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Matadors’ win exposes new ratings’ flaw
- Updated: August 23, 2025
Mount Miguel celebrates a touchdown on Friday night. / gridiron619
2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
No. 8 MOUNT MIGUEL 28, No. 7 SAN MARCOS 27
SAN MARCOS — Despite finishing in the county’s Top 10 last year and returning one of the most experienced and explosive rosters in the county, the CIF San Diego Section’s official MaxPreps ratings — the very ones that determine postseason playoff divisions and seeding — slotted the Matadors at No. 19 overall.
Friday night’s result showed just how wrong those numbers are.
In a season-opening showdown between two ranked teams, Mount Miguel, listed at No. 8 in the county media poll, went on the road and outlasted No. 7 San Marcos, 28–27, in a thriller that came down to a fourth-quarter power drive and a late defensive stand.
The Matadors broke a 21–21 tie with a punishing 81-yard march midway through the fourth quarter, leaning on their ground game for 11 runs in a 12-play drive that burned more than six minutes. Quarterback Jeremiah Loper capped the possession with a 10-yard touchdown run to put Mount Miguel ahead for good with just over five minutes left.
San Marcos, the reigning Division I runner-up, still had two chances to rally. The first ended when defensive back Tre Jefferson intercepted quarterback Kreet Makihele with 2:17 to play. But after the Matadors failed to move the chains and misfired a punt snap on fourth down, the Knights were gifted one last opportunity, taking over at the Mount Miguel 46 with 1:06 remaining.
Makihele quickly connected with Lucas Swillens for 12 yards, then advanced deeper on a pass-interference call that moved the ball to the 19-yard line. On the next play, he found Ezekiel McIntyre for a touchdown, trimming the deficit to one with 44 seconds to play.
San Marcos went for a go-ahead two-point try, but Mount Miguel’s defense flushed Makihele from the pocket, and his hurried throw into the left corner sailed incomplete. The Matadors secured the ensuing onside kick when Delontay Williams fell on the ball, sealing the win.
Mount Miguel struck first with its trademark explosiveness. On the opening drive, Loper — making his varsity debut as the starting quarterback — dropped back and found freshman Tamarrion Williams streaking behind the defense for a 61-yard touchdown strike.
The Knights answered with a long drive, capped by a 3-yard plunge from Zamar Reese. But the Matadors countered with another big play, as Loper faked a keeper before flipping a pass to sophomore Khalonie Jordan, who raced 62 yards down the sideline to restore the lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, San Marcos lost control of the ball, and Titus Tauanuu pounced on it at the 38. Six plays later, Jeremiah Holliday bulled in from 3 yards out, extending Mount Miguel’s cushion to 21–7.
The Knights had a chance to trim the margin before halftime, driving inside the 20, but Jefferson tipped a Makihele pass into the waiting arms of Jordan Fuga for another interception.
San Marcos found life after halftime, riding Reese’s legs on a 12-play drive to open the third quarter. The senior back scored from 5 yards out, then later added an 18-yard touchdown to pull the Knights even at 21–21.
That set the stage for the Matadors’ decisive fourth-quarter march, capped by Loper’s rushing score and the defensive stand in the final minute.
Loper finished 9-of-23 passing for 219 yards and two touchdowns, both long-distance strikes, while adding the 10-yard game-winning run. Jayden Hunter led the rushing attack with 81 yards on 20 carries.
San Marcos’ Reese ran 16 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns, while Makihele finished 11-of-21 for 155 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.
Afterward, head coach Verlain Betofe praised his team’s resilience on social media given its shorthanded roster.
“What a game. Two top-10 teams battled it out. It was a total team effort. Proud of our guys,” Betofe said. “We were missing our San Jose State commit (WR), Cal commit (DL/OL), and two other starters. Also our QB was getting his first varsity start on the road but made no excuses. Got a lot to improve, but we are going to keep getting better. Next man up mentality.”
