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2026 MONTE VISTA MONARCHS PREVIEW
- Updated: August 18, 2026
2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
MONTE VISTA MONARCHS SEASON PREVIEW
Physical Identity, Veteran Leadership Fuel Monarchs’ Bid To Climb Grossmont Valley Standings
By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com
SPRING VALLEY — Monte Vista enters the 2026 season in an interesting position.
The Monarchs are coming off a 6-6 campaign that included a CIF San Diego Section Division V playoff victory over Fallbrook before bowing out to Morse. On paper, the graduation of veteran quarterback Derrick Taylor leaves one of the biggest questions in East County football, but inside the Monarchs’ locker room, the conversation isn’t centered around replacing one player.
It’s about returning to Monte Vista football.
Head coach Page Culver inherits a team that believes its greatest strengths begin where many successful football teams do — along the offensive and defensive lines.
Senior Joshua Hunt anchors both units, while explosive senior running back Dion Hunter and hard-nosed junior Braden Silie headline what the Monarchs expect to be a productive rushing attack.
Rather than trying to duplicate last year’s offense, Monte Vista appears poised to lean into a more physical identity built around controlling the line of scrimmage, limiting mistakes, and developing a new quarterback as the season progresses.
The Grossmont Valley League should again be one of the county’s most competitive races.
El Capitan enters as the favorite, while a much-improved Valhalla squad under Jason Carter has raised expectations considerably. Behind those two, Monte Vista, Santana and West Hills appear capable of battling throughout October, with several games likely decided by a possession.
For the Monarchs, the opportunity is there.
Whether they capitalize on it may come down to how quickly a veteran offensive line can establish the running game and how rapidly the quarterback position develops.
PROGRAM SNAPSHOT
Head Coach: Page Culver
2025 Record: 6-6
League: Grossmont Valley
2025 League Finish: Tied for 3rd (2-3)
Returning Starters
- Offense: 4
- Defense: 4
Team Strengths
- Offensive Line
- Defensive Line
- Running Backs
- Physicality
Biggest Question
- Replacing an experienced quarterback while developing a young receiving corps.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Quarterbacks
Replacing an experienced quarterback is never easy, but Monte Vista has approached preseason camp with competition rather than certainty.
Junior Alec Carrera and senior Juan Duran have both taken significant snaps during camp, with neither separating himself enough to completely seize the position entering August.
The competition has impressed the veterans.
“They’ve both been looking good,” senior Joshua Hunt said of the quarterback battle. “It’s just going to come down to who wins it.”
That patience reflects confidence elsewhere.
Monte Vista doesn’t expect either quarterback to carry the offense immediately. Instead, the Monarchs appear prepared to build around the running game while allowing whichever quarterback earns the job to grow into the position.
Having veteran leadership in front of him certainly won’t hurt.
Running Backs
If Monte Vista has an offensive identity entering 2026, it starts here.
Senior Dion Hunter returns as one of the Grossmont Valley League’s most explosive offensive players and expects to share the workload with junior Braden Silie.
“I think in the backfield this year it’s going to be me and Braden,” Hunter said.
Hunter’s quickness provides the home-run threat.
Silie supplies downhill power.
Together, they give Monte Vista a complementary backfield capable of wearing down defenses over four quarters.
Silie also believes the offense has adopted the proper mindset entering camp.
“Forget what happened last year,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. It already happened.”
That mentality has carried into offseason workouts as the Monarchs look to establish themselves as one of the Valley League’s more physical teams.
Wide Receivers
Replacing production on the perimeter may be almost as important as replacing the quarterback.
The Monarchs acknowledge that wide receiver remains one of the team’s younger position groups, but several names consistently surfaced throughout the preseason interview.
Senior Naithen Smith believes he’ll compete for a major role this fall.
Hunter also identified Edwin Smith, Jose Lozuna Marron, and Naithen Smith among the receivers expected to contribute.
While experience may be limited, teammates consistently praised the group’s offseason development.
Monte Vista may not ask the receivers to carry the offense early, but if they develop into reliable targets, they’ll prevent defenses from loading the box against Hunter and Silie.
Offensive Line
This is where Monte Vista believes football games will be won.
Senior Joshua Hunt doesn’t hesitate when discussing the unit.
He identified Peter Alhanoush, Richard Navarro, himself and Abdiel Moreno among the core pieces, while noting one guard spot remains an active competition.
More importantly, Hunt described the leadership expectations.
He referred to himself and Alhanoush as “the pillars of the O-line,” emphasizing the responsibility veteran linemen have to establish the offense’s physical identity.
If Monte Vista is going to exceed expectations this season, this group will almost certainly be the reason.
