Griffins shoot for seven-win season

By Ramon Scott
Updated: November 6, 2026

Grossmont College RB Ethan Ford

2026 COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL

GROSSMONT AT GLENDALE
Saturday, Nov. 7, 5 p.m.

By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com

EL CAJON — Grossmont College’s bid for an American Pacific League championship took a damaging turn in its last game. The Griffins still have an opportunity to put a seventh victory beside their name.

Grossmont closes the regular season Saturday at Glendale, looking to rebound from its loss to San Bernardino Valley and finish 7-3 overall and 4-1 in league.

Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The Griffins enter 6-3 and 3-1, tied with Santa Monica behind unbeaten league leader San Bernardino Valley. Glendale is 5-4 overall and 2-2 in conference, giving the Vaqueros an opportunity to finish with a winning league record.

For coach Mason Mitchell’s Griffins, the assignment is to turn the competitive stretches of their last performance into a complete road game.

Grossmont fell behind San Bernardino Valley, 28-3, on Oct. 24 before fighting back within six points late in the fourth quarter. A closing interception return for a touchdown sealed the 44-31 defeat.

The Griffins have not played since. Last Saturday’s scheduled meeting with LA Pierce had already been declared a preseason forfeit, and that victory is included in Grossmont’s current record.

Ford gives Griffins a starting point

Ethan Ford supplied one of Grossmont’s strongest performances against San Bernardino Valley, rushing for 138 yards on 16 carries, including a 47-yard touchdown.

Ford also ran for a two-point conversion during the Griffins’ second-quarter comeback.

He enters the finale with 564 rushing yards, averaging 80.6 per game and 6.6 per carry. His ability to produce yardage without requiring a long series of successful plays gives Grossmont a valuable option against Glendale.

The Vaqueros are allowing 160 rushing yards per game and have surrendered 21 rushing touchdowns through eight played games.

Grossmont’s offense averages 176 rushing yards and 191.3 passing yards, giving the Griffins enough balance to make Glendale defend both phases.

Michael Kearns III threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns against San Bernardino Valley, connecting with Trenice Woods and Elijah Smith for fourth-quarter scores.

Kearns has eight touchdown passes this season. Woods leads Grossmont with 23 receptions for 308 yards, while Smith has three touchdown catches.

Woods caught five passes for 85 yards in the last game, including a 21-yard touchdown. Smith’s 22-yard scoring reception helped bring the Griffins within 37-31 before San Bernardino Valley’s final defensive score.

The production was there to make the game competitive. Three interceptions and 145 yards in penalties made the comeback considerably more difficult.

Protecting possessions and avoiding those lost yards would give Grossmont a better chance to establish control Saturday.

Glendale brings pressure, big-play threats

Glendale’s defense has several players capable of disrupting that plan.

Linebacker Kwami Edwards has five sacks and 10 tackles for loss, making him an important matchup for Grossmont’s protection and running game.

Mark Edwards averages 8.5 tackles per appearance, while Landon Nelson has a team-leading 54 total tackles. Defensive back Reece Miller has three interceptions.

The Vaqueros have intercepted 11 passes, a reminder that Grossmont will need to be selective when attacking downfield.

Offensively, Glendale averages 275.8 yards and 20 points per game.

Quarterbacks Christian Breazeale and Tyler Soles have combined for 1,241 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes. Timothy Johnson leads the receiving corps with 327 yards on 16 catches, averaging 20.4 yards per reception.

Kory Hall has three touchdown catches, while running back Kayson Mathabela leads Glendale with 303 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Soles also presents a special-teams threat, having scored on a 99-yard kickoff return. Alijah Smith has a punt-return touchdown.

Grossmont’s defense will look to prevent those explosive plays after San Bernardino Valley scored on a 54-yard pass and runs of 26 and 64 yards.

Isaac Turner remains a major takeaway threat with five interceptions, including one against the Wolverines. Turner also led the Griffins with eight tackles in that game.

Up front, Jeremiah Savaiinaea Jr. has 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, while Runnar Miller Jr. has seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Grossmont has held opponents to 104.8 rushing yards per game over the season. Returning to that standard would help force Glendale into passing situations and create opportunities for the secondary.

The Griffins also have dependable scoring options in the kicking game. Philipa Trakas has made six of seven field-goal attempts, including a 44-yarder against San Bernardino Valley, while Lucas Mora owns a season-long 58-yard field goal.

Grossmont is probably about a two touchdown favorite to win the season ending game.

For Grossmont, the opportunity is straightforward: finish the road schedule with a victory, reach seven wins and close league play with four victories in five games.