Helix Trounces Torrey Pines, Advances to CIF Semifinals Against Mission Hills

On a cool night at Jim Arnaiz Field, Helix Charter High School was hot from the start, sprinting to a 30-0 halftime lead over Torrey Pines in the CIF San Diego Division II quarterfinal playoff game. With 2:40 left in the game, the Falcons scored on a touchdown pass. But it was too little too late. The No. 1 Scotties walked off the field as the clock ran down, winners 44-7.

Helix scored first with 9:27 in the first quarter on a 56-yard TD pass from quarterback Brandon Lewis to Cameron Lee. Five minutes later on the clock, Darrion Hancock made it 14-0 with a 3-yard run, and with 1:09 left in the first quarter, Lewis found No.34 for a 34-yard passing score.

In the second quarter, Michael Adkins ran the ball 54 yards to the Torrey 13-yard line, and left with a field goal by Vann Sabin and 23-0 lead. With 8:40 left in the half, Jimmy Pruitt intercepted an Andrew Perkins pass, and 11 seconds later Lewis scored on a quarterback sneak, raising the lead to 30-0.

The Falcons’ Brandon Williams intercepted Brandon Lewis with 6:11 left in the first half for a rare turnover against the Highlanders.  But Kendal Keys returned the favor in the third quarter, picking off a Torrey Pines throw at midfield. Later, Kacy Smith got another interception for the Scotties, and a 3-yard TD run by Hancock and 43-yard TD pass to Pruitt extended the Helix lead to 44-0 by the end of the third quarter.  Torrey Pines, coached by Scott Ashby, ended the season 5-7.

Troy Starr’s Helix team (10-1) hosts No. 4 seed Mission Hills High School of San Marcos at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Grizzlies beat Steele Canyon 21-7 Friday night to set up a Division II semifinal. The other semifinal pits defending champion Oceanside against La Costa Canyon, with the winners meeting the following Monday at Qualcomm Stadium and a county crown at stake.