El Camino had an answer for Christian Washington, Helix’s speedy running back.
The Wildcats, however, couldn’t solve Xavier Van, who got loose for 3 long touchdowns, leading the Highlanders to a 28-17 win in the Division I semifinals and a spot in Saturday’s championship game against Lincoln.
Washington, who has 1,851 yards and 25 TDs on the season, was held to 124 yards on 28 carries by El Camino. Of his 28 carries, 11 were for 3 yards or fewer.
With the defense keying on Washington, Helix QB Ryland Jessee completed 10 of 13 es, 2 of those going to Van for TDs of 42 and 25 yards.
And Washington, who had 1-yard TD run, found Van for a 34-yard TD on a halfback .
“My job was easy,” Jessee said of the TD es to a wide-open Van. “I need to get the receivers an opportunity to make a play.
“This team is 100 percent Christian Washington, but when teams key on him, we have other ways to score.”
Van also had an interception late in the game to seal the win.
Lincoln (8-3) exacted some revenge in its 42-14 romp over Madison (9-3). The Warhawks upset Lincoln 14-10 four weeks earlier, but this time Lincoln’s defense was the difference.
The Hornets intercepted 4 es, returning 2 for TDs. Josiah Cox recorded the first Pick 6, bringing it back 46 yards, giving Lincoln a 14-0 lead.
Jahlil Florence intercepted 2 es. He brought his second theft back 42 yards for a TD that gave Lincoln a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter.
“Four interceptions, that’s nuts,” said Florence. “It all starts with our defensive line. They put pressure on the quarterback and forced him to make some bad throws. I was just there to pick off a couple and have some fun.”
Madison junior QB Reggie Johnson came into the game with 16 TD es and only 2 interceptions.
Madison trimmed the deficit to 28-14, but 11 seconds before halftime Jalen Daniels tossed a 47-yard TD with Jalil Tucker making a leaping catch in traffic in the end zone. Daniels has ed for 2,328 yards this season.
Roderick Robinson gained 135 yards on 17 carries and scored 3 TDs. A junior, Robinson rushed for 200 yards and scored 3 TDs in the Hornets’ quarterfinal win over Eastlake. He has rushed for 1,120 yards.
“It feels great, but we know it’s not over,” said Robinson. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to finish this.”
Lincoln will be going for its 10th section title and third under head coach David Dunn (2012, 2018).
Division II
(4) La Jolla 27, (1) Mira Mesa 14: It was quite a week for La Jolla head coach Tyler Roach. On Tuesday, he celebrated the birth of his third son, Griffin Joseph. Three days later, the Vikings knocked off No. 1-seeded Mira Mesa (7-4). Backup QB Kevin Steel completed 16 of 23 es for 321 yards and 3 TDs, plus rushed for 25 yards. Mason Powers caught 7 es for 193 yards and 2 scores, plus intercepted a . Justin Scully had 110 yards in total offense plus 10 tackles. The win by La Jolla (5-7) sets up a 2019 championship game rematch against Scripps Ranch, which the Vikings won 17-10.
(2) Scripps Ranch 28, (6) Rancho Bernardo 7: Scripps Ranch (10-1) survived to advance to Friday’s Division II finals against La Jolla, which beat the Falcons in the 2019 title game. QB Jax Leatherwood was 15 for 25 ing for 171 yards and 2 TDs, giving him 34 for the season. Josh Nguyen rushed for 2 scores. Conor Lawlor caught a 45-yard TD, his 17th score of the season. Xander Medina totaled 13 tackles, an interception, plus caught a 23-yard TD . After a scoreless first quarter, Scripps Ranch stopped Rancho Bernardo (7-6) on downs to set up the first TD, recovered an onside kick to open the second half, recovered a fumble and held the Broncos on downs deep in their territory for TDs. Scripps Ranch had just 224 total yards to 287 yards by the Broncos.
