Roundup: Semifinal wins set up Division 1 final showdown between Granite Hills, Lincoln

When you have a quarterback who has thrown for more than 3,000 yards, the running game takes a back seat.

That changed Friday, as Granite Hills High School rushed 34 times for a season-high 231 yards in a 52-30 win over Mount Miguel in the CIF San Diego Section Division 1 semifinals.

Second-seeded Granite Hills (9-3) plays No. 1-seeded Lincoln (9-2) for the Division 1 championship at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Southwestern College.

“Mount Miguel was backing out, dropping guys into pass coverage, daring us to run,” said Granite Hills coach Kellan Cobbs. “Our offensive line stepped up, stepped up like they hadn’t all season. And our backs ran hard.”

Havel Haji, Julian Bailey, Deegan Gilbert, Seth Hisch and Jeramiah Maze anchor a Granite Hills offensive line that opened holes for running backs Gage Spalding, Seth Rodriguez, Anthony Mattar and quarterback Zac Benitez.

Mattar rushed six times for 77 yards. Rodriguez had nine carries for 75. Spalding had 13 carries for 51 yards and a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs.

Benitez had four carries for 28 yards while throwing for a season-low 138 yards. He came into Friday’s game with 3,377 passing yards and 44 TDs.

The Eagles had 11 runs of more than 10 yards … four by Mattar, three by Rodriguez and two by Spalding and Benitez.

“Zac wanted to throw the ball because that’s what we do, that’s what Zac does,” Cobbs said. “He was anxious, wanted to attack. And while he’s a great passer, he’s maturing as a quarterback as a leader. Most games, we lean on Zac.

“But to win this game, we needed to run the ball. It’s about winning the game, and he understands that. He did a great job of running the offense, the backs ran hard and the offensive line was better than it has been all season.

“Plus, the defense was physical.”

Braydon Wells had a defensive score on a 15-yard interception return. Willie Spain, Wyatt MacLeod and Parker Johnson had sacks.

And the Eagles stopped Mount  Miguel four times on fourth down.

Division 1 semifinal

(1) Lincoln 49, (4) San Marcos 35: Junior Curtis rushed for 320 yards on 31 carries and scored four touchdowns for Lincoln (10-2). It was Curtis’ second straight 300-yard rushing game. He ran for 307 yards and three TDs in a quarterfinal win against Poway. The Hornets rushed for 461 yards while completing just one pass. Rashad Robinson gained 85 yards on eight carries and scored two TDs. The Hornets forced four second-half turnovers to overcome a 28-21 halftime deficit. Jaevoyion Allen had an interception and fumble recovery. Alvin Gaston hit the end zone on a scoop and score. For San Marcos (7-5), Kreet Makihele had TD passes of 76 and 19 yards to Zeke McIntyre, 45 yards to Cutter Voohees and had an 8-yard TD run. Caron Monagan had a 75-yard TD on a kickoff return.

Division 2 semifinals

(1) Santa Fe Christian 35, (12) Scripps Ranch 20: Santa Fe Christian (12-0) scored 13 points in the third quarter to take the lead and take charge of the game. The Eagles were held to 38 rushing yards on 21 attempts by Scripps Ranch (7-6), so SFC went to the air. Dax Labrum completed 17 of 27 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Chase Woolley caught nine passes for 110 yards and a TD, He also had 110 yards on two kickoff returns and a 52-yard punt return. Brady Berg caught two passes for 40 yards and a TD, had a 7-yard TD run and, playing defense, intercepted a pass and made 10 tackles. Baylen Brees made his only catch count for a 21-yard TD. Brody Caffrey returned an interception 95 yards for a TD. Owen Baker also had an interception. Cole Hajjar had 14 tackles while Brady Scott added 11. SFC plays Steele Canyon at 7 p.m. Friday at Southwestern College.

(2) Steele Canyon 21, (11) San Diego 7: Gavin Caha threw two touchdown passes to Jacob Henton, and Abel Lopez bulled in from 2 yards out to pace Steele Canyon (9-3). The Cougars led 14-7 at halftime before Caha found Henton from 32 yards out with 6 minutes to play to clinch the win. Henton, who had five catches for 63 yards, had not played football since suffering a knee injury in basketball as a freshman, but talked his parents into giving football a try his senior season. For San Diego (7-6), Kye Cooper scored on a 1-yard run.

