Gardini powers perfect Patriots

By Ramon Scott
Updated: September 4, 2026

Cyrus Drury after one of his two touchdown receptions on Friday night.

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

Henry quarterback accounts for 329 yards, all five touchdowns in 35-28 road victory

EAST COUNTY SPORTS STAFF REPORT

CHULA VISTA (9-4-2026) — Senior quarterback Madin Gardini produced five touchdowns and 329 yards of total offense Friday night, carrying unbeaten Patrick Henry past stubborn Chula Vista, 35-28, in a nonleague shootout.

Gardini completed 12 of 18 passes for 205 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. He was even more dangerous when he kept the ball, rushing 13 times for 124 yards and Henry’s other score.

The Patriots improved to 3-0 behind an offense that generated 366 total yards and averaged 12.2 yards on its 30 recorded plays.

Sophomore Cyrus Drury caught five passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Junior JP Laydon turned three receptions into 88 yards and a score, averaging 29.3 yards per catch, while junior Max Dean added a 12-yard touchdown reception.

Gardini’s performance was the difference in a game featuring nearly identical offensive totals. Chula Vista accumulated 352 yards but fell to 0-3 despite rushing for 263 yards and producing four touchdowns.

Sophomore Asher Richardson led the Spartans’ ground attack, rushing 16 times for 125 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Elijah Richardson contributed 112 yards on 19 carries.

Quarterback Isaiah Orta completed 10 of 15 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. All but one of those completions went to Jaylen Clark, who finished with nine catches for 82 yards and a score.

Chula Vista’s ground game allowed the Spartans to stay within one possession, but Gardini and Henry’s collection of playmakers answered enough times to preserve the Patriots’ perfect start.

Patrick Henry has scored 111 points through three games, an average of 37 per contest.

GARDINI’S FIVE-TOUCHDOWN NIGHT

Gardini did considerably more than throw four touchdown passes.

The senior accounted for 329 of Henry’s 366 total yards—nearly 90 percent of the Patriots’ offense—and scored or passed for all five of their touchdowns. He averaged 9.5 yards on his 13 rushing attempts while completing two-thirds of his passes.

Through three games, Gardini is averaging 237.3 passing yards, 104.3 rushing yards and 341.7 yards of total offense. His dual-threat production has driven Patrick Henry’s 3-0 opening.

LOOKAHEAD: OTAY RANCH AT PATRICK HENRY

Patrick Henry returns home Friday, Sept. 11, for a 7 p.m. nonleague game against Otay Ranch (2-1).

The Mustangs are coming off a 16-0 shutout of Hilltop. Quarterback Caleb Delaughter completed 15 of 22 passes for 172 yards, including a touchdown to Devin Hope on a one-handed reception. Jaidon Castillo rushed for 60 yards and scored on a 12-yard run.

The matchup pairs quarterbacks with strong starts. Delaughter is averaging 202 passing yards per game, while Gardini has produced more than 340 yards of total offense per contest.

Otay Ranch’s defense presents another test after recording its first shutout of the season, but the Mustangs must find a way to contain Gardini both inside and outside the pocket while accounting for Drury, Laydon and the rest of Henry’s receiving corps.

AROUND THE COUNTY

By David Willauer

No. 2 Mission Hills 38, No. 6 Oceanside 10: Mission Hills (3-0) remained unbeaten with a convincing road victory over Oceanside (1-2). Quarterback Dylan Furrian passed for 267 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Ryan McKenzie for 122 yards and both scores. Rhodes Relatore added 54 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Grizzlies.

No. 1 Carlsbad 40, El Camino 3: Carlsbad (3-0) continued its dominant start by rolling past El Camino (0-3). Antonio D’Alessandro threw for 140 yards and two touchdowns, while Darien Webb scored three rushing touchdowns among his 23 yards on the ground.

No. 5 San Marcos 28, No. 13 Poway 14: San Marcos (2-1) bounced back with an impressive victory over Poway (2-1). Quarterback Jordan Roa passed for 219 yards and three touchdowns, with Ezekiel McIntyre catching all three scoring passes. Mo Henderson contributed 75 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Knights.

Hamilton 28, Tri-City Christian 20: Tri-City Christian received a strong all-around performance from quarterback Donovan Cronkhite, but the Eagles came up short against Hamilton. Cronkhite passed for 210 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 82 yards and two more scores. Daniel Salas finished with 41 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Maranatha Christian 34, Coastal Academy 13: Moses Gilmore rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns for Coastal Academy, but Maranatha Christian pulled away for the 21-point victory.

Escondido 35, Sweetwater 33: Escondido survived a high-scoring battle behind a huge performance from Christian Solis, who rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns and added 54 receiving yards and another score. Quarterback Ernie Nuno threw for 66 yards and a touchdown as the Cougars held off Sweetwater by two points.