Nash powers Eagles; Hillers, Scotties roll

By Ramon Scott
Updated: September 21, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

GRANITE HILLS 25, CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 19

EL CAJON — Taylor Nash accounted for all four Granite Hills touchdowns, leading the Eagles to one of their biggest victories of the season, a 25-19 triumph over Cathedral Catholic on Thursday (Sept. 17) at Valley Stadium.

The junior quarterback completed 18 of 25 passes for 200 yards and one touchdown without an interception. Nash added 51 yards and three touchdowns on nine rushing attempts, finishing with 251 yards of total offense.

Nash scored 19 of Granite Hills’ 25 points, including the Eagles’ lone successful conversion.

Her touchdown pass went to Hattie Oliver, who made her only reception count for a 25-yard score.

Katie Petrich led the Eagles with five receptions for 71 yards, while Brooklyn Spencer contributed eight carries for 41 yards and three receptions for 43 yards.

Granite Hills finished with 292 yards of offense, including 92 on the ground.

The Eagles’ defense intercepted one pass and registered two sacks. Emily Fong recorded the interception and also delivered a 52-yard punt.

Olivia Cirar led Granite Hills with eight flag pulls, including two for losses, and added a sack. Presley San Filippo also recorded a sack and two flag pulls for losses.

Cathedral Catholic received 129 passing yards and 123 rushing yards from its offense, but the Dons could not keep Nash out of the end zone.

Sabrina Jutronich completed 6 of 8 passes for 35 yards and two touchdowns, rushed eight times for 73 yards and led the Dons with 10 flag pulls.

Jaidyn Sadick caught two touchdown passes, while Ellie Westerheide recorded Cathedral Catholic’s other scoring reception.

The victory improved Granite Hills to 6-3, while Cathedral Catholic fell to 7-4.

GROSSMONT 40, OTAY RANCH 0

FLETCHER HILLS — Grossmont’s defense produced a remarkable 11 sacks and four interceptions, while six offensive touchdowns carried the Foothillers to a 40-0 shutout of Otay Ranch.

Senior pass rusher Emma Hernandez registered eight sacks, accounting for 27 yards in losses. Hernandez also finished with nine total flag pulls, including eight for losses.

Calista Cordova added two sacks, while Yesibela Krauss recorded another.

The secondary was equally productive. Christina Grande intercepted two passes and returned them for 80 yards, while sophomore Sahara Roope collected two interceptions for 31 return yards.

Grossmont’s offense spread the scoring among four players.

Mariyah Gibbs rushed six times for 57 yards and two touchdowns, including a 28-yard run. Leah Garcia and Annika Carlson added one rushing touchdown apiece.

Carlson also caught a touchdown pass, finishing with two receptions for 23 yards and two total scores. Miley Christenson added two receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown.

Nevaeh Manely completed 3 of 8 passes for 18 yards and both Grossmont touchdown passes. Saraya Roope and Khilee Haull also shared the quarterback duties as the Foothillers used the comfortable advantage to distribute playing time.

Grossmont limited Otay Ranch to no points despite forcing 33 recorded flag pulls. Grande led the Foothillers with six, while Ari Simpson added five.

The 40 points represented Grossmont’s highest offensive total of the season, while the shutout was the Foothillers’ second.

HELIX 46, VALHALLA 6

LA MESA — Kaiya Merlo scored four touchdowns, while quarterback Vida Sanchez accounted for four more scores as Helix overwhelmed Valhalla, 46-6, on Senior Night at Benton Hart Stadium.

The Highlanders scored three touchdowns in the opening quarter to take a 19-0 lead and improved to 6-1.

Sanchez completed 5 of 13 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. She also rushed six times for 68 yards and two scores, giving her 202 yards of total offense and four touchdowns.

Merlo caught four passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns, averaging nearly 32 yards per reception. She also intercepted two passes and returned them for 124 yards and two additional scores.

Merlo finished with four touchdowns and 25 points, adding one successful conversion.

Samaya Webb-Horsley rushed twice for 72 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown, and converted another extra-point attempt. She also recorded three flag pulls and a sack.

Helix intercepted three passes and amassed 182 interception-return yards. In addition to Merlo’s two thefts, Emani Maclin returned an interception 58 yards.

Maclin also led the Highlanders with seven flag pulls.

Valhalla quarterback Natalia Marco completed 17 of 43 passes for 151 yards and one touchdown while adding 32 rushing yards.

Marco’s touchdown pass went to Alaina Yatooma, while Penelope Lathen led the Norsemen with seven receptions for 57 yards. Faith Michelle Cabusao caught three passes for 44 yards and recorded Valhalla’s lone sack.

MONTE VISTA 12, VISTA 6

SPRING VALLEY — Monte Vista reached the .500 mark and established another program milestone by defeating Vista, 12-6.

The victory was the third consecutive win for the Monarchs, establishing a school record for a program that finished 1-15 during its inaugural 2025 season.

Monte Vista improved to 4-4 after following victories over Sage Creek and Vista with its longest winning streak in program history.

PATRICK HENRY 21, LOGAN MEMORIAL 6

BARRIO LOGAN — Patrick Henry ended a two-game scoring drought with a 21-6 road victory over Logan Memorial.

The Patriots had been shut out by Cathedral Catholic and Scripps Ranch in their previous two outings but reached the end zone three times against the Eagles.

Patrick Henry improved to 5-3, while Logan Memorial fell to 3-8.

ELSEWHERE

CHRISTIAN 19, CANYON HILLS 7 — Quarterback Kira Schellenberg threw three touchdown passes, while Christian’s defense held Canyon Hills scoreless over the final 33 minutes. The first-year Patriots improved to 3-0.

LIBERTY CHARTER 33, MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 14 — Mountain Empire scored the first two touchdowns in program history despite falling to unbeaten Liberty Charter. Quarterback Elysa Cisneros threw touchdown passes to Avianna Woodley and Mikailah Bartz.

MIRA MESA 12, STEELE CANYON 0 — Mira Mesa blanked Steele Canyon and improved to 12-4. The Cougars fell to 6-6.

CLASSICAL ACADEMY 32, RAMONA 18

COASTAL ACADEMY 25, EL CAPITAN 6

DEL NORTE 34, EL CAJON VALLEY 6