Monarchs put hurt on rival Matadors

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 7, 2017

Monte Vista's JACK WALKER tackles Mount Miguel's ERIC GRAHAM Friday night/ EastCountySports photo

Mount Miguel’s LARRY YZAGUIRRE runs with the ball Friday night. / EastCountySports photo

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

MONTE VISTA 35, MOUNT MIGUEL 0

By Ramon Scott

EastCountySports.com

SPRING VALLEY – Monte Vista put one of its biggest margins of victory ever over Mount Miguel in this neighborhood rivalry here Friday night, shutting out Matadors, 35-0, on Homecoming.

Junior running back JAHMON MCCLENDON rushed for third-quarter scores of 21 and 26 yards, as the Monarchs won the season-opener which concluded with a running clock in the fourth quarter.

Junior running back TERELL KYLE got it going for the Monarchs with a 56-yard touchdown run after senior right tackle EMMANUEL MENDES flattened his man and senior right guard DAVON OUDLS got upfield for another shove, to spring Kyle in the middle of the field.

Mount Miguel seemed to have the formula to answer in the form of a drive led by seniors SHEMAR GREENE and MUGABE MILLER, who had the Matadors on the move late in the first quarter.

Junior JACK WALKER, of Monte Vista, reacts after recovering a fumble to open the second half. / EastCountySports photo

Then a pass from Miller to LARRY YZAGUIRRE had the visitors inside the 5, when the game took an unfortunate turn.

After the teams switched ends, MONTE VISTA junior linebacker ELSHADDAI LEVI chased down Miller for a sack, but in the process, Mount Miguel’s signal caller Miller had his leg get caught up awkwardly while being rolled to the turf.

Miller needed assistance to be taken off the field. He did not return and could be sidelined for an undetermined amount of time.

Monte Vista (3-3, 1-0 GVL) didn’t wait long to fully take the momentum.

The Monarchs’ McClendon the ripped off a 78-yard touchdown after bowling over a would-be tackler, before bouncing to the outside for the jaunt.

The hosts kept the pressure on as the Matadors had to find unfamliar ways to move to ball on offense with their glue out of the game.

Levi also had a sack for a safety in the first half when the Matadors mishandled a direct snap to a back and Levi chased him down to the back of the end zone.

Monte Vista place-kicker JASON HERNANDEZ had a pair of field goals, including a 42-yarder.

McClendon also had a 44-yard run to the 1-yard line, setting up his own 1-yard touchdown blast.

Monte Vista’s BLAKE SCHMIDT shows the ball after recovering a second half fumble. / EastCountySports photo

The Matadors kept fighting in the second quarter when they seemed within striking distance, as SANTINO PACHECO punched a ball out from McClendon’s grasp after a lengthy run, and Yzaguirre recovered it.

Junior BLAKE SCHMIDT had a sack in the second quarter for Monte Vista, while junior JEVON BROOKS had an interception on a deep halfback option attempt by the Matadors.

Monte Vista stunned Mount Miguel last year, recovering a mishandled kickoff early in the second half to send the Monarchs to the road upset during the Matadors’ Homecoming.

They did it again this year, right out of the locker room.

The Matadors mishandled the opening kickoff on the second half, booting a short hop right back to the rushing Monarchs, as junior JACK WALKER fell on it.

Moments later, McClendon showed his somewhat-seldom used next-level cutback ability for a nice saunter through the Madator ‘D’ for the 21-yard score.

Another fumble by Mount Miguel (2-5, 0-1 GVL) was recovered by Schmidt, setting up McClendon’s 26-yard TD run to the left side.

The Monarchs host Santana next week, while the Matadors will head to El Cajon Valley.