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Helix vs. Steele Canyon: What You Need to Know

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YurView Staff
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The Grossmont Hills league title is on the line when No. 1 Helix (8-1, 4-0) travels to face No. 5 Steele Canyon (9-0, 4-0) Friday at 7:00pm PT on YurView California (check local listings) and streaming live at yurview.com.

Last week, Helix defeated Granite Hills 49-27:

Steele Canyon cruised to a 58-3 victory against No. 10 Grossmont:

In last season’s meeting, Steele Canyon edged Helix 22-21 for their first victory in the series since 2009. That win helped Steele Canyon become tri-champs in the league along with Helix and Granite Hills. This season, it’s a winner take all between the rivals for the league crown.

The potent Helix offense will square off with the stingy Steele Canyon defense.

Helix averages 43.9 points per game, touting explosive playmakers such as quarterback Kamryn Brown (1,285 yards,16 touchdowns, 4 interceptions), running backs Elelyon Noa (1,085 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Christian Washington (602 yards, 10 touchdowns) and receiver Keionte Scott (442 yards, 9 touchdowns).

“Obviously, the expectations are very high at Helix every season. ‘Tradition Never Graduates!!!’,” Helix coach Robbie Owens said. “I feel we really came together as a team with the emergence of Kamryn Brown at QB, transfer Keionte Scott, and the development of the OL has been vital.”

Steele Canyon coach Scott Longerbone is effusive in his praise of Helix.

“Helix is a championship program with great players and great coaching. They pose problems in every aspect of the game,” Steele Canyon coach Scott Longerbone said. “They are big, fast, strong, disciplined, well-coached, you name it.  You don’t earn a top 15 ranking in the state without being very very good.”

The Steele Canyon defense has allowed only 7.7 points per game and 70 points total. Steele Canyon held a Grossmont squad averaging 501 yards to just 105 yards.

In the Steele Canyon victory vs. Grossmont, Antoine Walker hauled in two touchdown receptions (80 yards and 10 yards) and snagged an interception. Viliamu-Ah-You Morse added his school-record 11th sack.

“Defensively Steele is a very talented football team.  They load the box and have the skill players to match up with most WR groups in the county.  We have to be consistent on offense and take advantage of favorable matchups,” Owens said. “Offensively, Steele has gotten better each week. We must eliminate the big plays and make them consistently march down the field.”

Making his first varsity start due to Jeremy Mendez-Gal’s finger injury, Elia Kirismasi finished 12-of-20 with 168 yards and two touchdowns through the air and rushed for a 7-yard score. Wesley Neeley rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns (5 yards and 49 yards). Chris Carter scored on a 37-yard run and 60-yard punt return.

“Biggest factors in this season have been the kids buying in to what we are selling.  Our defense is very good, 7.7 points per game. But more than that they are coachable,” Longerbone said. “Our offense has been patient as they developed and now are really starting to click. Special teams have 5 touchdowns and we are +10 on turnovers which is a huge factor.”

Longerbone cites championship experience as the main reason Steele Canyon will be prepared for a game of this magnitude.

“There are multiple kids on this team that have been on varsity for three years.  So they were a part of our state championship in 2017,” Longerbone said. “They have played in a lot of big games, including beating Helix at Helix last year to earn a share of the league championship.”

The winner will enter the postseason with momentum but both teams are taking a level-headed mindset into the critical clash.

Steele Canyon is employing a business-like approach.

“It will be a coaching challenge win or lose on Friday.  If we win we will have to refocus and try and not have that game be where we peaked, only to lose in the playoffs.  If we lose we will have to coach them up to get on a playoff run,” Longerbone said. “Our players are very mature, they have taken the whole season one game at a time.  Really looking forward to all of the challenges a game like this provides.”

Helix will rely on their fine-tuned habits developed throughout the course of the season.

“We always talk to our players about playing Helix Football and respecting the name Helix.  It doesn’t matter what the opponents’ jerseys say, we have to play Helix Football,” Owens said.. “The magnitude of the game may change, but our preparations and expectations never waver.  Receiving a #1 seed in the Open is always our end goal. A win will give us the momentum going into playoffs.”

Stats courtesy of MaxPreps and The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Watch Helix vs. Steele Canyon (California) high school football – Friday, November 1st at 7:00pm PT on YurView California (check local listings) and streaming live at yurview.com.

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