Spicer, defense lead Griffs past Compton

2026 COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Grossmont scores through the air, on the ground and on defense before turning attention to Southwestern

GROSSMONT 57, COMPTON 6

By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com

EL CAJON — Grossmont College wanted a strong start to the 2026 season and an opening-day defense of its home field.

The Griffins accomplished both long before the final whistle.

Melvin Spicer IV accounted for four first-half touchdowns, Januel Fernandez caught scoring passes from two quarterbacks and Grossmont’s defense overwhelmed Compton with seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss in a 57-6 victory Saturday at Mashin-Roth Memorial Field.

Grossmont scored through the air, on the ground and on defense while averaging 7.4 yards per play and committing no turnovers. The Griffins used three quarterbacks, held Compton to 132 yards of total offense and 5 net rushing yards, and led 34-6 by halftime.

The result was expected. Grossmont defeated Compton 64-0 in last season’s opener, and another runaway victory over the Coyotes does not establish that the Griffins are ready to compete consistently with Southern California’s leading programs.

It does suggest that head coach Mason Mitchell continues to establish firmer footing for a program that spent several seasons searching for a consistent identity.

Grossmont went 7-4 and won the SCFA Beach Bowl last season, producing its first seven-win campaign since 2018. The Griffins still have considerable distance to cover before joining the region’s upper tier, and several opponents of similar standing will present difficult tests this fall.

For one afternoon, however, Grossmont did exactly what an improving program should do: it handled an overmatched opponent decisively, distributed playing time throughout the roster and left no doubt about the outcome.

Spicer supplied the early fireworks.

The returning sophomore completed 15 of 20 passes for 172 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He added 21 yards and a 2-yard touchdown on six carries before giving way to Grossmont’s reserves with the outcome decided.

Spicer completed touchdown passes to Fernandez, Myles Norman and Demann Beverly, helping the Griffins construct a 34-6 halftime lead.

Backup quarterback Michael Kearns III added two touchdown passes during Grossmont’s 20-point third quarter. The Griffins used three quarterbacks, eight players caught passes and six carried the ball.

It was the kind of distributed production head coach Mason Mitchell likely wanted to see from an offense replacing most of last season’s receiving output around its established quarterback.

Grossmont did not need long to establish control.

The Griffins received the opening kickoff and drove 70 yards in 10 plays, operating without a huddle behind Spicer. Runs and short passes moved Grossmont into Compton territory before a sack pushed the Griffins backward.

Spicer recovered by buying time, stepping up and finding Fernandez uncovered on the right side of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown. Lucas Mora converted the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 10:15 remaining in the first quarter.

Compton answered with its best sustained drive of the opening period.

Freshman quarterback Kade Casillas escaped pressure and completed a long pass to Cecil Xavier-Smith, who slipped behind the Grossmont secondary and carried the ball to the Griffins’ 21. Grossmont stopped the Coyotes on four consecutive plays from there, forcing a turnover on downs.

The Griffins’ next possession stalled, but Mora’s 37-yard punt pinned Compton at its 4. Grossmont allowed no yardage on three plays, and a short punt gave the offense possession at the Compton 39.

Grossmont covered those 39 yards in five plays. On the first snap of the second quarter, Spicer found Norman slipping uncovered out of the backfield for a 6-yard touchdown. Jasper Brandenburg’s extra point increased the lead to 14-0.

Compton struck back quickly.

A roughing-the-passer penalty against Grossmont advanced the Coyotes into Griffins territory. Casillas went deep on the following play and connected with Xavier-Smith for a 48-yard touchdown.

Xavier-Smith beat the coverage down the right side, made the catch near the 10 and completed the play for Compton’s only score. He finished with three receptions for 99 yards, accounting for more than three-quarters of the Coyotes’ passing yardage.

David Sandy was stopped on the two-point conversion, leaving Grossmont ahead 14-6.

Any thought that Compton had created momentum disappeared during Grossmont’s next series.

Spicer moved the Griffins 61 yards, completing passes across the middle and along the sideline while also scrambling for a first down. A pass-interference penalty placed the ball at the 2, where Spicer kept it, lowered his head and drove into the end zone.

Philipa Trakas made the extra point for a 21-6 advantage.

Grossmont’s defense and special teams then began handing the offense increasingly short fields.

The Griffins swarmed Compton’s kickoff returner at the 10, forced a three-and-out and partially deflected the ensuing punt. Grossmont took possession at the Compton 23, and Spicer immediately attacked the end zone.

Beverly made the game’s most difficult reception, looking into the afternoon sun and securing Spicer’s pass as two defenders converged in front of him for a 23-yard touchdown.

Mora’s extra point made it 28-6 with 8:56 remaining in the half.

Compton lost a yard on its next possession and punted again. Grossmont needed five plays to travel 51 yards, with a long completion moving the Griffins to the Compton 16.

