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Allen-Pompey sets section marks in win

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

MOUNT MIGUEL 49, DEL NORTE 26

 

By Ramon Scott

EastCountySports.com

 

SPRING VALLEY – The record-setting season of Mount Miguel senior wide receiver JAHIEM ALLEN-POMPEY has led the Matadors back to the playoffs.

Allen-Pompey set San Diego Section single-season records for receiving yards and receptions in a 49-26 win over visiting Del Norte in a nonleague regular-season finale, fittingly on Senior Night, on Friday.

Allen-Pompey, who came into the contest leading the nation in receiving yards, caught a CIF single-game record-tying 17 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns to help the Matadors secure a likely home game in next week’s opening round of the SDS-CIF Division IV playoffs.

The 5-foot-7, 130-pound receiver now has 1,922 yards this season, passing former Mission Hills star Chris Olave (1,764), who now plays at Ohio State.

Allen-Pompey also has 102 catches on the year, surpassing the previous mark of 96, set by Palo Verde’s A.J. Kemp back in 2006.

And he’s not done. The return to the postseason will extend Allen-Pompey’s and all the Matadors’ season at least one more game, if not more, with Mount Miguel hosting a first-round contest next Friday.

The talented and humble star also set Grossmont Conference records on Friday night, making a new standard for touchdown receptions in a single season and for a career.

His 22 touchdown receptions this season puts him ahead of Santana great John Fields on the conference single-season chart. While his 29 career touchdowns lifted him past Fields’ 27 for the most all-time in the circuit.

Meanwhile, his tallies on Friday night stand in the record books, as well. While the 17 receptions ties him with three others – including Valhalla’s Johnny Ace in 1986 – his 268 yards also put his performance seventh on the section’s all-time single-game record list.

The Matadors came into the game with the goal of earning a first-round home game.

They left with not only a win and a couple of new records for their diminutive star but also a renewed confidence on the defensive side of the ball heading into the postseason.

Allen-Pompey had three touchdowns in the first half as Mount Miguel led 28-20 at intermission.

But Mount Miguel’s defense forced and recovered a pair of fumbles, including one which was returned for a touchdown, and recorded an interception.

Matador junior Dashawn Fox forced the fumble that was returned by Pat Chima for a score to give Mount Miguel a 35-20 lead.

“The game was up-and-down in the first half but we came out in the second half ready to stop them,” Chima said. “Our defense stepped it up. It was definitely the best half we’ve played this season.”

Allen-Pompey’s fourth touchdown reception of the night came in the fourth quarter and increased the Matador lead to 49-20.

Allen-Pompey had a 13-yard touchdown catch on the first drive of the game, as he accounted for 71 yards of a 77-yard drive, catching seven passes on the march.

Del Norte answered on the ensuing drive with a 24-yard touchdown run from senior Lamont Burns.

Mount Miguel (6-4) took a 14-6 lead with 10:19 to go in the second quarter when J.D. Laverdiere capped a short drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown.

But back came the Nighthawks, who pulled to within a point on a 64-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Jack Borer to senior Jake Hadzicki just 1:27 later.

Then it was time for the main record to fall.

Laverdiere threw a long pass down the right side that Allen-Pompey caught in stride then slid inside the pylon for a score, giving Mount Miguel a 21-13 lead. That reception gave the receiver the section single-season yardage mark.

It seemed like it would continue to be a shootout when the Nighthawks struck right back once again, as Borer connected with sophomore receiver Jonah Kang for a score with four minutes to go before halftime, bringing Del Norte back to within 21-20.

The Nighthawks were playing as if their playoff lives were on the line, which was most likely the case.

However, on the Matadors’ next possession, Allen-Pompey reeled in a short catch that gave him the all-time section record for receptions, then he capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown on a short pass from Laverdiere.

On the opening drive of the second half, Del Norte appeared to be headed for another counter score behind runs of 35 and 25 yards by Burns, but the Matadors forced a fumble inside their own 10-yard line, which was recovered by senior Ulices Monje.

The next Del Norte possession was stopped on a defended pass by senior Anthony Mitchell.

Mitchel also starred on offense, giving the Matadors a much-needed boost in the run game with 82 yards on 12 carries.

“We really just followed through with what coach (Troy) Starr told us at halftime,” Mitchell said. “We came out in the second half strong defensively, which was big for us.”

Laverdiere, who finished with 365 yards passing and five touchdowns, threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to junior Kojo Miller in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore Ruben Hernandez caught three passes for 60 yards for Mount Miguel.

Axel Aguilar was 7-for-7 on his PATs.

Hadzicki threw a touchdown pass to junior Thomas Loy in the fourth quarter for the final score for Del Norte (2-8).

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