Archives 2006

2006 Foothill Conference Champions

Attention football players and parents

Gary Grimm, father of offensive lineman Andrew Grimm has offered to provide any player or parent any of the images he has taken this season free of charge. To contact Mr. Grimm simply email him at garygrimm@verizon.net and be sure to note the players name and the game from which you would like a photo. Grossmont Athletics thanks Gary and our many other wonderful boosters for their tireless support.

Andrew Grimm (76) Photo by Frank Gregorek

Grimm honored as All-American Scholar Athlete

Offensive lineman Andrew Grimm has been named to the 25-man J.C. Gridwire Scholar/Athlete Community College All-American football team.

A perfect 4.0 GPA along with his athletic prowess led to the 6-4, 310-pound Grimm's selection. The sophomore started every game for the 10-2 Griffins who captured another Foothill Conference championship.

Read more on EastCountySports.com

Photo by Travis Downs Jared Ballman will be a Washington Husky next year

Ballman, Howard sign with 4-year programs

(12/18) Grossmont's Jared Ballman and Geoffrey Howard have signed to continue their collegiate careers at the Division I level next season.

Ballman, Grossmont's punter and place-kicker will play in the Pac-10 at The University of Washington.

Howard, a defensive back will play for UNLV. Other Griffins who have signed thus far include Aveni Leung-Wai (BYU), Terry Mixon (Arizona State), and Sharrod Davis (Fresno State.)

Read more on EastCountySports.com

Photo by Frank Gregorek

Grossmont's season comes to an end

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(11/26) Grossmont fell for the first time since September 2nd, losing 6-13 at Bakersfield on Saturday in the second round of the state playoffs. The Grossmont defense was solid, but the offense hit the skids and settled for two Jared Ballman field goals.

Read more on Eastcountysports.com

John Soli, the PCC's Athlete of the Week Photo by Frank Gregorek

Booster Bus to Bakersfield

(11/21) Grossmont College fans can ride to Saturday's game at Bakersfield in a chartered Booster Bus for just $25. The bus will depart from Lot 5 at 10am Saturday morning. There are a limited number of spaces available, so call Leslie Lacher in the athletics office at 644-7412 to reserve your spot. The fare will be collected as we board the bus.

Soli named Athlete of the Week

(11/21) Grossmont QB John Soli was named the PCC's Athlete of the Week today. Soli, a 6-foot-1, 189-pound freshman who quarterbacked Jimtown High School to a 14-1 record and the Indiana state 2A championship two years ago, had his best game as the Griffins routed Victor Valley 49-7 in an opening-round game of the California community college playoffs. Soli threw four TD passes and ran for two TDs. He completed 18-of-31 pass attempts for 226 yards.

Justin Johnson celebrates a TD in the playoff win. Photo by Frank Gregorek

Griffins drop Victor Valley, will face Bakersfield

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(11/19) Grossmont burned the state's number-two rated defense in a runaway 49-7 Southern California Bowl win over visiting Victor Valley. The number-one rated defense of the Griffins pitched a shutout, with the Rams lone score coming on a 53-yard interception return by Kendrell Barthelemy in the first quarter.

Grossmont quickly responded to tie the game on QB John Soli's 1-yard keeper with 4:07 to go in the first quarter. Grossmont would go on to put up 42 unanswered points running away with the Southern California Bowl.

Grossmont (10-1) will now travel north to face Bakersfield (10-1) on Saturday at 4pm. Bakersfield advanced by defeating Citrus 36-12.

Soli had his finest performance as a Griffin, rushing for two scores, and throwing for four more. Soli completed 18 of 31 passes for 226 yards. Soli's favorite targets were Justin Johnson, who caught four passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns, and Brandon Bryan who hauled in three passes for 50 yards and a pair of TDs.

On the ground Kevin Smith churned out a workman-like 87 yards on 16 carries. Cedric Warren (51 yards) and Perry Gardner (30 yards) provided strong support to the ground game.

First-team defenders Terry Mixon and Matt Moss (61). Photo by Frank Gregorek

Griffins populate All-Conference Teams

View All-Foothill Selections

(11/17) All Foothill Conference selections were announced and 11 Griffins made the cut. On offense running back Justin Johnson, and OL Cody Gocke were first-team selections. OL Daniel Tufele and WR Justin Johnson were second-team honorees. Johnson was also named a first-team kick returner.

On the defensive first-team Griffins occupied five of the twelve spots. DBs Terry Mixon (also named second-team kick returner), and Sharrod Davis, DL Matt Moss, and LBs Aveni Leung-Wai and Nate Dolan were the first-teamers. DL Tanu Paleafei was selected to the second-team defense.

