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Flag contenders emerge in August
- Updated: September 1, 2026
Christian High senior Jazmyn Bugg
2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FLAG FOOTBALL
EastCountySports.com staff report
The opening month of the girls flag football season produced everything from record-setting performances and historic first victories to dominant defenses and several East County teams beginning to establish themselves as legitimate contenders.
Helix finished August unbeaten. El Cajon Valley followed its highest-scoring game in school history with another blowout victory (and a wild scrimmage win where the referees never arrived). Steele Canyon rode a ferocious defense to a shutout, Granite Hills showed its record might be misleading, and Christian won the first game in program history.
Meanwhile, Ramona came within an overtime possession of a 3-0 start, Patrick Henry continued its strong opening stretch and West Hills split its first two contests.
With Grossmont Conference play still ahead, here’s a look back at the major developments from the final full week of August.
HELIX BACKS UP BIG OPENER
SAN DIEGO — One impressive victory could have been dismissed as an opening-night explosion.
Two starts are beginning to look like a trend.
Helix followed its 49-6 season-opening rout of Calexico by defeating Mt. Carmel, 20-6, on Aug. 25, sending the Highlanders into September 2-0 while outscoring their opponents 69-12.
The victory reinforced what Helix showed against Calexico: the Highlanders appear considerably more advanced than the team that finished 11-11 during its inaugural season in 2025.
Helix had been scheduled to open against Imperial before that contest was canceled, but the delay certainly didn’t hurt. The Highlanders have allowed only two touchdowns through their first two official games.
That makes Helix the only unbeaten Grossmont Hills League team entering September and puts the Highlanders squarely among the early favorites when conference play begins.
BRAVES STRIKE AGAIN
MONTGOMERY — El Cajon Valley’s opening month has provided considerable evidence that last season’s breakthrough was no fluke.
After setting a school single-game scoring record in a 41-7 victory over Southwest-San Diego on Aug. 18, the Braves bounced back from a 19-12 loss to Escondido by routing Montgomery, 38-7, on Aug. 25.
It was the second time in three games that ECVHS reached at least 38 points.
The Braves’ offensive production has been particularly encouraging following the graduation of quarterback Onna-Marie Miller, who threw 25 touchdown passes last season.
Junior Natalie Flores has taken over the position after seeing limited action as Miller’s backup in 2025. Flores erupted in the Southwest victory, completing 18 of 22 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns while also contributing on the ground.
And the Braves still possess two of the most productive returning all-around players in the East County.
Senior McKinley Morgan entered this season after accumulating 1,436 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions as a junior, along with 729 rushing yards and 11 scores. Junior Kaylanii Moore produced 843 receiving yards and 917 rushing yards last season.
That experienced supporting cast has helped ECVHS open 2-1, already giving the Braves one more victory than they recorded through the first three games of their inaugural 2025 season.
ZAKAR LEADS COUGARS’ SHUTOUT
CHULA VISTA — Steele Canyon didn’t need much offense with Giselle Zakar spending much of the night in Eastlake’s backfield.
Zakar delivered one of the top defensive performances of the young East County season in the Cougars’ 12-0 victory over Eastlake on Aug. 25.
The junior recorded five sacks for 33 yards in losses, accounting for five of Steele Canyon’s seven sacks. Zakar also finished with eight flag pulls, including six for losses.
Alaiya Vaughn and Adanya Huston added sacks, while Huston also intercepted a pass and returned it 15 yards.
Offensively, Regan Jones caught four passes for 29 yards and a touchdown. Huston scored the other touchdown and carried eight times for 54 yards, while senior quarterback Kallan Shaw completed 10 passes for 69 yards and a score.
The shutout was Steele Canyon’s second victory.
A 27-9 loss to Carlsbad two nights later dropped the Cougars to 2-2, but the record deserves some context. Steele Canyon’s early schedule has included La Costa Canyon and Carlsbad, two of the section’s stronger teams.
EAGLES BETTER THAN RECORD INDICATES
EL CAJON — Granite Hills finally received a reward for several competitive early-season performances when the Eagles blanked Mabel O’Farrell Charter, 13-0, on Aug. 25.
It was Granite Hills’ first victory and first shutout of the season.
Two nights later, the Eagles encountered one of North County’s better teams and remained competitive before falling to Mission Hills, 27-19.
Mission Hills quarterback Kensie Del Gado threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns, Aaliyah Jackson rushed for 113 yards and a score, and Kenley Imoto finished with 82 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Granite Hills entered September at only 1-3, but the record is harsher than the actual results.
