East County Sports

McClendon, Monarchs start playoff roll

Monte Vista's JAHMON MCCLENDON (4) looks for the hole Friday night. / photo by Chris Parks

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL – SAN DIEGO CIF DIVISION 4 PLAYOFFS

MONTE VISTA 39, SERRA 12

 

By Chris Davis
© East County Sports.com

 

SPRING VALLEY (11-19-16) — The No. 2 seeded Monte Vista Monarchs defended their home turf to set up a semifinal matchup against a team they know pretty darn well.

 

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Serra makes a tackle against Monte Vista on Friday night in Spring Valley. / photo by Chris Parks

In order to get that San Diego Section Division IV semifinal game at home next week, the Monarchs (7-4) dispatched the Serra Conquistadors (5-8) by a 39-12 decision on Friday (Nov. 18) at Monarch Stadium.

 

Serra marched down the field on their first drive of the night, but stalled around the Monarch 20 yard line.  Senior David Gasca kicked the first of his two field goals from 40 yards out for a 3-0 Conquistadors lead.

 

The Monarchs EARNEST DAWN returned the kickoff 20 yards to set the Monarchs offense up at the 33-yard line.  Monte Vista began the rushing attack with a 4-yard JAHMON McCLENDON rush.  He would tote the ball 20 times in the first half, as he was given the second half off as he had 219 yards on the night.

 

At the end of the first drive it was McClendon who carried the ball in from the 9-yard line for a 6-3 Monarch lead.  The extra point failed.

 

After Serra went three-and-out, McClendon had a quartet of runs to get the ball to the MV 45.

 

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Jahmon McClendon rushed for over 200 yards in the first half. / photo by Chris Parks

 

This is when the sophomore decided to channel his inner Madden 17 self.

 

He ran over, literally, the front seven of Serra.  For the remaining four defenders, he just out ran them for a 55-yard touchdown.  With the two-point conversion failing, the Monarchs were up 12-3 on the third play of the second quarter.

 

After a Monarch interception, it was time for McClendon to hit circle/right stick, triangle, R1 and then he held R2 to the goal line.  For those not familiar with Madden 17 from EA Sports that would be spin, hurdle, switch ball hand, sprint to the goal line for a 69-yard score.  The extra point was blocked so it was 18-3 Monte Vista.

 

Serra worked their way down the field for what would turn into a 26-yard field goal by Gasca with 5:46 remaining in the first half.

 

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Monte Vista makes a tackle against Serra Friday night. / photo by Chris Parks

The Monarchs would retaliate for that score just 2:07 later, as RASHUAN WILLIS-BROWN faked the defense, and the KUSI camera guy, and ended up going down the right sideline for a 62-yard touchdown that for the most part concluded the competitive portion of the game as it was 24-6.

 

McClendon closed out the first half with a 3-yard run to score his fourth touchdown of the night.  He followed that up with a two-point conversion for a total of 26-point night.

 

TERELL KYLE entered the fray in the second half and collected 81 yards on 14 carries.  His seventh carry of the night went for 15 yards and a touchdown.  The extra point was good for the 39th point of the night for the Maroon and Gold.

 

Joaquin Quintana-McKinney took the Conquistadors down the field and then punched it in from two yards out with over ten minutes left in the game.  But the Monarch defense made sure that the Q-dogs would not get in the red zone anymore on this evening.  They turned the ball over on downs at the Monarch 23.

 

After three kneel-downs, the Monarchs were walking off with the victory.

 

As far as who the Monarchs will face next week?  That would be fellow Grossmont Valley League member, Santana.

 

Earlier this year Santana defended their home turf with a 46-40 victory.  The Monarchs will look to defend theirs in the CIF-SDS Division IV semifinals next Friday.

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