THE BIG GAME / GROSSMONT 28, HELIX 14 : Eskridge, Grossmont Give Helix a Beating

With a uniform bidding for a lead role in a detergent commercial, Jason Eskridge left Friday night’s football game with 22 minutes still left to play, shaking his head in agony.

“I got my bell rung pretty good,” Eskridge said. “I was pretty dizzy, and the doctor said, ‘Hey, take it easy.’ So I came out.”

Eskridge plays for Grossmont High.

Imagine how the Helix High defense felt.

Behind Eskridge’s constant pounding, a Grossmont offensive line that opened huge holes at will and a swarming defense that forced Helix quarterback Gregg Wilbur into five interceptions, Grossmont defeated Helix, 28-14, in front of 5,000 at Grossmont High.

It was Grossmont’s first victory over Helix--in the battle for the symbolic “Musket”--since 1978. The Foothillers (6-0) had gone 0-10-2 over that span, but now trail Helix (3-2-1) only 21-18-2 in the East County’s longest-running series.

Though Eskridge left the game prematurely, he certainly made his presence known.

Eskridge, a 5-foot-7, 180-pound box of a fullback, had just scored his fourth touchdown and had 200 yards in 32 carries when he left with 7:22 remaining in the third quarter and Grossmont comfortably on top by the final margin.

“The back side of the line was blocking tremendously,” Eskridge said. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I got a lot of yards on cutbacks. That was the most awesome effort ever. I credit the whole win to our offensive line.”

Indeed, the five up front--Jason Palmer, Marc Gallo, Aaron Bolin, Bryan Hewitt and Ken Loncar--did an outstanding job, but some of the credit must also go to the Grossmont defense.

Peter Willson, Eskridge, Loncar, Brett Carpenter and Mike Williams all had interceptions, and Gallo and Matt Jones had a key sack apiece.

“Our assistant coaches did a fantastic job preparing for this game,” Grossmont Coach Judd Hulbert said. “Our defensive game plan was excellent. Larry Shepard, our defensive coordinator deserves a lot of credit for this one.”

Grossmont had the bigger of a big-play first half and took a 20-14 lead into the locker room, where you can bet the Foothillers’ special teams coach, Chuck Merino, had a few things to say to his defensive kick return unit.

While Grossmont outgained Helix, 178-33, in the first half, the Highlanders were within six thanks to two long kick returns for touchdowns.

Andreal Climon had the first, a 76-yard scamper filled with key blocks along the right sideline 15 seconds after Eskridge scored on Grossmont’s opening drive.

Helix’s second touchdown was equally stunning. After Eskridge scored with only 50 seconds left in the half, Helix’s Keith Harrison fielded a short kick by Willson, took a few steps to his right, then darted around a couple of Foothillers and down the left sideline for a 67-yard touchdown.

Grossmont had its share of big plays, too--chiefly three interceptions. But it was Eskridge’s bruising bursts up the middle that caused most of the damage.

Eskridge, who was second in the county in rushing entering with 750 yards and 10 touchdowns, had 111 yards and two touchdowns by the end of the first quarter. He added 48 more yards and another touchdown in the second quarter.

Wilbur, who was averaging 162 yards per game and had thrown only two interceptions all season, had only one completion in the first half for 23 yards and finished with eight completions in 21 attempts for a harmless 63 yards.