Monarchs, Eagles grab flag thriilers

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: September 16, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL
Standings/Team Photos HERE

East County Sports staff report

MONTE VISTA 28, SAGE CREEK 19

Abi Lowe

SPRING VALLEY — Things are turning around for Monte Vista flag football.

After a hastily assembled 2025 season resulted in a 1-15 record, the Monarchs are beginning to see the rewards of their work.

On Tuesday (Sept. 15), Monte Vista won consecutive games for the first time in school history, rallying past visiting Sage Creek of Carlsbad, 28-19, at Monarchs Stadium.

The Monarchs improved to 3-4 overall, moving within one victory of the .500 mark.

Monte Vista seized control with touchdowns just before and immediately after halftime.

Trailing 12-7 in the final minute of the first half, Monarchs quarterback Jenna Stone fired a touchdown pass to Alenka Padilla, helping Monte Vista take a 14-12 halftime lead.

The Monarchs received the second-half kickoff and struck on their first play from scrimmage.

Aubrianna “Bri” Lowe, also known for her work on Monte Vista’s track relay squad, raced 65 yards for a touchdown. Lowe broke to the left, juked a linebacker and outran the Sage Creek secondary.

Stone later helped put the game away with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Lanyah Collins early in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, Monte Vista’s defense limited the Bobcats to one touchdown over the final three quarters.

Lowe added two other runs of more than 20 yards, finishing with a career-high total of more than 100 rushing yards.

GRANITE HILLS 26, RAMONA 20

EL CAJON — Granite Hills rallied from a six-point deficit in the final three minutes to defeat visiting Ramona, 26-20, in a nonleague contest Tuesday (Sept. 15) at Valley Stadium.

The Eagles’ late comeback began on defense.

Trailing 20-14, Granite Hills received a crucial interception from Olivia Cirar, who returned the ball to the Bulldogs’ 18-yard line.

Two Ramona penalties on the same play helped move the Eagles closer. Quarterback Taylor Nash then faked a pass and ran around the left side for the tying touchdown.

The conversion pass was dropped, leaving the teams deadlocked at 20-20.

Granite Hills’ defense quickly forced a three-and-out, giving the Eagles the ball again with approximately 18 seconds remaining and a chance to win in regulation.

The Eagles finished with the victory, as Nash threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Juvania Jones with 6.7 seconds remaining.

Both teams are 5-3 overall. The head-to-head victory over the Palomar League-leading Bulldogs could help Granite Hills when playoff seedings are determined.

For Ramona, Elisa Gaines threw for 190 yards passing along with two touchdown passes. Remingtyn Bryant had 90 yards receiving along with two touchdown receptions.

MORE TO COME

MABLE O’FARRELL 77, MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 0

SKYLINE — Mable O’Farrell Charter scored on a 65-yard touchdown on the opening play, beginning a record-setting afternoon in a 77-0 home victory over Mountain Empire on Tuesday (Sept. 15).

The Caimans also scored on the first play of each of their next three possessions — four plays, four touchdowns — to build a 26-0 lead.

The advantage grew to 33-0 after the first quarter, when officials instituted a running clock.

O’Farrell’s 77 points established a CIF San Diego Section single-game scoring record, surpassing the 75 scored by Classical Academy of Escondido in a 75-6 victory over Mater Dei Catholic to open the 2024 season.

GROSSMONT 20, VALLEY CENTER 12

FLETCHER HILLS — Comparisons against common opponents are already providing talking points as teams position themselves for league play and the CIF playoffs.

The latest involves Valley Center.

Last week, the Jaguars survived four overtimes to edge Steele Canyon. On Tuesday (Sept. 15), they dropped a 20-12 decision at Grossmont.

The contrasting results give the Foothillers an encouraging comparison, although the Cougars played Valley Center on the road while Grossmont won at home. The teams’ own league meetings will provide a more direct measure.

Grossmont statistics and additional game details were unavailable at publication.

STEELE CANYON 13, SANTANA 0

JAMUL — Steele Canyon’s defense limited Santana to 115 yards of total offense, shutting out the visiting Sultans, 13-0, in a nonleague contest Tuesday (Sept. 15).

Santana also played well defensively, holding the Cougars within one point of their lowest scoring total in a victory this season. The Sultans allowed no touchdown passes, and Steele Canyon’s longest completion covered just 13 yards.

Sophomore Livia Allison scored on a 24-yard touchdown run. Allison carried only twice but finished with a season-high 34 rushing yards.

Details of Steele Canyon’s other touchdown were unavailable.

The Cougars moved back above .500 at 6-5 overall. They will seek their first three-game winning streak of the season Thursday against Mira Mesa, which holds second place in the Western League ahead of Patrick Henry and Our Lady of Peace.

Santana fell to 3-5, having scored two touchdowns over its last three games. The Sultans open Grossmont Valley League play next Tuesday at city rival West Hills.

WEST HILLS 32, EL CAPITAN 19

LAKESIDE — West Hills earned a 32-19 road victory over El Capitan, holding the Vaqueros to their lowest scoring total in the teams’ three-game series.

The Wolf Pack improved to 3-2 overall, while El Capitan fell to 5-6.

BONITA VISTA 22, HELIX 6

BONITA — Bonita Vista held visiting Helix to season lows in points and yardage, handing the Highlanders their first loss of the season, 22-6.

The Barons (7-4) ended Helix’s school-record five-game winning streak, dropping the Highlanders to 5-1.

Senior quarterback Mia Ramirez, a member of Bonita Vista’s inaugural CIF San Diego Section Division I championship team in 2023, completed 14 of 21 passes for two touchdowns.

Her scoring passes went to senior Gabriella Meza and junior Dariyan Wilson. Sophomore London Spotster added a rushing touchdown.

Meza also recorded a safety, accounting for eight points.

Helix hosts Valhalla on Thursday for the Highlanders’ Senior Night.

CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 6, PATRICK HENRY 0 (2 OT)

CARMEL HIGHLANDS — Jaidyn Sadick caught a 3-yard touchdown pass in the second overtime, lifting Cathedral Catholic past Patrick Henry, 6-0, in a Western League showdown Tuesday (Sept. 15) at Manchester Stadium.

The lowest-scoring game in both programs’ histories ended on Sadick’s only reception, a short out route for the winning touchdown.

The result left the Patriots and Dons tied for third place, while Mira Mesa moved into sole possession of second behind league-leading Scripps Ranch.

Cathedral Catholic recorded five quarterback sacks, including three by freshman Astrid Nova, and intercepted three passes.

MONDAY

AROUND THE COUNTY

SWEETWATER 32, ORANGE GLEN 13 — Maribel Vazquez accounted for both Orange Glen touchdowns, but the Patriots fell to Sweetwater.

Vazquez rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown while passing for 55 yards and another score. Joselyn Tecolapa finished with 45 receiving yards for Orange Glen.

DEL NORTE 41, SAGE CREEK 6 — Katelyn Maley threw for 197 yards and five touchdowns, adding 50 rushing yards as the Nighthawks rolled past Sage Creek.

Lauren Holmes contributed 79 rushing yards and three touchdowns for Del Norte.

RAMONA 30, ESCONDIDO 0 — Elisa Gaines passed for 219 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Bulldogs blank the Cougars following a scoreless first half.

Ramona paired Gaines’ passing performance with a defensive shutout to complete the convincing victory, taking a 20-0 lead after three quarters.

The Bulldogs remain in first place in the Palomar League.