Sultans advance with fake point-after

By Ramon Scott
Updated: November 10, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS – FIRST ROUND

DIVISION 5

SANTANA 11, BONITA VISTA 10

East County Sports

SANTEE – The Santana Sultans weren’t ready for their season to end — and they proved it in the most dramatic and confident fashion imaginable.

With 40 seconds remaining, Santana pulled off a gutsy fake extra-point attempt to rally past Bonita Vista, 11-10, in the opening round of the CIF San Diego Section Division 5 playoffs Friday night at Santee Community Stadium.

After quarterback Ethan Miller threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Maddox Esso to pull the Sultans within a point at 10-9, the team lined up for the tying PAT.

But instead of kicking, holder Kolten “Koko” Thornton took the snap and rolled to his right before lofting a pass into the end zone to Xander Bennett for the two-point conversion, stunning the Barons and sending the Santana sideline into chaos as fans erupted from the stands.

“Coach (Tim Estes) called it,” Thornton said. “I didn’t think we should’ve have run (the play) but we ran it. I was supposed to run it in but I saw Xander looking at me, so I just tossed it up to him and he caught it.”

The Sultans’ defense sealed the victory moments later when Denton Goar intercepted a Bonita Vista pass at the Baron 40, allowing Santana to kneel out the clock and complete one of the most thrilling finishes in program history.

Miller, the junior quarterback, was sharp under pressure, completing 14 of 27 passes for 112 yards and the critical fourth-quarter touchdown.

Thornton, a junior, was all over the field, totaling 131 all-purpose yards — including receiving, rushing, and return duties — and serving as the game’s most versatile weapon. He might be the East County’s most underrated star.

Esso, a senior, hauled in the decisive touchdown catch, while Julian Mayers, Goar, and Sean Gardinera provided steady production in the passing game.

On the ground, Santana found tough sledding against the Barons’ front, finishing with 65 rushing yards on 25 carries, but key gains from Mayers, Miller, and Thornton kept drives alive when needed.

Liam McGhen connected on a 31-yard first-quarter field goal to give the Sultans an early 3-0 lead — a margin that would loom large as the defensive struggle unfolded.

The Sultans’ defense, a hallmark of their success this season, rose up repeatedly to keep them within striking distance. Senior Caleb Carnes and Grant Johnson each recorded a sack, while Denton Goar came up with an interception. Bennett blocked a field goal, and the unit combined for five tackles for loss and 42 total tackles.

Bonita Vista relied heavily on its running game, finishing with 94 yards on 25 carries, led by Kenneth Watson (48 yards) and Angel Cortes, who scored the Barons’ lone touchdown on a five-yard run late in the first half.

The Barons added a third-quarter field goal to make it 10-3, but Santana’s defense never allowed them to regain rhythm after that.

Trailing by a touchdown in the final minutes, Santana began its decisive drive with composure.

A defensive penalty on Bonita Vista gave the Sultans extended life, and a strong run from Thornton moved the chains inside the Barons’ red zone. Moments later, Miller zipped a pass to Esso in the flat for the touchdown that set up the unforgettable finale.

Then came the play that will be talked about in Santee for years — the fake extra point.

Thornton, who also serves as the holder, executed the play to perfection, faking the spot before taking off for his run then ultimately deciding to toss the two-point pass to Bennett, who secured it just above the playing surface on a lunging catch near the back of the end zone.

As the crowd roared, the Sultans had truly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

With the win, Santana (6-5) advances to face No. 2-seeded Morse in next week’s Division 5 quarterfinals. The Sultans, who have now won a playoff opener for the third straight year, enter the matchup with renewed confidence and momentum.

For Bonita Vista (3-8), the loss was a heartbreaker after holding the lead much of the game through good defense and field position. Still, the Barons’ improvement and fight through the season were evident in their gritty performance.

From the opening field goal to the closing interception, Santana delivered a complete team effort that embodied its resilience and flair for the dramatic.

The Sultans’ players celebrated near the sideline as the final seconds ticked away — a fitting scene for a team that refused to settle for overtime, choosing instead to win it their way.

Santana football, once again, proved it knows how to finish.