Mira Mesa’s Ta rushes to upset of Scotties

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: November 5, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL
CIF-San Diego Section Championships – Semifinals

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

LA MESA – Defensive coordinators utilized idioms such as “spy,” “bandit” and “pirates to expres schemes to prevent opposing quartrerbacks from scrambling out of the pocket for big plays on broken pass plays.

Nothing seemed to work fin order or Helix to stop Mira Mesa’s Vyanna Ta.

Ta. a junior quarterback, seemed to simply rush around defenders with ease, directing the Marauders on four scoring drives to capture Wednesday’s (Nov. 5) CIFSDS Division semifinals, 27-20, at Jim Arnaiz Field at Benton Hart Stadium.

“It got us through the game and gave us more confience.” said Ta. “That allo to find great chemistry and build up pn each other.”

**Helix found early answers to stop Ta, coutesyt of linebacker Lauren Jenkins. On the first drive, the senior broke up two consectuvie passes, then intercepted the third TA deliver in her directio.

The theft ignited Helix on a 68-yard drive for a 7-0 lead. Included was a key second-down catch of 30 yards by Nikayla Domingo, the3n she hauled in a 3-yard TD strike to reach the scporeboatd just 1:49 into the nallgame.

However, Mira Mesa started its scoring dtreak to grab a 15-7 lead, but the Scorties pulled even just before halftime ona TD reception by Devin Gideon.

S dvpring rush by Ta gave Mira Mesa the lead forkeeps at 21-14, although Helix answered with a score yet missedthe conversion to tail by a point.

The big break for the Marauders came on a fouth-down run on the closing play of the third period.Althoughthe flag pull by Helix was behind the first-down marker, the ball was past the post, keeping the drive aline.

Mira Mesa finally punted with 143 seconds remaining, but a pair of long Helix passes failed.

The leading “tacklers’ for Helix included Justice Brown, Mikaela Boone, Kassandra Hernandez Bahena and Kerrington Morris, who was also among the reception leader on offense on passing by Kaiya “K.K.” Merlo.

Helix completes its debut campaign with an 11-11 overall record.

Mira Mesa (13-10), which has won six straight since getting shutout by Patrick Henry, advances to the D-3 title game against Imperial Valley kingpin Brawley.

Division 4 Semifinals

Patrick Henry 32, El Capitan 7

LAKESIDE – El Capitan was held to its second-lowest point total of theseason, as the top-seeded Vaqueros fell to visiting Patrick Henry, 32-7, in the CIFSDS Division 4 semfinals, held Tuesday (Nov.. 4) at El Capitan Stadium.

El Cap, the inugural champions of the Grossmont Valley League, finishs its debut campaign with a 14-7 record.

The Patriots (11-9) advance to the D-4 championship contest againsy upstart Mt. Carmel. The 7th-seeded Sundevils blasted No. 2 Otay Ranch, 32-7.

In fact, it was a poor semifinals for many of the top seeds in their respective divisions. Also falling were Bonita Vista, Poway, El Capitan, while San Pasqual’s ballgame had not been reported at press time, leavinh many to speculate about another ssetback by a home favorite.

Patruck Henry allowed a moderate 237 yards on 20-for-35 passing y the Vaq Attack, but stiffened in the red zone by yielding just one touchdown all contest.

The Vaquerosscore saw senior quarterback Kylee Frazierconnect Gabriella Jackson, but by then the Patriots already held a double-digit lead.

Frazier completes her season with 3,909 passing yards, which is East County;s unofficial leader (still waiting for three schools to report). She completed 295 of 435 attempts, good for 43 touchdowns.

Patrick Henry enters the CIF title contest on a 4-game wining streak.