LA MESALA MESA — The mighty Helix Highlanders were being shut out and thoroughly thumped after 45 minutes of their San Diego Section Open Division semifinal against upset-minded St. Augustine on Friday night at Jim Arnaiz Field.
Then the unthinkable happened. A blocked punt led to the Scotties’ first score with 2:22 remaining, and 21 seconds later Samuel Stewart IV cut in front of a Saints receiver, intercepted the and raced 28 yards for a touchdown to give Helix an amazing 12-7 win over St. Augustine in front of a packed house.
“Worst game I’ve ever been apart of and won,” Helix coach Robbie Owens said. “Seven turnovers and so many missed opportunities. We found ways to make it hard on ourselves.
“We were very fortunate to come away with the win.”
With it, top-seeded Helix (10-1) advanced to its sixth consecutive championship game – five in the Open Division – in search of its 10th section title next Saturday against No. 3 Carlsbad, a surprise winner over No. 2 Cathedral Catholic in the other semifinal.
“I was out on the boundary, and I saw their coach call an audible,” Stewart said. “I had a clue what was coming, and I just jumped the play and got the pick.
“I thought I was going to drop it. I won’t lie to you. I was nervous the whole time, but I knew I needed to score
No. 4 St. Augustine (8-3) had lost to Helix 44-38 on Sept. 13, but the Saints were inspired. The Saints beat Helix 21-20 in overtime in the Division I title game last year.
St. Augustine took a 7-0 lead on a 36-yard post-pattern from Richard Colmenero to Jalil Tucker with 0:22 to play in the third quarter.
It remained that way until Helix’s Jerry Riggins blocked a punt that Jaiden Brown recovered at the Saints’ 12-yard line.
It took seven plays from there, but Helix finally got on the board on a 10-yard jet-sweep run by Keionte Scott with 2:22 left to play. Helix was whistled for taunting after the score, however, so a normal PAT kick attempt was pushed back 15 yards, and the Highlanders’ 35-yard kick was wide left making the score 7-6.
After another penalty on a squib kick, Helix’s Elijah Laing kicked the ball into the end zone. On third-and-12 from the 18-yard line, Stewart made his epic pick and raced into glory.
“I feel very disappointed,” Saints coach Joe Kremer said. “It just goes to show you how tough Helix is to beat. I mean, seven turnovers, and we can’t pull it off.”
St. Augustine’s Samuel Scaife IV had three interceptions and Tucker one, giving the Saints 26 INTs this year. Scaife and Connor Heffler also had fumble recoveries.
Helix sophomore tailback Christian Washington rushed 30 times for 137 yards, but the Scotties had only 41 ing yards and totaled just 251 yards.
The Helix defense limited the Saints to just 5 rushing yards and 120 total yards.
St. Augustine———————- 0 0 7 0 – 7
Helix——————————- 0 0 0 12 – 12
SA – Jalil Tucker 36 from Richard Colmenero (Richard Brutto kick)
H – Keionte Scott 10 run (kick failed)
H – Samuel Stewart 28 interception return ( failed)
Lindgren is a freelance writer.
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