Sultans blank Brawley, move to 3-0

By Ramon Scott
Updated: September 5, 2026

Santana senior Koko Thornton / TRyan Photography

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

Miller throws three TD passes; Thornton delivers two more explosive scores in Santana’s second consecutive shutout

SANTANA. 35, BRAWLEY 0

EastCountySports.com

SANTEE — Kolten “Koko” Thornton caught the pass along the right side, slammed on the brakes, and watched a Brawley defender lose his balance.

Then Thornton accelerated down the sideline—and Santana was off and running again. And the Sultan fans chanted like crows, “KO-KO, KO-KO!”

Thornton’s 65-yard touchdown ignited another dominant performance as the Sultans overwhelmed Brawley, 35-0, Friday at Santana High, improving to 3-0 with their second consecutive shutout.

Senior quarterback Ethan Miller completed 24 of 31 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns and added a 1-yard rushing score. Thornton caught four passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns, while Julian Mayers broke loose for a 65-yard fourth-quarter touchdown run.

The Sultans scored twice during the opening quarter, added one touchdown in each of the remaining three periods and extended their two-week scoring advantage over Crawford and Brawley to 84-0.

Santana moved one victory away from entering its bye week with a perfect record, another shutout and an offense that has undergone one of the county’s most dramatic early-season transformations.

Thornton, a senior, caught four passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns, repeatedly turning routine-looking completions into game-breaking plays.

The Sultans scored twice during the opening quarter, added one touchdown in each of the remaining three periods and improved to 3-0.

Brawley fell to 0-3.

The result continued a dominant opening stretch for Santana, which has outscored its three opponents 121-12. The Sultans have blanked their last two opponents by a combined 84-0 after defeating Crawford 49-0 one week earlier.

Santana’s defense has now gone eight consecutive quarters without allowing a point.

Thornton supplied the first explosive moment against Brawley when he caught a medium-range pass from Miller along the right side. Thornton put on the brakes, caused the approaching defender to lose his balance and then accelerated past him for a 65-yard touchdown.

It was the kind of play that has quickly become characteristic of Thornton. The initial completion created an opportunity, but nearly all of the damage came from his ability to make a defender miss and immediately regain top speed.

Santana added a 15-yard touchdown pass later in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead.

Miller scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper during the second quarter, sending the Sultans into halftime with a 21-0 advantage.

Thornton struck again during the third period.

This time, he caught a short crossing pass, turned toward the right side and raced 49 yards for his second touchdown. The score extended Santana’s lead to 28-0 and gave Thornton 114 yards on his two touchdown receptions alone.

Julian Mayers completed the scoring with a 65-yard touchdown run during the fourth quarter.

Mayers carried seven times for 68 yards, meaning almost all of his production came on the long scoring burst. Thornton added 24 rushing yards on three attempts and finished with 164 yards from scrimmage.

Miller completed 24 of 31 passes without an interception. Santana accumulated approximately 393 yards, including 304 through the air and 89 on the ground.

The passing attack was again built around distribution as much as explosion.

Nine Sultans caught at least one pass. Denton Goar supplied six receptions for 69 yards, while Thornton delivered the two longest plays and the largest receiving total.

Through the first three games, Miller has passed for approximately 878 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has completed 71 of 90 attempts—nearly 79 percent—while turning an offense that averaged 14 points last season into one scoring more than 40 points per game.

SULTANS RECOVER THREE FUMBLES

Santana’s defense did considerably more than protect the lead.

The Sultans recovered three Brawley fumbles and continually denied the Wildcats an opportunity to generate momentum.

Brayton Knight led Santana with 11 tackles. Tatum Morehouse recorded eight tackles and recovered a fumble, while Cameron Cipro contributed eight tackles and forced a fumble.

Brody Tena recovered two fumbles.

The takeaways repeatedly returned possession to an offense that Brawley was already struggling to contain.

After allowing Morse to score 12 points in the season opener, Santana has not surrendered a point since. The Sultans held Crawford scoreless last week and became the second consecutive team to shut out a Brawley offense that has now gone 10 quarters without scoring.

Brawley has been outscored 103-16 through its opening three games.

