Schools
Mission Accomplished: Helix Will Face Oceanside on Monday for CIF Title
Scotties beat Grizzlies of Mission Hills High 21-0, will meet defending champ Pirates at Qualcomm.
Led by Darrion Hancock’s two touchdowns and a Rock of Gilbraltar defense, Helix Charter High School beat Mission Hills of San Marcos 21-0 Thursday night and returned to the CIF San Diego Division II title game for the first time in two years.
It was only the second time this season the visiting Grizzlies had been held scoreless—after a season-opening 27-0 loss to powerful St. John Bosco High School of Bellflower.
Coach Troy Starr’s Scotties will meet their old nemesis—the seven-time defending champion Oceanside Pirates, who beat La Costa Canyon High School 27-7 in the night’s other semifinal. A year ago, Oceanside bested Helix 24-17 in the semifinals.
The championship game is at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Qualcomm Stadium. (See the brackets.)
Last year’s broken dream of an undefeated season can be avenged when the Highlanders take the field at the home of the Chargers in three days—this time ranked the top team in the county, in any division.
“I wouldn’t want to play any other team than Oceanside,” Helix running back Hancock told The San Diego Union-Tribune. “I believe we are going to play harder than we would have against any other team.”
The Highlanders led only by only 7-0 until 24 seconds remained in the first half. But then quarterback Brandon Lewis threw a touchdown pass to Jimmy Pruitt. With a third-quarter TD and a 2-point conversion, the score was 21-0. Neither team could score in the fourth quarter, but Pruitt picked off a pass to make up for an earlier Helix fumble, sealing the victory.
As the teams passed each other single-file for the traditional trade of hand-slaps, the 7-5-1 Grizzlies gave the 11-1 Scotties a constant refrain: “Good luck on Monday.”
