East County Sports

Matadors can’t catch previously green Spartans

MOUNT MIGUEL'S SHEMAR GREENE RUNS DURING THE FIRST QUARTER BEHIND ALEX LEMON (57) / EastCountySports.com photo

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

CHULA VISTA 35, MOUNT MIGUEL 30

 

By Ramon Scott

EastCountySports.com

 

CHULA VISTA – The visiting Mount Miguel Matadors and junior running back SHEMAR GREENE played a game of chase in the South Bay Friday night (Aug. 26) but couldn’t catch upset-minded Chula Vista, which won the opener, 35-30, at Rindone Stadium.

Mount Miguel’s JOEL BEAS booted a 33-yard field goal with 3:41 left in the first half as part of a 16-play drive, giving the Matadors a 3-0 lead.

Chula Vista took a 7-3 lead when quarterback Paul Escobar completed a short pass to Sergio Figueroa, which resulted in a 35-yard TD on a misdirection screen.

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Mount Miguel senior RICHARD MOORE pushes away a Chula Vista defender during the first quarter Friday night. / EastCountySports.com photo

The Matadors regained the lead on a 10-yard run by Greene, but the Spartans scored touchdowns on consecutive possessions to take a 21-10 lead into the locker room, as Daniel McPherren had a 27-yard scoring run with 7:19 left in the half and Figueroa added a 7-yard score with 1:50 left.

The late momentum swing came with Mount Miguel star linebacker CAMERON HANSON on the trainer’s table getting a tweaked ankle wrapped. Before the swing, Hanson, along with SANTINO PACHECO and MARIO COKER were having success stopping the Spartans on the initial line of attack.

Hanson converted a pair of fourth downs early in the first quarter to extend drives with some hard rushing up the middle.

But the injury that removed him from the field was detrimental for the Matadors.

“It’s hard to replace a guy the caliber of Hanson,” said Mount Miguel coach SHAUN McDADE. “But we had to deal without having him. Still, our tempo was good in the second half.”

The Spartans extended their lead in the second half on a 67-yard TD completion from Escobar to McPherren.

Greene had a 3-yard TD with just under five and-a-half minutes left in the game and finished with four scores on the night. He rushed for 140 yards total for the evening.

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Mount Miguel K JOEL BEAS boots the opening kickoff to the 2016 season, along with teammate CESAR SIGALA (12). / EastCountySports.com photo

Greene’s first score of the game was set up by a completion from BENNY VALADEZ to RICHARD MOORE, which was followed by a nice gain by senior JAY CORBETT.

Valazdez scored on a 72-yard run with 3:27 left to play in the contest.

Mount Miguel had a last-ditch drive, but fumbled the ball at the Chula Vista 30 yard line on a fourth-and-long play. It was the second time the Matadors had coughed up the ball in a key situation.

Earlier in the game the Matadors lost a scoring opportunity by fumbling the ball at the 2-yard line.

It was a good start for the Spartans, who won just one game a year ago.

 

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