Late interception pushes Granite Hills past Carlsbad and into Division 1 title game – elcajon newson Elcajon News only

CARLSBAD — For the second year in a row, the Granite Hills High School football team made the 50-mile trip to Carlsbad for a semifinal playoff game.

And for the second straight season, the Eagles broke Carlsbad’s hearts, beating the Lancers 22-16, in the San Diego Section Division 1 semifinals.

Granite Hills advances to the Division 1 championship game, playing San Marcos.

Last season, Granite Hills (10-2) used a 2-point PAT in overtime to beat Carlsbad (8-4) in the Open Division semifinals.  This time around, safety Parker Vance intercepted a pass in the game’s dying seconds at the Granite Hills eight to seal the win.

“I was just looking to make a play,” said Vance, who Granite Hills coach Kellan Cobbs called the best defensive back in the county. “The receiver (Alex Park) is kind of a big guy, so I couldn’t let him get behind me.

“I saw the ball coming my way, so I had to get the ball at the highest point.  We came here and got it done again against a good football team.”

Trailing by six, Carlsbad took possession at its 17 with 5:25 to play.

The Lancers drove to Granite Hills’ 23 and appeared to have scored the tying TD. But the receiver was called for offensive pass interference in the end zone.

“Everybody in the stadium saw it,” Cobbs said. “I was glad the officials saw it, too.”

On the next play, Vance intercepted the Eli MacNeal pass. It was Vance’s eighth interception of the season.

On a night where Carlsbad was poised to stop Granite Hills running back Max Turner, sophomore Gage Spalding stepped up.  He had five carries for 53 yards and a 39-yard TD. He also caught two passes for 31 yards and Granite Hills’ first score, a 25-yarder.

“This game we trusted the defense to get it done,” said Turner, who had 12 carries for 21 yards, but had a 78-yard pass reception to set up a second-quarter score.

“Gage stepped up and had a great game. It doesn’t matter who gets it done as long as we as a team get it done.”

In a strange first half. Carlsbad fumbled four times, Granite Hills scored twice on Zac Benitez passes and led 15-9 at the break.

Gavin Taylor of the Eagles recovered a Carlsbad fumble at the Lancers’ 33. Two plays later, Benitez hit Gage Spalding with a 24-yard scoring pass.

Carlsbad answered with a 31-yard field goal from Tyler Prasuhn.

After forcing a punt, the Lancers took the lead on a eight-play drive with Kai Brown scoring from eight yards out. The PAT, however, was blocked.

Carlsbad forced another punt and drove 68 yards to the Granite Hills 16. MacNeal scrambled for what appeared to be a touchdown, but the ball was poked free and Vance recovered in the end zone for Granite Hills.

With 1:18 left in the half, Benitez hit Turner with a 78-yard pass to the Carlsbad 2. Two plays later, Benitez hit Tristan Diaz for the score. Then Benitez found offensive lineman Hunter Hamilton for a 2-point PAT.

Benitez was 11 of 15 for 182 yards. Turner had three catches for 119 yards.

For Carlsbad, Brown, who was playing on the JV team until three games ago, rushed 35 times for 193 yards.

MacNeal completed 17 of 21 passes for 181 yards. Jett Kenady, a three-sport star who is committed to Cal for baseball, had five catches for 67 yards.

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Granite Hills 22, Carlsbad 16

Granite Hills   7   8   7   0 —  22Carlsbad 3   6   0   7 —  16

GH — Spalding 25 pass from Benitez (Whillock kick)

C — FG Prasuhn 31

C — Brown 7 run (kick failed)

GH — Diaz 2 pass from Benitez (Hamilton pass from Benitez)

GH — Spalding 39 run (Whillock kick)

C — Kenady 6 pass from MacNeal (Prasuhn kick)