Highlanders’ big plays beat Saints

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

Andrew-Johnson scores on 48-yard reception, 98-yard interception return as Highlanders survive late St. Augustine comeback

EastCountySports.com staff report

SAN DIEGO — Jacob “J.J.” Andrew-Johnson needed only one offensive touch to change the direction of the game.

Later, he needed only one defensive read to decide it.

Andrew-Johnson caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from Caden Thompson on Helix’s first offensive play of the second half, then returned an interception 98 yards for the decisive score in the fourth quarter as the No. 17 Highlanders defeated St. Augustine, 27-20, on Friday night.

His two-way performance supplied the defining moments, but Helix needed contributions from nearly every part of its roster—and two final defensive stands—to secure its second consecutive road victory.

The Highlanders returned both of their interceptions for touchdowns. Jeremy Robinson delivered a 93-yard pick-six during the opening quarter, giving Helix a lead it never relinquished.

Those two returns accounted for 191 yards and 12 points in a game Helix won by seven.

“We’ve been waiting for a quarterback who was going to try us,” senior running back Donte Wright said during the East County Sports Postgame Show. “They finally tried us, and our secondary showed what they were able to do tonight.”

Helix improved to 2-1 and defeated St. Augustine for the fifth consecutive meeting. The Saints fell to 0-3, with all three losses coming by nine points or fewer.

The Highlanders also survived one final surge.

After St. Augustine scored a late touchdown to pull within 27-20, the Saints recovered the ensuing onside kick and had possession with 48 seconds remaining. Helix’s defense responded with sacks on third and fourth down to end the threat.

The last stand completed a remarkable night for a unit that scored twice, limited St. Augustine to 195 yards and held Saints quarterbacks to 91 passing yards while producing the game’s most consequential plays.

Robinson turns early trouble into six points

The evening began poorly for Helix.

Thompson was intercepted on the Highlanders’ second offensive play, and St. Augustine converted the turnover into a touchdown run by Stanford-bound standout Paisios “Pai” Polamalu. The Saints missed the extra point but led 6-0.

Thompson refused to allow the early mistake to define his night.

“Throwing a pick early in the game is not ideal,” Thompson said. “I was kind of pissed off at myself and beating myself up, but at the end of the day, I had to remind myself: on to the next play.

“My team was looking at me to make a play. I got it out of my head, went and riled up the boys and got them going again.”

Helix answered on its next possession behind Wright, who scored the Highlanders’ first touchdown on the ground. The extra point gave Helix a 7-6 advantage.

Then the defense struck.

Robinson recognized what appeared to be a run-pass option, drove downhill and jumped a post route near the Helix goal line. With no one between him and the opposite end zone, the junior completed a 93-yard interception return for a touchdown.

“It looked like a little RPO play,” Wright said. “J9 (Robinson) just came downhill, jumped the route and took it all the way back. I was looking both ways and nobody was there. He had nothing but green grass, and you’ve got to trust a guy with that speed. You know he’s going to finish.”

The missed PAT left Helix ahead 13-6 after the first quarter.

Neither team scored during a second period marked by defensive stops and exchanges of possession on downs. Thompson completed only three passes for 29 yards during the half, but Helix carried its seven-point lead into the break.

One play changes the second half

The Highlanders’ defense forced a three-and-out to begin the third quarter, giving the offense an immediate opportunity to stretch the lead.

Offensive coaches called for a deep shot on the first play.

Thompson took advantage of the protection and found Andrew-Johnson down the left side for a 48-yard touchdown. Jacob Martin-Del Campo added the extra point, and Helix suddenly led 20-6.

“Coach dialed up a pretty nice play,” Wright said. “We protected our quarterback pretty well, and he was able to dial up a shot.”

Andrew-Johnson finished with three receptions for 56 yards, accounting for most of Helix’s 77 passing yards.

Thompson completed 4 of 8 passes for 77 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also contributed 37 rushing yards on four carries, giving him 114 yards of total offense.

“I feel like Caden always bounces back,” Andrew-Johnson said. “We just needed another opportunity to showcase what he could do. Once we got the opportunity, we made the most of it.”

Polamalu kept St. Augustine close.

The senior rushed 25 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns, supplying 127 of the Saints’ 195 offensive yards. He also produced a 51-yard kickoff return, returned a punt 11 yards, blocked an extra point and was credited with seven assisted tackles.

“He’s great,” Wright said. “He runs hard. Great safety, great defensive player. I’ll give him his props. He’s a great player.”

Polamalu’s second touchdown reduced the Helix lead to 20-13 during the third quarter.

The Saints then threatened to tie the game late in the fourth, driving into the Helix red zone. On third down, Andrew-Johnson read the quarterback’s release, jumped the passing lane and went 98 yards in the opposite direction.

“I saw the quarterback open up,” Andrew-Johnson said. “I saw him make the throw. I just had to get in front of it and make a play for our team.”

The return gave Helix a 27-13 advantage with approximately three minutes remaining.

