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Eagles clinch share of 4th-straight title
- Updated: October 28, 2025
2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
No. 6 GRANITE HILLS 42, EL CAPITAN 6
EastCountySports.com
LAKESIDE — The Granite Hills Eagles clinched at least a share of their fourth consecutive Grossmont Hills League championship with a dominant 42-6 win over host El Capitan on Friday night.
Behind another standout performance from junior quarterback Zachary Benitez, who passed for 235 yards and three touchdowns, the sixth-ranked Eagles (6-3, 3-0 GHL) overcame a sluggish, penalty-filled start before flexing their championship form on both sides of the ball.
Senior Parker Johnson delivered a show-stopping effort on special teams, returning two punts for touchdowns and a kickoff for 76 yards, totaling 203 all-purpose yards. Johnson’s first return touchdown broke the game open early in the third quarter and sparked a 35-point surge after halftime.
Despite the convincing win — their third straight, during which they’ve outscored opponents by nearly 20 points per game — the Eagles are expected to fall just short of an Open Division playoff berth, instead likely securing the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the CIF Division I bracket.
The game began chaotically for Granite Hills, which was penalized twice for unsportsmanlike conduct before kickoff, forcing an opening kick from its own 12-yard line. A flurry of penalties and missed opportunities kept the score 0-0 deep into the second quarter, until Benitez finally connected with Isaiah Rodriguez for a 23-yard touchdown to break the stalemate.
El Capitan (4-5, 0-3) briefly seized momentum to start the second half when senior Spencer Chastang stripped the ball and raced 22 yards for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 7-6. But the Vaqueros — who were limited to just 51 yards of total offense — wouldn’t score again.
Moments later, Johnson’s 72-yard kickoff return touchdown reignited the Eagles, who then poured it on.
Benitez found Noah Walker for a 60-yard strike, part of Walker’s six catches for 140 yards, then hit Rocket Demery for another score.
Junior Seth Rodriguez added a 10-yard touchdown run, and Johnson capped his huge night with a 60-yard punt return touchdown to push the lead to 42-6.
Granite Hills’ defense was relentless. Hudson Daniels notched two sacks, while Hunter Hamilton and Eurijah Schutza each contributed to a front that limited El Capitan to 1.2 yards per carry. Demery and Johnson both recorded interceptions, and Jacob Nunez went a perfect 6-for-6 on PATs.
For El Capitan, Brewin Ford and Tod Carter each registered a sack, while Bryce Banegas added another half-sack in a valiant defensive effort that kept the game competitive early.
The victory also evened the modern series between the programs, now 8-8 since 1998, though Granite Hills leads the all-time matchup 31-27.
Granite Hills will wrap up the regular season Thursday night at Steele Canyon in a rivalry showdown that rarely disappoints.
El Capitan will look to regroup when it hosts Mount Miguel on Friday in Lakeside.
