EAST COUNTY FEARLESS FORECASTER – WEEK 2

By Ramon Scott
Updated: September 4, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

2025 EAST COUNTY FEARLESS FORECASTER

EastCountySports.com

EL CAJON – The No. 2-ranked Granite Hills Eagles are still clearly East County’s top team at the moment.

But, the Eagles figure to be in a tough battle on Saturday night when they travel out of state to take on the Perry Jaguars, of Gilbert, a top 20 team in Arizona, which won its opener last week 34-30 in a wild game against Boulder Creek.

Boulder Creek and Perry traded blows all night with five second-half lead changes before the Pumas finally pulled it out. Perry scored the decisive touchdown in the final minute to escape with a win. The Jags rushed for 229 yards and five touchdowns.

The Eagles are 2-0 and are ranked second in the East County Sports San Diego County Top 25 poll this week.

Granite Hills has looked the part of a CIF Open Division contender with decisive wins over Oceanside and Mater Dei, but the Eagles made those Top 20 foes look like average clubs.

Granite Hills was stunned at home last season by the Jaguars, 39-21, just one of three losses suffered by the defending San Diego CIF Division I champions last season.

Offensively, the Eagles look more explosive than last season with junior Zac Benitez throwing to one of the top stables of wide receivers in the county, led by senior Tristan Diaz (17 receptions), as seven Eagles have caught touchdown passes in two games, including senior Noah Walker.

Perry, which produced NFL star Brock Purdy, is led by signal caller Kael Snyder, who threw for 200 yards in the opener.

Although Perry came into El Cajon and beat the Eagles in Week 3 last season, this offense is stacked and may be able to overcome the road trip and the Jaguars… GRANITE HILLS 38-24.

No. 11 MOUNT MIGUEL (1-1) at LOYOLA (Los Angeles) (1-1) – The Matadors were humbled last week at home by Open Division contender La Costa Canyon, 45-13.

Mount Miguel’s passing game wasn’t as explosive as we’ve seen since their rise into the county’s top ten when they went up against one of the section’s top teams last Friday, but their defense also struggled as the Mavericks were hardly thwarted throughout.

The Cubs are 1-1 following a win over Millikan last week, 35-25. Loyola opened with a 36-14 loss at home against Cathedral, of Loa Angeles.

Loyola prefers the run, gaining nearly 400 yards on the ground in two games, while passing for nearly 200 yards so far.

The Matadors looked like an average club against the Mavericks last week, but LCC is one of six legitimate Open Division contenders currently, and may actually be underrated at the moment.

Mount Miguel surely was distracted after the game was delayed a half hour after the campus was locked down earlier in the day due to an on-campus altercation and threat.

The Cubs beat Mount Miguel in Spring Valley last season and the Matadors will have to prove they have closed the gap by winning on the road, as this one figures to be just as close… LOYOLA, 35-28.

ST. AUGUSTINE (0-2) at No. 22 HELIX (0-2) – A Gauntlet Series matchup that has fizzled here in 2025 as both teams come in winless.

Because of their recent modest decline, the Saints were able to turn in a low-division placement in the postseason last year into a section Division 4 championship despite an 0-11 regular season.

The Saints losses this season are to La Costa Canyon and another Top 20 team in No. 17 Del Norte (1-1) last week, 19-12.

Helix was defeated last week by Arizona invader Casteel, 51-14, after dropping its opener on the road at current No. 12 El Camino, 31-21.

The Highlanders usually muster up a strong running game which frees up their pass, but Helix is currently averaging just 3.6 yards per rush after two games.

Senior Jake Williams leads the Highlanders offensively with five receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown.

Helix won this game on the road last year so they should be able beat a Saints team that could just be a mirror of last season… HELIX, 28-21.

No. 24 STEELE CANYON (2-0) at MORSE (1-1) – The Tigers figure to be little match for this year’s version of the Cougars.

Steele Canyon appears in the Top 25 after a second-straight win and there is reason to think they could be the second best team in the Grossmont Hills League.

The Cougars’ Nico Jara continues to make all kinds of football plays in his illustrious career, recording a safety last week in a 35-7 win over Madison. He opened the season up by running back the opening kickoff in a 23-13 win over Ramona.

