Monarchs in position behind senior leaders

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 22, 2016

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

MONTE VISTA 26, EL CAJON VALLEY 14

By Ramon Scott

EastCountySports.com

SPRING VALLEY (10-21-16) – The Monte Vista Monarchs stopped the El Cajon Valley rushing attack, then unloaded a heavy dose of sophomore JAHMON MCCLENDON in a key Grossmont Valley League win on Homecoming Friday night.

The Monarchs stormed out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead, then held off hard-battling El Cajon Valley, 26-14.

Now, Monte Vista (2-1, 6-2) will have a chance to play to improve their position for at least a share the league championship when they host first-place Granite Hills next Friday.

JOSE GONZALEZ scored on a four-yard run in the first quarter to open the scoring.

Gonzalez bashed in off the left side of his line behind VICTOR ICU, EDUARDO GONZALEZ and DAVID YBARRA. The point-after failed.

Then, Monte Vista’s RASHAUN WILLIS-BROWN scored on a 1-yard run to make 12-0. Brown ran in the conversion for a 14-0 lead.

In the second quarter, El Cajon Valley running star TYSON SMITH scored on a 3-yard run, as he ran behind the down field push of junior linemen MOSE KALEUATI and YASER ZAFARI.

Then once again, as he has done most of the season, he also ran in the conversion, which closed the lead to 14-8.

Brown, however, would counter with a 54-yard touchdown run as he took a slotback handoff while coming back to the line of scrimmage from the left side, but he took a detour and ended up cutting back to the right side after encountering some El Cajon traffic. He got a block from senior BRIAN SHELL, then beat a defender to the left sideline to cover the final 30 yards to the end zone. The PAT was no good, making it 20-8.

Smith answered back with a 10-yard TD in the second quarter. The Monarchs stopped the two-point run try, leaving it at 20-14 at halftime.

Near the end of the third, McClendon scored on a 14-yard run for the Monarchs to go ahead 26-14. The kick was no good.

A big interception by JUNIOR PITOAU in the end zone early in the fourth, which stopped a Braves’ drive, kept the visitors at bay.

McClendon had another impressive night, rushing for 162 yards on 28 carries, while Willis-Brown carried seven times for 107 yards.

JONATHAN GULLEY, a sophomore, had 53 yards on four carries for Monte Vista.

Smith, the county’s leading rusher, was held to 87 yards on 17 attempts. LUIS MORALES, of the Braves, had 43 yards on three carries. Smith completed a 36-yard pass for Morales and a 30-yard pass to GREGORY JONES in the contest.

The Monarchs held the Braves to 129 total yards in the first half. El Cajon Valley (0-2, 5-3) has been reduced to spoiler status.

Monarch standouts on ‘D’ in the second half including junior TORREY MACK and sophomore JOVANNI MENDOZA.

MARIANA DELGADILLO was named Homecoming queen at halftime.