FEARLESS FORECASTER: East slept-on again

EL CAJON – The 2025 East County prep football season kicks off this week, and again Granite Hills enters as the team to beat in the Grossmont Hills League as they come in with a loaded offense and another rendition of the conference’s top defense.

Mount Miguel boasts some of the county’s fastest and most dynamic playmakers, including heavily recruited speedster Brandon Arrington (Texas A&M), while Helix and Steele Canyon both have strong talent and experience, and Grossmont Valley League champ El Capitan comes over to the power league.

Over in the Valley League, Grossmont migrates to a new league look but likely brings a familiar offensive style that could wreak havoc on the usual GVL stalwarts.

Monte Vista looks balanced and poised to compete for the top spot with the departure of the Vaqueros, and teams like Santana, Valhalla, and West Hills could make their claim to the league title in a wide-open circuit. Valhalla is improving, while El Cajon Valley should snap a season-long losing streak.

Meanwhile, City League title holders Christian takes its championship game to the Eastern League, while Foothills Christian graduates back to the 11-man game after years of dominating 8-man football in the county, and Mountain Empire resets again.

Here’s a breakdown of Week One matchups:

Thursday, Aug. 21

• Christian 27, Rancho Mirage 24 – The City League champs, ranked fifth in East County, are ready to show they can compete at a higher level back in the Eastern League. Christian’s offense, led by dynamic two-way playmakers and rising star QB Kaleb Runkle, can lift them here despite the road trip to the low desert. Expect the Patriots’ quick-strike plays and disciplined defense to be key down the stretch.

• Escondido Charter 42, Foothills Christian 14 – Escondido Charter’s depth and experience give them the edge over an a Foothills Christian squad which returns to the 11-man game for the first time since 2021 when they went 1-9, then received a dramatic boost to their preseason rating after establishing itself as a perennial section power in 8-man football over the last decade.

Friday, Aug. 22

• San Marcos 38, Mount Miguel 35 – The Matadors’ explosive offense keeps this tight. San Marcos’ depth and disciplined execution give them a narrow victory among likely top ten teams. Mount Miguel, ranked second in the East County, brings an mix of speed and firepower, led by Arrington, A.J. Logan and Parris Vernon. Their offense dominates, but San Marcos’ experience and depth will prove formidable. Expect Mount Miguel to continue developing chemistry with their new QBs, including sophomore transfer Dre Jackson.
• Granite Hills 34, Oceanside 21 – The top-ranked Eagles showcase why they lead East County. With transfer Noah Walker, junior quarterback Zachary Benitez, and Tristen Diaz, Granite Hills’ passing game immediately proves explosive. Oceanside keeps the score respectable with strong defensive, but Granite Hills’ depth and experience win out in the end.

• El Camino 28, Helix 20 – The Highlanders, third-ranked in East County, look to rebound from last year’s 5-7 record. QB Lee Norman Lester returns to lead a versatile offense, but El Camino’s balanced attack and experienced line could limit Helix’s effectiveness, as they’ve won the last two meetings, including 49-20 last year, and stealing a ’22 playoff game in La Mesa.

• Mira Mesa 28, El Capitan 27 – A sure toss-up here but the Vaqueros are the likely small underdog. Head coach Ron Burner has a solid nucleus of returning starters from last year’s Valley League champs and can pull off the upset if the new talent steps up. El Capitan, fourth in the rankings, faces a stiff challenge stepping into the Hills League. The challenge from Mira Mesa here, however, underscores El Capitan’s need to adjust quickly to stronger competition.

• Steele Canyon 21, Ramona 17 – Ranked fifth in the East County, the Cougars will count on Gavin Caha’s precision passing and Nico Jara’s big play ability to edge Ramona in a battle of teams that have been known to have some staunch defenses. The Cougars are often overlooked since they shun the spotlight, leaving it to players to do their talking on the field.

• Monte Vista 28, Crawford 27 – The Monarchs open under head coach Page Culver, who guides the Monarchs as the top man for a third time in his career following the retirement of legend Ron Hamamoto. The Monarchs often rely on disciplined execution and late-game heroics and against a similar disciplined program like Crawford, This close call illustrates the Monarchs’ ability to stay in games with their always great running game, although they have to replace their previous single-season rushing champ.

• West Hills 20, Holtville 17 – West Hills can methodically grind out a win at home here as they seem to play close tight games against desert competition, usually beating the invaders at home, but losing tough, close games when having to travel for the game. The defense and special teams for the Wolf Pack should make crucial contributions, and disciplined ball control proves the difference in Pack games.

• Patrick Henry 35, Grossmont 31 – Max Tufugafale anchors a Grossmont defense that has to be at their best to support the Foothillers’ fast-track offense, but Patrick Henry’s offense may out-pace them in a high-scoring affair. Ranked sixth in East County, the Foothillers face a Patrick Henry program often known for a similar-paced passing game, giving this one the feel of the true track-meet style game of the night.

• Santana 28, Canyon Hills 14 – The Sultans should open with a confident offensive showing against a Canyon Hills program that they have outscored, 60-28 over the last two seasons. Look for a strong start from Santana and a Sultan defensive that keeps Canyon Hills from staying close.

• San Jacinto Valley 21, Valhalla 15 – San Jacinto Valley Academy edges out a defensive battle against the Norsemen. but Valhalla kicker Anderson Turner will likely stay busy this season as Valhalla has continued to improve since head coach Wayne Cherry returned to guide the Norsemen. Valhalla shows promise, but they are likely behind the top four teams in the Valley League to start the season.

• Mar Vista 21, El Cajon Valley 17 – Mar Vista’s balanced attack and defensive could lift them against the Braves, who were winless last season. However, El Cajon Valley is evenly matched with their first five non-league opponents as the start of their season is likely more important to their postseason chances than their daunting league schuled.

• Hamilton (Anza) 42, Mountain Empire 7 – Hamilton will likely overwhelm a still-rebuilding Mountain Empire squad. Anza’s strong offensive line and balanced attack will likely make this one-sided game early.

East County Rankings

1. Granite Hills – Elite Open Division contender with depth and star power.

2. Mount Miguel – Explosive offense and rising program under Betofe.

3. Helix – Seeking redemption after last season’s subpar results.

4. El Capitan – Hills League newcomer with a Valley League championship pedigree.

5. Steele Canyon – Physical, competitive team with strong core talent and a top playmaker in Jara.

6. Christian – City League champs with a dynamic offense and playmakers stepping up in competition.

7. Grossmont – Experienced team that should be considered no less than a championship contender in the Valley.

8. West Hills – Disciplined, fundamentally sound program with strong special teams is the mantra for contending here.

9. Monte Vista – Veteran coaching with Culver stepping in again, as his stability provide reliability, familiarity.

10. Santana – Competitive team that often playing close games against similar teams, rarely dominated by opponents.

11. Valhalla – Improved each year under fourth-year coach Cherry, has one of the county’s top kickers in Anderson.

12. El Cajon Valley – Can capitalize on non-league games where they are very closely rated against all five oppponents.

13. Foothills Christian – Stepping up from 8-man, where they dominate, has proven difficult for the Knights

14. Mountain Empire – Rebuilding program, long-term focus, as the RedHawks try to find former football glory.