East teams battle with finals on line

By Ramon Scott
Updated: November 20, 2025

Granite Hills and Mount Miguel in the first meeting. / Vic Marano

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL – SEMIFINALS

EAST COUNTY FEARLESS FORECASTER

EastCountySports.com

The playoff lights will burn a little brighter at Granite Hills Stadium on Friday night, with the San Diego CIF Division 1 semifinal game highlighting four games involving East County teams.

The top two teams in the region are playing for a championship game berth, as the defending Division 1 champs host Grossmont Hills League rival Mount Miguel, which is aiming for its second section division finals appearance in three years after capturing the Division 4 title in 2023.

Meanwhile, the Steele Canyon Cougars host the San Diego Cavers, seeking their first championship game appearance since winning the section’s Division 2 title in 2017 against Granite Hills, after which they went on to win a state division title.

The Christian Patriots travel to Carlsbad to face Army-Navy Academy in a Division 3 semifinal looking for their first San Diego Section division championship game appearance since 2016. The Patriots have already shown they can win against good competition on the road, but the Warriors were in the D5 title game just three years ago and are 9-1 this season..

Defending Division 5 champion Monte Vista travels to face neighborhood foe Morse with a title game berth on the line. The Monarchs were the last team in the playoff field last year but parlayed that appearance into the section title, so they have championship game experience.

DIVISION I

(3) Mount Miguel (8-3) at (2) Granite Hills (8-3)

The matchup East County football fans have been waiting for, even if they just played three weeks ago.

East County’s best two teams—again. Two programs who have transformed into county powers—again. One of the biggest games of the year in San Diego—absolutely again.

Granite Hills, the four-time defending Grossmont Hills League champions, have controlled this rivalry for nearly a decade.

They’ve won four straight head-to-head meetings and took this season’s regular-season clash 29–16 behind a dominant performance from quarterback Zach Benitez, who threw for 296 yards and two touchdowns that night.

With over 3,200 passing yards and one of the deepest receiver rooms in the county (Walker, Smith, Diaz, and more), the Eagles’ offense remains as explosive as ever.

Mount Miguel, however, is no longer the pushover they once were in this matchup.

Since the arrival of head coach Verlain Betofe, the Matadors have risen into a top-10 county program, and they’re playing their best ball once again at the right time. They’ve won three straight playoff-sharpened games, including last week’s grinder against Oceanside, where RB Jayden Hunter ripped off 91 yards on just 10 carries and the defense choked out the Pirates’ run game (3.5 YPC allowed).

Quarterback Jeremiah Loper and star wide receiver A.J. Logan give Mount Miguel the firepower to trade punches with the Eagles for four quarters. Defensively, emotional leader Dominic Lopez will have to help find ways for him and his defensive mates to slow down a passing game that forces mistakes, mismatches, and blown coverages every week.

But the central question remains: Can Mount Miguel get enough critical stops to carry this into a one-score fourth quarter?

Granite Hills’ depth, experience, and championship fiber have shone through in every big game the last three seasons, and last week’s 56–7 demolition of Rancho Bernardo suggests they’re peaking at precisely the right moment.

This is Mount Miguel’s best shot in years… but the Eagles have been in this exact situation too many times to blink first.

FEARLESS FORECASTER: GRANITE HILLS 31, MOUNT MIGUEL 23

DIVISION II

(11) San Diego (7-5) at (2) Steele Canyon (8-3)

Steele Canyon made the big plays last week to extend its season against Helix 22–19 in one of the best finishes of the playoffs.

The Cougars were powered by a big performance from quarterback Gavin Caha, who threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns while adding 21 rushing yards.

Playmakers Jacob Henton, Nico Jara, and RB Abel Lopez (five TDs this season) give SC a balanced attack, while the defense—led last week by Gunnar Minnich’s game-sealing stop—has shown it can show up in crunch time.

San Diego comes in riding momentum as well, having knocked off Mission Bay 33–19 for their second straight upset of the playoffs after opening with a win over Imperial, 24-14.

Quarterback Jayden Harris (2,053 yards) and standout wide receiver Kye Cooper (860 yards) give the Cavers a potent passing game, and their defense (allowing just 14.8 PPG) remains the strength of the team.

This game likely comes down to whether Steele Canyon can protect Caha long enough to attack downfield—and whether San Diego can avoid a slow start on the road, something that’s cost them in losses this year.

Steele Canyon has the edge in overall depth and the advantage of playing at home.

FEARLESS FORECASTER: STEELE CANYON 27, SAN DIEGO 20

DIVISION III

(6) Christian (5-7) at (2) Army–Navy (9-1)

The Patriots have become road-tested this season, and last week’s overtime thriller at Ramona showcased their big-play potential.

Quarterback Kaleb Runkle erupted for 306 yards and four touchdowns, hitting Ronnie Scott for two key scores and powering a Christian offense that looks sharper now than at any point this season.

Army–Navy has been one of the most complete teams in the county this year, winners of four straight and coming off a 28–19 win over Patrick Henry.

Quarterback Judah Bogard (1,767 yards, 20 TDs) is efficient and effective, while the Warriors’ defense rarely surrenders big plays.

Christian’s defense also rises in big moments—they posted three sacks last week—but Army–Navy is more balanced, more consistent, and less turnover-prone than the teams the Patriots have upset so far.

If Runkle stays hot, Christian has a real puncher’s chance. But Army–Navy has been too steady to pick against at home.

FEARLESS FORECASTER: ARMY–NAVY 21, CHRISTIAN 19

DIVISION V

(3) Monte Vista (6-5) at (2) Morse (7-4)

The Monarchs are the defending Division V champions, and they’ve fought their way back to the semis behind a takeaway-driven defense that grabbed three interceptions last week against Fallbrook—including a game-sealing 50-yard pick-six by Rahshawn Florence.

Quarterback Derrick Taylor and running back Dion Hunter provide steady production. But now they face a Morse team that’s rolling downhill.

The Tigers crushed Santana 38–0 behind five touchdowns from star weapon Superior Garror, who has piled up 2,596 all-purpose yards this season.

Add in quarterback Ethan Esmailian (221 passing yards last week) and running back Alex Smith, who ran for 57 yards and two scores, and Morse brings a dangerous offense but certainly not anything the Monarchs haven’t seen in practice,

Morse is undefeated when it rushes for 200+ yards—and they went for 249 last week. Monte Vista’s defense must force mistakes early to keep this close.

This Monarchs team might not be the equal of the 1992 Monte Vista squad that lost 48-0 in the SDS-CIF AAA quarterfinals in the only previous meeting between the schools but Garror might be the difference maker here if Monte Vista can’t stop the star.

FEARLESS FORECASTER: MORSE 24, MONTE VISTA 21