SD Open-Division Semis Recap: #2-Carlsbad vs. #3-Granite Hills 

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Highlights and breakdowns from one of two OT thrillers in San Diego's Open-Division Section semifinals. #3-Granite Hills took down #2-Carlsbad 46-45 with a successful 2-point conversion in the first OT after both teams went back and forth for four quarters. Granite Hills' offense was methodical with the ball and their strong OL unit was able to open lanes in the running game, while the defense produced the first INT of the season thrown by QB [player_tooltip player_id='115456' first='Julian' last='Sayin']. Carlsbad's offense got strong performances from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1128336' first='Mason' last='Walsh']</strong> (24 carries, 141 yards, 3 TDs), and WRs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1128116' first='Will' last='Cianfrini']</strong> (43-yard TD catch) and [player_tooltip player_id='424976' first='Griffin' last='Rosenbloom'] (TD in OT). The loss marks the end of the career of one of the best QBs to ever come out of San Diego with Sayin headed to Alabama next season. Granite Hills continues their quest for a second straight state championship advancing to play #1-Lincoln at Snapdragon Stadium this Saturday, 11/18 at 7pm. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Top Performers</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["612834"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Turner was able to consistently churn out chunks of yards on the ground with his physical, downhill running style. The standout junior RB totaled 20 carries for 133 yards and 3 TDs, including the game-tying TD to send the game to OT. His contact balance and ability to drive through defenders continues to stand out, along with his speed once he hits the second/third levels. Turner's totaled over 1,000 rushing yards and 15 TDs on the season heading into the Open-Division championship.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65531ec9bb26d"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/SDPreps/status/1722813652296925479","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/SDPreps/status/1722813652296925479 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Isaiah u0022Pablou0022 Jackson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025 ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Granite Hills","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Jackson flashed his dynamic skillset out of the backfield totaling 23 carries for 80 yards and 2 TDs. He also took a screen pass down to the 2-yard line to set up his own rushing TD. He flashed his speed and ability to stretch the field getting to the edge for a TD off the RT and found the endzone on a jet sweep for the game-winning 2 point conversion. Jackson's an electric playmaker that can be utilized in multiple ways and excels with the ball in space. He and Turner are two of the top unoffered RB prospects in San Diego's 2025 class.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65531ec9bb34f"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BStoneKUSI/status/1722854051631804735","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BStoneKUSI/status/1722854051631804735 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["691923"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Benitez showed poise and composure well beyond his years in the semifinal win, making big plays when they were needed most. The freshman QB was quick, efficient, and accurate with the ball completing 24/33 passes for 229 yards and 2 TDs. He did a great job of leading his playmakers into space on quick-hitters and navigating away from pressure to find receivers downfield. Benitez has shown promising tools and potential heading into his toughest test yet against one of the top defenses in SoCal.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65531ec9bb3ab"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Daygofootball/status/1722852525299396933","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Daygofootball/status/1722852525299396933 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brenden Lewis ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Granite Hills","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Lewis caught 14 passes for 153 yards and made one of the biggest plays of the game coming down with a 50-yard catch on the final drive of the game. He did most of his work on short, underneath routes where he showed sure hands and ability to make the first defender miss out on the perimeter. Lewis has been Granite Hills' most productive WR this season with over 50 catches and 8 TDs on the season- they'll need another standout performance from him against a talented Lincoln secondary.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65531ec9bb433"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BriSavant/status/1722898105073635538?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BriSavant/status/1722898105073635538?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->