Pirates buck Braves behind Finlinson INTs

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: October 28, 2026

Harper Finlinson, of the Oceanside Pirates

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FLAG FOOTBALL
CIFSDS Championships

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS senior writer

EL CAJON — A less-than-auspicious showing by Grossmont Valley League schools found only one team coming out on top during Tuesday’s (Oct. 27) opening round of the CIF San Diego Section flag football championships — and the victory did not come from either of the GVL co-champions.

The lone GVL winner was third-place Santana, which walloped Escondido, 35-13, in Division 4 action.

However, El Cajon Valley and West Hills combined for only one touchdown in suffering early exits from the section playoffs.

Division 4

Oceanside 26, El Cajon Valley 7

EL CAJON — El Cajon Valley’s first foray into the flag football playoffs proved fruitful — but only during the first quarter.

Holding a 7-6 lead through the opening 10 minutes, the Braves committed three major mistakes during the second quarter, leading to 20 unanswered Oceanside points as the Pirates eliminated the hosts, 26-7, at Priest Field.

Oceanside, the 57th and final school to enter the postseason, needed to defeat Orange Glen in a special play-in contest Monday to earn a berth in the main draw.

Once there, Pirates cornerback Harper Finlinson almost single-handedly tormented the Braves.

Finlinson, a sophomore, registered a CIFSDS playoff-record three interceptions, including a pick-six during the middle of Oceanside’s 20-point run. She also recorded seven flag pulls and disrupted El Cajon Valley’s top receivers throughout the contest.

“I just saw the ball and knew I needed to get it,” Finlinson said. “I put all my work into getting it — and I got it.”

“We use a zone defense, so after I make sure they’re not running the ball, I just sit back and then go to the ball.”

The interception return for a touchdown gave Oceanside two scores in less than a minute and a 20-7 advantage.

The Braves’ second-quarter freefall began when they dropped a punt snap, giving Oceanside possession at the ECV-9.

Moments later, Pirates quarterback Shayne Smith connected with Lyla Wood for a 9-yard touchdown — the first of two scoring connections between the teammates.

On the next series, Finlinson raced 41 yards on her first interception return.

Late in the first half, another Finlinson interception led to another Smith-to-Wood touchdown and a 19-point halftime cushion.

The second half went scoreless. The Braves’ only drive into Oceanside territory was again stopped by Finlinson.

El Cajon Valley completed two short passes for modest gains as Oceanside settled into soft zone coverage. Finlinson made flag pulls on two consecutive completions before intercepting the third pass of the sequence.

“We were just in a zone,” Finlinson said. “On that third-down pass, I was hoping to tip the ball, but I got my hands on it.”

Oceanside (8-14 overall), the No. 12 seed, advances to Thursday’s quarterfinal against No. 4 Liberty Charter of Alpine. The game is scheduled for Joan MacQueen Middle School.

The Pirates have won three consecutive contests for only the second time this season.

El Cajon Valley (11-9), which previously fashioned a seven-game winning streak — including six victories in GVL play — concluded October with consecutive losses while being outscored 61-13.

Division 3

Mabel O’Farrell Charter 13, West Hills 0

SKYLINE — Mabel O’Farrell Charter posted its ninth shutout of the season, eliminating 12th-seeded West Hills from the CIFSDS Division 3 playoffs.

The Panthers allowed the Wolf Pack to cross midfield only twice during the contest.

At least the West Hills defense could take some solace in limiting O’Farrell to its lowest point total in any of the Panthers’ nine shutout victories.

O’Farrell (17-3) next travels to south Escondido to meet No. 4 San Pasqual in the quarterfinals.

West Hills finishes 10-7, improving upon its 8-8 record during the program’s inaugural 2025 season.