Hillers forge 3-way deadlock for first

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: October 8, 2025

Banner Photos by Rich Koeberlein, RK2 Photography / Courtesy, SD Friday
Additional hotos at bottom / By Isaac Angel, Granite Hills studentrNight Lights

2025 EAST COUNTY PFREP GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL

Around the County

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

EL CAJON — Among the 36 schools which advanced to the CIF-San Diego Section playoffs last season, Granite Hills was dead last, seeded 12th in Divisionm I
The reason? The Eagles blamed the poor postseason placement on the Grossmont Foothillers.

Grossmont defenders Taina Mediina-Cotto (0), Emma Hernanadez (2) and Mariyah Gibbs (14) each registered two of the Hillers’ seven sacks of Granite Hills quarterbacks.

No player would officially talk on the record, but their social meeting postings were obvious. Although they dropped all theee meetings with the Hillers, they felt being just as strong and deser ved more respect/

Such an attitude carried over into Tuesday’s (*Oct. 7 bttle for first placein the Grossmont Hills League, Granite Hills took the opening possesion and easily drove 60 ards for the ballgame’s first score.

However, Grossmont held control for most of the contest’s remaining minutes to grab a 26-18 victory.

With the first round of GHL play complete, there is a rare 3-way deadlock at the top. Grossmont beat Granite Hisll, which earlier defeated Steele Canyon, which earlier blanked the Hillers.

Thus, Round 2 of GHL play may be more exciting than their boys bretheran playing the tackle varisty of the dsport.

Game Stuff

The difference for Grossmont was a pass rush which sacked Eagles quarterbacks a total of seven times.

Included were two sacks each by senior POS Emma Hernanadez and junior Mariyah Gibbs — the co-leaders for sacks in the GHL — plus two additional stops in the backfield by senior Taina Mediina-Cotto, effectively slowed down the Eagles.

Gibbs also scored a pair of touchdowns on offense, off-setting two scores’ by Taylor Nash of the Eagles.

Nash capped a 12-play drive by a motivated Eagles squad, but the march became harder with each snap.

Aftering gaining a 1st-and-goal at the Hillers-5, it took all four plas to barely score for a 6-0 lead.

Grossmont then woke up and scored four of the game’s next five touchdowns.

Mirassa Farace

Gibbs went in on a 19-yard pass by Marissa Farave, who finished with anther 3-TD effort,to gain the lead for keeps at 7-6.

The Hillers defenders then recorded their first three sdacks in the second quarter, then four additional flag grabs in the final 12 minutes.

Midway through the fourth, Nash registered her second score to move the Eagles to within a score. However, on the teams’ final drive, following a first down, Grossmont knocked down four consecutive passes to ovr a potential overtime.

The other Granite Hills score was collected by quarterback Emily Fong, a sophomore, who went outside as a receiver and hauled in an sweet, over-the-shoulder reception.

Never too late — Last week, when Granite Hills nipped Helix, 27-2,l when Helix broke a 20-all deadlock with a TD with three miute remaining,m only to see the Eagkes score and record the PAT in the final minute, it was Nash who recorded the victory-clinching interception in the final seconds.

MORE TO COME

Grossmont Valley League

El Capitan 22, Valhalla 12

LAKESIDE – El Capitan forges a 3-way tie for first place in the Grossmont Valley League with Valhalla and West Hills.

Scoreboard

Tue., Oct. 7
Grossmont 26, at Granite Hills 18
Steele Canyon 35, Helix 19
West Hills 27, at Monte Vista 6
El Capitan 22, Valhalla 12
Patrick Henry 22, Lincoln 6