Winn Steals a Victory

Quarterback Jason Winn didn’t have to live up to the names of former Granada Hills High greats John Elway, Dana Potter and Jeremy Leach on Thursday night.

Winn lived up to his own name.

Leading a spirited comeback from a 13-point halftime deficit, Winn made key plays in the decisive third quarter to produce a 27-19 victory over San Fernando in the first round of the City Championship playoffs.

With the Highlanders trailing, 19-6, and facing third and 10, Winn found Joey Rodriguez on a corner route for a 54-yard touchdown four minutes into the quarter.

The play ended a frustrating stretch beginning midway through the first quarter in which Winn completed only two of 13 passes and had three intercepted.

Following a San Fernando punt, Winn went to work again, hitting fullback Omari Mack for a 35-yard gain. However, three plays later, Granada Hills faced fourth and 10 from the Tiger 40.

Winn rolled left, squirmed free from the grasp of All-City defender Steve Nevarez and hit Rodriguez in the chest with a 16-yard pass. Mack gained 21 yards on a draw play, setting up Winn’s three-yard scoring pass to tight end Tommy Garagliano.

Garagliano’s extra point gave Granada Hills a 20-19 lead that was extended two minutes later. David Harvey returned a San Fernando punt 40 yards to the seven and Mack bulled over from the one with 20 seconds left in the quarter.

San Fernando was 9-0 before a loss last week to Sylmar.

“At halftime we said we had nothing to lose, we weren’t afraid to fail,” Winn said. “Everything was going wrong, so we decided to put it on the line.”

Winn completed 13 of 31 for 216 yards. He has been better, but never more timely. The touchdown to Rodriguez pushed him past Potter and into first place on the school’s career yardage list. Winn has 4,998 yards and also holds the touchdown mark with 53.

“Nothing seems to rattle him,” co-Coach Tom Harp said. “That’s why he is one of the best quarterbacks ever at this school.”

Thomas Hoohuli of San Fernando (9-2) also set a school record, eclipsing the single-season yardage record set by Anthony Davis in 1970. Hoohuli, who completed eight of 15 for 125 yards, had 1,724 yards this season.

His 40-yard bomb to Jose Montes gave San Fernando a 7-0 lead, and after Mack scored on a one-yard run to pull Granada Hills within 7-6, Hoohuli capped an 81-yard drive with a one-yard scoring run.

On the Tigers’ last drive of the half, Hoohuli completed four of five passes, including one of 13 yards to Gerardo Rubi for 19-6 lead.

Bobby Stanley, San Fernando’s leading rushing with 1,097 yards, was sidelined because of a knee injury.

Sophomore Will German filled in ably, gaining 174 yards in 22 carries.

Granada Hills (9-2) will play top-seeded Carson (9-2) on Wednesday.