Chula Vista Has a Chance, but . . . : Granite Hills, With Big Turnovers, Still Wins to Advance

Granite Hills has lost games this season because of turnovers. And, the Eagles have won games because of running backs Tom Vardell and Robert Padillo.

Friday night against Chula Vista, the Eagles had both turnovers and strong running.

However, the running backs took the upper hand and Granite Hills defeated Chula Vista, 13-3, in the first round of the San Diego section 3-A playoffs at Chula Vista High School.

For the second straight year, Granite Hills has eliminated Chula Vista in the opening round of the playoffs.

Granite Hills (8-2) advances to the second round of the playoffs next Friday against Mira Mesa. Mira Mesa had a bye Friday night.

Granite Hills recorded 10 turnovers, but Vardell rushed for 152 yards in 27 carries, and Padillo added 102 yards in 15 carries.

“When they graduate, I am too,” Granite Hills Coach Paul Wargo said of his two senior running backs.

Chula Vista had ample opportunity to make this a closer game, but could not capitalize on the Granite Hills’ turnovers. The Eagles turned the ball over three times inside the Chula Vista 30-yard line.

“If they give us the ball inside the 30, we have to score,” said Chula Vista Coach George Ohnesorgen. “That’s the whole basis of our offense. We capitalize on what people give us.”

But Chula Vista committed penalties instead of scoring. In the second quarter, Padillo fumbled on the Granite Hills 21-yard line. But a holding penalty and an illegal procedure penalty pushed the Spartans back 25 yards. Chula Vista eventually punted on fourth and 40 from the Granite Hills 41-yard-line.

On its first possession of the game, Granite Hills scored quickly. Vardell ran in from the one, but the key to the 77-yard drive was Vardell’s 62-yard run three plays earlier. Vardell carried five times during the six-play drive that consumed a little more than two minutes. Padillo had the other carry, a seven-yard run.

Padillo’s kick gave the Eagles a 7-0 first quarter lead.

Chula Vista came right back, behind the running of Sione Fehoko , who finished with 76 yards in 20 carries. But an illegal procedure penalty on the Eagles’ two-yard line pushed Chula Vista to the seven. On third and seven from the seven, Chula Vista quarterback Brian Murphy scrambled and threw an incomplete pass. The Spartans had to settle for a 24-yard field goal with two seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Granite Hills increased its lead to 10-3 with 4:27 remaining in the half with a 37-yard field goal by Padillo.

Padillo finished the scoring late in the third quarter with a 43-yard field goal.