The Monarchs expect the offensive line to control games, protect whichever quarterback wins the starting job and create consistent running lanes for Hunter and Silie.
It is the foundation upon which the rest of the offense is being built.
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO KNOW
Joshua Hunt
The unquestioned leader of the offensive line and one of East County’s premier two-way linemen. His leadership extends well beyond his own play.
Dion Hunter
Monte Vista’s offensive centerpiece. Dynamic with the football and expected to receive the bulk of the carries.
Braden Silie
Power runner. Defensive leader. One of the team’s most important two-way players.
Alec Carrera / Juan Duran
One of East County’s most important quarterback competitions. Whoever wins the job inherits an experienced offensive line and talented backfield.
Peter Alhanoush
Veteran lineman expected to anchor the front alongside Hunt.
Defensive Outlook
The Monarchs believe the defense has a chance to become the team’s calling card.
While replacing experience at several positions is unavoidable, Monte Vista returns a physical nucleus in the front seven led by senior Joshua Hunt and junior Braden Silie. Throughout the preseason interview, players repeatedly returned to the same theme: the defense expects to play faster, more physical football while relying on improved depth from younger players.
Several underclassmen were mentioned without prompting when the veterans were asked about emerging contributors, a good indication that competition throughout camp has elevated the overall roster.
Defensive Line
Every successful Monte Vista defense has been built around controlling the line of scrimmage, and the 2026 group expects to continue that tradition.
Joshua Hunt enters his senior season as the unquestioned leader of the defensive front. Already recognized as one of the Monarchs’ premier two-way linemen, Hunt will be asked to anchor a group that blends experience with several ascending juniors.
Hunt specifically pointed to Gabriel Lara, Leeland Sanchez, and Patrick Johnson when asked about younger players making an impression.
“They’re looking pretty good because they’re pretty big,” Hunt said of the trio.
That confidence matters. Rather than carrying the defensive line by himself, Hunt expects several younger teammates to contribute meaningful snaps.
Senior Jay’Vion Delaney, junior Anthony Villalpando, junior Jonathan Alvarado, junior Joshua Melo Ochoa, junior Jehoiakim Campbell, and junior David Cardona provide additional depth across the front.
If this unit develops as expected, Monte Vista should be able to rotate fresh bodies throughout games while maintaining its physical style of play.
Linebackers
The linebacker corps may be the emotional heartbeat of the football team.
Junior Braden Silie returns after establishing himself as one of Monte Vista’s most dependable defenders while also serving as a featured running back.
Joining him are senior Fadhili Ibochwa, senior Gujuan Smith, senior Juan Duran, junior Eric Lewis-Devereaux, and junior Omar Sanchez Lianos, giving the Monarchs a versatile group capable of playing downhill against the run while providing athleticism in space.
Silie believes the entire team has adopted the proper mindset entering the season.
“Forget what happened last year,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. It already happened.”
That outlook reflects a team focused less on last year’s 6-6 record and more on establishing a new identity in 2026.
Secondary
Replacing experience in the secondary will be one of Monte Vista’s biggest challenges.
The Monarchs acknowledge that defensive back is among their youngest position groups, but teammates expressed confidence in the players stepping into larger roles.
Hunter specifically identified sophomore Diamond Rice and sophomore Lennox Williams as young defensive backs expected to contribute immediately.
The receiving corps and secondary often develop together during preseason practices, and the competition between those groups should help accelerate their growth before league play begins.
If the young defensive backs mature quickly, Monte Vista’s defense could become one of the better units in the Grossmont Valley League.
Emerging Players
One of the more revealing moments during the preseason interview came when players were asked which teammates had impressed them during the offseason.
Rather than focusing only on established veterans, several names surfaced repeatedly.
Gabriel Lara was mentioned by multiple players as an emerging force along the defensive line.
Patrick Johnson earned praise for his development in the trenches and appears poised for a larger role this fall.
Leeland Sanchez also received repeated recognition from teammates, suggesting he has positioned himself to contribute significantly on the defensive front.
At wide receiver, Edwin Smith was singled out as a player expected to take on greater responsibility, while sophomore defensive backs Diamond Rice and Lennox Williams were identified as young players capable of making an early impact.
When multiple veterans independently identify the same teammates, it often provides one of the best indicators of who is poised for a breakout season.
Team Leadership
Every conversation about Monte Vista eventually circles back to leadership.
Joshua Hunt provides it in the trenches.
Dion Hunter brings it to the offensive backfield.
Braden Silie sets the tone defensively.
Collectively, they represent the veteran core tasked with guiding a younger roster through a competitive Grossmont Valley League schedule.
The Monarchs may be replacing experience at quarterback, but they are not replacing leadership. That foundation has already been established by a senior class determined to leave the program in a stronger position than it found it.
