high school football

ECM FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS PLAYOFF EDITION: NOA 12/325 WITH 5 TDS AS HIGHLANDERS RUN OVER FOOTHILLERS IN QUARTERFINAL 68-7

 

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live in-game updates!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

November 9, 2018 (La Mesa) - A team that should be in the playoffs against a team hanging on by the seat of their pants.  This playoff edition of ECM Friday Night Lights takes us to Helix again, where the Scottie dawgs faced off with Grossmont in round two of the Battle for the Musket and the CIF Division I quarterfinal.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

ECM FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: FOUR-TOUCHDOWN THIRD LIFTS HELIX OVER GRANITE HILLS

 

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live in-game coverage and updates!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

October 19, 2018 (El Cajon) - Unbelievable that it’s late October already, but we’re already on week nine of the prep football season and ECM Friday Night Lights is at Granite Hills for what should be a high-scoring matchup between the undefeated-in-league (5-3 overall, 3-0 league) Scottie Dawgs from Helix and the undefeated-in-every-sense-of-the-word Eagles (8-0 overall, 3-0 league).  The winner of this game is crowned the Grossmont Hills Championship game winner.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

ECM FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: JAMACHA TROPHY STAYS WITH COUGARS IN RAIN-DELAYED GAME

 

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live in-game coverage and updates!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

October 13, 2018 (El Cajon) - It happens every year; the Cougars make their way up the hill from Campo Road to Hillsdale Road for a battle to claim the street that unites them both.  Week eight of ECM Friday Night Lights brings you the midseason East County classic, the Battle for the Jamacha Trophy.  It’s been a year since Thomas Fishburne led the Cougars to victory on Norse turf to keep Steele Canyon the owners of Jamacha Road.  He’s at Southwestern College now.  Can the Cougars still defend their stretch of pavement without him?


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

ECM FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: EAGLES REMAIN PERFECT AFTER BATTLE WITH GROSSMONT

 

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live in-game updates!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

October 5, 2018 (El Cajon) - After a much-needed week off, ECM Friday Night Lights is back for week seven of high school football.  This week, we come to you from Grossmont High School, where the Foothillers sport a record that’s a little out of character--2-4--but have gotten a good head start in Grossmont League play, winning 51-7 over Valhalla last week.  Tonight they host the Eagles of Granite Hills, who walk onto Lt. Thomas M. Adams Field undefeated with a 6-0 record amd look to stay that way.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

ECM FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: EL CAP HANDS WOLF PACK FIRST LOSS IN INAUGURAL TONY BURNER MEMORIAL GAME

 

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live in-game updates!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

September 22, 2018 (Santee) - ECM Sports is excited about this week’s edition of Friday Night Lights.  It comes to you from West Hills for the first time, where the incredibly aesthetically pleasing blue field greeted us.  Tonight, the Pack hosted the Vaqueros of El Capitan in the inaugural Tony Burner Memorial Cup, named after the late Wolfpack quarterback and Vaquero coordinator who passed away a year ago.  Burner was the son of El Capitan head coach Ron Burner.  These two are polar opposites of each other; the Vaqueros were struggling at 1-3 heading into tonight, while the Wolf Pack were undefeated at 4-0.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

ECM FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: HIGHLANDERS RISE ABOVE SAINTS' STRONG D; GET 35-14 STATEMENT WIN

 

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

September 14, 2018 (La Mesa) - Week five of Friday Night Lights takes us to Helix for the first time.  The Highlanders are facing a rare uphill battle early in the season; they’re 1-3 and tonight they faced the Saints of St. Augustine.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

ECM FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: MCCLENDON RACKS UP FOUR TOUCHDOWNS AS MONARCHS MAKE QUICK WORK OF PATRIOTS

 

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

August 31, 2018 (Spring Valley) - Chugging along, week three of ECM Friday Night Lights takes us to Spring Valley for the first time in 2018, where the Monte Vista Monarchs, led by their explosive senior running back and SDSU commit Jahmon McClendon, took on the Patriots of Patrick Henry, who are coming off an embarrassing 43-0 loss to Morse last week.  McClendon scored five rushing touchdowns in the Monarchs’ 48-21 win over University City last week.  You might recall this matchup from last year, when ECM Sports reported on McClendon’s five rushing touchdowns that beat Patrick Henry 34-27.  This year, however, McClendon wouldn’t let the Pats even touch the Monarchs.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

ECM FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: PACK SLAY NORSE, MOVE TO 2-0

 

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!
Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!


Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!


