Young, Wolf Pack ready for title experience

By ECS Staff
Updated: October 20, 2018

West Hills Steven Cristini races with the ball against Mount Miguel on Friday night. / photo by Melissa Honick Photography

Mount Miguel and West Hills go for a pass on Friday night. / photo by Melissa Honick

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

WEST HILLS 31, MOUNT MIGUEL 16

EastCountySports.com Staff Report

SANTEE – After fumbling the opening kickoff and giving away an early first score on Friday night, West Hills went on a big run to put away Mount Miguel, 31-16, to set up a Grossmont Valley League championship game next week at Monte Vista.

Jordin Young threw three touchdown passes to three different receivers, plus he ran for another score to lead the Wolf Pack (8-1, 3-0).

STEVEN CRISITINI runs for West Hills on Friday. / photo by Melissa Honick Photography

“Overall, it was one of our better performances of the season,” West Hills coach Casey Ash said. “We felt they were a team that was getting better and better, and they played well. It was a good win for us.”

Young’s season-high three TD passes went to Hunter Gauthier, Kole Klingerman and Steven Cristini.

“Jordin did a good job of taking what was given to him, both passing and rushing,” Ash said. “He was making good reads. He had some of his best throws of the season.”

Mount Miguel (3-6, 2-2) probably needed a win to make the San Diego Section Division III playoffs, but coach Troy Starr’s first Matador club plays more sophomores than seniors, so their future is bright. Mount Miguel finishes the season next Friday with a nonleague game at Del Norte.

JADD MALLARD, of the Matadors, is pushed by West Hills. / photo by Melissa Honick Photography

West Hills is a lock for the Division III playoffs, but the Wolf Pack really want that league title.

Monte Vista (8-1, 3-0) had an easy 56-13 win over El Cajon Valley on Friday as Jahmon McClendon rushed only nine times for 126 yards and four touchdowns, including a 64-yarder as he bulled through and ran around the Braves.

Mount Miguel sophomore quarterback Jacob Laverdiere continues to impress and improve. He was 25-of-41 passing for 319 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. Laverdiere now has 2,607 passing yards and 25 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.

Junior Dominic Morales caught seven passes for 100 yards and a TD. Sophomore Mikey Avant also nabbed seven balls for 92 yards. Senior Erik Grahm added four receptions for 66 yards, and junior Jahiem Allen-Pompey also had four catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.

West Hills carries the ball against Mount Miguel on Friday. / photo by Melissa Honick Photography

After fumbling the opening kickoff, Mount Miguel went up 7-0 on a TD pass from Laverdiere to Morales.

West Hills then went on a 31-3 run before the Matadors scored in the fourth quarter on a TD pass from Laverdiere to Allen-Pompey.

Sophomore Chris Hernandez was 2-for-2 on PATs and made a 32-yard field goal for the Matadors.

West Hills was using a backup kicker, Joseph Gonzalez, since regular Jack Browning had tweaked his back and unable to kick, though he did play. Gonzalez had a field goal and was 4-for-4 on PATs.

Izayah Fussell had one of the interceptions for the Wolf Pack. Austin Ruiz-Castaneda had a strip sack that was recovered by Hunter Gauthier and returned 20 yards. Alex Leggate had a blocked punt as the Wolf Pack played well in all phases of the game.

“We were happy with the way we played,” Ash said. “We had a lot on the line to set up our showdown with Monte Vista.

“They had a lot on the line. They win the game, they’re in the playoffs. They lose, they’re probably not in the playoffs.

“They’re so young, but they’re getting better every week.”