St. Augustine still refused to go quietly. Backup quarterback Luke Penick led a touchdown drive, completing the scoring pass to Ryan Haniger, and the Saints recovered their onside kick.

Helix’s defense was asked to win the game one final time—and did.

Running game carries offensive load

With the passing game producing only four completions, Helix leaned on a ground attack that accumulated 149 yards on 27 attempts.

Junior Bryson Calloway led the Highlanders with 54 yards on nine carries, an average of six yards per attempt. Wright added 43 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Thompson averaged 9.3 yards on his four attempts. Stephon Fuentes contributed 15 yards on four carries.

The Highlanders finished with 226 yards of offense, only 31 more than St. Augustine, but averaged 5.5 yards per rushing attempt.

“We kind of leaned on those guys,” Wright said of the Helix offensive line. “Our running backs stayed in rhythm. Obviously, we had the big fumble, and we had a couple of fourth downs where I felt like we should have gotten it, but we didn’t. That’s football. It happens.”

The fourth-quarter fumble helped leave the door open for St. Augustine, as did multiple unsuccessful fourth-down attempts. But Helix compensated with red-zone defense, explosive returns and the closing pass rush.

Andrew-Johnson exceeds expectations

Andrew-Johnson arrived at Helix with considerable expectations. Three weeks into his junior season with the Highlanders, he may already be surpassing them.

After emerging as Thompson’s leading target during the 28-7 victory at Imperial, Andrew-Johnson produced the best two-way performance of his Helix career against St. Augustine.

His three receptions accounted for 56 of the Highlanders’ 77 passing yards. His 48-yard score created Helix’s first two-possession lead. His 98-yard interception return prevented a potential tying touchdown and created the eventual winning margin.

“JJ was on fire tonight,” Wright said. “He was playing well on both sides of the ball.”

Thompson sees more than the game-night production.

“JJ does a great job,” Thompson said. “He’s a hard worker, and he’s very consistent. It’s really cool to see him balling out and getting recognition. He’s an amazing athlete and an even better guy off the field.”

Andrew-Johnson was more restrained when discussing his own breakthrough.

“Hopefully, I continue to step up and get more opportunities,” he said.

After scoring twice in a seven-point victory, he should not have to wait long.

Secondary goes from waiting to celebrating

Helix’s offense scored two touchdowns. Its defensive backs scored two more.

Robinson and Andrew-Johnson each intercepted a pass inside the Helix 10-yard line and carried it the length of the field. St. Augustine was close to scoring on both possessions; instead, the two plays created a potential 24-point swing.

Robinson and Andrew-Johnson finished with one interception apiece while Saints starting quarterback Julian Chanfreau was limited to 8-of-13 passing for 48 yards with two interceptions.

Penick completed 7 of 11 passes for 43 yards and the late touchdown to Haniger, but Helix’s pass rush closed the game with consecutive sacks.

The secondary had been waiting for opponents to challenge it.

“They finally tried us,” Wright said.

The answer covered 191 yards.

LOOKING AHEAD: Old rival Oceanside visits Hart Stadium

Helix’s reward for surviving St. Augustine is another significant test—and the renewal of one of the San Diego Section’s notable intersectional rivalries.

The Highlanders will host prevous No. 5 Oceanside on Friday at 7 p.m. at Hart Stadium.

The Pirates are 1-2, but their record comes from one of the county’s most demanding opening schedules. Oceanside began the year by defeating Granite Hills, East County’s highest-ranked team, before suffering losses to Carlsbad and No. 2 Mission Hills.

Mission Hills defeated the Pirates 38-10 on Friday. Neke Letuli remained productive in defeat, rushing 17 times for 118 yards.

Oceanside defeated Helix 41-14 last season, but the series extends far beyond that meeting.

The programs met in the playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 2000 through 2002. Helix defeated Oceanside 28-10 in the 2000 semifinals and 41-30 in the 2001 section championship game. The Pirates answered with a 42-14 championship victory in 2002.

Their postseason history continued with Oceanside victories in 2004, twice in 2006, and in the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2014 playoffs. Helix’s 44-6 championship victory over the Pirates in 2011 sent the Highlanders on to a state-title victory over Del Oro.

Oceanside holds a 10-4 advantage in the 14 meetings since 2000, including an 8-3 edge in postseason games. Helix’s four wins came in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2007. The Pirates have won the last seven meetings, most recently last season’s 41-14 decision.

That history gives Friday’s meeting genuine weight for a Helix team trying to establish how far it has come since its difficult opener.

“I don’t think [that loss] shook us at all,” Thompson said. “It humbled us and brought us together. We saw our weaknesses and where we needed to get better. I feel like we filled those holes, and we continue to grow and get better every week.”

Helix has responded with two road victories. Now the Highlanders return home against the opponent that handed them their most decisive loss of 2025—and the Pirates already own a victory over Granite Hills.

The competition is getting stronger. Thompson believes Helix is getting stronger with it.

“We’re going to continue to get better as we face better competition,” he said. “We’re going to defend home.”

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