Monarchs beat Colts for proof of improvement

By Bill Dickens
Updated: September 26, 2015

By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
SPRING VALLEY (9-26-15) — Monte Vista got a confidence-boosting win with a strong second half, outscoring Crawford 14-7 after halftime in a 21-14 nonleague win Friday night (Sept. 25) for the Monarchs’ first win of the season.

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AGAPE KYLE scored on a 16-yard touchdown run with 7:17 left in the first half to give Monte Vista a 7-0 lead. Leading the way on the rush up the middle were Monte Vista linemen EDUARDO GONZALEZ, JUAN PRECIADO and captains CURTIS STEVENS and ANTHONY HERNANDEZ.

Kyle also had the eventual decisive touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 5-yard score behind Gonzalez and Preciado, as the offensive front had a stellar performance against the Colts’ defensive line.

JAMEZ McCLENDON had a tackle for loss during Monte Vista’s strong defensive performance in the first two quarters. The Monarchs’ defense didn’t allow a score in the second half.

Kyle was a work horse in the Monarchs’ backfield in the first half, coming up with hard-charging runs for first down when the Monarchs were faced with third-and-medium run situations in Colts’ territory.

Kyle also recovered a fumbled snap by Crawford late in the first half.

The Monarchs scored a touchdown on the last play of the third quarter to make it 14-7, as senior running back JACCOB JARDIM rushed in from 2 yards out on the right side on a trap led by Preciado and junior captain DAVID YBARRA.

Crawford (3-2) made it interesting when Eric McDuffie had his second touchdown of the game on a 73-yard punt return to close the deficit to 21-14. McDuffie scored on a 9-yard touchdown run in the first half with 8:37 to go before halftime.

The Colts went for the tying score with an onside kick bid but the Monarchs came up with the ball as KEYSHAWN BROOKS made the recovery.

“From there we just ran out the ball,” said Monarchs coach RON HAMAMOTO. “We’re so young we don’t have guys who make 20 tackles or 3 sacks a game. This is a team effort and we put one together.”