Monarchs have senior moment in Homecoming win
- Updated: October 7, 2017
Monte Vista senior AMIR CONLEY battles Mt. Miguel Friday night. / photo by Ramon Scott
2017 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
MONTE VISTA 35, MOUNT MIGUEL 0
By Jim Lindgren
EastCountySports.com
SPRING VALLEY – Monte Vista has six seniors on its football team.
Six!
AMIR CONLEY, TORREY MACK, EMMANUEL MENDEZ, DAVON OULDS, BRAXTON SHOULTZ and MARCOS GARCIA.
The biggest is Mendez at 5-feet-10, 210 pounds. They total 986 pounds, averaging 164 pounds.
Yet, the Monarchs are 3-3 after blanking Mount Miguel 35-0 and limiting the Matadors to 43 total yards on Friday night in their Grossmont Valley League opener on Friday night.
“Most of the guys are juniors and sophomores,” Monte Vista coach RON HAMAMOTO said. “We’re learning. I think we’ll be competitive the rest of the season and into the playoffs.
“We’re playing a lot of young kids. We’re having fun. I want to work with the guys who want to be out there.”
Monte Vista and Mount Miguel during the third quarter Friday night.
Juniors JAHMON McCLENDON and TERREL KYLE came up big for the Monarchs (3-3, 1-0) against the Matadors (2-5, 0-1).
McClenden rushed for 168 yards and three touchdowns, and Kyle had 74 yards, including a 56-yard scoring scamper.
“It was a close game in the first quarter, but for whatever reason, we took it to them after that,” Hamamoto said. “They only dress out, like us, about 26 or 28 players. They get an injury or two and it can be devastating.
McClendon (6-3, 240) is a load. “He can run,” Hamamoto said. “He can play anywhere. He’s a good student too. He’s going to play somewhere in the future.”
BLAKE SCHMIDT, a 6-2, 235-pound junior nose guard, and younger brother, LOGAN SCHMIDT, a 5-11, 185-pound sophomore linebacker, were instrumental on defense for the Monarchs. Both are returning starters.
“They both are great football kids,” Hamamoto said. “They’re playing well and having fun.”
ELSHADDAI LEVI, a junior fullback, converted to defensive end recently and played brilliantly, according to Hamamoto.
“I think as a whole, we’re playing so many juniors and sophomores, we’re getting better as a team,” Hamamoto said. “It’s a fun team to be around.”
