Monarchs rule half, then weather reigns

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 13, 2018

Junior Logan Schmidt and the Monarchs come off the field after the first half on Friday night.

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

MONTE VISTA 35, SANTANA 0 (F)

By Ramon Scott

EastCountySports.com

SANTEE – Monte Vista senior running back JAHMON MCCLENDON had one of his typical nights on Friday – except all of his five touchdowns and 329 yards rushing came in just the first half – before a thunderstorm ended the Monarchs’ festivities in a 35-0 win over Santana at Community Stadium.

The Sultans still got their own Homecoming festivities off without a hitch, including the fireworks, before the rain that plagued games throughout the county finally made their way to Santee near the end of halftime.

The 2018 Santana Homecoming Queen is Alex Beckom, while the Homecoming King is Trey Agramont.

Meanwhile, McClendon and the Monte Vista Monarchs made sure there would be no question as to the result of the lightning-shortened Grossmont Valley League game.

Santana opened with possession, but the Monarchs forced a punt.

McClendon had a 43-yard run on his first carry, then had an 8-yard score for a 7-0 lead just 2:05 in.

Monte Vista sophomore defensive back DARREN BARKINS had a sideline interception near midfield.

The Monarchs covered the distance thanks to a 24-yard pass from KENNY STEVENS to BLAKE SCHMIDT down to the 3, where McClendon took it in for his second score with 4:14 left in the first quarter.

McClendon’s third score came on the Monarchs’ first play of the second quarter following a Santana punt.

McClendon bounced off left tackle, then slipped past a pair of Sultans in the secondary, going 80 yards to give the Monarchs a 21-0 lead.

Schmidt recorded a sack, then moments later, junior LOGAN SCHMIDT forced a backward pass with a quarterback hit, which was recovered by the Monarchs.

“Our defense got us off to a great start,” Monte Vista coach RON HAMAMOTO said. “We finally got off to a good start as a team. We’ve had to battle in the first half in some of our recent games.”

McClendon had his fourth score on the very next play, following ELSHADDAI LEVI’s block through the left side and scoring from 26 yards.

Santana, which is beset by injuries to several key players, put together its best-looking drive of the night after that thanks in part of a pair of runs from BROOKS MOUTAW, which marched the Sultans down inside the 30.

However, Monte Vista senior JACK WALKER recorded a sack to force a punt.

McClendon got the Monarchs out of their own end with a 38-yard run, then he tried the right side on the next play, and found plenty of room off tackle to get to the outside for a 54-yard score.

While Grossmont Conference athletic president Brian Wilbur, along with conference representatives from around the county, were expected to meet in a conference call with CIF commissioner Jerry Schneipp on Saturday morning to discuss the outcome of the section’s games which were stopped, Hamamoto said that the Monarchs had officially won the game on Friday night by agreement.

Hamamoto has been on the sidelines every football Friday for over 30 years, but this was the first time he had experienced a game being called due to weather conditions.

The Sultans’ final drive before halftime included gains on the ground from sophomore NICK BRASE and junior JACOB PETERSON.

Santana sophomore quarterback DREW TEMPLE hit sophomore JARED FORSTER for a first down before the Monarchs’ Stevens ended the series with a pass breakup.

Immediately following the Homecoming festivities, the stadium was cleared, then officials, along with the coaches, called off the remainder of the game.