Friday night didn’t put either San Marcos varsity team in the win column, but it certainly didn’t leave us without anything worth talking about.

San Marcos High came within two points of La Costa Canyon in a 23-21 battle, while Mission Hills faced one of the toughest assignments around — an undefeated Carlsbad team that improved to 7-0 with a 38-21 victory over the Grizzlies.

Two losses on paper. Look a little closer, though, and there’s much more to this week’s football story.

Two Points Separate the Knights and Mavericks

The Knights and La Costa Canyon played a game that remained close enough that one possession could have changed the outcome, with the Mavericks eventually escaping with a 23-21 victory.

San Marcos now sits at 4-3 as the regular season heads toward its final stretch, and several of the players helping drive that season have earned recognition well beyond one Friday-night result.

Jordan Roa Keeps the Knights Moving Through the Air

Quarterback Jordan Roa entered the week ranked No. 20 among San Diego passing leaders on the Oct. 6 leaderboard.

Through six games, Roa had completed 95 of 148 passes for 1,173 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 195.5 passing yards per game with a 64.2% completion rate.

Those aren't numbers built on one big night. They're the product of consistent production across the season.

Mo Henderson Gives San Marcos Another Way to Move the Ball

Mo Henderson entered the week ranked No. 14 among San Diego rushing leaders.

Through six games, Henderson had carried the ball 110 times for 652 yards and five touchdowns.

That's 108.7 rushing yards per game and an average of 5.93 yards every time he gets the football. His longest run during the reporting period covered 41 yards.

Put Roa's passing production alongside Henderson's work on the ground, and it's easy to see why San Marcos has been able to stay competitive in difficult matchups.

The Knights Are Getting It Done on Defense, Too

Xzavier McIntyre entered the week with three interceptions through six games, along with 55 interception-return yards.

Then there's Miles Turner.

The junior linebacker was highlighted among San Diego's top junior outside linebackers, with the Oct. 6 recognition crediting him with a team-leading 42 tackles and noting his range, motor and ability in coverage.

Between Roa, Henderson, McIntyre and Turner, San Marcos has players earning recognition on both sides of the ball.

Mission Hills Gets a Measuring-Stick Game Against Carlsbad

Mission Hills traveled to Carlsbad to face a Lancers team that entered the night undefeated.

Carlsbad won 38-21 and moved to 7-0, while Mission Hills dropped to 5-2.

The Grizzlies put 21 points on the board against an undefeated opponent and have already shown this season that they can both dominate games and compete in tight ones.

They beat Ramona 49-8. They came within one point of Granite Hills in a 28-27 finish.

At 5-2, Mission Hills still has plenty of football ahead.

Freshman Grizzlies Produce the Score of the Week — Sort Of

The young Grizzlies played Carlsbad Thursday and finished in a 3-3 tie.

Yes, in football. Three to three.

We're accustomed to seeing 3-3 somewhere around the first inning of a baseball game. As a football final, it's considerably more unusual.

There may not be pages of offensive statistics to unpack from that one, but we've made a point all season of following the younger teams along with varsity.

One Friday Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

Neither varsity program got the result it wanted this week. San Marcos lost by two. Mission Hills ran into an undefeated Carlsbad team.

But that's why following an entire season is more interesting than looking at a single scoreboard.

The Knights have a quarterback among the area's passing leaders, a running back among its rushing leaders, a defensive back producing interceptions and a linebacker earning regional recognition.

Mission Hills remains 5-2 after facing one of the section's unbeaten programs.

And somewhere in the middle of all of that, two freshman teams managed to play an entire football game and combine for six points.

Some weeks bring blowouts and celebrations. Others bring two-point heartbreakers, measuring-stick games and performances that deserve recognition even when the final score doesn't cooperate.

There are still Fridays left. We'll keep watching.

Questions You May Have About San Marcos Football

What was the San Marcos High score?

La Costa Canyon defeated San Marcos 23-21. The Knights are now 4-3.

What was the Mission Hills score?

Undefeated Carlsbad defeated Mission Hills 38-21. The Grizzlies are now 5-2.

Which San Marcos players earned statistical recognition?

Jordan Roa ranked No. 20 among San Diego passing leaders, Mo Henderson ranked No. 14 in rushing, Xzavier McIntyre appeared among the interception leaders, and Miles Turner received recognition among the area's junior outside linebackers.

How did Mission Hills freshman football do?

Mission Hills and Carlsbad finished in a 3-3 tie Thursday.

Player statistics and rankings reflect the Oct. 6 reporting period and may not include the latest games. North Valley Flare verifies available scores, schedules and player information through team sources and other credible sports reporting sources.