Monarchs fall to Komets; Hillers win
- Updated: August 24, 2023
Grossmont celebrates a touchdown on Thursday. / Grossmont Conference
EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
KEARNY 22, MONTE VISTA 20
SPRING VALLEY – The Kearny Komets held off the Monte Vista Monarchs, 22-20, stopping the hosts’ two-point conversion attempt with 3:10 left in the game.
The Monarchs scored to close to within a pair on a touchdown by Adrian Gonzalez on a 10-yard keeper.
However, the pass attempt to tie the game – which came from the 8-yard line following an illegal formation penalty – was intercepted in the end zone.
The Komets jumped out to a 15-0 lead on a pair of touchdown passes to Kwali Wilson from quarterback Brodie Stump. The completions were from 12 and 2 yards, respectively.
The Monarchs got on the board late in the first quarter with a 1-yard sneak by senior Diego Peguero.
On the scoring drive, Monte Vista got carries from Jaidyn Ellison of 27 and 12 yards. He then had a 19-yard reception down to the Komet 1.
The Komets extended the lead to 22-7 on Stump’s third touchdown completion of the half. Stump, a junior, has six TD throws in his first two games.
Monte Vista senior Daniel Renteria had a 40-yard touchdown run with 5:41 left in the first half, as he got smooth sailing up the middle after Heber Palacios and Santana Deleal parted the green sea.
Kearny stopped a Monarch drive in the third quarter at the 8-yard line after Monte Vista had originally reached the 1.
However, Monte Vista forced a turnover on downs after a Kearny fourth-down try in their own territory, giving Monte Vista great field position at the Komet 28, but that attempt also came up empty.
The Monarchs looked to have tied the game on the late two-point conversion pitch, but an illegal formation was called on the Monarchs’ swinging gate alignment.
GROSSMONT 44, OLYMPIAN 22 – Grossmont led 24-14 and went on to win its second straight to open the season.
Grossmont has scored 78 points in its first two games after scoring just 61 points in last year’s 0-10 campaign.
Joshua Ferrara had an 85-yard interception return in the first quarter to give the Foothillers an 8-6 lead. It was his third interception of the season.
In the second half, Hudson Herber connected with Cody Bigley on a deep touchdown pass to extend Grossmont’s lead.
Isaac Aceves scored on a short run off a pitch.
SOUTHWEST (SD) 20, MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 6 – The Raiders held off the visiting RedHawks in Nestor on Thursday evening.
The game was scoreless after the first quarter.
Southwest led 13-6 at halftime.
