The following was submitted to La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch by Michael Byerline, starting center on the Grossmont HS junior varsity football team:
The Hillers had a strong first half on Friday night against Bonita Vista with the Barons trailing at the half 27-7. But the excitement continued in the second half with Bonita putting some pressure on Grossmont in the 4th quarter. However, they were not able to pull through giving the Hillers their third win, with the final score of 48-25.
Passing to wideout Jeff Bowers seemed to be the theme in the first quarter as QB Anthony Lawrence found him as a notable target. With a pair of touchdowns, one being an 80-yard catch-and-run, he was a key player in scoring those 48 points. A Bonita wide receiver managed a few catches with a great 30-yd catch under pressure that foreshadowed a TD for Bonita on a 4-yd. run by No. 7.
With only one touchdown in the 2nd quarter, the Barons especially had some issues with a long drive, resulting in just a field goal. Following a sack by linebacker Justin Peace, Ryan Green intercepted a pass from the Barons QB ending their second drive of the quarter. Shortly after, Marlon Lampart for the Hillers gets a 40-yard catch and run but is stopped short before the half.
Lawrence had a rough second half getting sacked for the second time for a 5-yard loss. But he rebounded handing off the ball to Lampart for a 49-yard rushing touchdown. With Bonita's only drive of the quarter, they got intercepted again by Green, his second interception of the night. The quarter ended with a score of 34-10.
The Barons finally start rallying in the 4th scoring two TD’s with a short pass to No. 6 and an 80 yard catch-and-run. A recovered onside kick by Bonita fell short as their drive was stopped and turned over to the Hillers, who capitalized and sealed the victory with a two-yard run by No. 24 Josh Anderson.
I talked to coach Tom Karlo at the end of the game, because earlier he said the goal of the game was to score 50 points. He said:
“It was really just a goal because scoring 20 or 30 points in a game is usually considered ‘low’. But I am satisfied with the 48 points because I got to get everyone in the game.”