Division III
(4) Ramona 34, (1) Mt. Carmel 7: Ramona (9-3) got 107 yards rushing on 28 carries from RB Cash Jones and 121 yards ing from QB Devin Sobczak to upset top-seeded Mt. Carmel (10-2). Jones scored on runs of 3 and 5 yards and now has 1,052 rushing yards and 11 TDs in 9 games. Sobczak has 1,563 yards ing and 21 TDs. TE Gabriel Lutz caught 3 es for 50 yards and TDs of 4 and 7 yards. The Ramona defense had interceptions by Kyle Pentenaude, Azlan Enrique and Jonny Cohen, who also had one of 4 sacks. Mt. Carmel QB Cayden Gent completed 17 of 34 es for 202 yards. TE Jayden Virgin scored the Sundevils’ TD on a 22-yard run.
(2) Mater Dei Catholic 40, (3) Santa Fe Christian 8: Mater Dei (10-0) stayed perfect and earned a spot in the championship game with a convincing win. QB Dominic Nankil completed his first 8 es and finished 20 of 29 for 277 yards and 5 TDs. Surahz Buncom caught 3 of the TD tosses for 40, 39 and 13 yards. The others went to Cruz Estrada for 18 yards and Chris Snyder for 11. The Crusaders also scored when Jeremiah Cook blocked a punt in the end zone. Santa Fe Christian (10-1) QB Thomas Greupner completed 9 of 13 es for 110 yards and Cooper Whitton gained 65 yards on 5 carries. Colton Lehberg scored the Eagles’ TD. The Mater Dei defense held SFC to 85 yards rushing on 22 attempts.
Division IV
(1) Patrick Henry 64, (4) Del Norte 48: Malachai Ghitman completed only 6 es for Patrick Henry (9-2) but 5 went for TDs as he finished 6 of 10 for 254 yards. Elijah Lux carried 17 times for 111 yards and 2 TDs. Omar Hammond had an interception for a TD, plus a 52-yard TD run. Jeremiah Symington had 2 catches for 90 yards and 2 TDs. Henry will be playing in its first championship game since 1994. Del Norte (7-5) got 2 TD runs by Martin Hill, who also returned a kickoff 99 yards for a score. Jack Schneider had 3 touchdown es for the Nighthawks.
(2) University City 49, (6) Coronado 15: Samuel Cooper IV continued his breakout season, rushing and ing for 2 TDs for UC (8-4). The junior has ed for 51 touchdowns: 25 ing, 23 rushing and 3 receiving. Troy Granfors caught 2 TD es. The Centurions will be playing for the first section title in the program’s 40-year history. Coronado finished 6-6.
Division V
(1) Palo Verde Valley 29, (4) Fallbrook 28: Palo Verde (10-2) scored late in the fourth quarter, went for a 2-point PAT and made it to secure the win. Fallbrook scored on 44- and 9-yard runs by Marquise Washington, a 94-yard fumble return by George Aguilar and an 82-yard KOR by Washington. Markus Macon scored the winning TD, then rammed in the 2-pointer. Macon also had a 58-yard TD run.
(2) Mission Bay 41, (6) Calexico 7: The Clash Orsborn Tour keeps on rolling. Mission Bay’s senior QB threw for 5 TDs and ran for a sixth in the semifinal. Orsborn completed 19 of 26 for 249 yards. On the season he has thrown 43 TD es and rushed for 12 scores. Jacob Sloan caught 3 TD es. Mission Bay (10-2) will be attempting to win its fifth section title, the others coming in 1996, 2000, 2001 and 2009. Calexico finished (7-6).
Lindgren is a freelance writer. Freelance writers Don Norcross, Terry Monahan, Steve Brand, Rick Hoff and Kevin Farmer contributed to this report.
Prep football championships
Division I
Saturday
(1) Helix vs. (3) Lincoln, 7 p.m., at Escondido High
Division II
Friday
(4) La Jolla vs. (2) Scripps Ranch, 7 p.m., at Escondido High
Division III
Saturday
(4) Ramona vs. (2) Mater Dei Catholic, 1 p.m., At Escondido High
Division IV
Friday
(1) Patrick Henry vs. No. 2 University City, 1 p.m., at Escondido High
Division V
Friday
No. 1 Palo Verde Valley vs. (2) Mission Bay, 7 p.m., at Grossmont High
