Saints’ win over Hillers easy as Pai

By Ramon Scott
Updated: November 9, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS – FIRST ROUND

DIVISION 2

SAINT AUGUSTINE 45, GROSSMONT 20

EastCountySports.com

CHULA VISTA – For the Grossmont Foothillers, it was a season to remember — a historic league title – the Hillers’ first in 20 years, a nine-game winning streak, and a return to prominence under head coach Anthony Lawrence. But on Friday night, their playoff run ran into one of the section’s most dynamic talents in Paisios Polamalu, who delivered a performance for the ages.

The junior standout — and son of Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu — scored six total touchdowns and intercepted two passes as St. Augustine stormed back from an early deficit to defeat Grossmont, 45-20, in the CIF Division II first round at Mater Dei Catholic High School.

Grossmont (9-2) came out firing, taking control early behind senior running back Corbin Dow, who capped both of the Foothillers’ opening drives with short touchdown runs of four and three yards, helping the Grossmont Valley League champions grab a 12-3 first-quarter lead.

Dow’s hard running and the Foothillers’ physical start appeared to set the tone, as Grossmont’s offensive line opened holes and their defense bottled up the Saints’ attack through the opening minutes.

But as has been the case all season, when Polamalu gets going, so does St. Augustine.

After struggling on their first two possessions, the Saints (5-6) found life midway through the second quarter when Polamalu broke loose for a 22-yard touchdown run, cutting the lead to 12-9.

A defensive stand soon gave the Saints the ball back, and on the ensuing series, they went to their playmaker again — this time on a halfback pass, as Polamalu connected with Cooper Hamric for 45 yards to set up another scoring chance. Moments later, Polamalu plunged in from three yards out to give St. Augustine its first lead, 17-12, with 2:09 left in the half.

Before the Foothillers could regroup, Polamalu struck again. After a quick stop by the Saints defense, the running back finished another drive with a 1-yard touchdown to give St. Augustine a 24-12 halftime lead — three touchdowns in one quarter, turning the game completely around.

Grossmont wasn’t done yet, however. Coming out of the locker room, quarterback Tyler Holmes hit Randy Ballard on a 54-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline. Holmes then powered in the two-point conversion to make it a 24-20 game early in the third quarter.

That would be as close as Grossmont would get.

Polamalu took over once more, scoring on another 5-yard run, then flashing his versatility by hauling in a 67-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Vince Smith on a third-and-long to extend the lead to 38-20.

To put an exclamation point on his night, Polamalu returned an interception and, just minutes later, sprinted 80 yards for a touchdown to make it 45-20 — his sixth score of the night.

Along with his offensive explosion, Polamalu’s two interceptions snuffed out any hopes of a Foothiller comeback.

St. Augustine’s offensive line also dominated in the second half, creating wide lanes for their star back.

For Grossmont, the loss ends a season that restored the Foothillers’ identity as a tough, balanced football team. After two years of airing it out, the 2025 squad leaned on the running of Dow and the leadership of Holmes to claim the school’s first Grossmont Valley League championship.

And though the playoff defeat stings, the Foothillers once again proved they belong among the county’s top programs — a team on the rise under Lawrence, who has brought Grossmont back to relevance.

For St. Augustine, the win sends the Saints into the Division II quarterfinals, where they’ll look to ride the wave of their emerging star — a name that resonates far beyond the prep gridiron, thanks to a young man who is likely destined for stardom.