Kicker Jared Ballman was selected as the first-team place kicker.

Victor Valley, Grossmont's first-round playoff opponent swept the top honors. QB Mike Woods was named the Offensive Player of the Year, LB Justin Halas was Defensive Player of the Year, and Head Coach Dave Hoover was selected Coach of the Year.

John Soli hands off to Kevin Smith in the Griffins 16-7 win over Victor Valley. Photo by Gary Grimm

Grossmont to face Victor Valley in rematch

Updated Rankings (11/12)

(11/12) The Griffins will host Victor Valley Saturday November 18th at 1pm in the Southern California Bowl.

Grossmont enters the playoffs as the #3 seed in Southern California, Victor Valley earned the 6-seed.

The Griffins handed Victor Valley their only defeat of the year on October 21st at the Rams home field.

Justin Johnson scored twice in the win. Photo by Frank Gregorek

Griffins bounce Mesa, prep for playoffs

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(11/11) The Griffins turned in quite a tune-up in their final regular season game, stomping visiting Mesa College 58-0. Grossmont (9-1, 8-0) rolled up 591 yards of total offense led by Kevin Smith's 118 rushing yards and two TDs. Running back Perry Gardner had 46 rushing yards, including two scores, and caught a 44 yard TD pass. The Griffins so thoroughly dominated the Olympians that Jared Ballman only punted once the entire game.

Quarterback John Soli completed 19-of-36 passes for 241 yards and two TDs. Twelve Griffins caught passes in the attack led by Joe Wynn (5 catches, 40 yards), and Justin Johnson (3 catches, 50 yards, TD.) Johnson also scored on a 42-yard punt return in the first quarter.

The Grossmont defense dominated Mesa all afternoon allowing just 33 total yards of offense. Mesa only gained three first downs in the game, and three Griffins -Sharrod Davis, Geoffrey Howard, and Aveni Leung-Wai- had interceptions in the second half.

Read more on EastCountySports.com

Former Griffin Wright to Arena League

(11/2) Roderkus Wright, a defensive end from last season's team has signed with the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League. Wright had been in camp with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, but did not sign and was released on October 11th.

Wright becomes the first Grossmont football player to move directly to the professional level. Wright, who played at Oregon before coming to Grossmont, was a first-team J.C. Gridwire All-American last season.

Read more on EastCountySports.com

Bring a toy, get into game for free

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(11/1) Grossmont College announced that any fan bringing a new, unwrapped toy to the Homecoming game November 11th will be admitted for free. The Saturday contest against Mesa College begins at 1pm.

The toys will be distributed to the disadvantaged single parents of Grossmont College. For more details contact the athletic office at (619) 644-7412.

Kevin Smith rushes against AVC Photo by Frank Gregorek

Griffins wallop AVC, claim conference title

(10/30) Latest polls Released

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(10/29) Grossmont won their fourth-straight Foothill Conference championship by defeating visiting Antelope Valley 57-3.

Grossmont racked up 30 points in the second quarter to move to 7-0 in conference play, 8-1 overall. RB Kevin Smith made the most of his 10 carries gaining 124 yards, and scoring four touchdowns.

Read more on EastCountySports.com

Schad receives honor

(10/24) Grossmont's Nate Schad has been named as the PCC Athlete of the Week for the week ending 10/22.
Schad, a 5-foot-11, 162-pound freshman cornerback from El Cajon Valley High School, came up huge as the Griffins, featuring the state's No. 2 defense, knocked off Victor Valley, with the No. 1 defense, 16-7 in Victorville.
Schad's three interceptions led Grossmont in its battle for first place in the Foothill Conference with the Rams.

Cedric Warren Photo by Gary Grimm

Griffins draw near to Foothill title

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Latest Polls Released (10/23)

(10/22) The Griffins defense propelled them to a critical win over previously unbeaten Victor Valley 16-7. With the win Grossmont takes over sole possession of first place in the Foothill Conference. The Griffins offense was able to muster 16 points over the state's top-rated defense, and Grossmont, whose defense is #2 in the state held the hosts to 7 points.

Read more on EastCountySports.com

Victory over Desert sets up showdown

(10/14) With a convincing 37-14 win at Desert, the Griffins set up a showdown for the Foothill Conference title at undefeated Victor Valley Saturday October 21st. For a preview of the game go to

Read more on EastCountySports.com.

