Last week, Granite Hills senior running back Max Turner had only 26 rushing yards on 13 carries in a 52-6 loss against a ranked Cathedral Catholic team.
It was a different story for Turner and No. 5 Granite Hills on the road at No. 8 Mount Miguel Friday night.
Turner ran the ball 27 times for 271 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-30 victory over the Matadors.
“It feels good to be back playing Granite Hills football,” Turner said after the game. “Still some plays we got to make, but still got to keep pushing.
“Mentality was to win. Mentality was to play like we do. We had to brush off last week and get back to playing our game.”
Turner caught fire as seven of 15 second half carries went for double-digit yards, including a 50-yard touchdown to give the Eagles a 31-17 lead with 11:08 left in the fourth quarter.
He said he was able to figure out the Matadors defense while relying on his offensive line.
“They were over pursuing,” Turner said. “It feels like they’re guessing where we’re going. So, with my lineman being able to push them back and the holes being created, I was able to hit that hole.”
Mount Miguel (6-2, 2-1 Grossmont Valley League) responded following Turner’s 50-yard touchdown with a 5-yard touchdown from junior quarterback AJ Stowers to senior wide receiver Ezelle Buchanan, who caught three es for 61 yards and two touchdowns. That brought the score back to a one possession game at 31-24 with 7:15 left in the fourth quarter.
Granite Hills (6-2, 2-0 Grossmont Valley League) was able to produce in other ways besides its ground game.
Despite senior wide receiver Brenden Lewis having just two receptions for 19 yards and a touchdown, he was able to have success on special teams.
Lewis took the ensuing kickoff and weaved his way around a few Matador special teamers, eventually finding space to scamper into the end zone for a 65-yard kick return TD to reclaim a two-possession advantage.
This all came before Mount Miguel had an opportunity to tie the game at 24 apiece. The Matadors had three chances from the 1-yard line to get in the endzone. However, with a couple of bad snaps and the Eagles defense stepping up, Mount Miguel was unable to tie the game as it gave flashbacks to last year’s Open Division final between Granite Hills and Lincoln.
“Our defense never gives up,” said Eagles head coach Kellan Cobbs, who earned his 100th win at Granite Hills. “We showed that last year. It was a similar situation in the Open Division Championship game. Our defense has been in that spot before and they made some critical stops. That was a huge series for us, picking up the offense when we were kind of sputtering there in the third quarter.”
The Matadors were led by Stowers, who completed 25 of 33 es for 293 yards and four touchdowns.
Junior wide receiver Parris Vernon led Mount Miguel in receiving with seven catches for 62 yards. In addition, junior wide receiver Brandon Arrington caught three es for 44 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown reception with 30 seconds left in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 21-10.
Up next, Granite Hills travels to Helix on Thursday while Mount Miguel heads to Steele Canyon Friday.
No. 5 Granite Hills 45, No. 8 Mount Miguel 30
Granite Hills – 0 21 3 21 — 45
Mount Miguel – 3 7 7 13 — 30
M – FG Ettleman 22
G – Lewis 14 from Benitez (Whillock kick)
G – Turner 31 run (Whillock kick)
G – Turner 6 from Benitez (Whillock kick)
M – Arrington 32 from Stowers (Ettleman kick)
G – FG Whillock 44
M – Williams 22 from Stowers (Ettleman kick)
G – Turner 50 run (Whillock kick)
M – Buchanan 5 from Stowers (Ettleman kick)
G – Lewis 65 kickoff return (Whillock kick)
G – Turner 9 run (Whillock kick)
M – Buchanan 30 from Stowers ( failed)
