ROUNDUP: Foothiller title first since ’05

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 30, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

No. 19 GROSSMONT 56, MONTE VISTA 33

EastCountySports.com

EL CAJON — The Grossmont Foothillers made history Thursday night, capturing their first Grossmont Valley League championship — and first league crown of any kind since 2005 — with a 56-33 win over Monte Vista at Jack Mashin Stadium.

Under third-year head coach Anthony Lawrence, the former record-setting Grossmont High and University of San Diego quarterback, the Hillers (9-1, 5-0 GVL) completed an unbeaten run through league play, claiming the title outright.

Quarterback Tyler Holmes accounted for six total touchdowns, throwing for four and rushing for two as Grossmont piled up 56 points through three quarters.

Holmes connected twice with Randy Ballard, and also threw scoring strikes to A.J. Hooker and Kenny Krauss, while Corbin Dow added an early rushing score.

Monte Vista (5-5, 2-3) battled gamely behind Daesean Jenkins’ 65-yard kick return touchdown, a pick-six, and a 2-yard scoring run from Derrick Taylor, briefly cutting the margin to eight in the third quarter before the Foothillers’ offense exploded.

Defensively, Kaiden Ong sealed the win with a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown, as Grossmont stormed to its first league title in two decades and likely a Division 2 playoff berth next week.

Monte Vista also is likely to qualify for the postseason in Division 5.

Granite Hills 35, Steele Canyon 10

In the Grossmont Hills League, Granite Hills (7-3, 5-0) locked up its fourth straight outright GHL championship with a convincing win at Steele Canyon.

Quarterback Zac Benitez threw four touchdown passes — including two to Isaiah Rodriguez and one each to Rocket Demrey and Noah Walker — as the Eagles built a 28-3 halftime lead and never looked back.

Steele Canyon’s Dreyvione Lewis added a late rushing touchdown for the Cougars (7-3, 3-2), who also got a field goal from Ace Woolf to briefly make it 7-3 with 3:30 left in the first quarter.

Both teams are headed for the postseason with Granite Hills likely to be a top-four seed in Division I, while the Cougars figure to qualify as a top-four seed in Division 2.

Valhalla 28, Santana 0

At Santee Community Stadium, Valhalla (3-7, 2-3 GVL) stunned Santana (5-5, 2-3) with a dominant shutout victory, scoring a touchdown in every quarter.

Quarterback Jackson Newman ran for two touchdowns, including a 30-yard keeper and a 3-yard score after a Lorenzo Matos sack and forced fumble set up a short field.

The Norsemen’s defense smothered the Sultans throughout, delivering their most complete effort of the season on both sides of the ball.

The win bolstered the Norsemen’s playoff hopes dramatically by recording the upset, which could vault them into the Division V bracket.

Because of the loss, Santana could end up being a top-four seed in the Division 5 playoffs, instead of a low-seed in the Division 4 pool.

Christian 13, San Diego 7

The Christian Patriots (3-7, 1-4 Eastern) closed their season with a road win at Broderick Stadium over San Diego High.

Hank Houston opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run, then Parker Soto blocked a punt and returned it 10 yards for another score to make it 13-7 at halftime — a score that held the rest of the way as both defenses dominated the second half.

Soren Lucey’s fourth-quarter interception helped the Patriots preserve the win in a hard-fought defensive battle.

Christian is likely to qualify for the Division 3 playoffs and could garner a top-four seed.