CHULA VISTA — Mission accomplished. A CIF San Diego Section championship four-peat for the Granite Hills High School football team.
But it was anything but easy as the second-seeded Eagles overcame an early 14-point deficit and upset top-seeded Lincoln 41-29 before an estimated crowd of 6,500 Saturday night at Southwestern College.
Granite Hills (10-3) advances to the Southern California Regionals.
“They all feel great,” Granite Hills coach Kellan Cobbs said of titles in Division 1 last season, the Open Division in 2023 and Division 2 in 2022. “I don’t know how teams in general in high school have won four straight championships. I’m sure Oceanside did it … But I feel like we’re building something special.”
“We were there, but we got comfortable,” said LIncoln running back Junior Curtis. “And they smacked us in the mouth.”
In a back-and-forth first half, Lincoln scored on the first play from scrimmage and six plays later, but led just 21-20 at the break.
The Hornets hit Granite Hills with an 80-yard scoring pass on the first play of the game with Kainan Manna hitting Dareyen Bridges in stride for the score.
After a 63-yard kickoff return by Kali Young, Cammeron Purnell intercepted a Granite Hills pass. Six plays later Rashad Robinson scored on a 32-yard run.
Granite Hills got right back in the game, going 80 yards on 10 plays with quarterback Zac Benitez hitting Zhedan Smith for a 12-yard score
CHULA VISTA, CA – NOVEMBER 29, 2025: Granite Hills’ quarterback Zachary Benitez throws a pass against Lincoln in the first quarter of the CIF Division 1 championship at Southwestern College in Chula Vista on Saturday, November 29, 2025. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The Eagles drew even at 14-14, again going 80 yards, this time using 12 plays with Gage Spalding scoring on a 1-yard run.
Lincoln needed just three plays to regain the lead, hitting Granite Hills with a 51-yard scoring run by Junior Curtis.
Granite Hills countered with a big play with Benitez hitting Noah Walker with a 65-yards touchdown pass. The PAT, however, was missed and Lincoln still led 21-20. Granite Hills took the lead on the first series of the third quarter on an 8-yard pass from Benitez to Tristan Diaz.
Lincoln countered with a 2-yard run by Robinson. Granite Hills finally took the lead for good late in the third quarter, when Benitez hit Walker for a 31-yard scoring pass.
The Eagles put the game away late in the fourth quarter when Spalding, running out of a Wildcat formation, scored from the 1.
CHULA VISTA, CA – NOVEMBER 29, 2025: Lincoln’s Junior Curtis is chased by Granite Hills’ Parker Johnson as he runs for a touchdown in the second quarter of the CIF Division 1 championship at Southwestern College in Chula Vista on Saturday, November 29, 2025. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Lincoln tried to rally, but Wyatt MacLeod and Hunter Hamilton, who harassed Manna all game, registered sacks.
“In that fourth quarter, we were just letting it go,” said MacLeod. “The linebackers were letting me go.”
“We just didn’t finish,” said Lincoln coach David Dunn. “Granite Hills is a solid team, but we made way too many mistakes and had way too many penalties.”
Lincoln rushed 49 times for 305 yards, with Curtis carrying 18 times for 159 yards and Robinson 19 for 129. Manna completed 13 of 23 passes, for 224 yards with Courtney Miller-Thompson making seven catches for 68 yards and Bridges four for 146.
Benitez completed 16 of 32 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns for Granite Hills. Walker had four catches for 142 yards and Smith three for 71.
“It’s amazing,” Walker said. “We’ve been practicing since the summer. It’s really nothing new.”
Granite Hills 41, Lincoln 29
Granite Hills 7 13 13 8 – 41
Lincoln 14 7 8 0 – 29
L- Bridges 80 pass from Manna (A. Nunez kick)
L – Robinson 32 run (A. Nunez kick)
GH – Smith 12 pass from Benitez (J. Nunez kick)
GH – Spalding 1 run (J. Nunez kick)
L – Curtis 51 run (A. Nunez kick)
GH – Walker 65 pass from Benitez (kick failed)
GH – Walker 8 pass from Benitez (pass failed)
L – Robinson 2 run (Miller-Thompson pass from Mannan)
GH – Walker 31 pass from Benitez (J. Nunez kick)
GH – Spalding 1 run (Johnson pass to Diaz)