The Eagles’ three defeats have come by nine points to Bonita Vista, two to Torrey Pines and eight to Mission Hills. Add the shutout victory over Mabel O’Farrell, and Granite Hills has been competitive every time out.
CHRISTIAN MAKES HISTORY
SAN DIEGO — There won’t be many opportunities for Christian to top the historical significance of its first result.
The Patriots played the first girls flag football game in school history on Aug. 27 and returned from Canyon Hills with a victory, defeating the Rattlers, 26-19.
The seven-point victory immediately gave Christian a milestone result as the Patriots became the latest East County school to add the rapidly growing sport.
The Patriots are led by senior star Jazmyn Bugg, along with captains Leah Speers and Delaney McGinnis, and other contributors in the first-ever win Kaitlyn Francis, Kirra Schellenberg, Keytyn Ruis, Emily Davis, Emily Peyton, Bailey Griggs, and Ainsley McClure
Christian entered September 1-0.
WOLF PACK SPLIT FIRST TWO
SANTEE — West Hills had to wait longer than most East County teams to begin its season, but the Wolf Pack made the debut worthwhile.
West Hills went on the road and blanked Olympian, 20-0, on Aug. 24.
The result gave the Wolf Pack one of several shutouts recorded by East County programs during the opening weeks.
After a week away from competition, West Hills returned Monday against Mater Dei Catholic and experienced the opposite side of a shutout.
The Crusaders defeated the Wolf Pack, 31-0, improving to 2-1 while dropping West Hills to 1-1.
SANTANA GETS FIRST WIN, THEN PUSHES UC
SANTEE — Before Monday’s comeback victory at Olympian, Santana had already demonstrated how little separated the Sultans from a much better opening record.
Santana earned its first victory on Aug. 24 by edging Otay Ranch, 18-15.
Two nights later, University City escaped Santee with a 26-19 victory.
The Sultans subsequently carried that competitive form into Monday’s 20-13 victory at Olympian, when quarterback Ava Darling threw three second-half touchdown passes and Santana converted two critical extra points.
The sequence moved Santana to 2-2 entering September.
GROSSMONT BREAKS THROUGH
SAN DIEGO — Grossmont earned its first victory of the season by shutting out Mabel O’Farrell Charter, 12-0, on Aug. 20.
The Hillers couldn’t carry that momentum through their next contest, falling to La Costa Canyon, 28-7, on Aug. 25.
Grossmont entered September at 1-2 following an opening stretch that also included a 27-6 loss to Cathedral Catholic.
RAMONA’S FAST START ENDS IN OVERTIME
SAN DIEGO — Ramona’s impressive opening run finally ended Monday, but it took overtime for Mira Mesa to stop the Bulldogs.
After opening with consecutive six-point victories over Cathedral Catholic and Escondido Charter, Ramona fell to Mira Mesa, 24-18 in overtime, on Aug. 31.
The Bulldogs trailed 12-0 after the opening quarter before scoring 12 unanswered points in the second. Neither team scored in the third, then both added touchdowns in the fourth to send the game to overtime tied at 18.
Mira Mesa scored the only touchdown of the extra period.
Ramona quarterback Elisa Gaines completed 26 of 47 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions.
Remingtyn Bryant, one of Ramona’s top returning players from 2025, caught eight passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Mira Mesa quarterback Vyanna Ta passed for 171 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 92 yards and two more scores.
The defeat left Ramona at 2-1 — with all three games decided by exactly six points.
The Bulldogs opened by stunning Cathedral Catholic, 12-6, then defeated Escondido Charter, 13-6. Ramona therefore allowed only 12 points combined while starting 2-0 before Mira Mesa finally broke through for 24.
PATRIOTS ANSWER FIRST DEFEAT
SAN DIEGO — Patrick Henry wasted little time responding to its first loss.
The Patriots routed Clairemont, 38-6, on Aug. 26 for their largest victory of the young season.
Patrick Henry opened with a 21-13 victory over Mission Bay before dropping a 26-18 decision to Mira Mesa. The Clairemont rout moved the Patriots to 2-1.
No individual statistics were reported.
EL CAPITAN, MONTE VISTA, VALHALLA LOOK TO REBOUND
Three other Grossmont Valley League programs endured difficult finishes to August.
El Capitan fell to Mabel O’Farrell Charter, 19-0, on Aug. 27, dropping the Vaqueros to 2-4. El Capitan’s two victories came against Eastlake, 2-0, and Francis Parker, 13-7.
