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Gardini’s 6-TD night moves Henry to 8-0
- Updated: October 20, 2026
2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
PATRICK HENRY 50, CORONADO 26
By David A. Willauer
For EastCountySports.com
SAN DIEGO — Patrick Henry is taking an unbeaten record into the final two weeks of the regular season for the first time in nearly three decades.
Senior quarterback Madin Gardini accounted for 543 yards of total offense and six touchdowns, leading the Patriots to a 50-26 victory over Coronado on Friday, Oct. 16.
Henry improved to 8-0 for the first time since 1997 and moved to No. 12 in the East County Sports county rankings. Coronado fell to 1-7.
Gardini completed 22 of 33 passes for 425 yards and five touchdowns, with one interception, and rushed seven times for 118 yards and a touchdown.
His two leading receivers repeatedly turned completions into substantial gains.
Senior Cole Farace caught six passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 28 yards per reception. Fellow senior Kymani Joseph finished with five catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns.
Together, they accounted for 295 receiving yards and all five touchdown catches.
Junior quarterback Emerson Maxilom completed all three of his attempts for 53 yards, helping Henry finish with 478 passing yards and 657 total yards.
The Patriots averaged almost 10 yards per rushing attempt, gaining 179 yards on 18 carries. Gardini supplied the largest share, averaging 16.9 yards per carry.
Junior Tiko Stepner added four receptions for 54 yards, sophomore Cyrus Drury caught four for 48, and senior Parks Kronk-Hawley contributed two catches for 46 yards.
Beckon Westrick intercepted a pass, while Jayden Fu recovered a fumble.
Henry’s explosive offense has preserved its perfect record. Its next opponent brings a running game and defensive pressure capable of testing that momentum.
Where does this Henry season fit in school history?
Patrick Henry’s 8-0 start has brought the Patriots into a historic conversation. Their final position will depend on what follows.
Here is an editorial ranking of the leading seasons, balancing records, league titles and postseason achievement:
| Rank | Season | Record | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1971 | 11-1 | Russ Leslie’s Patriots allowed only 53 points and reached the section final, losing 8-7 to Grossmont. |
| 2 | 1974 | 11-1-1 | Unbeaten until the section final against Vista; three playoff victories. |
| 3 | 2021 | 10-3 | J.T. O’Sullivan’s team won the Division IV section championship before a regional loss to Birmingham. |
| 4 | 1994 | 10-3 | Jerry Varner’s Eastern League champions reached the Division I final against Morse. |
| 5 | 1997 | 11-1 | A perfect 10-0 regular season and an 11th consecutive victory before a semifinal loss. |
| 6 | 1973 | 10-2-1 | League champions and section finalists under Leslie. |
| 7 | 1999 | 10-2 | Steve Jacobacci’s Patriots won 10 games before falling 41-38 to Santana in the playoffs. |
| 8 | 2026 | 8-0, ongoing | Henry’s first 8-0 start since 1997; championship credentials remain to be determined. |
| 9 | 2012 | 9-2 | Mike Martinez’s team finished the regular season 9-1 and allowed only 94 points overall. |
The current Patriots have earned a place among the program’s memorable teams. Senior quarterback Madin Gardini’s six-touchdown performance against Coronado kept them perfect, but Madison and Mira Mesa remain before the playoffs.
Two more victories would match the 1997 team’s unbeaten regular season. A championship run would give this group a stronger claim to the top tier.
Madison presents a substantial test
PATRICK HENRY (8-0) vs. MADISON (5-3)
Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m.
City League
Madison enters after a 17-14 victory over Imperial, giving Henry an opponent coming off a win against a 6-2 team.
Senior running back Adrian Sola gained 121 yards on 16 carries and scored twice against the Tigers. Junior Kaleo Dolfo added 52 yards on 10 attempts.
Sola averages 108.4 rushing yards per game and has 10 rushing touchdowns. Dolfo supplies another 61.3 yards per game.
That combination gives the Warhawks a way to sustain possessions and limit the number of opportunities available to Gardini and Henry’s receivers.
The Patriots must also account for senior defensive lineman Logan Nelson, who has 10 sacks, 12 quarterback hurries and three fumble recoveries.
Sophomore linebacker Prince Rodriguez averages 12.1 tackles per game. Nelson averages 7.9 tackles, and Sola contributes 7.8.
Protecting Gardini against that front will be an important assignment for Henry’s offensive line. The Patriots have the receivers to create big plays, but Madison can make those opportunities harder to develop if Nelson repeatedly disrupts the backfield.
