Foothillers finish off Marauders

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

GROSSMONT 36, MIRA MESA 13

EastCountySports.com

CHULA VISTA – A balanced offensive attack and a relentless defense powered Grossmont to a 36-13 victory over Mira Mesa on Friday night, giving the Foothillers their fourth win of the season and cementing their status as one of the top teams in the Grossmont Valley League heading into league play.

Grossmont jumped out early with a touchdown from A.J. Hooker, who scored on a short 2-yard run and also caught a two-point conversion, giving the Foothillers an 8-0 lead with under eight minutes left in the first quarter.

The running game continued to dominate, with Hooker rushing for 189 yards on 21 carries, scoring twice and averaging 9.0 yards per carry. Tyler Holmes added 57 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground and also connected for a 25-yard touchdown pass to Logan Struck, helping Grossmont build a commanding 26-0 lead before halftime.

The Foothillers finished the game with 366 rushing yards, showcasing a punishing ground attack that has now improved in three consecutive games.

Additional contributions came from Corbin Dow, who ran for 117 yards, and the team’s depth at running back kept the Marauders off balance all night.

The passing game complemented the run, with Holmes completing eight of 24 passes for 83 yards and one touchdown, while Struck caught his scoring grab and others such as Randy Ballard and Max Bewley contributed in the receiving game.

Grossmont’s defense was equally dominant.

The Foothillers recorded five sacks, led by Ryder Robinson with three, while Colton Burke added a sack and six tackles.

The secondary contributed as well, with Nate Clark and Jay Smith each intercepting passes and helping stifle Mira Mesa’s offense.

The defense also forced multiple turnovers, including fumble recoveries, which kept the Foothillers in control throughout the contest.

“The defense played really well,” said Grossmont head coach Anthony Lawrence, summarizing a game in which the team’s defensive front and secondary made the difference.

Grossmont scored in every quarter, building on its 8-0 start with 12 points in the second, eight in the third, and eight more in the fourth, leaving Mira Mesa to settle for a pair of late scores in the second half.

The victory moves Grossmont to 4-1 on the season, marking the third game this year that the team has won by 22 points or more. Mira Mesa falls to 3-2, dropping its second consecutive contest after a strong start to the season.

Grossmont will look to continue its winning ways next Friday when the Foothillers host Valhalla at 7:00 p.m.

The Hillers will aim to exploit a Norsemen defense that has allowed nearly 40 points per game so far this season.

Mira Mesa will host Rancho Buena Vista.