Hossmann Lees owned his early moment

By Ramon Scott
Updated: September 6, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY ALUMNI

Former Helix, San Diego Mesa kicker scores first six points against SDSU

By RAMON SCOTT
East County Sports

SAN DIEGO — For most of Saturday night, San Diego State controlled its home opener against Portland State.

But for one memorable stretch at Snapdragon Stadium, former Helix High and San Diego Mesa kicker Joshua Hossmann Lees was the star of his homecoming game.

Hossmann Lees accounted for the first six points of the contest, converting field goals of 22 and 35 yards to give Portland State a 6-0 first-quarter advantage over the Aztecs.

The La Mesa product opened the scoring with 6:46 remaining in the first quarter, finishing a 14-play, 60-yard drive with a 22-yard field goal. After Portland State’s Isaac Redford intercepted San Diego State quarterback Jayden Denegal, the Vikings again moved into scoring position.

When that drive stalled, Hossmann Lees delivered from 35 yards with 2:14 left in the quarter.

For the next 1 minute, 41 seconds, the former Highlander and Olympian had scored every point in the game—and his FCS Vikings were leading the hometown FBS program.

San Diego State moved ahead on a touchdown with 33 seconds remaining in the quarter and eventually pulled away for a 53-20 victory. Still, Hossmann Lees completed a perfect night, making both of his field-goal attempts and both extra-point attempts to account for eight of Portland State’s 20 points.

The performance continued a successful beginning to his NCAA Division I career. Hossmann Lees made a 24-yard field goal and converted all three of his extra points in Portland State’s season-opening 31-24 loss to nationally ranked UC Davis.

Through his first two games with the Vikings, he is 3-for-3 on field goals and 5-for-5 on extra points, producing 14 points.

Hossmann Lees developed into one of the San Diego Section’s most reliable kickers at Helix. During his junior and senior seasons, he made 16 of 20 field-goal attempts and 75 of 77 extra points, scoring 123 points in 20 varsity games. His high school career included a 47-yard field goal.

He continued his career at San Diego Mesa, where he made seven of 13 field goals and all 33 of his extra-point attempts during the 2025 season. His longest field goal for the Olympians measured 44 yards.

Portland State saw even more range after he arrived. During a spring situational scrimmage in May, Hossmann Lees connected from 51 yards to produce a simulated 10-10 tie.

Hossmann Lees announced March 12 that he had accepted a scholarship to Portland State, thanking the Helix and San Diego Mesa programs along with New Gen Kicking and former NFL kicker Nick Novak for helping him reach the Division I level.

Less than six months later, he returned home wearing Portland State green and white.

The final score belonged to San Diego State. For most of the opening quarter, however, the scoreboard belonged entirely to Joshua Hossmann Lees.