The Tigers were shutout by Sweetwater, 31-0, in their opener before bouncing back last week to shutout Orange Glen, 41-0, at home. That makes a shutout here quite possible, but no question which team will do the deed… STEELE CANYON, 42-7.

CHRISTIAN (1-1) at KING’S (Seattle) (0-0) – The Patriots were shut down by annual rival Bishop’s last week in La Jolla, 21-7. The fact that they managed just seven points has to be of concern.

Now, Christian High will take it’s longest road trip in program history to take on the King’s Knights, who will be hosting their season-opener.

King’s is currently ranked as a Top 100 team in Washington, but that is likely considered lower than the Patriots’ national ranking. However, the unusual lengthy travel has to be considered an equalizer.

The Patriots will have more talent on the field than the hosts here and be able to put up enough points to keep their distance… CHRISTIAN, 28-21.

SANTANA (2-0) at HILLTOP (1-1) – The Sultans have moved into the county’s top 40 in our poll after back-to-back wins to open the season, including a 14-7 victory over a steady Crawford club last Friday on the road.

Santana has one of the East County’s rising two-way stars in Koko Thornton. The junior is the pulse of the Sultans with a team-high 13 receptions, but also has forced two fumbles and has an interception on defense.

Against a Hilltop team that lost to the Sultans in Santee last season, 37-14, this one will be hard-pressed to be closer than that, although the Lancers defeated El Cajon Valley last week, 29-7… SANTANA, 35-7.

MONTE VISTA (1-1) at CASTLE PARK (1-1) (6:30) – The Monarchs uncharacteristacally stumbled at home as a decisive favorite last week versus disciplined Kearny, 12-6, as their apparently improved offensive look couldn’t replicate what they did in their opener against Crawford.

Monte Vista is a considerable favorite against the Trojans despite being on the road. Castle Park lost to a strong small school program at Army-Navy last week, 49-6, after just getting past Victory Christian Academy, 20-14, in its opener.

The Monarchs’ Rahshaun Florence forced a fumble on the game’s opening kickoff last week and had the team’s only touchdown, which came on a reception.

Monte Vista won last year’s matchup in Spring Valley, 35-19. Castle Park doesn’t pose much of a threat here… MONTE VISTA, 31-17.

CHULA VISTA (1-1) at EL CAPITAN (0-2) – The Vaqueros have been shutout in back-to-back games for the first time in 10 years, and hadn’t suffered consecutive blankings to start the season in 50 years when the 1975 Vaqueros were shutout in the first four games of the season.

El Capitan needs this one for its confidence. The Spartans came in to Lakeside and beat the Vaqueros, 35-21, in Week 3 last season.

Fortunately, El Cap’s defense has kept them serously in both games.

Mira Mesa scored its only touchdown in the fourth quarter to beat visiting El Capitan, 11-0, in the season opener. Then, Montgomery managed just 166 yards of offense but came away with a 14-0 win here in Lakeside last week.

Senior Spencer Chastang is seemingly worth points alone for El Cap. He has a team high seven receptions for 71 yards and 12 total tackles on defense this season.

The Spartans lost by nine, 30-21, to steady La Jolla Country Day in their home opener, then won at Bonita Vista – El Cap’s next opponent – last week… CHULA VISTA, 14-10.

ARMY-NAVY (2-0) at VALHALLA (1-1) – The Norsemen host one of the best small school powers in the county, which is off to another strong start.

Army Navy won an out-of-section game in Las Vegas in Week 1 over The Meadows School, 49-22, before clobbering Castle Park, 49-6, last week.

The Norsemen opened with an out-of-section win in Week 1, albeit against an admittedly out-classed opponent, beating San Jacinto Valley Academy, 51-27, before losing to a probably underrated Mira Mesa club, 28-8, at home.

Valhalla’s Giacomo Lupo rushed for a touchdown in the second quarter as Valhalla trailed just 10-8 at halftime. He also finished with a co-team-high 11 total tackles.