After the running game carried the ball to the 2, Ladarrione Perkins scored through the middle for Grossmont’s fifth touchdown. The extra point failed, but the Griffins had opened a 34-6 lead with 5:47 remaining before halftime.

Spicer’s work was finished.

Grossmont’s starting quarterback had completed 75 percent of his throws, accounted for four touchdowns and committed no turnovers. Most importantly for an offense introducing several new targets, his three touchdown passes went to three different players.

The reserves did not slow the scoring after halftime.

Kearns entered at quarterback following Compton’s opening punt of the third quarter. A bad snap created an initial loss, but Kearns responded by launching a deep pass down the right sideline to Fernandez.

Fernandez made the catch, crossed the goal line and then had the ball stripped by a defender, but officials correctly ruled the 49-yard touchdown complete.

The play gave Fernandez two catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns, one from Spicer and another from Kearns.

Brandenburg’s extra point extended Grossmont’s lead to 41-6.

Compton’s next possession ended when Alejandro Martinez-Rodriguez intercepted backup quarterback Paul Price at the Cayotes’ 43.

Ethan Ford immediately broke a 28-yard run into the secondary, carrying Grossmont to the 15. Four plays later, Kearns found Elijah Gillespie in the right flat for a 9-yard touchdown.

Gillespie caught the ball short of the goal line, stayed upright through contact and finished the play in the end zone. The extra point failed, leaving the score at 47-6.

Kearns completed only 2 of 6 attempts, but both completions produced touchdowns covering 58 yards.

The defense generated Grossmont’s final touchdown.

With Compton attempting to operate behind Price, Zacchaeus Maalona recorded a sack and forced a fumble. Titus Toilolo recovered it and returned the ball 46 yards for a touchdown.

A penalty against Grossmont occurred during the return but did not erase the score. Mora added the extra point for a 54-6 advantage with 3:14 left in the third quarter.

Grossmont rotated Kearns and Trenice Woods, its third quarterback, during the fourth quarter. Woods completed his only pass for 35 yards, while the Griffins also gave their reserve backs extended work.

Ford led Grossmont with 47 yards on six carries, including a 28-yard run. Chris Williams added 32 yards on five attempts, also breaking a 28-yard gain. Norman contributed an 11-yard run and caught three passes for 29 yards and a touchdown.

Grossmont’s final points followed another Compton special-teams breakdown. A bad punt snap forced the punter toward his goal line, where the Griffins brought him down at the 1.

Grossmont lost yardage after taking possession, but Brandenburg converted a 25-yard field goal with 3:13 remaining.

The Griffins finished with 25 first downs and 265 passing yards. Eight players recorded at least one reception, led by Isaac Syph’s three catches for 50 yards.

Perkins added two receptions for 41 yards, Norman caught three for 29 and Beverly finished with two catches for 29 yards. Fernandez’s two touchdowns came on his only two receptions.

Grossmont’s defense was even more comprehensive.

Avery Morris led the Griffins with five solo tackles, three tackles for loss covering 20 yards and a 13-yard sack. Maalona added four tackles, a sack and the forced fumble that Toilolo returned for the touchdown.

Anthony Lopez recorded four tackles, two stops for loss and a 12-yard sack. Lincoln Chukwuemeka produced three tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack, while Esai Valera added a 13-yard sack.

Jirah Savaiinaea Jr. also recorded a sack, and the Griffins broke up three passes in addition to Martinez-Rodriguez’s interception.

Casillas completed 6 of 20 passes for 120 yards and one touchdown before leaving after taking a hard hit on a third-quarter scramble. Price and Nicolas Barrera combined to complete only 3 of 5 passes for 7 yards behind him.

Grossmont’s performance was not spotless.

The Griffins committed 11 penalties for 138 yards, were sacked three times and had occasional trouble with snaps and extra-point operations. Compton also controlled the ball for 36:32, although that reflected Grossmont’s short fields and explosive scoring drives more than sustained offensive success by the Coyotes.

Grossmont scored touchdowns on drives lasting 42 seconds, eight seconds, eight seconds, 74 seconds, 61 seconds and one play. The Griffins had four scoring drives begin inside Compton territory.

The result was not unexpected. Grossmont defeated Compton 64-0 in last season’s opener and entered Saturday with a returning quarterback who accounted for 36 touchdowns during his freshman season.

What mattered was how the Griffins handled the assignment.

Spicer remained efficient, the rebuilt receiving group supplied five touchdown catches and a defense returning significant experience controlled the line of scrimmage from beginning to end.

The opposition becomes stronger immediately.

Grossmont travels to face natural rival Southwestern College at DeVore Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5, at noon. The Jaguars opened their season Saturday with a 24-0 victory over College of the Canyons.

That matchup should provide a far more revealing test of two San Diego County programs that opened with emphatic victories.

LOCAL GRIFFINS MAKE MARK

Several East County products contributed to Grossmont’s defensive dominance.

