Big Second Half Lifts Grossmont Over Mar Vista 32-21

Grossmont High football coach Ron Murphy wasn't overly concerned when his team fell behind in the second quarter at Mar Vista in Imperial Beach on Friday night. Even with a late field goal, the Foothillers still trailed 14-10 at the half and weren't doing a very good job stopping the Mariners' vaunted ground game.

Not to worry. In a battle of previously unbeaten teams, Grossmont used a 22-point second half to claim a 32-21 victory, improving to 3-0-1 while dropping Mar Vista to 3-1.

"We've come from behind in pretty much every one of our games this season," said Murphy, whose team fell behind 20-0 to Ramona in the season opener before rebounding for a 24-20 win. "It's just a case of us focusing on the fundamentals of blocking and tackling. I told them to stay the course and things will work out OK."

The tide turned just under three minutes into the third quarter when Grossmont wide receiver Ryan Green took a handoff on an end-around play and scored from just inside the red zone. A two-point conversion by Ryan Davis-Tucker gave the Foothillers an 18-14 lead.

It didn't last long. Keevin Moore capped a quick Mariner drive with a 5-yard touchdown run at the 6:38 mark of the third quarter and Mar Vista was back on top 21-18.

But Grossmont regained the lead for good 22 seconds later. After a late-hit penalty was added on to the kickoff return to put the ball across midfield, sophomore quarterback Anthony Lawrence found Green open across the middle and he darted to the end zone untouched.

It looked as if the 25-21 lead wouldn't last very long when a strong kickoff return put Mar Vista on the Grossmont 23. But the defense held and the only other score came with 4:41 left in the game when Jeff Bowers made it in to the corner of the end zone.

Mar Vista coach Brian Hay was philosophical about his team's first loss.

"We had a bad week of practice, and maybe we needed a reality check," he said. "They're a good Division I football team. I give them full credit."

Next Friday at Homecoming, the Foothillers host Monte Vista.