No. 1 Helix Falls From Unbeaten

EL CAJON —  Before Friday night’s Grossmont League 3A game between Helix and Granite Hills, Eagles’ Coach Paul Wargo seemed a bit upset with the press.

“Everyone was saying that Helix was so much better than we were, and that they had the better statistics,” Wargo said. “They said there was no way we were going to win.”

Whoever “they” is will now have to change their minds.

Thanks to junior running back Tommie Vardell, who rushed for 214 yards and 4 touchdowns, Granite Hills, ranked No. 5 in the county, defeated top-ranked Helix, 31-25, at Valley Stadium.

“We heard that they were saying they were going to control the line of scrimmage, and that got our big guys fired up,” Vardell said. “Running backs always seem to give credit to their line, but tonight, the credit was due. Our guys were blowing holes wide open.”

And Vardell was running through them. He scored on runs of 3, 33, 5 and 36 yards to help the Eagles overcome a 227-yard passing performance by Helix quarterback Jeff Hammerschmidt.

Vardell’s fourth touchdown of the night with 5:50 remaining gave Granite Hills a 31-13 lead before Hammerschmidt led a spirited Helix rally that fell short.

Hammerschmidt passed 68 yards to wide receiver Jeff Exum for a touchdown that made it 31-19, then ran 10 yards for a touchdown to make it 31-25 with 1:53 left.

However, Matt Spiegel recovered the ensuing onside kick to secure Granite Hills’ seventh straight win. Helix fell to 6-1.

The Eagles opened a 17-0 halftime lead and, thanks to Vardell, maintained it throughout the second half.

After Helix closed closed to within 17-6 on a 1-yard run by Kerry Barr, Vardell ran for 22 yards to give Granite Hills possession on the Helix 20 on the first play of the fourth quarter. On the next play, Vardell rushed for 17 yards, then, one play later, he scored his third touchdown of the night from five yards out.

Helix closed to within 24-13 on its next possession when Larry Todd scored on a 30-yard flea flicker. Hammerschmidt passed 10 yards in the flat to Exum, who lateraled to Todd for the touchdown with 9:26 remaining.

But Vardell wasn’t through. Finishing off a 7-play, 59-yard drive, Vardell took a pitchout and scored from 36 yards out to make it 31-13.

Granite Hills dominated the first half. The Eagles limited Helix to three first downs, one on a penalty and another when Highlander punter Tom Proctor grabbed a high snap and ran four yards on a fourth-and-3. Hammerschmidt’s passed for six yards before halftime and Helix’s running game was limited to 30 yards on 12 carries.

Meanwhile, the Eagles turned two interceptions into the game’s first two scores.

Linebacker P.J. Mikolajewski intercepted Hammerschmidt’s second pass of the game and gave Granite Hills possession at its 36. Granite Hills went 64 yards in 10 plays, with Vardell scoring his first touchdown on a three-yard run.

On his next possession, Hammerschmidt was intercepted again. This time, defensive back Joe McLaughlin stepped in front of a receiver and returned the ball to the Granite Hills 41. On the second quarter’s first play, Vardell cut to his right, broke two tackles and ran 33 yards into the end zone to make it 14-0.

On the final play of the half, Aaron Petrich kicked a 37-yard field goal to make it 17-0.