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Sultans edge Braves in Valley opener
- Updated: October 6, 2025
2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
SANTANA 21, EL CAJON VALLEY 14
EastCountySports.com
EL CAJON – The Santana Sultans continued their dominance over El Cajon Valley Friday night, walking away with a hard-fought 21-14 victory at Priest Field
With the win, Santana improves to 13-0 against the Braves since 2009, and starts 1-0 in Grossmont Valley League play alongside league powers Grossmont and West Hills.
It was Homecoming as the Braves also celebrated the 20th anniversary of their legendary 2005 team.
Santana drew first in the opening quarter when Brody Tena capped an early drive with a 5-yard touchdown run.
The Braves answered quickly on a pick-six by Gavin Kendall-Pinal, tying the game at 7-all and keeping the momentum in their favor.
But the Sultans regained control late in the first quarter as Julian Mayers powered into the end zone on a short rushing touchdown. Mayers would go on to dominate on the ground, carrying the ball 31 times for 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The third quarter saw El Cajon Valley mount another surge.
Quarterback Jaquari Wash connected with Amir Miller for a 10-yard touchdown, knotting the score at 14-14 with under seven minutes to play in the period.
Santana responded through its stout defense, led by linebacker Jordyn Gillissie, who recorded seven tackles and a sack, Tatum Morehouse with eight tackles, and Cohen Waider adding seven tackles of his own.
The Sultans’ defensive backfield contributed as well, with Kolten Thornton, Anthony Terry, Dawson DelaCruz, Xander Bennett, and Caleb Carnes each deflecting a pass, helping limit El Cajon Valley to a 30 percent completion rate.
Santana’s offense continued to move the chains through a balanced attack.
Thornton added 14 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Ethan Miller, one of the league’s top passers, completed 4 of 7 passes for 39 yards.
Carnes, Bennett, and Denton Goar contributed in the receiving game, helping the Sultans accumulate 151 rushing yards and 34 passing yards for 185 total yards.
The Braves struggled to find footing in the running game.
The Braves’ Amir Miller added 35 receiving yards and a touchdown, but El Cajon Valley’s total of 119 yards—50 rushing and 69 passing—was not enough to overcome Santana’s efficiency and defensive discipline.
Santana’s win puts them at 4-2 overall while El Cajon Valley falls to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in the Grossmont Valley League.
The Sultans will face off against Grossmont next Friday at 7:00 p.m., while the Braves meet Monte Vista at the same time.