Division 3 semifinals

(1) Central Union 44, (4) University City 42: Matthew Lizaola rushed 33 times for 263 yards and five touchdowns as Central Union (10-2) held off University City in the final seconds. Running from the Wildcat formation, he accounted for 36 of Central’s points as he added three 2-point conversion runs. Junior Camarena gained 87 yards on 16 carries and a TD as the Spartans rushed for 379 yards. University City trailed by two when Central’s CJ Acosta muffed a kickoff and the Centurions recovered.  Acosta, however, would prove to be the hero when he broke up a University City pass in the end zone in the closing seconds to deny the Spartans. For University City (6-6), Quentyn DeMara threw for 184 yards and two TDs. Deshaun Hille rushed for 126 yards and two scores. DJ Ferguson had a touchdown catch and a 90-yard kickoff return for a score. Central Union advances to Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. title game at Southwestern College.

(6) Christian 20, (2) Army-Navy 17: Kaleb Runkle threw two second-half touchdown passes for Christian (6-7). Runkle passed for 96 yards and rushed for 51. Julian Morones rushed for 81 yards on 10 carries. Soren Lucy intercepted a pass and caught a 2-yard TD pass. For Army-Navy (9-2), Landon Schrom returned a kickoff 96 yards for a TD. Judah Bogard hit Roy Samoa with an 80-yard TD pass.

Division 4 semifinals

(5) Eastlake 21, (1) Westview 17: Eastlake (7-6) used a fake punt to extend a drive and win the game. Facing fourth-and-7 from the Westview 49-yard line, Eastlake gained 14 yards and the first down. Three plays later, quarterback Tyler Balko scampered 24 yards for the winning score. David Branco had an interception to stop a Westview (7-5) fourth-quarter drive, then Maximo Acosta sealed the win with an interception. Balko passed for 79 yards and rushed 15 times for 85 yards and two TDs. David Branco rushed 10 times for 76 yards and a TD, while Ryan Branco had an interception. Westview rushed 19 times for just 54 yards, but Matt Guimond completed 17 of 29 passes for 228 yards and TD passes of 39 yards to Miles Miranda and 9 yards to Joshua Haney. Evan Levine had four catches for 70 yards. Eastlake advances to play Valley Center at noon Saturday at Southwestern College for the championship.

(4) Valley Center 42, La Jolla Country Day 35: Valley Center scored twice in the third quarter to break a tie and take control. Joeisha Ryan Tirado carried 36 times for 297 yards with touchdown runs of 10, 15, 20 and 23 yards to lead Valley Center (6-6). Braylon Mitchell completed 15 of 21 passes for 145 yards with TD strikes of 17 and 29 yards to Gauge Wright. Mitchell Stehly led the Valley Center defense. Jett Astephen completed 31 of 46 passes for 377 yards and four TDs for  La Jolla Country Day (6-7). Astephen had TD throws of 37 yards to James PIcnich, 83 and 26 yards to Hesh Hertz and 26 yards to Quentin Cesaire. Hersh had eight catches for 140 yards. Picnich had seven receptions for 103 yards. Keenan Ward had a 1-yard TD run for the Torreys.

Division 5 semifinals

(9) Hoover 10, (4) Canyon Hills 6: Phyrom Ivory returned an onside kick 46 yards for the go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter and Hoover advanced. On third-and-goal from the 8, Taani Tuipulotu intercepted a pass to preserve the win. Hezekiah Manuel passed for 171 yards and rushed for 73 for Hoover. For Canyon Hills (7-5), Daniel Westhafer returned an interception 92 yards for a TD. Hoover (7-6) plays Morse in the championship game at 3 p.m. Friday at Southwestern College.

(2) Morse 50, (3) Monte Vista 12: Superior Garror scored three touchdowns and intercepted two passes for Morse (8-4). Alex Smith scored twice on the ground. Monte Vista finishes 6-6.

Don Norcross, Steve Brand, Rick Hoff, Bernie Wilson, Breven Honda, and Clark Fahrenthold contributed to this report.