Monarchs get their win over Sultans

By ECS Staff
Updated: October 14, 2017

JAHMON MCCLENDON rushes for Monte Vista against Santana Friday night. / photo by Tammy Ryan

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

MONTE VISTA 24, SANTANA 17

EastCountySports.com staff report

Santana’s CAMERON KANE defends a pass against Monte Vista Friday night. / photo by Tammy Ryan

SPRING VALLEY – The Monte Vista Monarchs were just a little more than a minute away from advancing to the San Diego Section Division IV championship game last November.

However, the Santana Sultans scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:09 left to advance to the finals, handing the Monarchs their second loss of the season in Santee.

On Friday night, revenge-minded Monte Vista scored the first 17 points and then held on to beat Santana, 24-17, in a Grossmont Valley League contest at the Monarchs’ stadium.

Coach RON HAMAMOTO’s Monarchs improved to 4-3, 2-0, while Santana dropped to 3-5, 0-2.

Monte Vista’s JAHMON McCLENDON rushed 35 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns and added an interception on defense.

DAVON CHESTNUT runs against Monte Vista’s LOGAN SCHMIDT (8). / photo by Tammy Ryan

Santana’s JOSH OEDEWALDT completed 15 of 34 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions as Santana made a modest comeback in the second half and threatened in the waning moments to win or extend the game.

“We dropped a touchdown pass on a third-down pass play near the end of the game,” Santana coach TIM ESTES said. “On fourth down, we threw an interception in the end zone with 13 seconds left.”

EMILL HENDERSON made the pick to preserve the win.

“I think we are a couple plays away from being a really good football team,” Estes said. “We’re a couple plays from being 5-3 instead of 3-5. But our kids played well.”

Monte Vista scored first as JASON HERNANDEZ kicked a 40-yard field goal on the game-s opening possession. That score was set up by a 35-yard run by McClendon.

In the early moments of the second quarter, McClendon scored a 5-yard run behind senior EMMANUEL MENDES and crew. Henderson had a 24-yard run on the drive.

Monte Vista went up 17-0 with 1:49 to play in the first half as fullback ELSHADAI LEVI scored on a 9-yard run up the gut. In the second half, the red-hot junior added a sack on defense.

Still later in the half, Oedewaldt hit COLTON SNIPES for a 32-yard score on a perfectly timed high aerial behind the coverage in the back of the end zone to trim the margin to 17-7 at intermission.

In the third quarter, DAVON CHESTNUT hauled in a 35-yard touchdown pass from Oedewaldt as the Sultans pulled with 17-14.

McClendon scored his second touchdown on a 26-yard run to make it 24-14 in the fourth quarter. This time, McClendon rushed the right side behind juniors CHRISTIAN DE LA CRUZ and GERARDO ARELLANO and bulldozed his way through the defense the rest of the way.

The Sultans recovered a fumble, and TIMMY TISCHER made it 24-17 with a 32-yard field goal.

Chestnut finished with five receptions for 106 yards and a TD for Santana. Snipes added four catches for 67 yards and a score.

As normally is the case, LANDON WOOD and BRAYDON NIETO were huge on defense for the Sultans, posting 15 and 7 tackles, respectively.

Both teams have El Cajon Valley (1-6, 0-1) next on their schedule.

Monte Vista plays Friday at El Cajon Valley, while Santana has a bye before hosting the Braves in two weeks.