Long-distance Monarchs run wild

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 20, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

MONTE VISTA 56, EL CAJON VALLEY 6

By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com

EL CAJON — Daesean Jenkins had already demonstrated how quickly he could reach the end zone. His most spectacular touchdown Friday night required going the wrong way first.

The Monte Vista junior chased a punt over his head, gathered the bouncing ball while retreating toward his own end zone and reversed the direction of the play — and nearly everyone pursuing him — for a 73-yard punt-return touchdown.

It was the signature moment in the Monarchs’ 56-6 Grossmont Valley League victory over El Cajon Valley at Priest Field, ending a five-game losing streak and giving Monte Vista a needed boost entering the final two weeks of the regular season.

Jenkins rushed 10 times for 172 yards and two touchdowns, scoring from 47 and 48 yards before adding his third touchdown on the return.

Junior Braden Silie supplied 153 yards on nine carries, with touchdown runs of 62 and 14 yards and a two-point conversion. Together, Jenkins and Silie produced 325 rushing yards on 19 attempts.

Junior Edwin Smith IV added a 71-yard touchdown run, senior quarterback Juan Duran scored on a 9-yard keeper, and senior Matthew Ocampo finished the scoring with a 34-yard interception return.

Monte Vista improved to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in league. El Cajon Valley fell to 2-6 and 0-3, its league losing streak reaching 18 games.

Monarchs answer early challenge

Monte Vista needed only one offensive play to establish its biggest advantage.

After the Braves failed to recover an opening onside kick, Jenkins took a direct snap and swept around the right side for a 47-yard touchdown. The extra point gave the Monarchs a 7-0 lead.

El Cajon Valley answered.

Sophomore quarterback TJ Ibrahimi found Amir Miller wide open for a 33-yard touchdown pass, giving the Braves an immediate response. The two-point pass was incomplete, leaving Monte Vista ahead, 7-6.

Jenkins soon created separation again.

His second touchdown began toward the right, continued through the middle and broke toward the left sideline, covering 48 yards. Following an El Cajon Valley penalty, Silie ran in the two-point conversion for a 15-6 lead.

Silie then provided a breakaway of his own, taking a handoff through the middle and accelerating for a 62-yard touchdown.

Seniors Peter Alhanoush and Joshua Hunt, along with junior Leeland Sanchez, helped open the way. Senior Jay’Vion Delaney also contributed up front as the Monarchs established control at the line of scrimmage.

Duran, kicking left-footed, drove the extra point through to make it 22-6.

The Braves continued looking for Miller downfield. On a fourth-down attempt, a Monte Vista defender recovered to knock away a pass Miller appeared close to securing, ending the possession.

On the ensuing Monte Vista drive, Jenkins gained 20 yards from the Monarchs’ 38 to the El Cajon Valley 42. Duran finished with a 9-yard keeper up the middle, following Hunt, Sanchez and the Monte Vista front.

The Braves blocked the extra point.

Willis closes half with a flourish

El Cajon Valley threatened again before halftime, but junior Isaiah Willis supplied one of the evening’s outstanding defensive plays.

Willis leaped for a one-handed interception near the goal line and returned it approximately 60 yards to the Braves’ 40 as the half expired.

Monte Vista carried a 28-6 lead into the break.

Jenkins supplied the next major highlight after intermission.

The Braves’ punt sailed beyond him, forcing him to turn and chase. After collecting the bounce, Jenkins circled toward the opposite side, escaped would-be tacklers and cut back toward the middle before breaking free.

The 73-yard touchdown return and extra point extended the lead to 35-6.

Later, Jenkins added a 34-yard run, carrying from his own 31 to the El Cajon Valley 35. A confrontation near the Braves’ sideline interrupted play, with officials directing the teams into huddles while sorting out the incident, which included an ejection.

After play resumed, Silie scored his second touchdown on a 14-yard run.

Smith added another long-distance score after the Braves turned the ball over on downs in Monte Vista territory, racing 71 yards for a touchdown.

El Cajon Valley produced a late defensive takeaway when Jonathan Gonzalez forced a fumble that the Braves recovered, stopping another Monarchs possession.

Ocampo supplied Monte Vista’s final touchdown. A pass went through the intended receiver’s hands, and Ocampo collected it before returning the interception 34 yards for the score. Duran added the extra point.

The Braves ran a few more plays before time expired.

For Monte Vista, the victory restored momentum after five difficult weeks. The Monarchs scored six rushing touchdowns, added touchdowns on defense and special teams, and gave themselves another opportunity to strengthen their postseason position.

Jenkins turns retreat into a remarkable return

The punter, El Cajon Valley sophomore Jacob Bickett, did his job against the county’s most dangerous return man.

