Tomrorow’s UT-San Diego football poll undoubtedly will list Oceanside No. 1.
How far will Helix fall from first after its 9-7 loss to Cathedral?
I listed them fourth in my vote, behind Oceanside, Mission Hills, and Cathedral.
“I told you we weren’t that good,” Helix coach Troy Starr reminded writer Don Norcross.
Starr knew whereof he spoke.
Slick and fast, Helix barged down the field for an early touchdown and then…nothing.
Cathedral, recovering from a 55-10 loss to Folsom in the season opener, kept the Highlanders at bay, pounding the ball inside, using the clock, and gathering momentum defensively.
How bad was Cathedral in the opener?
Bad enough, but no worse than Folsom’s next three opponents.
The Bulldogs followed their rout of the Dons by defeating usually strong Clovis North, 49-13; Elk Grove Pleasant Grove, 56-6, and Sacramento Luther Burbank, 61-13.
SWEETWATER RISING
Coach Brian Hay’s Sweetwater Red Devils won their 12th game in a row and broke an 11-game losing streak to Chula Vista, 17-7, in the preeminent San Diego Section rivalry.
No other schools can boast a series that played out for the 68th consecutive season.
“This game is almost too important because everyone puts so much emphasis on one game,” said Hay, who has turned around the Sweetwater program with a ground-eating wing-T offense.
Sweetwater’s win gave the Red Devils a 38-28-2 edge in the all-time series.
HOW GOOD ARE KNIGHTS?
Is San Marcos stronger than the 9-5 team that lost to Christian, 19-7, in the IV finals in 2013?
The Knights are 4-0 for the first time since 1984 after a 13-8 victory over Fallbrook.
“Right now I don’t feel very 4-0,” said coach Jason Texler to writer Terry Monahan. “Throwing is what we do best and we struggled.”
Quarterback James Harwell was more pragmatic: “I’ll feel better about being 4-0 in the morning.”
FOOTHILLERS EXPLOSION
Grossmont’s 75 points against Hilltop (25) have been bettered only 20 times in County history and tied the Foothillers for the 31st highest one-game total by an 11-man team.
Under coach Tom Karlo, who moved from Mount Miguel to his alma-mater in 2013, the Foothillers have made the scoreboard blink.
Grossmont scored 61, 63, and 69, in three games last season. It had scored at least 60 points only twice before in the school’s 95-season history.
The Foothillers defeated Monte Vista, 61-7, in 2010 and West Hills, 65-8, in 1989. They also had a 59-0 victory over Escondido in 1929.
