Granite Hills beats Helix in overtime, extends winning streak to 18: 4 takeaways

Granite Hills stopped a Helix two-point conversion to seal the victory

Bodie De Silva, SBLive Sports | Oct 21, 2023

EL CAJON, CALIFORNIA— For the second straight season, four quarters were not enough for Helix and Granite Hills.

The Grossmont-Hills League rivals went back and forth in the second half on Friday night, combining to score on seven of the final 11 possessions in regulation.

Granite Hills opened the second overtime period with a 25-yard touchdown and kicked the extra point to take a 44-37 lead. Helix responded with a touchdown of their own but was unsuccessful on their game-winning two-point conversion attempt, securing a 44-43 win for Granite Hills.

The win moves Granite Hills one game closer to a perfect regular season while extending their overall winning streak to 18 games, the third longest active streak in California.

Below are four takeaways from Friday's game.

REPEAT OF 2022

Last season, Helix and Granite Hills matched up to decide the league title. Tied at 24 at the end of regulation, Granite Hills emerged with a 46-44 quadruple overtime victory.

The two teams had similar plans on Friday night.

Helix was able to hold Granite Hills from getting a first down over the final 10 minutes of the fourth quarter and responded with 17 unanswered points of their own. The Highlanders tied the game at 30 with a field goal from Joshua Hossmann Lees with nine seconds remaining.

This year's version only needed two overtimes after Helix was unable to convert their would-be game-winning two-point conversion, allowing Granite Hills to stay unbeaten.

HELIX COMES BACK FROM 17 DOWN

Granite Hills running back Max Turner dove into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night with 10:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. His touchdown gave the Eagles a 30-13 lead that left Helix on the brink.

The Highlanders needed less than two minutes to score thanks to a 41-yard touchdown run by Kevin Allen III. Helix immediately forced Granite Hills into a three-and-out, getting the ball back at their own nine-yard line.

"I enjoy the adversity. I like those games when we're counted out and down versus when we're up a lot," Allen III said.

The Highlanders drove down the field and cut the lead to 30-27 when Kevin Allen III found the end zone for his fourth touchdown on the night. A second straight three-and-out by Granite Hills gave Helix one last chance with just over three minutes to play.

"I really enjoy playing against (Granite Hills) because it's a physical game every time," Allen added. "We didn't come out with the win but I know our team will use this and we won't get down on ourselves."

Helix worked the ball down the field quickly and connected on a 38-yard field goal to tie the game at 30 with nine seconds remaining in regulation.

OFFENSE RULES THE NIGHT

Granite Hills and Helix had each been dominant on the defensive side of the ball coming into Friday's matchup unbeaten. Granite Hills was allowing eight points per game and had now allowed an opponent to score more than seven points since game two of the season.

Helix was not far behind, allowing 17 points per game including 15 total over their past three games.

Despite the dominant defensive numbers, it was the offenses that rose to the occasion in this matchup for the second straight year.

Helix standout senior running back Kevin Allen III went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season, rushing for 284 yards and five touchdowns on 39 carries. Helix quarterback Ryland Jessee threw for 164 yards and found Jackson Daniels for a second quarter touchdown, his lone touchdown pass of the night.

Granite Hills running backs Max Turner and Pablo Jackson combined for rush for 243 yards, scoring two touchdowns each on the ground. Freshman quarterback Zach Benitez finished with 203 passing yards, connecting with junior receiver Brenden Lewis six times for 110 yards and a touchdown.

THE OPEN DIVISION PLAYOFFS APPEAR SET

Barring anything unforeseen in the final week of the regular season, the four teams in the San Diego Section Open Division playoffs appear to be set. The order they'll be seeded in, however, is still unknown.

Lincoln wrapped up their regular season with a second straight unbeaten run in the Western League, beating University City

The Hornets will have their bye week to close out the regular season and will then have another bye week before the playoffs begin.

Carlsbad won their 28th straight league game on Friday but received a stiff test from the Mavericks, emerging with a 41-34 win. The Lancers will look to wrap up a fifth straight undefeated Avocado League title next week against El Camino. A win would lock the Lancers in for a top two seed in the bracket.

Granite Hills' win on Friday now gives them the head-to-head flip over Helix if the two teams end the season next to each other in the playoff rankings. The Eagles will head to Grossmont on Thursday to close out the regular season. Last year's CIF State D2-A champions will be making their first appearance in the San Diego Section Open Division playoffs.

Helix's beefed up schedule allowed themselves margin for error in terms of still qualifying for the Open Division playoffs. The Highlanders will close out the season against Steele Canyon on Friday. A win over the Cougars will put Helix into the Open Division playoffs for the first time since 2019 when they won the title.

(All photos by Steven Silva)

1 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

2 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

4 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

5 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

3 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

11 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

8 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

9 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

10 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

7 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

6 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

13 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

15 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

14 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

12 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

16 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

17 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

21 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

22 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

23 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

18 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

20 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

19 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

25 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

24 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

27 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

28 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

33 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

34 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

32 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

35 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

30 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

31 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

29 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

36 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

37 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

38 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

39 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

40 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

41 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

47 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

45 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

46 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

44 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

42 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

43 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

51 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

48 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

50 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

49 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

52 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

55 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

54 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

53 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

56 Helix at Granite Hills 10-20-23 Steven Silva

-- Bodie De Silva | bodie@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveca

Published Oct 21, 2023

BODIE DE SILVA, SBLIVE SPORTS

Bodie De Silva has been a reporter for SBLive Sports since 2019. He covers recruiting, California's San Diego Section and national high school baseball.