Helix Holds Back But Still Romps Over Grossmont in Annual Musket Game

Troy Starr isn’t much for historical numbers. Leading 45-14 with a minute left and easy scoring distance, the Helix Charter High School coach chose not to run up the score to 52 points.

As in 1952—the year celebrated Friday night at Jim Arnaiz Field as part of a La Mesa Centennial event, with nine players from that long-ago Musket Game in attendance.

Starr directed his quarterback to take a knee at least three times, letting time expire.

In a game that gave the Hillers early hope—a 7-7 tie in the first quarter—another tradition held: No. 3-ranked Helix turning back Grossmont, a team that hasn’t won the crosstown showdown since 1991. At halftime, the Scotties led 36-14.

Both Grossmont scores came on TD passes from junior quarterback Anthony Lawrence to senior Jeff Bowers.

“With all the nostalgia and the 1952 (retro) jerseys, this game got the hype it deserves,” Grossmont coach Tom Karlo was quoted by the U-T as saying. “I know everybody on our campus was pretty excited about it and I’m sure it was the same at Helix.”

See more on the reunion of 1952 Grossmont and Helix teammates.

The U-T counted four times that Karlo threw his hat to protest an onside kick call against his Hillers, now 7-2 overall.

Friday night, Grossmont hosts West Hills, and 7-1 Helix hosts Steele Canyon Charter High School to secure its latest Grossmont Hills League title.