Schools
Hillers Stay Unbeaten, Turn Back Mar Vista High at Homecoming
With a second-half comeback inspired by late coach, host Grossmont raises record to 4-0.
Still inspired by the spirit of late coach Ron Murphy, Grossmont High School extended its unbeaten record to 4-0 Friday night against visiting Mar Vista High School of Imperial Beach.
A “shout-out” over the public-address system in the second half from “Ron Murphy” reminded the Hillers that comebacks are their routine.
After hearing the Murphy motto “Victory belongs to the most persevering,” the Hillers, who had been trailing 0-13 in the first quarter and tied 13-13 at halftime, overcame a Mariners lead in the third quarter. Then the scoring was all Grossmont at Homecoming.
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With a minute and 20 seconds left in the third quarter the score was tied at 21-21. The fourth quarter belonged to Grossmont as it scored two more touchdowns for a 35-21 win.
“Mar Vista is a good team when it comes to holding onto the football,” said Grossmont coach Tom Karlo. “They’re going to third down on every play. They keeping the ball for long periods of time."
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"There were a few errors (for Grossmont), and we were down a little bit from the fumble, but for the most part, the kids just rallied back and scored in spurts.”
Karlo noted the heavy resolve in his players—“and most of all they work really hard.”
He said key plays were two defensive stops in the second quarter, “three-and-out and let our offense get the ball back in a hurry.”
On defense, he credited Donald Bloodworth for three special teams tackles as well as Justin Peace, John Morgan and Hayden Herrington.
Although at the beginning of the season he had hoped the team would win every game he said he has been “surprised by the fashion in which we won. We blow teams out. We’ve been the better team, and we’ve come from behind twice. We’re doing a good job of winning in a variety of ways and that will help down the line.”
Two GHS touchdowns each were scored by Jeff Bowers and Josh Anderson and Marcus Flisher had one.
“Our sideline is always excitable and the kids are cheering for each other,” Karlo said. “There's a great team atmosphere on our sidelines, and that causes us not to get down and we’re able to keep the game close in terms of answering anything that they do.”
Grossmont travels to San Diego High School at 7 p.m. Friday for a rare nonleague game against the Cavers.
