The Monte Vista Christian football team hosted its first and only home game of the season on Saturday night just before construction goes underway to replace the old grass file with artificial turf.
The outcome wasn’t quite what the Mustangs envisioned, as they fell to The King’s Academy, 36-8, in non-league play.
“Obviously we’re gonna flush it,” said M.V.C. senior quarterback Nathan Renggli. “It doesn’t have much bearing in our season, but at the end of the day we always want to win.”
Renggli was held to less than 50 passing yards and threw an interception in the first half.
“We didn’t execute when we needed to and we didn’t make the big plays when we needed to,” Renggli said.
M.V.C. senior running back Quinn Alexander scored a 17-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give them an early 8-0 lead, following the 2-point conversion.
Alexander finished with nearly 75 rushing yards and the lone touchdown.
The Knights, the reigning Central Coast Section Division V champions, responded to the Mustangs’ opening drive with a 14-play, 77-yard drive capped off with a 1-yard touchdown by Noah Short.
The junior running back finished with 38 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries along with a 72-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
The King’s Academy went on to score 36 unanswered points.
“We didn’t get too down or too up,” Short said. “We just kept coming and coach (Pete) Lavorato kept his composure calling great plays.”
Knights quarterback Antonio Gonzalez completed 8-of-11 pass attempts for 181 yards and four touchdowns — three passing and one rushing.
Lavorato said he wanted to try throwing the ball more in the second half to keep the Mustangs’ defense off balance.
“I found they were ready for our run and our play action,” Lavorato said. “But when we ran three step drops they didn’t know what to do.”
Lavorato also praised his defense for holding the Mustangs to just eight points.
“Our defense is really fast,” he said. “It’s hard to score on our defense.”
The Knights did not attempt a punt. Lavorato said he believes there’s no need to punt, especially with the Knights averaging at more than three yards per carry.
“I don’t like to punt,” Lavorato said.
The Mustangs’ defense gave up three passing touchdowns to wide-open receivers.
M.V.C. also racked up six penalties for 67 yards, including a pass interference penalty that was called on third down. The Knights capitalized and scored a touchdown on the same drive.
“We told the boys, ‘big games against big teams we have to make big plays’ and we when we had the opportunity to we didn’t, bottom line,” Rodriguez said. “We gained momentum in the first quarter, we just couldn’t be consistent with it.”
Up next, the Mustangs (1-1) will play at Rodriguez High (0-4) on Friday in Fairfield at 7:30 p.m.
North Monterey County 12, Scotts Valley 7: The Condors went on the road and edged the Falcons on Saturday afternoon in non-league play.
Brandon Ducusin, who was playing under the weather with a cold, finished with two touchdowns — one passing and one rushing — for the Condors (2-1).
“He was kind of drained before we even started but he fought through it and he played a good game,” said N.M.C. coach Sean Gomes.
The Condors, meanwhile, were battling the warm temperatures that were around 85 degrees near kickoff.
Gomes said the heat played a bit of a factor into the game.
“They were troopers and they didn’t complain about it. They fought through it and played their hearts out,” Gomes said.
Ducusin tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Cyrus Coffelt in the first quarter. The Condors failed on the extra point attempt, which made it 6-0.
Ducusin followed up with a 25-yard scramble into the end zone. The Condors attempted a 2-point conversion and failed to convert.
“We left some points on the board,” Gomes said.
On the defensive side, junior safety Jason Mellin forced a fumble and recovered the ball. Junior defensive back Kobe Hatten recorded an interception with about two minutes left in the game.
The Falcons got one last possession but the Condors defense stopped the comeback attempt with a quarterback sack to end the game.
“The defense played amazing,” Gomes said. “The (Falcons’) offense put them in some situations and they came up big for us.”
Gomes said the team was more prepared going into this week’s matchup against Scotts Valley. He said the defense had a handle on what the Falcons were going to run against them and how they were going to defend it.
“I think the defense was well prepared and did a great job,” Gomes said.
Up next, the Condors play at Greenfield (0-3) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
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Cross country
Rubio-Pinto was top local finisher at Henderson Memorial: Ceiba College Prep sophomore Nellie Rubio-Pinto was the top local finisher at the second annual Jackie Henderson Memorial Invitational on Saturday at North Monterey County High.
Rubio-Pinto placed 19th in 16 minutes, 43 seconds in the girls varsity 3-mile race.
Skyline senior Eleanor Wikstorm won the event in 17:28, followed by Harker junior Anna Weirich in second (18:08), Clovis West sophomore Claire Bringetto in third (18:15), San Lorenzo Valley junior Azalea Groleau in fourth (18:19) and Clovis West sophomore Kalei Aoki-Chance (18:22).
Monte Vista Christian freshman Caelan Gilliam finished 33rd (20:01), while teammates Xavi Azodah (27:20) and Tessa Henry (27:22) placed 159th in 160th, respectively. Right behind them was Julia Martin in 162nd (27:30).
The Mustangs placed 19th overall as a team.
St. Francis senior Angelika Castro placed 58th (20:52) just slightly ahead of North Monterey County junior Andrea Villegas in 59th (20:52).
Castro’s teammates Camryn Ryan finished 82nd (22:13), Claire Burke in 125th (24:17) and Samantha Orradre in 147th (25:44) for the Sharks.
Evelyn Gutierrez placed 100th (22:54) and Mariana Hernandez finished in 167th (28:44) for the Condors.
Watsonville junior Carolina Avalos was the top-finisher for the Wildcatz, placing 119th in 23:58, while Jacqueline Rodriguez finished in 123rd (24:04) followed by Consuelo Vidal in 140th (25:22).
On the guys side, St. Francis sophomore Julian Vargas finished 42nd in 16:43 in the boys varsity 3-mile race. His teammate Patrick McCarthy finished 68th (17:09), Paul Kane in 90th (17:41), Matthew Kazinksy in 162nd (19:35) and Isaac Hannah in 206th (23:47).
Watsonville High’s Damian Rivas placed 43rd (16:43). Domingo Martinez finished 115th (18:14) and Uriel Ortiz finished 210th (25:55).
Monte Vista Christian junior Justin Lomeli placed 49th (16:51). David Wang finished 73rd (17:14), Jordan Olhava in 151st (19:08) and Alex Bacerra in 177th (20:18).
Aptos junior Aidan Tomasini placed 92nd in 17:43, while teammate Anton Jackson was not far behind in 96th (17:52).
Ceiba College Prep freshman Israel Carrisales finished 136th (18:47). Noew Torres placed 163rd (19:36), Kevin Nieves in 205th (23:25), Israel Ramirez in 209th (24:53) and Aaron Mercado in 211th (26:19) for the Spartans.
North Monterey County junior Vinicius Melone placed 137th (18:47), followed by teammates Max Puga in 148th (19:03) and Bernabe Muñoz in 175th (20:16).
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Aptos High looking for lacrosse coach: Aptos athletics department announced it is looking for a head coach to take over the boys’ lacrosse program.
The start date is Feb. to May 2020 with a stipend of $4,499.00. Please apply at edjoin.org or contact Athletic Director Travis Fox at [email protected] or (831) 728-7832 for information.