Monte Vista followed its school-record 46-point performance against CVLCC with consecutive shutout losses, falling 27-0 to Montgomery on Aug. 27 after opening the season with a 48-14 loss to the Aztecs.
Valhalla entered September searching for its first victory after losses to Steele Canyon, Eastlake and Olympian. The Norsemen came closest against Eastlake, falling 13-12.
AROUND THE COUNTY
ESCONDIDO STRINGS TOGETHER WINS
ESCONDIDO — Escondido put together an impressive late-August stretch behind Ayla Rubacaba and Mia Diaz.
The Cougars defeated Oceanside, 19-6, on Aug. 26 as Diaz rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown. Rubacaba passed for 54 yards.
Escondido later blanked Hoover, 6-0, with Rubacaba throwing for 51 yards. Diaz rushed for 46 yards and Olivia Lopez added 34 on the ground.
The Cougars also defeated Lincoln, 13-7. Rubacaba passed for 54 yards, Diaz rushed for 46 yards and a touchdown, and Kim Mendez finished with 31 receiving yards.
The run followed Escondido’s 19-12 victory over El Cajon Valley on Aug. 20.
LA COSTA CANYON ROLLS
SAN DIEGO — La Costa Canyon continued to show why the Mavericks belong among the teams to watch in the San Diego Section, overwhelming Logan Memorial Education Campus, 48-6, on Aug. 27.
Quarterback Lily Lejeune threw for 178 yards and four touchdowns and added 16 rushing yards and another score.
Kate Hinkle caught two touchdown passes among her 68 receiving yards.
The performance came during an opening stretch in which the Mavericks also recorded victories over East County opponents Steele Canyon and Grossmont.
POINT LOMA LIGHTS UP SCOREBOARD
SAN DIEGO — Point Loma quarterback Emma Rosenberg directed consecutive impressive offensive performances.
Rosenberg passed for 123 yards and two touchdowns in a 32-0 victory over San Pasqual on Aug. 25.
Eva Cruz rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown, while Sophia Vanin Valley had 39 receiving yards and a score.
One day later, Rosenberg was even better.
The Point Loma quarterback threw for 250 yards and five touchdowns as the Pointers rolled past Lincoln, 41-13.
Abigail Laroux amassed 171 receiving yards and caught two touchdown passes.
Across the two victories, Point Loma outscored its opponents 73-13.
MIRA MESA TOPS OLP
SAN DIEGO — Vyanna Ta accounted for 267 yards of offense as Mira Mesa defeated Our Lady of Peace, 32-18, on Aug. 26.
Ta passed for 162 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another 105 yards.
Khloe Avinion caught a touchdown pass among her 70 receiving yards.
Mira Mesa later added the 24-18 overtime victory over Ramona, with Ta again accounting for four touchdowns.
DEL NORTE ERUPTS FOR 54
SAN DIEGO — Del Norte quarterback Katelyn Maley delivered one of the week’s biggest passing performances in a 54-13 victory over Rancho Bernardo on Aug. 26.
Maley threw for 285 yards and five touchdowns.
Lauren Holmes caught two touchdown passes and finished with 86 receiving yards.
JUTRONICH LEADS CATHEDRAL
SAN DIEGO — Cathedral Catholic quarterback Sabrina Jutronich accounted for four touchdowns as the Dons defeated Clairemont, 31-6, on Aug. 25.
Jutronich threw for 164 yards and three touchdowns and scored on a 10-yard run.
The victory came after Cathedral had suffered a 12-6 loss to Ramona earlier in the month.
EAST COUNTY RESULTS — AUG. 24-31
Mon., Aug. 31
Santana 20, at Olympian 13
Mater Dei Catholic 31, at West Hills 0
Mira Mesa 24, Ramona 18 (OT)
Thurs., Aug. 27
Christian 26, at Canyon Hills 19
Carlsbad 27, Steele Canyon 9
Mission Hills 27, Granite Hills 19
Mabel O’Farrell Charter 19, at El Capitan 0
Montgomery 27, at Monte Vista 0
El Centro Central at El Cajon Valley, canceled
Wed., Aug. 26
Patrick Henry 38, Clairemont 6
Olympian 30, Valhalla 0
University City 26, at Santana 19
Tue., Aug. 25
El Cajon Valley 38, at Montgomery 7
Helix 20, Mt. Carmel 6
Steele Canyon 12, at Eastlake 0
Granite Hills 13, Mabel O’Farrell Charter 0
La Costa Canyon 28, Grossmont 7
Mon., Aug. 24
Santana 18, Otay Ranch 15
West Hills 20, at Olympian 0
Mira Mesa 26, Patrick Henry 18
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