Former Mount Miguel standout Avery Morris delivered one of the strongest performances on the team, finishing with five tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack.

Former Helix defender Jirah Savaiinaea Jr. recorded a 4-yard sack, while Mount Miguel graduate Hector Armenta was credited with a blocked kick.

Former Mount Miguel receiver Davian McGowan caught a pass for 4 yards, and former Helix kicker Philipa Trakas converted one of two extra-point attempts.

Former Helix running back Jordan Lindley also appeared on defense and was credited with a tackle.

The contributions gave Grossmont’s victory a distinct East County presence, particularly in a defensive front that overwhelmed Compton for seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss.

RECEIVING QUESTION GETS EARLY ANSWER

Grossmont entered the season needing to replace 154 receptions, 2,085 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns from its four leading receivers in 2025.

The opening result did not prove that all of that production has been replaced, but it supplied a promising first answer.

Eight Griffins caught passes, and five different players produced touchdown receptions:

• Januel Fernandez: 2 receptions, 63 yards, 2 touchdowns
• Isaac Syph: 3 receptions, 50 yards
• Ladarrione Perkins: 2 receptions, 41 yards
• Myles Norman: 3 receptions, 29 yards, 1 touchdown
• Demann Beverly: 2 receptions, 29 yards, 1 touchdown
• Elijah Gillespie: 1 reception, 9 yards, 1 touchdown

Fernandez, one of the few returning receivers with meaningful college production, scored on passes of 14 and 49 yards from two different quarterbacks.

Beverly and Gillespie each recorded a touchdown in their Grossmont debuts, while Norman demonstrated why his receiving ability remains an important part of the offense.

AREA SHOWDOWN NEXT

Grossmont’s trip to Southwestern brings together two San Diego County teams coming off dominant opening performances.

The Griffins defeated Compton 57-6 behind seven offensive touchdowns, a defensive score and a field goal. Southwestern shut out College of the Canyons 24-0.

Grossmont won seven games and captured the SCFA Beach Bowl last season. The Griffins’ 2026 schedule replaces LA Southwest with Southwestern, creating a natural local matchup between programs separated by fewer than 20 miles.

The game should also provide Grossmont with a clearer evaluation after Compton managed only 132 yards and 5 net rushing yards.

NEXT GAME

Grossmont at Southwestern
Saturday, Sept. 5, noon
DeVore Stadium

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

• Grossmont — Melvin Spicer IV 14-yard pass to Januel Fernandez (Lucas Mora kick), 10:15.

Second quarter

• Grossmont — Spicer 6-yard pass to Myles Norman (Jasper Brandenburg kick), 14:54.
• Compton — Kade Casillas 48-yard pass to Cecil Xavier-Smith (run failed), 13:53.
• Grossmont — Spicer 2-yard run (Philipa Trakas kick).
• Grossmont — Spicer 23-yard pass to Demann Beverly (Mora kick), 8:56.
• Grossmont — Ladarrione Perkins 2-yard run (kick failed), 5:47.

Third quarter

• Grossmont — Michael Kearns III 49-yard pass to Fernandez (Brandenburg kick), 11:41.
• Grossmont — Kearns 9-yard pass to Elijah Gillespie (kick failed), 8:17.
• Grossmont — Titus Toilolo 46-yard fumble return (Mora kick), 3:14.

Fourth quarter

• Grossmont — Brandenburg 25-yard field goal, 3:13.

BY THE NUMBERS

Category	Compton	Grossmont
First downs	11	25
Total offense	132	369
Passing yards	127	265
Rushing yards	5	104
Yards per play	2.3	7.4
Third downs	5 of 16	4 of 7
Sacks	3	7
Tackles for loss	5	15
Turnovers lost	2	0
Penalties	5-52	11-138
Time of possession	36:32	23:44

GROSSMONT LEADERS

Passing: Melvin Spicer IV 15-20-172, 3 TD; Michael Kearns III 2-6-58, 2 TD; Trenice Woods 1-1-35.

Rushing: Ethan Ford 6-47; Chris Williams 5-32; Spicer 6-21, TD; Myles Norman 1-11; Ladarrione Perkins 2-10, TD.

Receiving: Januel Fernandez 2-63, 2 TD; Isaac Syph 3-50; Perkins 2-41; Norman 3-29, TD; Demann Beverly 2-29, TD; Elijah Gillespie 1-9, TD.

Defense: Avery Morris 5 tackles, 3 TFL, sack; Zacchaeus Maalona 4 tackles, sack, forced fumble; Anthony Lopez 4 tackles, 2 TFL, sack; Lincoln Chukwuemeka 3 tackles, 2 TFL, sack; Titus Toilolo 46-yard fumble-return touchdown; Alejandro Martinez-Rodriguez interception.

Kicking: Jasper Brandenburg 25-yard field goal, 2 PATs; Lucas Mora 3 PATs; Philipa Trakas 1 PAT.

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