Farace’s 5 TD passes hand title to Hillers

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL

 

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

EL CAJON – Grossmont High quarterback Marissa Farace equalled her own Grossmont Hills League record by throwing for five touchdowns, including three to wide receiver Gabi Thomas. giving the Foothillers the first-ever flag football corwn offered by the Grossmont Conference in Monday’s (Oct. 28) 33-20 verdict over second-place Granite Hills at Valley Stadium.

The 9th-ranked Hillers (12-4 overall, 6-1 GHL) hold a three-game lead with two contests remaining.

The school was the preseason favorites after handing reigning CIF-San Diego Section champion their only loss in 20 outing in 2023.

The first-year Eagles, which look nothing like their showing in the first month of the season, displayed great improvement by hanging with the Hillers throughout the first half.

However, Grossmont assumed a 19-12 halftime lead when Farace found Thomas on a 4-year pass over the middle with 15 seconds remaining to lead 19-12.

Grossmont’s defense then made its move.

With the Eagles driving with a chance to pull even,Grossmont safety Jaelyn Jensen thwarted the attempt when she intercepted a pass in the end zone for a touchback to preserve the lead.

On the very next play, Farace found Thomas down the middle of the field. The junior then jukeed a defender, raced to the left sideline, racing 60 ards for the framatic touchdown of the contest.

The Eagles fought back on a TD 4-yard catch by Sophia Argeres o. It was her second TD catch and one n one of her six receprions. She also collected the 2-point conversion to trim the deficit to 27-20.

Grossmont countered with the longest play of the contest, a 63-yard strike to Jensen.

Along with the three TD catches by “Spifrt” (Thomas) — the first was a little lucjy after Granite Hills deflected the pass in the end zoned, but it landed right into Thomas’ arms — C.J. Wenck also gathered a score.

Another Hillers defender Ashley Beard, also came up with an interception to clinch the triumph.

For the Eagles, Argeres’ first TD was setup on a 27-yard pass to Katie Petrich to ignite a 60-yard scoring march.

Emily Fong also registered a scoring catch, but the leading receiver for Granite Hills was Illiana Cruse with seven receptions.

History

When the CIF-San Diego Section was formed for the 1960-61 season, there was no Grossmont Conference. Thus, East County schools played in the South Bay-based Metro Conference.

But which school was the league champion?

Well, that answered can be confusing because the Metro elected to split into a pair of sepaate division.

The North titlist was El Capitan, but they shared the crown with (of all schools) North County based Escondido after the schools played to a draw.

Meanwhile, the South Division crown was also a deadlock betwwen Mount Miguel and Helix.

However, there was no confusion inthe debut of the Grossmont Conference in 1961-62, as Helix overwhelmed the competition as the clear title-winner.

The same can be true in regards to flag football.

The first season of CIFSDS sanctioned play came in Fall 2023, as Bonita Vistga went 19-1 overall to become the section champions.

The Barons also won the Metro League, but they did suffer one loss which prevented a perfect record: Grossmont beat them, 19-13, at Lt. Mitchell Memorial Field.

Just like boys tackle football, Year 2 for flag football included Grossmont Conference play, with the initial champion of the Grossmont Hills League belonging to Grossmont.

It is well assumed that a memento will be on display when the updated Grossmont High Museum opens next year. The school’s first tackle football outing came in 1920.

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Western League

Patrick Henry 18, Mira Mesa 6

SAN CARLOS – After second-ranked Mira Mesa went undefeated through the first round of Western League play, there was only one way for Patrick Henry and Scripps Ranch to gain a share of the championship: both needed to defeat the Marayders in the second round.

On Monday (Oct. 28), the Patriots held their side of the equation.

Mira Mesa was limited to a mere 103 yards on 11-for-26 passing, as Patrick Henry handed the Marauders their first league setback in an 18-6 decision.

Mira Mesa (15-3 overall, 8-1 league) — which is ranked 17th in California — still lolds the lead over the Patriots by one full game, but Scripps Ranch fell out of title contention after losing to Mira Mesa, 35-6, last week.

Thus, the only way the Patriots (10-7, 7-2) can share the crown is by winning their final regular season contest at hgome to San Diego, while Hoover needs topost a major upset of Mira Mesa. Both are slated for next Monday (Nov. 4).

Elsewhere

Granite Hills 25, Santana 24EL CAJON – 

Santana quarterback Maddy Quiroga connected on a late, 69-yard touchdown pass to Nina Matos, but the Sultans missed on the PAT pass attempt to give the Eagles a narrow, 1-point decision in Monday’s (Oct. 28) first game of a GHL triple header.

Tied at 18-all, the Sultans were driving for the go-ahead score but the agles; Victoria Brady recorded an interception in the red zone. The Eagles tghen scored to take a 7-point lead and held on.

Steele Canyon 40, Santana 6

EL CAJON – The Cougars (7-7 overall) returned to the .500 mark after posting its third shutout of the season.

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