Jeremy Young during his 100-yard return. Photo by Frank Gregorek

Griffs pounce on the Panthers

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(10/7) Grossmont got a huge start, stood pat for a while, then scored late to top visiting Chaffey College 21-0. The Griffins' Jeremy Young took the opening kickoff 100 yards for a score to get things started. The run broke Derrell Hutsona's previous school record for a return of 98-yards. Grossmont did not smell the end zone again until midway through the third quarter when RB Kevin Smith punched in a 1-yard score. Grossmont put the game on ice when QB John Soli connected with Joe Wynn for a 5-yard TD pass with about five minutes remaining.
The Griffins hit the road the next two weeks at College of the Desert next week, then traveling to Victor Valley before returning home to face Antelope Valley on October 28th.

Read more on EastCountySports.com

Justin Johnson races for a punt return TD. Photo by Frank Gregorek

Griffins use big plays in win

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(9/30) Grossmont utilized several big gainers en route to a 44-6 romp over visiting San Bernardino. The Griffins got a 46-yard punt return for a TD from Justin Johnson. The special teams delivered another score when Junior Faliuga blocked a punt, and Jeremy Young recovered it for a score.

Read more on EastCountySports.com

Terry Mixon races through a huge hole on the way to a TD Photo by Dawn Adams

Mixon leads Griffins in romp

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Latest Polls (9/26)

(9/23) Grossmont's Terry Mixon ran wild at Southwestern college, scoring twice on kick returns en route to a 49-6 drubbing.
The Griffins improved to 3-1, 2-0 with the victory. Mixon, an all-American defensive back ran back kickoffs of 92, and 93 yards for touchdowns. To add insult to injury, the sophomore also intercepted two Jaguar passes.

Read more on EastCountySports.com

RB Cedric Warren Photo by Travis Downs

Latest polls released

(9/20) The Griffins were ranked number-seven in Southern California in the latest California Community College football poll. El Camino College is the South's top-ranked team, while San Francisco is the North's number-one squad.

Click here to download the entire poll

Quarterback John Soli Photo by Travis Downs

Griffins stay hot, throttle Eagles

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(9/16) Grossmont came up with 17 second-half points to run away with a Foothill Conference victory at Mt. San Jacinto. Grossmont's Jared Ballman hit field goals of 21, 33 and 41 yards to assist the Grossmont offense. Quarterback Hunter Flynn hit five of his 11 pass attempts for 102 yards and a touchdown.

Read more on EastCountySports.com

Griffins take down Canyons

Photo by Dawn Adams

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(9/9) The Griffins bounced back from a week one upset by handling visiting College of the Canyons 25-3 at home. Grossmont's defense dominated the Cougars the entire afternoon, allowing only a late field goal.

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Grossmont Season Opener
Saturday September 2, at Mt. San Antonio

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Griffins are nation's number-one rated team

Street & Smith's has ranked Grossmont College as its preseason number one team entering the 2006 season. The national publication is considered the top source for community college football information. The Griffins will play the number-two ranked team, College of the Canyons at home on September 9th.

Read more on EastCountySports.com

Ranch Catering Tailgate to kick off 2006 season

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Grossmont College is teaming up Ranch Catering to present the Ranch Catering Tailgate on Saturday September 9th. The tailgate party will precede the Griffins home opener against College of the Canyons at 3pm. The game pits the 2005 National Champion Griffins against the 2004 champs Canyons. It is also a rematch of last years California state semifinals, in which the Griffins ended the Cougars season with a 24-19 victory. All are invited to attend this exciting event.

2005 Season Archive

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Grossmont's King overcomes severe injury

The Honolulu Advertiser follows the recuperation of Griffin Steven King after suffering a spinal injury in a Grossmont game.

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Stanbra, Hathaway sign on with Aztecs

New SDSU head coach Chuck Long has signed two Grossmont linemen to scholarships. All-State defensive end Brian Stanbra and offensive lineman Dan Hathaway were excited to sign with the hometown Aztecs. Stanbra, (6-4, 238) is a product of University of San Diego High school. Hathaway (6-7, 290) prepped at nearby Grossmont High school. The two helped the Griffins to a memorable 13-1 finish winning the conference, state, and national titles in head coach Dave Jordan's final season.

Read the story from the San Diego Union-Tribune

Hutsona will play for Washington State

Murphy, Omar, Gaughen, Cruz, Mareko also sign on at universities

Grossmont running back and national offensive player of the year Derrell Hutsona (right) has accepted a scholarship to Washington State University. Hutsona also had offers from Kansas State, and Utah among others. Other Griffins to sign scholarships are quarterback Reilly Murphy, who will play at Indiana State, WR Michael Omar with Massachusetts, OL Matt Gaughen, Francisco Cruz, and TE Jerry Mareko will all attend Sacramento State.

Read the story on EastCountySports.com

Read the story from the San Diego Union-Tribune