Helix Shutout String Preserved in Victory

Friday night’s Helix-Granite Hills game was hardly what you’d expect of a contest that in all likelihood would decide a league championship. The outcome never was really in doubt.

Helix dominated throughout and beat visiting Granite Hills, 37-0, in Grossmont 3-A League play.

But at least the Helix defense was kind to the 1,200 or so fans that decided to stay till the end.

They left a school record for scoreless quarters in the balance until the waning seconds.

With fewer than two minutes remaining, Granite Hills recovered a Helix fumble on the Helix 25-yard line and drove to the 10, threatening to break the Highlanders’ string of 15 consecutive scoreless quarters. But Helix forced Granite Hills reserve quarterback Ryan O’Coyne into four incompletions, preserving the shutout.

On fourth down, Granite Hills could have attempted a 27-yard field goal to break the shutout, but Granite Hills Coach Jim Mann said the thought never crossed his mind.

“I wouldn’t do that to them,” he said. “Their defense worked too hard for that. It would have been a cheap three, and I wouldn’t do that to a class football team.”

The shutout was third-ranked Helix’s sixth of the season. The victory earned the Highlanders (7-1, 3-0) at least a tie for the league title.

Helix’s defensive line stopped Granite Hills’ running game early.

Helix led, 14-0, at halftime, and any hopes Granite Hills (4-5, 2-3) had for a comeback ended early in the third quarter. Helix began the second half with a 14-play, 75-drive, capped by Jarrett Parr’s 17-yard touchdown run. Parr finished with 112 yards in 20 carries.

Andreal Climon extended the lead to 27-0 on a 51-yard run.

A 57-yard pass from quarterback Craig Wilbur to wide receiver Arvis Henderson with 4:41 remaining in the first quarter opened the scoring. Parr scored next, on a two-yard plunge.