Sultans slam statement on Vincent
- Updated: September 28, 2019
Santana warms up prior to Friday's game against Vincent Memorial.
2019 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
SANTANA 42, VINCENT MEMORIAL 0
By Jim Lindgren
Special to EastCountySports.com
SANTEE – The No. 1-ranked team in Division IV played the No. 1 team in Division V on Friday night when undefeated Santana played host to undefeated Vincent Memorial.
As well as division ranks, the Sultans presented a clear case for the separation of church and state.
Fittingly, Nathan Temple scorched the Catholic school from Calexico for 218 passing yards and four touchdowns to lead Santana (6-0) to a 42-0 shutout of the Scots (5-1).
“He’s very efficient and runs the offense really well,” Santana coach Tim Estes said. “One of the great things about him is he’s very coachable. He spreads the ball around so well and doesn’t make mistakes.”
Temple completed 14-of-18 passes and also rushed for a 2-yard touchdown for the final score.
Santana is 6-0 for the first time since 2011 when the Sultans began 8-0 before losing to Mount Miguel.
In its quest for a first San Diego Section championship, Santana now begins Grossmont Valley League play with a Friday game at Mount Miguel, which swatted Sweetwater 42-14 on Friday to improve to 3-2.
“That will be a tough test,” Estes said.
Against Vincent, the Sultans took advantage of field positioning to take a 21-0 lead into halftime.
A shanked punt by the Scots started Santana on its first possession at the 9-yard line. First play was a 9-yard TD pass from Temple to Randy Smith.
Moments later, Nick Valentine intercepted a pass at the 35-yard line. A few plays later, Brooks Moutaw scored on a 1-yard run for a 13-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Temple again found his favorite target, Smith, for a 25-yard TD pass Temple then tossed to Dean Landers for the 2-point conversion to make it 21-0.
The Sultans then scored 21 more in the third quarter before a running clock was instituted for the fourth quarter.
Nathan Hughes hauled in a 46-yard pass from Temple to make it 28-0. Dawud Saddler ran for a 30-yard scored, and Temple finished the scoring with a 2-yard TD run.
Temple now has 1,199 passing yards and 21 passing TDs. Smith, who finished with four catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns, now has 25 receptions for 469 yards and 13 TDs.
“That’s a pretty good ratio,” Estes pointed out. “One touchdown for every two catches. I’ll take that. He has really good hands and runs really good routes.”
Moutaw finished with 40 rushing yards on eight carries and Saddler 56 on just two touches.
Hughes matched Smith’s reception total of four and had 100 yards. He also had a team-high seven tackles and was 4-for-4 on PAT kicks.
Landers caught three balls for 32 yards, Jason Gutierrez two for 17 and Jared Forster one for 11.
“This is a really fun team to coach,” Estes said. “So many guys are doing really great things. It’s fun to spread the ball around to so many people.”
Cameron LaRiccia recorded 6 tackles, Kayvlon Jones posted a sack, and Nick Brase jumped on a fumble recovery.
Santana has now shut out three of its last four opponents, yielding only six points to Montgomery. The Sultans have outscored their opponents, 245-32.
Under coach David Wong, Vincent Memorial has a talented yet thin roster and figures to challenge for a section title.
“I think they can win the whole thing in Division V,” Estes said. They’re a well-coached team. They have a lot of great athletes. They obviously need to stay healthy. They’re not too deep.”
SANTANA 42, VINCENT MEMORIAL 0
Vincent Memorial 0 0 0 0 – 0 Santana 13 8 21 0 – 42
S – Randy Smith 9 pass from Nathan Temple (Nathan Hughes kick)
S – Brooks Moutaw 1 run (run failed)
S – Randy Smith 25 pass from Nathan Temple (Dean Landers pass from Nathan Temple)
S – Nathan Hughes 46 pass from Nathan Temple (Nathan Hughes kick)
S – Dawud Saddler 30 run (Nathan Hughes kick)
S – Nathan Temple 2 run (Nathan Hughes kick)
