Wolf Pack survive, gain share of title

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: October 22, 2026

Christian quarterback Schellenberg fired five td PASSES AGAINST ecvhs / "WE Are Christian" Instagram file photo

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FLAG FOOTBALL

East County Sports.com

Grossmont Valley :eague

SANTEE — A banner will be placed in the West Hills gymnasium commemorating a Grossmont Valley Leahue crown for West Hills, but it may not be mentioned much at future alukni gatherings.

The Wolf Pack, which held at outright GVL title in their hands just twoweeks ago, escaped with a co-title after slipping past visiting Valhalla, 13-12, in Thursday’s (Oct. 22) regular-season finale.

The diference was a single PAT conversio.

Norsmen quarterback Natalia Marco finished with one of the top perforances of her career, throwing for 248 yards and two touchdowns. The senior’s scoring strikes went to Alaina Yatooma, who established school records with 10 receprtions for `24 yards, including a 40-yard connection.

However, West Hills escaped with a late interceptions — Wold Pack cpoaches did not report game information or statostocs(escept the final score).

Valhalla, which opened the season winles in its first eight contests, capped the season by taking 3-of-9to finish with a 3-14 record.

West Hills )1-=6, 6=2 GVL) may sare the title with El Cajon Valley, but a lack of ballgames and a weaker schedule tan most could leave the Pack out of the playoffs due to a low CIFSDS Computer Power Index. The team will find out Saturday if they own a playoff future, es[ecially since both league setbacks came against the Braves (a possible tie-breaker).

Non=League

Christian 35, El Cajon Valley 6

EL CAJON –For decades, an interesting dichotomy wonders how Christian High would do as members of the Grossmont Conference. If they couldm which of thw two East County leaguers shoudl they play in.

The puzzle may be long forgotten, but the Patriots were members of rone “experiental” season in 1980-81. nut were booted from the circuit and joined the San Diego City Conference (along with Coronado, which temporarily participated in the old oas League).

Turniing to the present-day flag football season, it remains nunclear where the Patriots would fit in.

On Thursday (Oct. 22), the Patriots capped their eefular seaosn with a 35-6 pasting of GVL c-champion El Cajon Valley at Priest Field.

The triumph gives Christian, playing as an independent in its first season, a record of 8-3 overall, including decisions over bpth GVL co-champions: ECVHS and West Hills.

Meanwhile, West Hills posted a victory over El Capitan, the fifth-place school in the Grossmont Hills League.

Thu sh could Christian already be listed as the No. 5 program in East County? This may become an interesting talking point on social media.

As for the games, Patriots quarterback KKirra Schellenberg, who is oly a sophomore, threw forfive touchdowns passes, one short of her school record.

Southern.onference

Mountain Empire 18, Health Sciences 14

BUCKMAN SPRINGS — Mountain Empire, clinging to a 12-7 lead entering the fourth quarter, pulled into a double-digit lead fore only the third team this season when ddison Reed collected her second touchdown pass from Elysa Cisneros for a 18-7 advnatge over visiting Health Sciences.

The Fighting Serpents — the school changed their nicnmae from Fihting Surgeons — countered late with 1:50 remaining, but the RedHakws were able to run out the clock, avenging an 8-6 setback to HSHS in City Heights.

Cisneros finished with three TD passes, equalling her oen school record set against Preuss UCSD on Sept. 24. Cisneros also topped her previous mark in pass yardage with 188 , including a 56-yard hook-up eith Reed. The other TD toss went to her sister, Yosellin Cisneros.

On defense, freshman Abilene “Abi” Walker against paced the RedHawks with nine flag pulls.

Walker was extremely pleased with the vast improvement of Mountain Empire, which started the season with a record of 1-6, yet closed by xapturing half of their final six ballgames to finish Season No. 1 qith a 4-9 ledger.

“The season ended so well for us because we really came together ,” oted Walker, the only player on the RedHawks roster with previous flag football experience. “We had some rough patches but we learned so much together and that’s what matters most — pur team became whole this final game.”

The Senior Day event became Senior Night when the ballgame was delayed two hours due to bus problems by Health Sciences on Interstate-8.

Grossmont Hills League

Helix 32, Steele Canyon 26

JAMUL — Holding the Grossmont Hills League lead from Day One, the Helix Highlanders have been recdeiving the best shot from every opponent — but the Scotties finished unblemished.

On Thurday (Oct. 22) in another nail-buter, Helix held off a late Steele Canyon charge ti slide past the Cougars in the GHL finale.

The victory was the 11th straght for Helix *16-1 overall) to extend its conference and East County record.

Steele Canyon (10-10), th defneding league champions, finished in a deadlock for second place — but not as expected.

Yes, the Cougars fell to 4-4 in GHL action to tie Granite Hills, but the expecd\ted three-way deadlock failed to materialize when last-place El Capitan,hich was previously winless in league play, demoonstarted some gumption on Senior Night and pride to take its first-ever GHL contest following its elevfation from the GVL last season when the Vaqueros were leahie titlists in theirfirst season of competition.

El Cap moves to 7-13; the Hillers slip to 12-8 in a rough loss just two days after upsettingGranite Hills.

The lone contest involving a local program on Friday finds Madison at Patrick Henry in Western League action in an speical early 4:30 p.m. start.

— Nick Pellegrino