San Diego Prep Football Insider: St. Augustine meets Helix in top-ranked showdown

Can Helix pull off another upset this week against top-ranked St. Augustine?

Every Monday during the football season, Scorebook Live California reporter Bodie De Silva highlights the top performers and the most intriguing storylines in San Diego Section high school football.

NOTABLE RESULTS

Helix shocked Cathedral Catholic on Friday night as the two teams continued what has become one of the best rivalries in San Diego.

The Highlanders threw the first punch and led Cathedral 27-7 at halftime en route to a 48-27 victory. The Dons came into the game after two huge home wins over Saguaro (AZ) and Corona Centennial that put them into many national top 25 rankings. The Highlanders used their bye week well and executed in all aspects. Senior quarterback Kamryn Brown was especially sharp for Helix going 14-for-17 for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Despite being undefeated and ranking among the top 10 in the county, Steele Canyon has flown under the radar during the first month of the high school football season. The Cougars are coming off of a 28-0 shutout of Bonita Vista on Friday after previously beating Eastlake and Madison while holding them to a combined 20 points.

With the Cougars returning 9 starters on defense this year it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that they have started out in midseason form. They’ll be considerable favorites the next two weeks against Otay Ranch and Mira Mesa before they begin Grossmont – Hills League play.

St. Augustine’s early season dominance has now reached week five of the season. The Saints have beaten their opponents by a combined score of 188-12 through the first four games. St. Augustine will have their best test to date when they host Helix at Mesa College on Friday. It will be the first regular season No. 1 vs. No. 2 game in San Diego since No. 1 Mission Hills lost to No. 2 San Pasqual in overtime in 2013.

TOP PERFORMERS

Helix running back Elelyon Noa has had a storied career for the Highlanders, but he’s sure to remember Friday night’s game. In the upset of top-ranked Cathedral Catholic, Noa ran for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also catching 5 passes for 80 yards and another touchdown.

Poway’s Josh Butler was a 1,000-yard rusher last season and is well on his way again. In Friday night’s win over Escondido, Butler ran for 206 yards and 4 touchdowns, averaging 13.7 yards per carry.

Grossmont junior running back Robert Tucker had a huge night for the Foothillers on Friday as they continued their early season offensive dominance. Tucker ran for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns and also added 6 catches for 116 yards and 3 more touchdowns. He’s up to 843 all-purpose yards through the season’s first 3 games.

Rancho Bernard senior linebacker Nick Blanchard recorded 10 tackles in the Broncos win over Point Loma on Friday night. He’s tallied 55 tackles through their first 4 games and has played a huge part in the Broncos recording back-to-back shutouts.

RECRUITING UPDATES

• 2021 St. Augustine RB Byron Cardwell picked up
  an offer from Oregon State.
• 2020 St. Augustine DB Tyson McWilliams picked
  up an offer from Oregon State.
• 2020 St. Augustine LB Connor Heffler picked up
  an offer from Valparaiso.
• 2022 St. Augustine ATH Jalil Tucker picked up
  an offer from BYU.
• 2020 San Marcos WR Gavin Cherveny picked up an
  offer from Valparaiso.
• 2023 San Diego RB Amare Ary picked up an offer
  from BYU.

HOW I VOTED THIS WEEK

1. St. Augustine

2. Helix

3. Cathedral Catholic

4. Carlsbad

5. Steele Canyon

6. Torrey Pines

7. Grossmont

8. Mission Hills

9. Lincoln

10. La Costa
Canyon

TOP COLLEGE PERFORMANCE

2016 Westview HS
grad Ben Ratzlaff had 12 catches for 155 yards and 3 touchdowns in Houston
Baptist’s 53-52 win over South Dakota on Saturday.

TOP WEEK 5 GAMES

La Jolla Country Day @ Santa Fe Christian

#1 St. Augustine @ #2 Helix

#10 La Costa Canyon @ Oceanside

Morse @ Hilltop

#5 Steele Canyon @ Otay Ranch

#6 Torrey Pines @ El Camino

La Jolla @ Scripps Ranch