Helix Shocks Grossmont in Fourth Quarter

Celebrating its second week as the county’s No. 1-ranked football team, the Helix Highlanders doubled their pleasure Friday night by rallying to edge cross-town rival Grossmont, 14-11, and earning vengeance for last year’s drubbing at the hands of the Foothillers.

Once again, Helix’s special teams and defensive units put together by defensive coordinator Rick Ash made the difference for the unbeaten Highlanders in both schools’ Grossmont 3-A League opener, played in front of about 5,000.

After Grossmont caressed a 3-0 lead for nearly 31 minutes, Helix stunned the Foothillers twice within 1:20 to take a 14-3 lead with 9:05 remaining.

Most of the action and strategy occurred after an interception by Grossmont’s Jared Andrus at the Grossmont one-yard line late in the third quarter. Three plays later, Grossmont was forced to punt from its two-yard line, and Helix took possession at the 36.

After an 11-yard gain by Chris Baker, Helix quarterback Jeremy Gottlieb hit Marc Baskin on a 25-yard corner fade pattern for the first score with 10:25 remaining. Before that pass, Gottlieb had only one completion and had thrown two interceptions.

Helix then got a huge break when Robert Crayton recovered Chris McQuillin’s ensuing kickoff--which went untouched--at the 20-yard line along the right sideline.

One play later, Teneil Ethridge carried in from the 11, and it was 14-3 Highlanders.

“There was only one (Foothiller) over there and two of us,” said Crayton, referring to teammate Gabe Cramer. “So I knew one of us would have a good chance to get it.”

Grossmont scored with 3:00 left on a two-yard run by Juan Nodal, but its ensuing onside kick was recovered by Crayton.

A senior transfer from Mt. Miguel, Crayton was also the game’s defensive standout, recording the game’s only sack, numerous big hits and leading a unit that allowed only 116 total yards, 51 rushing.

“They won the battle of the trenches on defense,” Grossmont Coach Judd Hulbert said. “That’s a credit to them as a unit, and that’s a credit to Rick Ash. He’s one heck of a defensive coordinator.”

In the 41st consecutive battle for “The Musket,” Helix had gone 10-0-2 against Grossmont since 1978 before the Foothillers romped to a 28-14 victory last year behind Jason Eskridge’s 200-yard, four-touchdown performance at Grossmont.

And much the way the Foothillers used that victory to catapult themselves to the 1991 Grossmont 3-A League title, Helix is intent on reclaiming that title this season.

With the victory, Helix improved to 6-0, 1-0 and improved its chances of earning the section’s top seeding in the 3-A playoffs. Helix has outscored its 1992 opponents, 143-39, and has yielded only 192 points in its last 30 games, an average of 6.1 points per game.

Grossmont, arguably the second best team in the league, fell to 4-2, 0-1, losing for only the third time in its last 17 games.

Against Helix, Grossmont had only eight total yards in the first quarter but led 3-0 after a 38-yard field goal by Brian Howard eight minutes into the game.

Fittingly, Howard’s boot capped a three-play drive that netted minus-one yard. The key was that Grossmont took possession on Helix’s 20 after a botched punt attempt by the Highlanders.

Forced to punt after its initial possession, the Highlander punter Keith Harrison could only watch as the snap sailed five yards over his head. Hustling back, Harrison scooped up the loose ball 30 yards behind the line, ran with it for a few then shanked a running punt about three yards downfield. Officially, Harrison was credited with a minus-23-yard punt.