Story and photos by Liz Alper

August 24, 2018 (El Cajon) - Week two of ECM Friday Night Lights takes us to El Cajon for a huge early season East County matchup between the Valhalla Norsemen and the West Hills Wolf Pack.  The Norsemen are coming off a 41-14 loss at University City last week, while the Pack come back to San Diego carrying the momentum from a 20-3 win against Southwest El Centro.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

ECM FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: SULTANS CONQUER RED HAWKS AT HOME TO OPEN SEASON

 

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

August 18, 2018 (Santee) - It’s finally back.  You’ve waited all winter, spring and summer for it.  ECM Friday Night Lights has returned and it’s back and better than ever.  Our first stop is to Santana High, where we also got our first glimpse of not only the 2018 Sultans, but also of the Red Hawks, who made the journey in from Mountain Empire High School in Pine Valley.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

CHRISTIAN EXTENDS LEAD LATE TO BEAT WEST HILLS

By Liz Alper
 
November 18, 2015 (El Cajon) - In the first round of CIF football playoffs, the West Hills High School Wolfpack and the Christian High School Patriots met at Granite Hills High School last Friday night.
 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

RENO DISPATCH: WEST SIDE STORY: THE GREATEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME EVER PLAYED?

January 2, 2013 (San Diego) – Talk about your Friday Night Lights. It was 35 years ago that arguably the greatest high school football game in America was played, and the greatest high school rivalry was born. And the game wasn't played in Texas. Or California. It was played in Central Iowa.

The game in 1977 between the Valley Tigers and the Dowling Maroons, both of West Des Moines, Iowa, was epic. It created a high school rivalry that USA TODAY recently called one of the greatest in the nation. Well, I say it is the best in the nation.

http://therenodispatch.blogspot.com/2012/12/west-side-story-greatest-hig...


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

HELIX WINS GROSSMONT HILLS TITLE WITH 26-7 WIN OVER STEELE CANYON

by Christopher Mohr

November 13, 2010 (La Mesa) - Friday night's football game at Helix High School between the host Highlanders and the visiting Cougars from Steele Canyon High School effectively amounted to a league championship game. The CIF may not have planned it that way, but both teams have had outstanding seasons; Helix had a 9-0 record, while Steele Canyon was 8-1.

 

The game began as a stalemate, but the Cougars blinked first, making costly mistakes that the Highlanders capitalized on en route to a 26-7 win and a Grossmont Hills league title.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: FOOTHILLERS SURVIVE TURNOVERS, HOLD ON TO 21-14 WIN OVER EAGLES

by Christopher Mohr

 

November 4, 2010 (El Cajon) - It's hard to argue with the old sports adage that says the scoreboard does not lie. The final score does after all, trump any yardage statistics, hypothetical situations known as 'ifs' and 'buts' and any excuses fans make to defend their team. While the scoreboard may not lie, it doesn't tell the whole story either. Such was the case Friday night (10/29) at Grossmont High School where the host Foothillers defeated the visiting Eagles of Granite Hills High School, 21-14.

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: AMBUSH IN THE HIGHLANDS - SCOTTIES WIN MUSKET WITH 41-0 BLOWOUT OVER FOOTHILLERS

by Christopher Mohr

 

October 25th, 2010 (La Mesa) - Domination. That word best describes how the Highlanders of Helix High School played last Friday night (10/22) in their homecoming game at Jim Arnaiz Field against the Foothillers of Grossmont High School. Not only did the Foothillers not score in this game, they could not get a first down from their own effort until near the end of the third quarter. The Highlanders' offense was as good at scoring points as their defense was at denying them and the end result was a 41-0 blowout win.

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: COUGARS DOMINATE EAGLES IN 49-16 ROUT

"This is our most balanced, complete team we've had. That's what makes it special."

-- Steele Canyon head football coach Ron Boehmke

 

by Christopher Mohr

 

October 20, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) - It might come across as arrogant if Steele Canyon High School changed their motto, 'You Cannot Bend Steele', by tacking on 'especially with Granite' to the end, but after Friday night's (10/15) homecoming game it would be hard to argue with such a statement. The host Cougars scored early and often against the visiting Eagles of Granite Hills High School in a 49-16 rout. 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: SULTANS' COMEBACK BID FALLS SHORT IN 23-21 LOSS TO WARHAWKS

by Christopher Mohr

 
October 11th, 2010 (San Diego) - Friday night's (10/8) high school football game between the Santana Sultans and San Diego Madison Warhawks at Mira Mesa High School was one of the more competitive matchups in the San Diego Section. On several occasions, it seemed as though the Warhawks' team speed would allow them to take control of the game. However, the hard nosed Sultans' defense came up with big plays to keep the game close. Unfortunately their effort was not enough to keep Madison from escaping with a 23-21 win.

Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: FOOTHILLERS HOLD ON AGAINST EAGLES WITH 23-14 WIN, NOW 4-0

"You can't get any better than 4-0. We have a lot of room to grow and we can improve on every aspect of the game, but the bottom line is that we played four and we won four, so you can't get any better than that."   -- Ron Murphy, head football coach, Grossmont High School

 

by Christopher Mohr

September 27th, 2010 (El Cajon) - The Foothillers of Grossmont High School faced off at home against Santa Fe Christian in a non-league football game Friday night (9/24) at Lt. Thomas M. Adams Field. Grossmont learned just how determined the Eagles can be after fighting off their last-second comeback bid and holding on for a 23-14 win.

 

It was a fitting way to celebrate Grossmont's 90th annivesary. at a game attended by many alumni in town for an all-classes reunion. 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: HIGHLANDERS STRUGGLE TO 14-7 WIN OVER DONS

by Christopher Mohr

 

September 21st, 2010 (San Diego) - Darrien Hancock rushed for a personal best total of 233 yards and scored the winning touchdown as the Highlanders of Helix High School defeated the Cathedral Catholic Dons on their home field in Carmel Valley by a score of 14-7 Friday night. Helix overcame penalties, dropped passes and a tough Dons defense to pull out the win against the defending 2009 Division III CIF champions.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

HELIX ALUMNI REGGIE BUSH FORFEITS 2005 HEISMAN TROPHY

by Christopher Mohr

 

September 17, 2010 (La Mesa) - Former Helix High School football standout Reggie Bush has decided to forfeit the Heisman Trophy that he won in 2005 while playing for the University of Southern California. Bush's decision comes before the Heisman Trophy Trust, the award's governing body, was expected to vote to strip Bush of his award. It marks the first time in the trophy's 75 year history that it has been forfeited. 

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: COUGARS DROP BARONS 28-14, NOW 2-0 ON THE SEASON

 

"I think our kids kept fighting, the offense--when the defense surrendered points, came back...our kids handled adversity well."

-- Steele Canyon Head Coach Ron Boehmke

 

by Christopher Mohr

 

September 14, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) - When a team wins by a score of 28-14, it's not indicative of a blowout or total domination, but usually the winning team had some degree of control over the game. Although Steele Canyon won by that score Friday night at home against Bonita Vista (from Chula Vista), the game was much closer than the final score would suggest. The Cougars overcame dropped passes, turnovers, penalties and injuries in a hard-fought win over the Barons and improved to 2-0 on the season. 

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

SULTANS OF SANTEE: SANTANA GETS MAYOR'S CUP WITH 31-20 WIN OVER WEST HILLS

 

"It was the biggest play of my life. We had a whole line of blockers and I went the whole way untouched." -- Zach Breidt, after scoring a 95-yard touchdown.

 

By Christopher Mohr

 

September 8, 2010 (Santee) - For years, the battle for the Mayor's Cup has been a tradition between Santana and West Hills, rival high schools both based in Santee.

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: NORSEMEN WIN GRIDIRON BATTLE OF THE HIGH SEAS WITH 38-0 WIN OVER BUCCANEERS

 

by Christopher Mohr

 

September 7, 2010 (San Diego/Pacific Beach) - Friday afternoon's football season opener between the Valhalla High School Norsemen and the host Buccaneers of Mission Bay High School was a matchup between two playoff contenders from last season.  East County's Valhalla proved victorious in a crushing 38-0 blow-out.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

GAME OF THE WEEK – POINTERS HUNT DOWN COUGARS, FACE CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC AT STADIUM ON FRIDAY

by Christopher Mohr

 

(SAN DIEGO) December 4 – The early trend of tonight’s game between the Steele Canyon Cougars and Point Loma Pointers suggested that a shootout was in the making. For much of the game, it seemed as if both teams would continue to trade touchdowns and the old adage that the last team having the ball would win this game might come true.

 

Ultimately Point Loma’s running game took control and Steele Canyon was unable to respond, allowing the Pointers to go ahead late in the game and hold on for a 30-26 win.

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

GAME OF THE WEEK: VALHALLA HOLDS ON TO BEAT MT. MIGUEL IN THRILLER, 36-29

by Christopher Mohr

Valhalla's James Leighton

 

(RANCHO SAN DIEGO) October 16 - Friday night's game between Valhalla High School's Norsemen and the Mt. Miguel Matadors had nearly everything a fan could want: a closely contested match between two competitive, talented teams that would not be decided until almost the last minute. It was a game that truly lived up to all the hype it received beforehand.

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.