Granada Hills Escapes Again, 28-21

It is becoming commonplace for Granada Hills High.

For the third week in a row, the Highlanders were pressed by a Northwest Valley Conference opponent, with the same result.

This time sixth-ranked Granada Hills overcame a seven-point halftime deficit and walked away with a 28-21 victory over Chatsworth at Granada Hills.

The Highlanders (9-0, 6-0 in conference play) set up a much-anticipated matchup against Taft for the conference title next Friday night at Taft.

Trailing, 21-14, at halftime, Granada Hills responded with two touchdowns during a six-minute span of the third quarter.

“Coach [Darryl] Stroh was really going off on us at halftime because we kind of lost our aggressiveness,” quarterback Jason Winn said.

The turning point might have come midway through the third quarter when Gerald Jones blocked a punt by Chatsworth’s Terrence Redmond and Josh Roepke recovered at the Chatsworth seven-yard line.

Two plays later, Winn ran six yards for a touchdown and the Highlanders were on their way.

On Chatsworth’s next possession, defensive back Peter Gunny intercepted a pass by Matt Cassel and returned it 18 yards to the Chatsworth 29. Five plays later, Omari Mack ran 19 yards for a touchdown on a draw play for a 28-21 lead and the Highlanders never trailed again.

Chatsworth (5-4, 2-4) had its chances in the fourth quarter. The Chancellors went on a 15-play, 90-yard drive only to have a pass by Cassel to Reggie Lee fall incomplete in the end zone on fourth down from the six.

Cassel completed 22 of 36 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown, and his team finished with 399 yards.

Winn completed 15 of 34 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown.

But that didn’t seem to matter to Winn, a junior who transferred to Granada Hills from Chatsworth as a sophomore.

“I know a lot of guys on their team and it meant a lot,” Winn said. “It’s awesome.”

Gunny had seven catches for 66 yards for Granada Hills. Mark Harris had 10 receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown for Chatsworth.