KOKO CONTINUES HIS EXPLOSIVE START

Thornton has become the centerpiece of Santana’s offensive revival without becoming its only weapon.

Against Crawford, he caught eight passes for 124 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. Against Brawley, his four catches generated 140 yards and two more touchdowns.

That gives Thornton 12 receptions for 264 yards and five receiving touchdowns over the last two games alone.

The manner in which he has produced those numbers may be even more concerning for future opponents.

Thornton scored on a 60-yard reception against Crawford, then added touchdown catches covering 65 and 49 yards against Brawley. Each play required him to create substantial yardage after the catch.

Defenses must account for Thornton on every snap, but Santana demonstrated again that committing additional coverage to him creates opportunities elsewhere. Goar’s six receptions provided Miller with a dependable alternative, and eight other players joined Thornton in the receiving column.

FROM QUESTION MARK TO STRENGTH

Santana entered the season needing to replace much of the production from an offense that struggled throughout 2025.

Three games later, the Sultans’ offense has become their greatest strength.

Miller passed for 358 yards and four touchdowns against Crawford after throwing three touchdown passes in the opener against Morse. His 304-yard performance against Brawley gave him consecutive 300-yard games.

Santana has scored 37, 49 and 35 points. The Sultans have produced 86 points during the first halves of those games and have rarely needed to operate under late pressure.

The next question will be how the offense responds when it encounters a close fourth-quarter game. Through three weeks, Santana has not allowed an opponent to create one.

BY THE NUMBERS

3-0: Santana’s record entering its Sept. 11 game against Chula Vista.
121-12: The Sultans’ combined scoring margin.
84-0: Santana’s margin over its last two opponents.
304: Ethan Miller’s passing yards against Brawley.
24-of-31: Miller’s passing line.
3: Miller’s touchdown passes.
140: Koko Thornton’s receiving yards on four catches.
114: Yards covered by Thornton’s two touchdown receptions.
164: Thornton’s yards from scrimmage.
65: Length of Julian Mayers’ fourth-quarter touchdown run.
11: Tackles recorded by Brayton Knight.
3: Brawley fumbles recovered by Santana.
9: Sultans who caught at least one pass.

LOOKING AHEAD: CHULA VISTA

Santana returns Friday, Sept. 11, against Chula Vista before beginning its bye week Sept. 18. The winless Spartans’ schedule has practically made them an honorary East County opponent.

Chula Vista opened against West Hills, faced El Capitan in Week 2 and will now prepare for Santana after falling 35-28 to undefeated Patrick Henry.

The Spartans’ 0-3 record does not fully describe their latest performance.

Chula Vista pushed Patrick Henry into a one-score game despite allowing quarterback Madin Gardini to pass for 205 yards and four touchdowns. Cyrus Drury caught five passes for 80 yards and two scores for Henry, while JP Laydon added three receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown.

That result should command Santana’s attention.

Chula Vista lost only 14-9 to El Capitan before scoring 28 points against Patrick Henry. The Spartans have demonstrated considerably more resistance than either of Santana’s last two opponents, particularly when they can keep the game within one possession.

The matchup also offers an interesting comparison.

El Capitan defeated Chula Vista through defense, field position and a controlled rushing attack. Santana will bring the most productive passing offense the Spartans have faced during their East County-heavy opening schedule.

For Santana, the upcoming game provides an opportunity to reach its bye week undefeated. Chula Vista’s record could encourage complacency, but the Sultans already handled that situation against Brawley, establishing control immediately rather than allowing the winless Wildcats to remain competitive.

A similar performance against Chula Vista would send Santana into its Sept. 18 bye at 4-0 and confirm that its perfect opening stretch represents something more substantial than favorable scheduling.

The Sultans have supplied three weeks of evidence.

Miller is operating with confidence, Thornton has developed into one of the region’s most dangerous open-field threats, Santana has enough receiving depth to punish concentrated coverage, and a defense led by Knight, Morehouse, Cipro and Tena has not permitted a point since opening night.

Santana will now host Chula Vista on Sept. 11 with an opportunity to enter its bye week at 4-0—and make its spectacular start increasingly difficult to dismiss.