Simi Valley Finds the Holes in Granada Hills’ Defense

Granada Hills High’s sojourn into the Southern Section continued Friday night with some good news and some bad.

The good news is, Granada Hills found its running game against a small but determined Simi Valley team.

The bad news is, the Granada Hills defense appears to have more holes than the Highlanders’ bags have pipes.

Host Simi Valley exploited Granada Hills on both the ground and in the air in rallying from an 11-point, third-quarter deficit for a 21-18 nonleague victory.

For the Highlanders (0-2), a City Section team, it was the second consecutive loss to a Southern Section school. A third Southern Section team--Ventura--awaits the Highlanders next week.

Simi Valley quarterback Eric Bennett completed 17 of 35 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown, and running back Jevon Markarian carried 28 times for 162 yards and scored on runs of one and 11 yards.

Bennett gave the Pioneers (1-1) the lead for good with a 13-yard scoring pass to Aaron Whitley late in the third period.

Granada Hills was held to four yards rushing last week against Lynwood, but Raheem Kyle broke loose for 201 yards in 29 carries and scored on runs of 11, two and eight yards against Simi Valley.

Kyle injured his knee in the fourth quarter, however, and did not return.

Granada Hills finished with 248 yards rushing, but sophomore quarterback Jimmy Landress completed just four of 15 for 30 yards and one interception.

It took Granada Hills just one quarter to match the 98 yards it gained against Lynwood.

Kyle, held to 31 yards last week, had 92 in 13 carries at halftime against Simi Valley and scored twice in the half.

He scored on an 11-yard sweep in the first period to give the Highlanders an early lead, but Grant Hansen’s kick was deflected and hit the crossbar.

A Markarian fumble three plays later gave Granada Hills the ball at the Simi Valley 34 and Kyle scored again, this time on a two-yard dive.

He attempted to run for the conversion but was stopped a yard short of the end zone, and the Highlanders led, 12-0, with 3 minutes 32 seconds left in the first period.

The Pioneers struck back on their next possession, marching 77 yards in 10 plays. Markarian scored from one yard and Jeff Jagard’s kick cut the deficit to 12-7.