Granite Hills Comes Close but Vista Holds On, 27-21

Stopping the Vista High School football team this season has meant trying to stop all-county running back Tommy Booker.

As Vista’s untarnished record proves, stopping Booker has not been easy. Still, opposing coaches have to key on him.

That’s where Granite Hills slipped up last night. David Strojny, normally a blocking back who is listed as a linebacker in the Vista program, set up Vista’s winning touchdown in the Panthers 27-21 victory over Granite Hills in the semifinal round of the San Diego Section 3-A playoffs at Mira Mesa High School.

Vista (12-0) advances to next Saturday’s final at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium against the winner of tonight’s semifinal between Fallbrook and Mount Miguel at Mira Mesa.

With the score tied at 14 late in the fourth period, Strojny burst through the middle and ran 59 yards before he was brought down at the Granite Hills one. On the next play, Vista quarterback Billy Faraimo scored from the the one, putting the Panthers on top, 27-14.

“I know they were keying on Booker,” said Strojny, who rushed for 176 yards in 14 carries. Booker had 166 yards in 16 carries and three touchdowns. “(Granite Hills) thought Booker was the whole team. But we are a whole team.

“I’ve had it in me all year, I was just waiting for them to give me the ball. This was my best game by far.”

This is the second consecutive season that Granite Hills (9-4) has lost to Vista in the Section semifinal.

Last season Vista scored three touchdowns on its first five plays en route to a 43-9 victory. The Eagles fate appeared to be the same Friday night, after Booker split the wedge and returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown.

The next time Booker touched the ball, he went around the right end on a sweep and raced 93 yards down the sideline to put Vista ahead, 14-0, less than three minutes into the ball game.

Late in the first period, Strojny broke through the Granite Hills defensive line and ran 54 yards to the Eagle 37. Five plays later, however, Strojny fumbled on the Granite Hills 15.

Granite Hills marched 85 yards in 8 plays and scored on Tom Vardell’s one-yard run with 11:26 remaining in the second period.

Granite Hills scored late in the second quarter after it took possession when defensive back Troy Lynn intercepted a Billy Faraimo pass at the Granite Hills 38. The Eagles went on to score when Granite Hills quarterback Donnie Carroll hit Kevin Robbins on a 37-yarder to tie the score at 14.

Granite Hills nearly mounted a comeback, after running back Tom Vardell, who lead the Eagles with 158 yards in 21 carries, ran 52 yards to trim Vista’s lead to 27-21. On its next possession, the Vista defense sacked Granite Hills quarterback Donnie Carroll three times to extinguish the Eagles’ hopes.