Granite Hills Takes Different Route to Beat Chula Vista: Defense

EL CAJON — Since nobody else had overpowered Chula Vista High’s defense this year, Granite Hills knew that its usually potent offense might not be enough Friday night.

So the Eagles found another way to win--by playing good defense.

Granite Hills (11-0) allowed only a third-quarter touchdown in defeating Chula Vista, 10-7, in a first-round San Diego Section 3-A football playoff game.

Chula Vista (8-3) got its only touchdown on an 11-yard run by Sione Fehoko with 2:06 remaining in the third quarter. The Spartans had set up the score on a 73-yard flea-flicker pass from Brian Murphy to Fernando Cavazos.

When George Brynd kicked the extra point, Chula Vista had forced a tie at 7-7.

However, Granite Hills’ Robert Padillo returned the ensuing kickoff 63 yards to the Chula Vista 26. Moments later, Aaron Petrich kicked a 23-yard field goal, giving the Eagles a 10-7 lead with seven seconds remaining in the third quarter. It was the second time in 11 games that Chula Vista had allowed more than nine points.

After the go-ahead field goal, the Granite Hills defense twice held Chula Vista in critical fourth-quarter situations.

Pete Mikolajewski intercepted a pass by Murphy with 6:26 remaining, giving Granite Hills possession at the Chula Vista 41. Brynd intercepted Donnie Carroll’s pass on the next play.

Later in the quarter, Chula Vista drove to the Eagle 23. Murphy then threw a 19-yard pass to Fehoko, but the play was nullified by a clipping penalty.

Granite Hills had taken the lead 3:22 into the game on a 55-yard pass from Carroll to Todd Parker on a second-and-38 play. Parker caught the ball behind two defenders.