Senior Mason Simmons leads Madison’s receivers at 40.3 yards per game and also has two interceptions. Junior Joseph Augustine has six total touchdowns, including three receiving and three rushing.
Henry has reached a milestone start. Beating a Madison team with a productive ground game and an established pass rush would provide another meaningful measure of the Patriots’ progress.
Piercy’s five touchdowns fuel RBV comeback
VISTA — Van Piercy threw four touchdown passes and ran for another as Rancho Buena Vista overcame an early 13-0 deficit to defeat Fallbrook, 44-19.
Both teams finished the evening 4-4.
Fallbrook established the early advantage behind quarterback Easton Lucy, who threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Diaz and scored on a 6-yard quarterback sneak.
Lucy finished with 90 passing yards.
Piercy brought the Longhorns back with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Mason Inoto and an 11-yard touchdown run, helping RBV move ahead, 14-13.
Fallbrook regained the lead on Caleb Way’s 53-yard touchdown run. Way finished with 103 rushing yards.
The rest of the scoring belonged to the Longhorns.
Piercy connected with Inoto for a 14-yard touchdown, found Isaiah Simmons for an 11-yard score, and later threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Sean Richard.
Jonathan Cruz added a 35-yard field goal, and Noah Salazar finished the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Piercy passed for 108 yards and four touchdowns and added 33 rushing yards. Inoto finished with 57 receiving yards, Richard had 43 and Simmons added 25. Salazar rushed for 23 yards.
“We were off to a slow start,” RBV coach Terrence McKinnie said. “At the half we made adjustments.”
The Longhorns’ second-half execution completed the comeback.
RBV travels to Westview on Friday, while Fallbrook visits Vista. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m.
No. 1 Carlsbad 42, No. 11 San Marcos 26
Carlsbad remained unbeaten at 8-0, defeating a San Marcos team that fell to 4-4.
Jordon Roa passed for 324 yards and three touchdowns, while Darien Webb rushed for 271 yards and four touchdowns.
The Lancers’ leading offensive performers combined for 595 passing and rushing yards as Carlsbad maintained its position atop the ECS county rankings.
No. 2 Cathedral Catholic 42, Mission Bay 7
Cathedral Catholic improved to 5-3, while Mission Bay fell to 4-4.
Koa Smith Mayall passed for 180 yards and a touchdown. Isaac Cook finished with 88 receiving yards and a touchdown, and Ashton Stewart rushed for 67 yards and a score.
The Dons followed their victory over La Jolla with another decisive result.
No. 3 Mission Hills 31, No. 8 Torrey Pines 21
Mission Hills improved to 6-2, handing Torrey Pines (5-3) a loss in a matchup between teams ranked among the county’s top eight.
Furian Inferrara passed for 117 yards and a touchdown. Ex Taele contributed 95 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Anthony Staler had 59 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.
No. 6 Rancho Bernardo 21, No. 10 Oceanside 14
Rancho Bernardo improved to 7-1, winning a close contest against Oceanside (4-4).
Quarterback Gaige Weddle, the son of former Chargers and Rams standout Eric Weddle, passed for 183 yards and a touchdown.
The Broncos continued their strong season with a victory over another county top-10 opponent.
No. 7 La Costa Canyon 38, El Camino 21
La Costa Canyon improved to 5-3 behind a productive passing connection between Luke Labrum and Ryder Montgomery.
Labrum threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns. Montgomery accounted for 140 receiving yards and both touchdown receptions.
No. 24 San Pasqual 32, Valley Center 18
San Pasqual improved to 5-3, while Valley Center fell to 5-4.
Cameron Pereira passed for 207 yards and two touchdowns, and Jared Brecht finished with 103 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The Golden Eagles added a 96-yard rushing performance to complement Pereira’s passing production.
Escondido Charter 34, Army-Navy 0
Escondido Charter remained unbeaten at 8-0, shutting out Army-Navy (3-5).
Sophomore quarterback Silas Greene passed for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Senior receiver Sam Hinrichs caught passes totaling 121 yards and two touchdowns.
The White Tigers next face Santa Fe Christian, a substantial test for their unbeaten record.
O’Farrell 33, Tri-City Christian 6
O’Farrell defeated Tri-City Christian, whose quarterback Donovan Cronkhite passed for 71 yards, rushed for 48 and accounted for a touchdown.
St. Joseph Academy 56, Desert Chapel 0
St. Joseph Academy rolled to a shutout behind four touchdowns from Liam Breen.
Christian Clow added two touchdowns, while Sean Amduul and Tommy Knox each scored once. Knox’s touchdown came on a running play.
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