San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
SAINTS BREAK THREE-GAME LOSING STREAK VS. HIGHLANDERS
When the final schedule was announced in this shortened high school football season, Rich Colmenero’s eyes lit up.
The season opener was a familiar foe.
The senior quarterback at St. Augustine High had thought about little else except how the 2019 season ended with a lackluster playoff loss at Helix in the Open Division semifinals
Colmenero threw a 50yard touchdown pass and also scored on a quarterback sneak, which proved to be the winning points, as the fifth-ranked Saints upended the No. 1-ranked Highlanders 21-13 on Friday night.
In keeping with the game, the defense stopped the Highlanders on the final drive to end a three-game losing streak to Helix, which went on to win the 2019 San Diego Section Open Division crown.
“We had to win here because this might be our last chance to get them,” Colmenero said. “This feels great to do this on the same field. Ever since that last loss I was wishing we’d see Helix again. Every one of the seniors wanted this game in the worst way.”
But it started off poorly as Helix’s Christian Washington returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown.
What could have been a decisive play took just 14 seconds.
The rest of the game was a battle of the ground attacks and the Saints’ defense.
Saints’ defense held Helix to 83 rushing yards and only 145 total yards.
Wide receiver-defensive back Ayo Shotomide caught a 50-yard TD strike from Colmenero in the second quarter and added an interception.
The touchdown brought a smile to his face.
“On the deep patterns, I know I have to pin the DB on the outside and cut inside,” he said. “We thought they would run and then pass every fifth play and if they passed at all we’d get one.”
Washington was Helix’s best weapon.
Besides the kickoff return for a TD, he carried 26 times for 119 yards.
“I’m very proud of the guys,” Saints coach Joe Kremer said.
“We don’t complain much, we just keep playing.
“Any win over Helix is something to be proud of whether it’s regular season, playoffs, in the finals or in March because of the pandemic.”
The Saints edged Helix 21-20 in overtime to win the Division I crown in 2018.
Helix still owns a 10-4 edge over the Saints in the series.