Monarchs seeking repeat D5 title run

By Ramon Scott
Updated: November 18, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL – QUARTERFINALS

Division 5: (3) MONTE VISTA 21, (6) FALLBROOK 10

EastCountySports.com

SPRING VALLEY — One year after making a historic run from the final at-large spot in the San Diego Section playoffs all the way to a Division 5 championship, the Monte Vista Monarchs are back in the D5 semifinals — this time as a seeded contender — after grinding out a 21–10 Division 4 quarterfinal win over Fallbrook on Friday night.

The matchup was a rematch of last season’s 34–33 thriller, but early on, the teams traded defensive stands rather than touchdowns. The first quarter ended scoreless, and Monte Vista didn’t break through until the closing moments of the second.

The Monarchs moved into scoring position late in the half and faced a fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line after a penalty backed them up.

Senior quarterback Derrick Taylor kept the ball and pushed across the goal line with 31 seconds remaining, sending Monte Vista into halftime ahead 7–0.

Fallbrook got on the board with 4:50 left in the third quarter, converting a 36-yard field goal to trim the lead to 7–3, setting up a tense fourth quarter between programs that have now met in back-to-back postseasons.

The Warriors seized momentum just seconds into the final period, intercepting a pass at their own 34-yard line.

One play later, a deep completion carried to the Monte Vista 8, and Caleb Way scored on a 5-yard run to give Fallbrook a 10–7 advantage with 10:47 remaining.

From there, Monte Vista — now 6–5 — took full command.

After forcing a punt with 9:15 left, the Monarchs took over at the Fallbrook 43 following a short kick.

Taylor connected with Xzavier Carpenter, who finished with 45 receiving yards, on a key third-and-five conversion to the 26.

Taylor then scrambled for a first down to the 13, and moments later, junior Deon Hunter took a pitch and powered in from 8 yards out, putting Monte Vista ahead 14–10 with 4:17 to play.

Hunter also contributed one of Monte Vista’s three interceptions on defense.

The defense slammed the door two minutes later.

Senior Rahshawn Florence jumped a route and returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 21–10 with 2:48 left and securing the Monarchs’ return to semifinals.

Florence’s score capped a dominant night for the secondary, which also produced interceptions from Hunter and sophomore Braden Silie.

Offensively, Monte Vista leaned on its backfield trio.

Taylor totaled 75 yards of offense (56 passing, 19 rushing) and a rushing touchdown; Hunter added 28 yards and a score; and senior Giovanni Lopez led the ground game with 56 rushing yards on 14 carries.

Fallbrook finished the season 4–8, while Monte Vista advances to face Morse in the semifinals. The Tigers defeated Santana — a Grossmont Valley League rival of the Monarchs — 38–0 on Friday. It will be only the second-ever meeting between Monte Vista and Morse; the first came in the 1992 SDS-CIF AAA championship, won by Morse, 48–0, at Southwestern College.

Now, more than three decades later, the Monarchs return to face the Tigers with a chance to continue their quest for a second straight Division 5 championship — this time as a battle-tested team peaking at the right moment.