Third-Ranked Helix Strikes Out In Loss to Madison

As the night wore on for Tory Winrow, third base didn’t look so bad.

This is football season, and Winrow found out he was a long way from spring, when he plays third base for defending San Diego Section 3-A champion Helix.

Instead, Winrow received his indoctrination into football as Madison intercepted four of his passes, turning two into touchdowns, on the way to a 12-9 upset of the No. 3-ranked Highlanders.

Winrow replaced projected starter Rob Ippolito, who has mononucleosis, two weeks ago.

Winrow, who had never played organized football, will remember his first high school football game but he might remember Madison’s Lamont Allen a lot longer. And Lamont will not soon forget his first varsity game.

Allen, a junior, had two interceptions, returning one 98 yards for a touchdown, and blocked a first-quarter Helix field-goal attempt.

Winrow should have known Allen was going to put a crimp in his debut when he intercepted the first pass of his career on the first play of Helix’s first drive.

But it was Allen’s second interception that ruined the Highlanders.

Madison took a 6-3 lead after Jeff Farmer intercepted a Winrow pass early in the third quarter and returned it to the Helix three-yard line. Madison quarterback Brad Eaddy scored from the 2, but the extra point kick was no good.

Helix then mounted its best drive of the game, moving the ball to the Madison five for a first and goal. After two runs for no gain by Spike Mitchell, Winrow dropped back to pass.

Allen was waiting and picked the ball off at the 2 and ran 98 yards for the touchdown and a 12-3 lead.

“I read the pick and saw the ball thrown and just stepped in there,” Allen said.

Winrow passed for his first touchdown when he hit Ale Campos on a fourth and goal from the Madison 5 with 2:18 left. The extra point snap rolled on the ground, and a pass attempt by kicker Jason Ledford failed.

Madison recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

Although discouraged by his first start at quarterback, Winrow was not ready move back to wide receiver, his original position.

“I think I’ll be a good quarterback,” Winrow said. “It’s just going to take some time.”

It looked like both teams’ first game of the season in the first half.

The two teams combined for two interceptions, two fumbles, a blocked field goal attempt and a blocked punt. But only Helix could manage to convert the turnovers into points.

David Taylor blocked a Madison punt with 1:17 remaining in the half to give Helix a first down on the Warhawk 42. With 15 seconds remaining, Winrow hit Frank Nunez with a 20-yard pass to give Helix a first down at the Madison 21. Two plays later, Ledford kicked a 28-yard field goal with 4 seconds left to give Helix a 3-0 lead.

Allen had similar success against Ledford, who was also playing in his first football game; he also played baseball last year and became the kicker when Eddie Evilsizor, one of the top kickers in the county last season, moved to Washington.

Allen blocked Leford’s first career attempt, a 29-yarder early in the first quarter.

Madison’s only threat in the first quarter came after Allen’s block. Madison had a first and goal at the Helix 8, but the Highlander defense held the Warkhawks twice from the 1 and took over on downs.