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- Updated: October 21, 2025
Santana offensive line. / TRYAN PHOTOGRAPHY
2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
SANTANA 14, MONTE VISTA 7
EastCountySports.com
SANTEE – Santana’s defense and special teams produced two game-changing plays Friday night, propelling the Sultans to a 14–7 victory over the Monte Vista Monarchs in a key Grossmont Valley League matchup at Santee Community Stadium.
After being routed by Grossmont a week earlier, Santana (5–3, 2–1 GVL) bounced back to stay alive in the league race. The win was Santana’s fourth straight over Monte Vista (4–4, 1–2 GVL).
Both defenses dominated early, but it was a special teams spark that broke the game open.
In the first quarter, Maddox Esoo scooped up a blocked punt and sprinted 80 yards for a touchdown, giving the Sultans a 7–0 lead and setting the tone for the night.
Monte Vista responded in the second quarter, capitalizing on a short field to tie the game at 7-all on a 5-yard rushing touchdown. But from that point on, Santana’s defense clamped down, holding the Monarchs scoreless the rest of the way.
The decisive blow came in the third quarter, again courtesy of Santana’s special teams. Chris Ledezma broke through to block a Monte Vista punt, and Dawson DelaCruz recovered it at the Monarchs’ 5-yard line. Two plays later, senior running back Caleb Carnes plunged in from a yard out to give Santana a 14–7 lead that held up the rest of the way.
“Special teams and defense won the game for us,” Santana head coach Tim Estes said. “We blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown and blocked a punt and recovered it inside the 10-yard line.”
Quarterback Ethan Miller completed 4 of 6 passes for 45 yards. Caleb Carnes caught two passes for 39 yards, while Denton Goar hauled in three for 23.
On the ground, Gio Lopez led Monte Vista with 75 rushing yards, including a long gain of 59, while Derrick Taylor picked off a pass for the Monarchs.
Santana’s defense was stellar from start to finish.
Jordyn Gillissie recorded eight tackles and a sack to lead the unit, while Tatum Morehouse added six tackles and a sack of his own.
Cohen Waider contributed six tackles, and Goar added five stops along with a fumble recovery.
Monte Vista head coach Paige Culver acknowledged his team’s solid defensive effort but pointed to the game’s biggest turning points.
“We played well defensively. but had two TDs called back on holding calls,” Culver said.
Despite the setbacks, the Monarchs’ defense kept the game within reach, holding Santana to just 81 total yards of offense. But the Sultans’ knack for seizing momentum plays was the difference in the end.
With the victory, Santana improves to 5–3 overall and 2–1 in the Grossmont Valley League, keeping pace in the league race heading into next week’s rivalry matchup with West Hills.
Monte Vista, now 4–4 and 1–2 in league play, will look to regroup when it faces Valhalla next Friday.
