Matadors display talent in Long Beach

By Ramon Scott
Updated: August 25, 2024

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

No. 8 MOUNT MIGUEL 47, ST. ANTHONY 15

EastCountySports.com

LONG BEACH — The Mount Miguel Matadors were ranked just 15th in the latest computer power ratings following their crushing win over Long Beach St. Anthony at Clark Field.

The Matadors are more like a top-five ballclub, at this point, and a sure contender for the San Diego Open Division championship.

Matador quarterback A.J. Stowers, a transfer from Las Vegas, passed for nearly 300 and four touchdowns.

Top target A.J. Logan had two touchdown catches for The Valley.

On their opening drive, the Saints marched 58 yards to take the lead on a 17-yard touchdown pass. St. Anthony led 7-0 with 8:37 left in the first quarter.

Stowers connected with Logan for an 80-yard touchdown on their first play of the next drive to tie the game.

A St. Anthony fumble proved to be costly after the Matadors’ Dominic De Arcos recovered the ball deep inside Saints’ territory.

Stowers connected with Parris Vernon for a 43-yard touchdown to give the Matadors a 13-7 lead.

St. Anthony had an opportunity to tie and take the lead heading into halftime, but with time winding down the Matadors came up with four huge goal line stops to keep St. Anthony out of the end zone, ending a six-minute drive with no points as a result.

In the second half, the Matadors scored 40 consecutive points using a more balanced offense to control the ball and put the game out of reach.

K.J. Shields had a 2-yard rushing touchdown for Mount Miguel.

After a Matador interception, Stowers threw a touchdown pass to Ezelle Buchanon for a 27-7 lead with 4:25 left in the third quarter.

Jayden Hunter added a 1-yard touchdown run with under two minutes to play for a 34-7 lead.

Stowers later connected with Logan for a long touchdown from 76 yards.

St. Anthony scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 40-15.

The Saints managed just 76 yards passing against the Matadors.