Norsemen quarterback Jackson Newman rushed for 78 yards but the Valhalla passing game couldn’t get much going against the stronger Marauders.

Senior Zachary Haggar recorded 2 1/2 sacks in the loss to Mira Mesa. He’s the real deal. Unfortuntely, so it Army-Navy… ARMY-NAVY, 35-17.

WEST HILLS (0-2) at MIRA MESA (2-0) – The Marauders might as well apply for membership in the Grossmont Conference.

After wins against El Capitan and Valhalla, surging Mira Mesa hosts the struggling Wolf Pack, and in two weeks, they will travel to Grossmont for a rematch of one of the best games from last season.

Mira Mesa seems like a Top 25 team so far, but maybe their “new circuit” is keeping their strength of schedule down.

Still, the Marauders have allowed just eight points to the two East County foes, and the Wolf Pack will have to step up to out-pace that number here.

The Wolf Pack dropped their home opener to rising desert foe, Holtville, 44-19, then lost last week to No. 14 University City, 35-7.

Junior Evin Dill has passed for 132 yards and rushed for 81 yards for the Wolf Pack. Senior Jacob Romeo has rushed for 104 yards and has a touchdown reception in two games.

In the meantime, a complete turnaround for both teams might be the only shot the Wolf Pack have to pick up the upset here… MIRA MESA, 31-13.

EL CAJON VALLEY (0-2) at CANYON HILLS (1-1) – The Braves first five games of the season provide the team with their best chance to make a case for inclusion in the postseason. Unfortunately, the Braves lost home games to Mar Vista and Hilltop.

Week three provides another opportunity for a win against an evenly-matched Canyon Hills club, but the Rattlers are coming off a confidence-building, 40-0 win over Rock Academy at home last week.

El Cajon Valley junior Janvier Kashindi has rushed for 152 yards in two games and also has a sack.

The Braves have proven to have a ballhawking secondary with three interceptions thus far, including last week when senior Daniel Felix had a 64-yard interception return for a touchdown as the Braves led, 7-6, at halftime.

The Rattlers lost 30-0 at Santana in Week 1, but were on-point last week as Ma’Kahi Fields-Cook rushed for nearly 200 yards and Josiah Singh passed for four touchdowns… CANYON HILLS, 21-17.

NUVIEW BRIDGE (0-2) at MOUNTAIN EMPIRE (2-0) – The Mountain Empire RedHawks are 2-0 for the first time since 2011 when they finished 9-2. They are reasonable favorites to move to 3-0 when Nuview Bridge, of Nuevo, visits Pine Valley.

Mountain Empire won a thriller over Calipatria last Friday, 28-22, in overtime after defeating Hamilton, of Anza, 28-25, in its opener. Talk about exciting games.

Calipatria led 8-0 after the first quarter, then led 14-7 at halftime. After trailing 22-14 heading into the fourth quarter, Mountain Empire tied the game to send the game into overtime.

Nuview Bridge was the school that produced former Grossmont College star tackle Jay Williams, however, they were just 1-9 last season and have experienced nearly the same downward trajectory as the RedHawks over the last four season.

Meanwhile, new Mountain Empire head coach Cameron Keller seems to have immediately turned around a program that had gone from four wins in 2021, three wins in ’22, two wins in ’23, and one win last season… MOUNTAIN EMPIRE, 31-17.

FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN (0-2) at ROCK ACADEMY (0-2) – The Knights have dropped their first two games in their return to 11-man football but they will be expected to defeat the Warriors on Friday night.

Foothills Christian still rates as the top teaam in Division 5-AA according to the rankings, but up against the likes of Calipatria and Mountain Empire in the section’s lone isolated division, the Knights still have plenty to prove on a full-length field following losses at Escondido Charter (42-6) and versus Hamilton, of Anza, at Seau Field last week, 27-15.

Senior Mason Wilborn is one of the state’s top receivers with 18 receptions in two games, including a 75-yard touchdown, while senior Jack Sudi has rushed for 150 yards in two games for FCHS.

Foothills Christian competes mostly with other teams in the 5-AA Division, including O’Farrell Charter, which defeated Rock Academy, 36-30, in the opener… FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN, 31-21.