Brandon Lewis, Kacy Smith Lead 9 Scotties on All-CIF Football Teams

Updated at 10:20 p.m. Dec. 18, 2011

The football team at Helix Charter High School continues to make history—and news—as it prepares for Saturday’s Division II state championship game in Carson.

On Thursday, Scotties senior quarterback Brandon Lewis was named the Union-Tribune’s county Offensive Player of the Year, and teammate Kacy Smith was named county Defensive Player of the Year.

In fact, nine Highlander football players made All-CIF section first or second teams. The other first-teamers were senior running back Darrion Hancock, senior wide receiver Cameron Lee, senior defensive lineman Gary Thompson and senior defensive back Jimmy Pruitt.

The second team honorees were offensive lineman Augie Lugo,  junior linebacker Rocky Fuga and junior defensive lineman Amu Milo.

Helix athletic director Damon Chase said having nine players from the same school on the all-section football teams may be a record. But the last time one team had both offensive and defensive Players of the Year was 1996—when Castle Park had Gabe Lujan (offense) and Zeke Moreno, who shared the honor with a Vista player. Rancho Buena Vista High School had two offensive players of the year in 1989.

Helix now boasts five CIF San Diego section players of the year since 1960, when the award began with the San Diego Hall of Champions—Jim Plum in 1980 and 1981, Jeff Hammerschmidt in 1985 (defense) and Reggie Bush (offense) in 2001.

“These honors reflect the success of individuals and the team through their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the common goal of winning the league and CIF titles,” Chase said Thursday. “We are proud of the team, coaching staff, and tradition of the Helix football team.”

The final poll of county sportswriters and sportscasters ranked Helix the No. 1 team in the county, according to the San Diego Hall of Champions in Balboa Park. No. 2 was Poway, which won the Division I CIF section title.

“With a lopsided 44-6 victory over [seven]-time defending champion Oceanside in the San Diego Section Division II title game, Helix was a unanimous No. 1 in both the Union-Tribune and Sportswriters/Sportscasters final football polls,” said the Hall of Champions.

On Friday morning, Lewis was profiled on the front page of the Union-Tribune sports section under the headline Helix QB focused and fun-loving.

“I like to make people smile and laugh,” Lewis was quoted as saying. “I’m that kind of person. But I know when to bring it, and I know when it’s time to focus.”