SAN MARCOS — A season of triumph ended in heartbreak for San Marcos as turnovers and an early 21-point deficit proved insurmountable in a 42-25 loss to Granite Hills in the San Diego Section Division I Championship game.
Heading into the championship game, the Knights (11-2, 5-0 Palomar) had gone undefeated in conference play, won a Palomar League title and boasted a nearly 300-point score differential against opposing teams this year.
“We had a very strong team bond that only strengthened as the season went on,” said senior wide receiver and linebacker Elijah Bechtel, who led the Knights’ defense with 10 tackles. “We have amazing players but just came up a little short.”
However, San Marcos’ record-breaking season, seven-game win streak, and postseason hopes ended in one fell swoop Saturday night at Southwestern College. The Eagles’ sixth-straight victory and third-consecutive division title punch their ticket to the Southern California Regionals.
Granite Hills senior running back Max Turner set the tone early with a two-yard touchdown run on the Eagles’ opening drive, foreshadowing what would be a long evening for the San Marcos defense and a career night for the standout rusher.
Turner finished with 220 yards on 29 carries and five touchdowns.
“[Turner] does a fantastic job of getting behind his bigger blockers and hiding behind them,” said San Marcos defensive line coach Nick Sienkiewicz. “He really reminds me of a young Darren Sproles and does a great job not going down on first contact as well.”
Trailing early, San Marcos appeared poised to respond, marching deep into Granite Hills territory before junior quarterback Kreet Makihele’s pass was intercepted by defensive tackle Kuba Pollak. The turnover led to a 63-yard touchdown pass for Granite Hills. Early in the second quarter, Turner added another goal-line touchdown, extending the Eagles’ lead to 21-0.
“Granite Hills’ rushing performance is one of the best we have faced this season,” Sienkiewicz said. “It’s hard to say too much positively when we give up 42 points, but our boys fought as they have done all year.”
San Marcos gained momentum late in the first half with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Makihele to CJ Williams. A recovered fumble on the ensuing kickoff set up a Caleb Reese rushing touchdown for San Marcos, narrowing the Knights’ deficit to 21-12 after a failed two-point conversion.
The Knights opened the second half with a brief flicker of hope after a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown by Brady Pohl, marking 18 unanswered points to cut Granite Hills’ lead to 21-18.
“Our guys never quit and showed grit throughout the game,” Bechtel said.
Granite Hills quickly answered with another Turner rushing touchdown, effectively quashing San Marcos’ comeback hopes.
“Up front, I thought we played like warriors and forced them to get out of some of the stuff they do really well,” Sienkiewicz said, who acknowledged the efforts of underclassmen Ty Sagersar (who finished with 11 sacks this season), Colton Walker and Micah Paula.
“Kieran Sullivan, the lone senior, was lights out and the heartbeat of the line this year,” Sienkiewicz added.
Makihele capped the Knights’ scoring with a 14-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Colton Willard with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, marking the final touchdown of the season for San Marcos.
Despite his Palomar League Offensive Player of the Year honors, Makihele struggled in the title game, throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble. Coming into the game, Makihele had thrown 42 touchdowns against just six interceptions for the season, bouncing back from a broken collarbone that sidelined him for a chunk of the season last year.
“[Playing with Kreet] is amazing,” Bechtel said. “He’s a great player and a great person on and off the field. He has a huge future ahead of him.”
Makihele’s 44 passing touchdowns this season are a school record, with Knights’ senior wide receiver Jase Nix also setting a new mark for pass catchers.
Granite Hills secured its third consecutive section championship, while San Marcos reflected on a transformative season under head coach Tom Carroll, who inherited a 1-10 program in 2022.
“Our season is just the start for a winning San Marcos football program,” Bechtel said. “We were sad of course as would anyone after losing. Coach Carroll and the staff were proud of the fight we had and had nothing but love for us seniors.”
