Pats, Dawgs remain hot; first Liberty loss

2026 EAST COU TY PREP FLAG FOOTBALL

East County Sports.com

Here is the Week 8 (Seot, 280Ict, 1) round-up for non-Grossmont Conference flag football games. included is Ramona holdig the co-leadership in the Palomar League, Liberty Charter suffering its first loss of the season, while Mountain Empire fell in a 1-point decision in a ballgame which went down to the wie.

In the San Diego City Conference, Xhristian continues to excel, but Patrick Henry is on a slide.

Thurs., Oct. 1

Christian 40, La Jolla 6

GREENFIELD — The Christian Patriots bouced back from their first-ever loss to post a pair of victories, including Thurday’s (Oct. 1) 40-6 pasting of the La Jolla Vikings in non-league action. Earlier, the Pats won at West Hills, 13-6,to remain unbeaten on the road.

Next week, Christian (6-1) is slated to play on Thursday (Oct. 8),but projected temprtatures reaching  tyriple-digit in the inlasnd valley may force the ballageme to be suspended, but aince it will be helfd in Pacific Beach against host Mission Bay, expect a go-ahead. As for other games in Week Nine, contact your respective school.

Clairemont 12, Patrick Henry 8

CLAIREMONT — Ot was one thing when Patrick Henry dropped its Western League opener to Mira Mesa, perhpas the most improved flag football team in theCIF-San Diego Section. But since the Patriots last to preseason favorite Scripps Henry, it’s been all downhill.

On Thursday (Oct. 1), fading Patrick Henry (6-7 overall) failed to score in double figures for the ninth time in 10 starts — starting with a 32-0 loss to the Falcons — in getting punked by the lowly Clairemont Captainds (4-10). Thw last-place former Chieftainsd are 2-8in the WesternLeague, while the Pas for tiedwith Mission Bay for fifth by just one gamein the standings at 3-6.

Earilier this week, Mira Mesa shutout PHHS for the second time this season, 21-0, on Tuesday.

The Patriots opened the season at 3-1, but now seem to be disinterested, especially after seven of last season’s underclassmen transfered to other schools.

Wed., Sept. 30
Non-League
Ramona 27, Santana 6

SANTEE — Ever since establishing a scvhool-recorf with five tourchdown passes against Sage Creek, Ramona quarterback Elisa Gaines votinues her torrid scoring pace.

Gaines beat Santana’s defense for a pair of touchdowns, giving the senior two or more TDs passes for the 10th straight contest, in the Dawgs’ 27-6 non-league victory over the Sultans at Santee Community Stadium.

Gaines completed 20-for-29 passes for 332 yards, feauting scoring tosses to her “usual suspects” — Reese Blakey (30 yards) and Kynzie King (17).

King also rushed for a score, butthe back-reaker when Blskey added a TD while on defense.

Santana (6-7), continued to sturuggle with its offense, tallying six points or fewer in 5-of-7 contedts. The Sultans’ lone score was not reported.

Southern Conference
MABEL O’Farrell 62, Liberty Charter 7

ALPINE — The seaso -opening, seven-game win streak of the Liberty Charter Kions is over — and with an exclamation mark.

O’Farrell Charter, which 77 points in a game last week, posted 62 more in a one-sided decision of LCHS in Thursday’s(Oct. 1) romp at Joan MacQheen Middle School.

The Falcons scored on their first four poddrdions and were never headed, moving to 9-3 overall.

Liberty Charter (7-2) is slated to again place ‘Farrell on Oct. 5, but expected high tempertures may force an postponement orcancellation, just like almost every other ballgame in the county.

In addition, the Lioms rpad game at Bayfront from Tuesday (Sept. 29) was forfetied due to a lack of players for the Sharks.

Health Sciences – 7, Mountain Empire 6

Anits Villanueva

NORTH PARK -The improving Mountain Empire RedHawks produced three late chances to take the lead in a one-oiunt nail-biter, but the host Surpents of Health Sciencres Charter came through with late stops to hold onfor a 7-6 decision in Wednesday’s (Sept. 39( Southern Conference flag football gvame held at historic Wilson Middle School.

The Serpents (formerly the Fighting Sergeons; theharter school/middle college changed its nickname last school year), Health Sciences held a 7-0 halftime lead thanks to a pass from Riley Rylee Pooler to receiver Amita Villamueva midway through the second quarter,

Moutain Empre mounted several drive in rebuttal.

The RedHawks moved to within the HSH 15-yard line, but without time outs, the first0half clock ended.

In the second half, the first tDapne (2),then a desperaqtion fourth-dwn passrip to the red zone resulted in a turnove on downs, but with 6:30 remaining, RedHawks senior quarterback Elysa Cisneros faked a pass to the left side which pulled all of the defenders, then raced uncovered around the opposite corner for a 12-yard scoring fash. However, the PAT failed on a pass to the far corner of the end zone.

The RedHawks defense then stop the Sergents on a three-and-outm getting another try with four minutes remaing.

At the HSHS-17, a fourth-down pass fell incomplete, which should have ended the ballgamer. However, a roughing the passer infraction gabe the RedHawks new life at the HSH-10.

Thid time, the hosts held on thnaks to a third-down sack by Daohne Tejada Sotero. Then a desperatuon pass on fourth-and goal with 40 seconds reaining was intercepted by Camila “Cammi” Hidalgo.

Health Sciences moves to 5-5 overall; the Hawks fell to 1-6.1-6 following their narrowest setback of the season.

Mountain Empire quarterback Elysa Cisneros RUNS THE NAKED BOOTLEG WITHOUT A runs the naked bootleg to perfecdtion for a touchdown without a defender in sight / PHOTO BY nICK pELLEGRINO

Mon., Sept. 28
Palomar League
Ramona 35, San Dieguito 18

ENCINITAS — Folloeing imprerssive shutouts of Poay and Westview. theRamona Bulldogs survived a coastal shootout to down the host San Dieuito Mustangs in Monday’s )Sept. 28) Palomar League contest.

The Dawgs (9-4 overall) remain tied for first place with el Norte asqual at 3-0 halfway throughthe leaguer slate. This league has all schools meeting just other just once (like boys tackle footbal), while most others compete in a home-and-road series.

Quarterback Elisa Gaines was again }smokey” hot, throwing for more than 200 yards forthe seventh time in nine starts, indictive of Rsamona going 6-2 in its last eight ballgames. Gaines went 16-for-29 and two touchdowns.

On defense, Reese Blakey registered eight flag pulls, the second-highest totao of the year for the senior.

Meanwhile, Kynzie King, snother senior, gsrnred a pair of interceptions. King now has nine thefts on the season to equal a career best; 22 pivkd for her careeer.

Non-League
EC-Southwest 55. Mountain Empire 0

EL CENTRO — Mountain Empire’ first-year program did not find out in time to cancel that almost every Imperial Valley schools is vert good at flagfootball, whether because of the sport hasbeen played at area middle schools for a decade, or that schools in Mexicali, Mex., has produced players for both Junior National teams in Mexico and United Stated.
Thus. this RedHawks trip to “the valley” became forgettable in the early going.

The host Eagles (9-5 overall.6-1 in non-league contests) registered five interceptions, including a pair of junior defensive back Chloe Cruz.

— nNICK pellegrino