Eagles top Matadors, back in D1 finals

By Ramon Scott
Updated: November 25, 2025

Isaiah Rodriguez, of Granite Hills, catches a TD pass. / Vic Marano

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2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL – SEMIFINALS

DIVISION 1: GRANITE HILLS 52, MOUNT MIGUEL 30

By EastCountySports.com Staff

EL CAJON — Granite Hills is back in the CIF Division 1 championship game.

The Eagles, the No. 2 seed, powered past No. 3-seed Mount Miguel 52-30 in a semifinal showdown Friday night at Granite Hills High School, setting up a title clash with top-seeded Lincoln, which defeated San Marcos 49-35 in the other semifinal.

From the opening kickoff, the game promised to be a high-stakes, back-and-forth affair. Granite Hills drew first blood on an 11-play, 66-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from Gage Spalding, giving the Eagles an early 7-0 lead.

Mount Miguel answered immediately with an 81-yard drive that ended in a 3-yard touchdown run by Jeremiah Holliday, tying the score at 7-7.

Granite Hills regained control on a six-play, 56-yard drive, as Tristan Diaz powered in a 2-yard touchdown run to put the Eagles ahead 14-7.

The defining moment came shortly after, when Braydon Wells intercepted a pass and returned it 15 yards for a score, giving Granite Hills a two-touchdown lead and swinging momentum firmly in the Eagles’ favor.

Mount Miguel responded with a touchdown pass from Jeremiah Loper to A.J. Logan, but Granite Hills maintained their grip. Seth Rodriguez broke free for a 33-yard rushing touchdown, and a 32-yard field goal by Jacob Nunez closed the first-half scoring, giving the Eagles a commanding 31-14 lead at halftime.

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Granite Hills’ defense continued to shine in the second half.

Key stops on fourth down by Jamir Alervez and Jayden Proctor, along with consistent pressure in the backfield, prevented Mount Miguel from mounting a comeback.

Granite Hills added two more touchdowns, first on a 12-yard run by quarterback Zachary Benitez and later on a 15-yard pass from Benitez to Isaiah Rodriguez.

Late defensive stops by Parker Johnson, Proctor, and Wyatt MacLeod helped seal the Eagles’ victory.

Granite Hills finished the game with 244 rushing yards on 36 carries, led by Seth Rodriguez (94 yards), Anthony Mattar (78), and Spalding (50).

Benitez accounted for 156 total yards, including 129 passing yards and a rushing touchdown, and he connected with receivers for 112 yards, including a TD to Rodriguez and a run from Diaz.

Mount Miguel had 150 rushing yards on 37 attempts and passed for 158 yards.

The win improves Granite Hills to 9-3 on the season, while Mount Miguel finishes 8-4.

The Eagles now turn their attention to Saturday’s CIF Division I championship game against Lincoln at Southwestern College. Lincoln earned their spot with a 49-35 victory over San Marcos in Friday’s other semifinal.