggled to do all season.
Washington rushed for a career-high 337 yards and scored five touchdowns, also his season-best, as Helix knocked off Grossmont for the 27th-straight time by capturing a San Diego CIF Division I semifinal berth, 41-24, at Hart Stadium on Friday night.
Washington, a county player of the year candidate, has rushed for over 1,700 yards and 24 touchdowns so far this season.
In two games, Washington rushed for 540 yards and eight touchdowns against the Foothillers.
Meanwhile, Grossmont only managed seven yards rushing in the two losses to Helix this season.
The Highlanders had five long touchdown runs of at least 44 yards or more in the win on Friday night.
Tyrus Lanzar-Lockhart had a 57-yard touchdown jaunt, while Washington had the other four long-distance scores.
No 7 Helix (7-3), the division’s top-seeded team will host 13th-ranked El Camino on Friday night.
The winner will face either Madison or Lincoln in the Division I championship game at Escondido High the following week.
Just like the first matchup, this Scotties’ win was no blowout. In fact, it was even closer than the first meeting
The Foothillers had every reason to believe they were in the game well into the fourth quarter before the Helix running game put the win to bed.
Grossmont quarterback Trenton Giles capped a brilliant season by passing for 269 yards. He had two touchdown passes and ran for another.
Senior Ryan Rodieck, who also had a monster year, had both receiving scores, including an 82-yarder.
Joe Garcia kicked a 35-yard field goal for Grossmont.
Helix got to Giles three times, as underclassmen Puka Noa, Jeremiah Saviinaea, and Daniel Larsina each recorded one sack.
Sophomore Travis Ford, playing with a gigantic cast with protection on his left hand, forced a fumble for the Highlanders.
While several media outlets reported that the victory was Helix’s 26th in a row over the Foothillers, the records show that the streak has reached 27 games.
The last time Grossmont defeated Helix in football was in 1991.
Helix now leads the all-time series, 48-18-2.
