Winn Sets Record in Trouncing

It’s not even close to midnight for the Granada Hills High football team.

The Cinderella story of the season continued Thursday night with the Highlanders trouncing Jefferson, 56-14, in a first-round game of the City Championship playoffs at Granada Hills.

The top-seeded Highlanders (11-0), who had won little more than a pre-game coin flip in their three previous seasons, will host Westchester (9-2) in a quarterfinal game Wednesday.

Granada Hills rolled up 473 yards, 340 in the first half en route to a 41-0 lead.

Jason Winn completed 12 of 20 passes for 278 yards and tied a school record with six touchdown passes, including first-half strikes of 61 and 34 yards to Peter Gunny.

Hard to believe this team won only three games from 1995-1997.

“Every game’s just another dream come true,” said Winn, who tied a record that was held by three other players. “Who would have ever thought it?”

Gunny finished with four catches for 111 yards and three touchdowns, and running back Omari Mack had 133 yards rushing and a touchdown in 12 carries.

“There’s plenty of credit to go around,” said co-coach Tom Harp, who came out of retirement with Darryl Stroh this season to coach Granada Hills. “It’s not any guy that does everything for us. It’s 11 guys working their butts off.”

This is the first time the Highlanders have started 11-0 in the 38-year history of the school.

Jefferson (7-4), seeded No. 16, was overmatched on both sides of the line, though running back Bayon Harris rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns in 23 carries. He rushed for 74 yards in the fourth quarter.