La Mesa Helix caps winning streak with state title

If dethroning seven-time San Diego Section champion Oceanside two weeks ago was the highlight of the season for La Mesa Helix, then its 35-24 victory over Loomis Del Oro on Saturday in the CIF Division II state championship bowl game Saturday at the Home Depot Center was the icing on the cake.

After losing their opener to Eastlake of Chula Vista, the Highlanders reeled off 13 consecutive victories, the last against a team whose only loss had been in overtime to Westlake Village Westlake, which represented Southern California in Saturday night’s Open Division bowl game.

“It doesn’t get any better than this, but we had to bring our ‘A’ game for sure,” said Helix Coach Troy Starr, who piloted Woodland Hills Taft to the Los Angeles City Section title in 1998. “Great players make big plays in big games and that’s what [quarterback] Brandon Lewis did.”

Helix trailed, 10-7, early in the second quarter before scoring 21 points in a row to take a 28-10 lead into halftime.

One play after his 55-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Pruitt was nullified by a penalty, Lewis hit Gary Thompson in stride for a 72-yard score that put the Highlanders in front, 14-10, at the 7-minute 25-second mark of the second quarter. Michael Adkins scored on a three-yard run, then Kendal Keys scored on a 32-yard screen pass from Lewis to cap a three-play, 67-yard drive that increased the lead to 28-10.

Lewis completed 11 of 16 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns, including a seven-yard scoring strike to Keys that gave the Highlanders a 35-17 lead on the final play of the third quarter. Thompson finished with three receptions for 117 yards and Darrion Hancock had 108 yards in 28 carries, including a seven-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Fresno Washington Union wins Division III title

Its selection to the Division III bowl game may have been scrutinized, but there was nothing controversial about Fresno Washington Union’s 21-16 victory over Campolindo of Moraga.

Quarterback Chris Cain ran for two scores and Deontay Greenberry caught a 26-yard touchdown pass, made a key interception and recovered an on-side kick with 42 seconds left to clinch the victory for the Panthers (14-0), who were selected over undefeated Lompoc, the Southern Section Northwest Division winner.

“The kids played hard, represented the section extremely well and opened the door for other schools from our area in the next few years,” said Washington Union Coach Jeff Freitas, whose team became the first from the Central Section to play in a state bowl game.

Junior Brett Stephens, also an outfielder who has committed to play baseball for UCLA, threw touchdown passes of 36 and 19 yards for the Cougars (14-1), who trailed, 14-3, at halftime.

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