ROUNDUP: Matadors state their case
- Updated: October 23, 2021
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
MOUNT MIGUEL 27, VALHALLA 13
EastCountySports.com staff report
EL CAJON – The Mount Miguel Matadors certainly appear worthy of a berth in the upcoming San Diego CIF Division IV playoffs.
The team might’ve proved that claim in Friday night’s 27-13 road victory at Valhalla.
Heading into the game, the Matadors were behind the Norsemen in the division’s playoff rankings, practically in a must-win situation.
After the victory, Mount Miguel (4-3, 3-2 Grossmont Valley League) has leaped over Valhalla (2-7, 1-4 GVL) and into 10th place with a tough road game coming up this Friday at Del Norte, which is currently ranked sixth in Division IV.
Valhalla, meanwhile, will undoubtedly need to come out with a road victory against winless Monte Vista, a hard-trying club that will be going all out in what will very likely be the team’s final game.
In other words, it will be the Monarchs’ playoff game against a team they think they can match up with.
Mount Miguel sophomore defensive back Hector Armento burst into the headlines with three interceptions in the win over the Norsemen.
All of Armenta’s interceptions came in the first half.
Two of Amernto’s thefts came in the first quarter, as he scored a touchdown on a 73-yard return of one of the picks for the first score of the game.
Sophomores Jeremiah Castillo and Davion McGowan combined for 245 rushing yards for the Matadors.
McGowan also had an interception, which came in the third quarter.
The Matadors, who scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, led 13-0 at halftime.
Mount Miguel led 20-6 entering the fourth quarter.
Giovanni Alejo, of the Norsemen, caught a pass from a 12-yard touchdown early in the third quarter, which drew Valhalla to within 13-6.
Valhalla’s Harmon Shamo had an interception late in the first half.
The teams have now met every year since Valhalla’s first year of varsity football in 1975.
