Henry keeps climbing; Knights stunned

By Ramon Scott
Updated: September 26, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

No. 17 PATRICK HENRY 20, MT. CARMEL 16

EastCountySports.com Staff Report
With reports from David Willauer

SAN DIEGO — Patrick Henry’s climb has been built on an offense capable of turning games into scoring contests. Preserving its unbeaten start Friday required the Patriots to finish a different kind of assignment.

Henry answered a third-quarter deficit and shut out an improving Mt. Carmel team in the fourth, securing a 20–16 road victory and its first 5–0 start since 2012.

The Patriots entered the game No. 17, continuing their rise from outside the preseason Top 25. Their fifth victory supplied another measure of progress: Henry won despite scoring fewer than 35 points for the first time this season.

Madin Gardini completed 12 of 20 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, adding 55 rushing yards. Cole Farace caught seven passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns, then contributed 71 yards on nine carries for 215 yards from scrimmage. Cyrus Drury added a 33-yard touchdown reception.

Henry led 13–8 at halftime, but Mt. Carmel intercepted a pass and took possession at the Patriots’ 2-yard line in the third quarter. A rushing touchdown and two-point conversion put the Sundevils ahead 16–13.

The Patriots responded on their next possession with a touchdown pass and extra point, reclaiming the lead for good. After Henry turned the ball over on downs in the fourth quarter, its defense answered with an interception to halt another Mt. Carmel opportunity.

For head coach Drew Westling’s Sundevils, the narrow loss offered further evidence of improvement after an 0–4 start. A week after beating Fallbrook for its first victory, Mt. Carmel pushed an unbeaten opponent into the closing quarter.

The Sundevils recorded seven sacks, including three by Caleb McNickle, who also had eight tackles and a fumble recovery. Henry countered with three interceptions and held Mt. Carmel to 206 yards.

The Patriots visit Morse on Friday. Mt. Carmel, now 1–5, opens Palomar League play against Ramona.

LAKE MEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 40, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 0

Foothills Christian’s three-game winning streak ended on Homecoming as visiting Lake Mead Christian Academy, of Henderson, Nevada, broke open a scoreless game with 21 second-quarter points at El Cajon Valley High.

Trystan Rudd rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, leading a Lake Mead ground attack that produced 322 yards. Tyler Wolfe added 100 rushing yards, while Colten Downing threw three touchdown passes to Oliver Warholic, who caught four passes for 63 yards.

The Knights, now 3–3, managed 126 yards of offense. Hayden Oleson passed for 94 yards, Liam Dailey caught three passes for 43 yards, and Drew Mikulsky rushed for 32 yards.

Isaac Maisonet provided a 75-yard kickoff return, finishing with 157 yards on five returns. Lake Mead improved to 2–2.

No. 11 POINT LOMA 17, No. 23 RAMONA 12

Ramona kept this one considerably closer after its loss to Mission Hills, but Ryder Watson’s 256 passing yards and two touchdown passes helped Point Loma leave with a five-point victory.

The Pointers improved to 5–1, rebounding from their loss to Del Norte. Ramona slipped to 2–4.

RANCHO BUENA VISTA 38, CANYON HILLS 12

Canyon Hills returned from its bye to face a balanced Rancho Buena Vista offense, with Van Piercy throwing for 209 yards and three touchdowns.

Isaiah Simmons had 97 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Ean Perfect added 65 rushing yards and a score. The Longhorns evened their record at 3–3; Canyon Hills fell to 1–4.

ESCONDIDO CHARTER 46, SAN YSIDRO 0

Escondido Charter, which opened its season with a shutout of Foothills Christian, remained unbeaten with another decisive victory.

Bryan Owens rushed for 93 yards and three touchdowns on five carries. Blake Jurges passed for 194 yards and a touchdown, and Kyler Seavello contributed 80 receiving yards as the White Tigers improved to 5–0.

No. 33 SAN PASQUAL 41, WESTVIEW 21

San Pasqual bounced back from its loss to San Marcos by putting up 41 points against Westview.

Jackson Mumford passed for 227 yards for the Wolverines, but Westview fell to 3–3. San Pasqual improved to 3–2.

No. 6 SAN MARCOS 7, No. 15 LINCOLN 6

One touchdown was enough for San Marcos in a defensive struggle between two ranked county programs.

Jordan Roa threw for 152 yards and a touchdown, while Mo Henderson rushed for 84 yards. The Knights improved to 4–1, leaving Lincoln at 1–5.

A NOTE ON SEPT. 18

The Torrey Pines–Escondido result came with circumstances the final score alone did not explain. Escondido, dealing with multiple injuries, forfeited at halftime while trailing 35–6. A mutual agreement to end play, with player safety taking priority. The halftime score apparently stands as the final.