- By inches, Pat. Henry grabs Western lead
- Community Colleeges: February 16-22
- Stars win opener at NBC World Series
- ROUND UP: Wolf Pack Take Down Eastlake
- Woodland’s Gem Propels Helix
- Patriots out-slug Vaqs to claim opener
- Rain Doesn’t Stop Wolf Pack
- Gallery: Boys Hoops – Week 10
- Vaqs continue qinning ways In tight contest
- VALLEY: Sultans finish undefeated season
- It takes the Pack to sweep Scotties
- Mujica & Co. keep rolling, win convincingly
- Singer retires again from coaching
- DIII: Southwest Eagles soar to championship
- 2018 EAST COUNTY SOFTBALL Schedule / Scores / Standings
- DV: LIONS ROAR TO CHAMPIONSHIP
- Williams, Vaqueros sweep into D3 final
- D2: After walk-off thrill, Sultans slump
- DII: SULTANS HAVE MADDY, MADDY, MAD POWER IN PLAYOFF WIN
- DIII: Vaqueros end Scotties’ upset run
East County Fearless Forecaster – Week 4
- Updated: September 10, 2025
Valhalla's Zacahry Haggar. / Vic Marano
2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
EAST COUNTY FEARLESS FORECASTER – Week 4
No. 2 Granite Hills (3-0) at No. 3 Mission Hills (3-0)
With as many as six teams looking like solid contenders for the Open Division playoffs, this week already carries a postseason feel in the marquee matchup between two of the county’s top three teams.
This one feels like a playoff game in Week 4. The teams have hot quarterbacks in the Eagles’ Zac Benitez and the Grizzlies’ Troy Huhn, a Penn State commit.
Granite Hills might be underrated by other outlets — the Eagles look even sharper after last year’s Division I championship run.
Benitez is third in the section with 865 yards passing, with nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
Granite Hills’ Davion Williams has 250 yards rushing so far this season, balancing the offensive attack.
The Eagles opened last season with a 28-17 win at Mission Hills, though the Grizzlies bounced back to earn the No. 4 Open Division seed before bowing out to Lincoln, 13-7.
Prediction: Mission Hills 28, Granite Hills 27
No. 11 Torrey Pines (2-1) at No. 9 Mount Miguel (2-1)
Two 2-1 teams collide. The Matadors made noise with last week’s impressive shutout at Loyola of Los Angeles, while Torrey Pines took their first loss against Rancho Bernardo in a top-10 battle.
The Matadors might be known for the offensive firepower, but the 21-0 win over the Cubs was notable since Mount Miguel allowed 46 points in a home loss to Loyola last season.
The Falcons have a strong defense, as well, having kept Rancho Bernardo out of the end zone in the first half last week, but Torrey Pines managed only a field goal in the second half in a 17-13 loss to undefeated Rancho Bernardo.
Prediction: Mount Miguel 24, Torrey Pines 21
No. 21 Helix (1-2) at No. 24 Oceanside (0-3)
This long-standing rivalry, which dates back to 2000, gets renewed.
Oceanside has battled a tough schedule but remains winless, while Helix finally broke through with a win last week over St. Augustine.
The Highlanders should expect to win — but the Pirates are one of those “better than their record” teams.
Helix kept the Saints off the scoreboard over the final three quarters last week. Highlander quarterback Lee Norman-Lester had 157 yards of total offense, throwing for a touchdown and rushing for a touchdown. Sophomore Bryson Calloway had a breakout game on the ground for Helix with 150 yards.
Oceanside lost 45-29 at Granite Hills in Week 1 as their three losses are to the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the county.
Prediction: Oceanside 23, Helix 21
No. 23 Steele Canyon (3-0) at Rancho Christian (1-2)
The Cougars are off to their best start since 2019. Rancho Christian is just 1-2 but always dangerous at home. This could be a grinder of a game but that probably suits the Cougars’ style just fine.
Steele Canyon has been known for top-level running games year-after-year, but this Cougar club is more about the pass with Gavin Caha, a junior, who has over 500 yards in three games.
The Eagles are even more about the pass, with more than two-thirds of their offense coming through the air. Senior Ryley Lander has 15 receptions and four touchdowns in three games.
Prediction: Steele Canyon 27, Rancho Christian 21
No. 25 Grossmont (2-0) at La Jolla (2-1)
Grossmont heads to the coast on the 52 to face a Vikings squad that bounced back from a season-opening loss at Torrey Pines with wins over Henry and La Jolla Country Day.
The Foothillers had their bye last week and will be ready to fire with junior quarterback Tyler Holmes, who has nearly 500 yards of total offense, with six passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Four of those touchdown passes are to senior Randy Ballard.
The Vikings have a balanced attack but have a pair of receivers with a combined 36 receptions, including two-way senior star Carson Diehl.