The El Cajon Valley specialist drove the ball over Daesean Jenkins’ head, a tough thing to do, forcing Monte Vista’s returner to abandon his initial position and chase it toward his own end zone.

What followed turned a potential field-position victory for the Braves into the night’s most memorable touchdown.

Jenkins gathered a favorable bounce, circled across the field and escaped defenders who reached him but could not finish the tackle. He then worked back toward the middle and found room to accelerate away.

The return was credited at 73 yards. His actual route included considerably more running.

It completed a three-touchdown performance for the junior, whose scoring runs covered 47 and 48 yards. Those three plays alone accounted for 168 yards.

His rushing production was just as efficient: 172 yards on 10 carries, an average of 17.2 yards per attempt.

Jenkins’ ability to change direction made the return exceptional. His ability to finish made it costly.

Silie, blockers give Monte Vista its foundation

Braden Silie gave Monte Vista far more than a supporting performance.

The 6-foot, 200-pound junior rushed for 153 yards on nine carries, scored twice and added a two-point conversion against El Cajon Valley.

His 62-yard touchdown demonstrated the breakaway ability behind his physical running. His 14-yard score later in the game helped the Monarchs continue pulling away.

Silie averaged 17 yards per carry, nearly matching Jenkins’ 17.2-yard average. Their combined production reflected both the runners’ finishing ability and the opportunities created up front.

Senior linemen Peter Alhanoush, Joshua Hunt and Jay’Vion Delaney, along with junior Leeland Sanchez, helped supply that foundation.

Alhanoush, Sanchez and Hunt were prominent in the blocking on Silie’s 62-yard touchdown. Hunt and Sanchez also helped lead Juan Duran through the middle on his 9-yard scoring keeper.

The long runs drew the attention. The work at the line gave them somewhere to begin.

LOOKAHEAD: Santana brings renewed confidence

SANTANA (5-3, 1-2) at MONTE VISTA (3-5, 1-2)
Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. — Monte Vista High
Grossmont Valley League

Monte Vista’s next assignment will test how much of Friday’s offensive momentum can carry against a defense coming off one of its best performances.

Santana defeated Valhalla 20-19, holding the Norsemen scoreless after halftime and ending a three-game losing streak.

The Sultans now must contain a different kind of threat.

Daesean Jenkins and Braden Silie combined for 325 rushing yards against El Cajon Valley. Santana needs disciplined pursuit and secure tackling, particularly when Jenkins changes direction or finds space on special teams.

Senior Dillon Timanus enters after recording 10 tackles, an interception and a blocked extra point against Valhalla. Tatum Morehouse and Ryder Miller each contributed eight tackles.

Monte Vista also must prepare for a more balanced offense.

Ethan Miller completed 20 of 26 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns against Valhalla. Kolten “Koko” Thornton caught nine passes for 60 yards, and Denton Goar added five receptions for 49 yards.

Julian Mayers rushed for 90 yards, while sophomore Landen Braaksma supplied 56 yards and the decisive fourth-quarter touchdown.

For the Monarchs, controlling possession would serve two purposes: keeping Jenkins and Silie involved while limiting Miller’s opportunities.

Both teams are 1-2 in league, but Monte Vista’s overall record gives it greater urgency. With West Hills awaiting in the finale, another victory would strengthen the Monarchs’ postseason case.

LOOKAHEAD: Braves visit first-place Vaqueros

EL CAJON VALLEY (2-6, 0-3) at EL CAPITAN (4-4, 3-0)
Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. — El Capitan High
Grossmont Valley League

El Cajon Valley travels to Lakeside to face a team holding sole possession of first place after a dramatic 24-23 victory over West Hills.

Senior Ryder Powers kicked the winning 28-yard field goal with 7.6 seconds remaining, completing a late drive directed by junior quarterback Hayden Passanisi.

Passanisi finished 8 of 11 for 130 yards and a touchdown. Elijah Arzu caught six passes for 103 yards and a score, while senior Anthony Mattar, making his season debut after an injury, rushed for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

Mattar’s return gives El Capitan another option alongside Michael Castillo, who gained 61 yards against West Hills.

The Braves’ immediate priorities are limiting explosive runs, protecting TJ Ibrahimi and keeping possessions alive.

Their touchdown connection between Ibrahimi and Amir Miller provided an early answer against Monte Vista. Generating those opportunities more consistently will be essential against an El Capitan defense led by sophomore Robinson Silva, who recorded 13 tackles against West Hills.

Jonathan Gonzalez’s forced fumble and the blocked extra point against Monte Vista give the Braves defensive and special-teams efforts to build upon. They need those plays to accompany more sustained offense.

El Capitan can move to 4-0 in league before its finale against Valhalla. El Cajon Valley seeks to improve against the first-place Vaqueros before closing the regular season against Santana.