No. 4 Helix Comes Up With Big Plays in 20-13 Victory

In a game full of big plays and changing emotions, No. 4-ranked Helix beat Monte Vista, 20-13, Friday night to advance to the San Diego Section football playoffs.

Perhaps the biggest play came with slightly more than a minute to play when Helix stopped Monte Vista tailback William James on a fourth down at the nine-yard line.

“It was just one of those games that was hard to explain,” Helix Coach Jim Arnaiz said. “Both teams showed a lot of courage under difficult circumstances in the second half.”

The Highlanders, 9-1 overall and 3-1 in the 3A Grossmont League, finished in second and advanced to the CIF playoffs next week. Monte Vista finished 7-3 overall and 2-2 in league.

Jeff Hammerschmidt threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jeff Exum in the second half allowing Helix to built a 20-7 lead with 7:41 remaining.

The Monarchs, stagnant on offense, moved 60 yards in 7 plays on their next possession, pulling to within 20-13 on Rob Tron’s 10-yard scoring pass to Scott Paul with 4:29 left.

Helix tried to run out the clock but stalled at its own 16 with 2:11 remaining.

Faced with a fourth-and-25, Hammerschmidt tried to pass from punt formation to a wide-open Exum. The ball, however, was underthrown and Monte Vista took over.

“We always have an option on every punt but we’ve never used it down that deep,” Arnaiz said. “Hammer(schmidt) obviously felt it would work. He was open but we just didn’t execute it.”

After taking over, James ran 11 yards to the Helix five before Monte Vista’s final drive was stopped.

James carried two times for two yards before the Monarchs called a time out. Tron failed to get the next play off in time and Monte Vista was penalized five yards for delay of game.

Tron threw incomplete on third down and pitched back to James on fourth down. The Monte Vista tailback, who gained 113 yards in 26 carries, ran left but was tackled by three Helix defenders on the seven.

“We were looking for a pass on the play,” Arnaiz said. “I’m just glad they didn’t get in.”

Helix outgained Monte Vista, 188-69, in the first half but because of six penalties and one turnover, the score was tied, 7-7, at halftime.

Tron scored the Monarchs’ touchdown on a one-yard run which was set up by Tom Wurth’s fumble recovery at midfield midway through the second quarter.

Helix drove the length of the field on its first possession but Eric Arcio was stopped on a fourth down carry from the Monte Vista one-yard line, ending the threat.

On its second possession, Helix moved 54 yards for the first score of the game. Fullback Kerry Barr, who gained 118 yards, scored on a 10-yard run up the middle.

The Highlanders appeared to be in good position again moments later when Hammerschmidt returned a Tron punt 40 yards to the Monarch 39. But Helix was called for clipping on the runback and set back to its own 11.

Helix was penalized 71 yards in the first half, while Monte Vista had only one penalty for five yards.