Prediction: La Jolla 27, Grossmont 20
Olympian (3-0) at Santana (3-0)
Both teams come in undefeated. Santana edged Olympian 26-25 last year, but this time the Eagles bring an offense averaging 43 points per game. Sultans QB Ethan Miller continues to shine as East County’s fastest-rising passer. This one could be another thriller.
The Sultans’ Koko Thorton, a junior, is one of the East County’s top players with 16 receptions, 13 tackles and an interception.
Prediction: Santana 30, Olympian 28
Bonita Vista (0-3) at El Capitan (1-2)
The Vaqueros earned a confidence boost with last week’s win over Chula Vista. Now they host another 0-3 South Bay opponent in Bonita Vista, who also fell to Chula Vista earlier this year.
El Capitan can brush aside their slow start offensively by evening their record at 2-2 with a win here.
Sophomore quarterback Hayden Passanisi threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Logan Dulyea, a senior, in last week’s win, while sophomore running back Michael Castillo rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown in the game. Junior Michael Valencia had five receptions, as the Vaqueros broke through with their first points of the season.
The Barons run at a 3-to-1 ratio and are averaging 173 yards per game with no receiver with more than three receptions in the three losses.
Prediction: El Capitan 16, Bonita Vista 13
Monte Vista (2-1) at Coastal Academy (3-0)
The 2-1 Monarchs hit the road against the unbeaten Stingrays, who are averaging 38 points a game. Expect this one to go down to the wire.
Junior Deon Hunter rushed for 242 yards rushing, scoring four touchdowns last week for Monte Vista.
More than 70 percent of Coastal’s offense comes on the ground, led by Nolan White’s 271 yards and five rushing touchdowns.
Prediction: Monte Vista 26, Coastal Academy 24
West Hills (0-3) at Morse (1-2)
The Wolf Pack may be 0-3, but last week’s hard-fought 10-7 loss to undefeated Mira Mesa showed promise. Morse, meanwhile, was overwhelmed by Steele Canyon. This could be West Hills’ breakthrough.
West Hills’ calling card is defense, led by Zac Bondurant’s two sacks this season. The Wolf Pack also have three interceptions so far.
The Tigers definitely have one of the top offensive players in the county in senior Superior Garror, who has 536 yards of total offense as a dual-threat quarterback. He has rushed for four touchdowns and thrown for three scores.
Prediction: West Hills 19, Morse 17
El Cajon Valley (0-3) at Orange Glen (1-2)
The Braves have been close in every game but remain winless. Orange Glen is in a similar spot — and just a step ahead.
El Cajon Valley turned in a big defensively play in their loss last against Canyon Hills when freshman Jacob Bickett forced a fumble which was picked up senior senior Aiden Dixon and returned 49 yards down to the Rattler 1, then senior Leo Jones cashed in the touchdown. Senior Vave Mossman hauled in a 46-yard pass from senior Jaquari Wash for ECVHS.
The Patriots have rushed for 427 yards and passed for 200 yards, rushing for eight touchdowns overall.
Prediction: Orange Glen 22, El Cajon Valley 20
Valhalla (1-2) at Ramona (1-2)
The Norsemen have been outmatched the past two weeks and face another tall order against a Ramona squad that just blasted Vista, 41-14, after opening with losses to Steele Canyon and Poway.
Valhalla quarterback Jackson Newman has accounted for nearly three-quarters of Valhalla’s total offense, including nearly 200 yards rushing. Senior Zachary Haggar had 3 1/2 sacks this season.
The Norsemen are playing a tough non-league schedule, which could benefit them as a sleeper in the Grossmont Valley League.
Ryan Shaw threw three touchdown passes in last week’s win for Ramona, which forced four turnovers.
Prediction: Ramona 42, Valhalla 10
Mountain Empire (3-0) at San Ysidro (1-2)
The RedHawks are off to their best start since 2011 and look like their strongest squad since the 2018 team that blanked San Ysidro, 35-0. The Cougars are rated slightly higher, but this Mountain Empire team has a different feel.
The Cougars have amassed more than 75 percent of their 1,050 yards on the ground.
Prediction: Mountain Empire 33, San Ysidro 31
Victory Christian (0-2) at Foothills Christian (0-3)
Foothills Christian still searching for footing in their return to 11-man football. This week’s matchup with struggling Victory Christian could finally provide a chance to celebrate.
Foothills Christian senior Jack Sudi is 12th in the county in rushing with 308 yards. Senior Mason Wilborn is tied for sixth in the county with 20 receptions for FCHS.
Foothills Christian is 0-1 after last week’s Sunset League opener. This will be the Victory Christian’s league opener after losses to Castle Parks and Mar Vista.
Prediction: Foothills Christian 28, Victory Christian 24
