Quick start helps Banning football secure win over Granada Hills Charter

WILMINGTON — Jordan Villanueva may be soft spoken, but the Banning running back showed visiting Granada Hills Charter just how impactful he could be Thursday.

Villanueva totaled 147 yards and two touchdowns in the first half while Banning’s defense produced stops on five consecutive Granada Hills drives on the way to a 53-30 nonleague win.

Villanueva’s first two touches went for 61 and 24 yards, but it was the tailback’s ability to change direction that left Granada Hills defenders in the dust.

“(The first touchdown) was a counter-play, and I had to follow my pull,” Villanueva, who finished with 157 yards on six carries, said. “We have a great offensive line, and without them, this wouldn’t be possible.”

Banning coach Raymond Grajeda saw just how explosive Villanueva was during the Pilots CIF-LA City Section Division I title run last season and he noted the senior picked up where he left off.

“(Villanueva) has always had it in him and he was a sleeper last year,” Grajeda said. “He showed his peak at the end, and his runs are exciting. Those second effort runs were really sweet. To see him get going is a benefit for us.”

While Banning (2-0) and its offense jumped out to a 14-0 lead, the Pilots defense was giving Granada Hills fits, forcing the Highlanders to punt on their first two drives before Alonzo Ruiz’s safety sack gave Banning a 16-0.

Prior to the game, Banning’s coaching staff knew it needed to capitalize on mistakes with Granada Hills employing a double-wing style offense.

“That’s the name of the game. The team with fewer mistakes wins,” Grajeda said. “We knew we had to take something from them because they’re a ground crew. We knew we had to get turnover, and we took advantage.”

Following Villanueva’s second scoring run, Granada Hills was pinned back at its own 10 before Alonzo Ruiz’s safety sack gave Banning a 16-0 lead.

Steven Perez studied Granada Hills’ offensive style all week in practice and he knew it would pay off Thursday night.

“Our coaches emphasized the whole week on their pulling guards and tackles,” Perez said. “We know they’re giving away where the run was going, and we couldn’t get lost in the backfield.”

Banning kept on the gas in the first half.

Keshawn Galloway’s 3-yard scoring run made it a 23-0 game. One week after Perez scored three touchdowns (two on offense, one on defense), he added a 1-yard scoring run before finding himself on the receiving end of Noa Tuvalu’s 17-yard passing touchdown to give the Pilots a 37-0 advantage at halftime.

Galloway, who missed the latter part of last season with an ankle injury, came out of the game with five minutes left in the third quarter. with an apparent lower body injury. Grajeda dismissed any notion of Galloway missing next week’s game.

“Part of this game is wear and tear, and no one is going to hit a running back of his size up high,” Grajeda said. “It’s part of the game and you have to fight through it and move forward. He felt something after the hit and it was a precaution to get him out.”

Granada Hills crept back into the game in the second half, sticking with its run-heavy offense. After being held to 49 yards in the first half, the Highlanders erupted for 231 yards in the second half, primarily against Banning’s second team defense.

“We had to get guys in, and some of those guys haven’t played much football,” Grajeda said. “In a winning effort, we have to get these guys reps. I would rather they get reps than putting them in when it matters and they’re not ready.”