Granite Hills beats Lincoln: Live updates from San Diego Section Open Division championship (11/18/23)

Refresh for latest as Lincoln and Granite Hills battle for the San Diego Section Open Division title

Lincoln and Granite Hills are squaring off in the San Diego Section Open Division championship game.

Lincoln, the top-seed in the bracket, and Granite Hills, the third seed, enter having won a combined 43 consecutive games.

Stay with SBLive for highlights, stories and more live coverage from reporter Bodie De Silva from the press box. The game is being streamed live on the NFHS Network (subscription required). 

Scroll down below and refresh for the latest highlights, scoring plays and more live updates:

FINAL: GRANITE HILLS 27, LINCOLN 26

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FOURTH QUARTER

-- Lincoln forced a turnover on downs with 90 seconds remaining and drove into the red zone before fumbling away their 4th and goal snap as time expired. The Eagles are the 2023 Open Division champions. (27-26, Granite Hills | 0:00)

-- Granite Hills sacked Lincoln quarterback Akili Smith Jr. on 4th down and eight, forcing a turnover on downs. The Eagles will attempt to run out the clock. (27-26, Granite Hills | 3:25)

-- Granite Hills took their first lead of the night when quarterback Zach Benitez connected with Josh Zander for a three-yard touchdown on 4th and goal. (27-26, Granite Hills | 5:32)

THIRD QUARTER

-- Maxwell Turner fumbled just shy of the goal line, giving Lincoln possession in the final minute of the third quarter. (26-20, Lincoln | 0:06)

-- Granite Hills busted out a trick play and came up big. Using a jumbo formation, Pablo Jackson took the snap, faked a run and found a wide open Parker Vance down the middle of the field for a 55-yard touchdown. (26-20, Lincoln | 3:30)

-- Lincoln has opened the second half with consecutive stops of Granite Hills and has cashed in with two touchdowns. Donald Reed ran in from 25 yards out to give the Hornets a two touchdown lead. (26-13, Lincoln | 5:47)

-- Akili Smith Jr. dropped in a perfect pass to junior receiver Isaiah Grant that resulted in a 39-yard touchdown. (20-13, Lincoln | 7:39)

SECOND QUARTER

-- Zach Benitez rolled to his right and found a streaking Josh Zander for an 86-yard catch and run touchdown. The Eagles converted the PAT to tie the game. (13-13 | 3:38)

-- Maxwell Turner took a direct snap from two yards out and barreled into the end zone to get Granite Hills on the board. The point after attempt was blocked. (13-6, Lincoln | 10:59)

FIRST QUARTER

-- Granite Hills ripped off a 58-yard run on fourth down and one but were unable to capitalize, finishing the drive with a missed field goal from 29 yards out. (13-0, Lincoln | 1:17)

-- Lincoln forced a second strraight three-and-out and blocked the Granite Hills punt attempt. Jerome Roberts recovered the ball just inside the goal line for a Lincoln touchdown. (13-0, Lincoln | 4:32)

-- Lincoln drove 65 yards on their second drive of the night, finished off by a 35-yard touchdown pass from Akili Smith Jr. to Makhi Gray. The 2-point conversion attempt was no good. (6-0, Lincoln | 5:52)

(Feature photo by Justin Fine)

-- Bodie De Silva | bodie@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveca