The Monte Vista Monarchs have suffered from a low player turnout in recent seasons. The downturn in numbers has correlated with the team’s win-loss record.
The Monarchs finished 9-2 with a trip to the Division III quarterfinals in 2018 and followed that with a 6-5 record in 2019. Monte Vista finished 3-2 in the shortened 2020 COVID season before coming back with a 0-10 finish in 2021.
The Monarchs finished 1-9 overall last season, defeating Maranatha Christian, 42-21 in their season opener before dropping their final nine games to finish winless in Grossmont Valley League games for the second consecutive season.
Monte Vista will be out to snap that nine-game losing streak when its hosts Vincent Memorial this Friday, Aug. 18, at 6:30 p.m. The Monarchs come right back with another home game on Thursday, Aug. 24, also at 6:30 p.m.
Monte Vista hosts Corona in a third straight non-league home game on Sept. 1.
Veteran Monarchs head coach Ron Hamamoto is hoping to reward the home fans with a win, or possibly more, before the opening three-game home streak is over.
Monte Vista, buoyed by numbers this season, could be geared for a substantial turnaround in 2023.
“We have 14 seniors — this is more than we have had since 2019,” the Monarch sideline boss said.
Monte Vista boasts a slew of returners: seniors Adrian Gonzalez (defensive back/running back), Diego Peguero (linebacker/tight end), Jaidyn Ellison (linebacker/running back), Daniel Renteria (defensive back/running back/kicker), Brayden Andrus, (running back/linebacker) Valente Medina (offensive/defensive lineman) and Santana De Leal (offensive/defensive lineman) aling with juniors Alex Villanueva (defensive back/running back) and Robert Vasquez (offensive/defensive lineman).
Gonzalez passed for two touchdowns in a pair of games last season while Renteria rushed for 331 yards in four game appearances.
Impact newcomers include sophomores Rashshawn Florence (defensive back/receiver), Derrick Taylor (quarterback), Tasi Iata (defensive back/receiver) and Kassem Conley (linebacker/receiver).
Vincent Memorial finished 7-4 last season with a trip to the Division V quarterfinals. Kearny finished 5-5 last season, 2-2 in City Central League play.
Monte Vista will vie for postseason play among the section’s Division V teams this season. The Monarchs kick off Grossmont Valley League play at El Capitan on Sept. 29, followed by home games against El Cajon Valley (Oct. 6) and Valhalla (Oct. 19) and a road match-up at Mt. Miguel on Oct. 27.
Other non-league games include San Ysidro (Sept. 8), Sweetwater (Sept. 15) and Grossmont (Sept. 22).
Hamamoto remains optimistic about the upcoming season.
“We have the most numbers we’ve had in two years,” he said.
Braves New World
El Cajon Valley went two rounds deep into last season’s Division V playoffs. Braced by 20 seniors this season, the Braves are looking to go even deeper into postseason play.
“We have a really strong group of seniors,” ECV coach Nick Osborn said. “We’ve been waiting for this group to make it to this point. Our numbers are moving in the right direction. All our kids are working toward the same goals.”
Top returners include quarterback Darick Dubose, receiver/safety Paris Dixon, fullback/ receiver Omar Jaimes, receiver Chris Cosio and running back Massih Ehsan.
Dubose passed for 788 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions last season. He also contributed with his feet (605 yards, eight touchdowns).
Dixon accumulated 320 receiving yards and six touchdowns as the team’s top pass-catcher while tying for the team lead with 49 tackles on defense.
Jaimes registered 40 tackles last season while Dubose had 39. Cosio had three interceptions while Jaimes had two picks. Dubose had three fumble recoveries.
The Braves lose the considerable services of Kal-el Gordon to graduation after racking up 1,230 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns last season.
El Cajon Valley kicks off the new season Aug. 18 at Crawford, then hosts Classical Academy on Aug. 25. All four of the Braves’ Grossmont Valley League games are in October — at Monte Vista and Valhalla and home to Mt. Miguel and El Capitan.
The section is splitting Division V into two tiers this season. The bottom eight of the 21 teams in the division are now denoted as Division V: AA and comprise the smaller 11-man programs, including Mountain Empire from East County.
Sweetwater, Hoover, San Ysidro, Valhalla, Southwest El Centro, Southwest San Diego, El Cajon Valley, Monte Vista, Castle Park, Kearny, Mar Vista, Clairemont and Vincent Memorial comprise the upper half of the 2023 Division V tier.
Around East County
Granite Hills returns to defend its Grossmont Hills League title while El Capitan returns to defend its Grossmont Valley League title.
The Grossmont Foothillers have introduced new head coach Anthony Lawrence, a GHS alumnus who went on to play at the University of San Diego (where he earned the Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018).
Lawrence was a two-time all-state and two-time GHL MVP as a Foothiller. He passed for 3,300 yards and 41 touchdowns as a senior while rushing for 300 yards and seven touchdowns. As a junior, he passed for 3,400 yards and 36 touchdowns. Grossmont finished 9-3 both seasons.
At 27, Lawrence is the youngest head coach in the section. His father Tony will be coaching the school’s inaugural girls flag football team this season.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
Grossmont Hills League
GRANITE HILLS EAGLES
August
19: Mission Hills at Granite Hills, 7 p.m.
September
1: Granite Hills vs. St. Augustine (neutral site), 7 p.m.
8: Granite Hills at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
14: Granite Hills at Central Union, 7 p.m.
22: Madison at Granite Hills, 7 p.m.
29: Granite Hills at Santana, 7 p.m.
October
6: West Hills at Granite Hills, 7 p.m.
13: Granite Hills at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
20: Helix at Granite Hills, 7 p.m.
26: Granite Hills at Grossmont, 7 p.m.
GROSSMONT FOOTHILLERS
August
18: San Diego at Grossmont, 7 p.m.
25: Olympian at Grossmont, 7 p.m.
September
1: Palo Verde Valley at Grossmont, 7 p.m.
8: Mt. Miguel at Grossmont, 7 p.m.
22: Grossmont at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
29: Grossmont at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
October
6: Grossmont at Helix, 7 p.m.
13: West Hills at Grossmont, 7 p.m.
20: Grossmont at Santana, 7 p.m.
26: Granite Hills at Grossmont, 7 p.m.
HELIX HIGHLANDERS
August
25: Helix at St. Francis, 7 p.m.
September
2: Helix vs. Red Mountain (Mesa, Ariz.), 4 p.m. (neutral site)
8: Helix at Madison, 7 p.m.
15: Helix at Cathedral Catholic, 7 p.m.
28: Helix at West Hills, 7 p.m.
October
6: Grossmont at Helix, 7 p.m.
12: Santana at Helix, 7 p.m.
20: Helix at Granite Hills, 7 p.m.
27: Steele Canyon at Helix, 7 p.m.
SANTANA SULTANS
August
17: Canyon Hills at Santana, 7 p.m.
25: Sweetwater at Santana, 6:30 p.m.
31: Santana at Coronado, 7 p.m.
September
7: Santana at Fallbrook, 7 p.m.
15: Santana at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
29: Granite Hills at Santana, 7 p.m.
October
6: Steele Canyon at Santana, 7 p.m.
12: Santana at Helix, 7 p.m.
20: Grossmont at Santana, 7 p.m.
27: Santana at West Hills, 7 p.m.
STEELE CANYON COUGARS
August
18: Steele Canyon at Heritage, 7 p.m.
25: Madison at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
September
1: Steele Canyon at San Marcos, 7:15 p.m. 8: Steele Canyon at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
14: Valhalla at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
29: Grossmont at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
October
6: Steele Canyon at Santana, 7 p.m.
13: Granite Hills at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
21: West Hills at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
27: Steele Canyon at Helix, 7 p.m.
WEST HILLS WOLF PACK
August
18: Imperial at West Hills, 7 p.m.
25: West Hills at Coronado, 7 p.m.
31: West Hills at Vista, 7 p.m.
September
7: Patrick Henry at West Hills, 7 p.m.
22: El Capitan at West Hills, 7 p.m.
28: Helix at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
October
6: West Hills at Granite Hills, 7 p.m.
13: West Hills at Grossmont, 7 p.m.
21: West Hills at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
27: Santana at West Hills, 7 p.m.
Grossmont Valley League
EL CAJON VALLEY BRAVES
August
18: El Cajon Valley at Crawford, 7 p.m.
25: Classical Academy at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.
September
1: El Cajon Valley at Vincent Memorial, 7 p.m.
8: El Cajon Valley at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
15: Clairemont at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.
29: Holtville at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.
October
6: El Cajon Valley at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
13: El Cajon Valley at Valhalla, 7 p.m.
20: Mt. Miguel at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.
26: El Capitan at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.
EL CAPITAN VAQUEROS
August
18: El Capitan at Valley Center, 7 p.m.
25: El Capitan at Canyon Hills, 7 p.m.
September
1: La Jolla at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
8: Steele Canyon at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
15: Santana at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
22: El Capitan at West Hills, 7 p.m.
29: Monte Vista at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
October
5: Valhalla at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
12: El Capitan at Mt. Miguel, 7 p.m.
26: El Capitan at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.
MONTE VISTA MONARCHS
August
18: Vincent Memorial at Monte Vista, 6:30 p.m.
24: Kearny at Monte Vista, 6:30 p.m.
September
1: Corona at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
8: Monte Vista at San Ysidro, 6:30 p.m.
15: Monte Vista at Sweetwater, 6:30 p.m.
22: Grossmont at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
29: Monte Vista at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
October
6: El Cajon Valley at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
19: Valhalla at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
27: Monte Vista at Mt. Miguel, 7 p.m.
MT. MIGUEL MATADORS
August
18: Mt. Miguel at Sweetwater, 6:30 p.m.
25: Chula Vista at Mt. Miguel, 7 p.m.
31: Montgomery at Mt. Miguel, 7 p.m.
September
8: Mt. Miguel at Grossmont, 7 p.m.
15: Bishop’s at Mt. Miguel, 7 p.m.
22: Mt. Miguel at Rancho Buena Vista, 7 p.m.
29: Mt. Miguel at Valhalla, 7 p.m.
October
12: El Capitan at Mt. Miguel, 7 p.m.
20: Mt. Miguel at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.
27: Monte Vista at Mt. Miguel, 7 p.m.
VALHALLA NORSEMEN
August
18: Hilltop at Valhalla, 7 p.m.
25: Mar Vista at Valhalla, 7 p.m.
31: Valhalla at San Ysidro, 6:30 p.m.
September
7: Olympian at Valhalla, 7 p.m.
14: Valhalla at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
22: Valhalla at Christian, 7 p.m.
29: Mt. Miguel at Valhalla, 7 p.m.
October
5: Valhalla at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
13: El Cajon Valley at Valhalla, 7 p.m.
19: Valhalla at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
City Eastern League
CHRISTIAN PATRIOTS
August
17: Mission Bay at Christian, 7 p.m.
26: Christian vs. Bishop’s, 7 p.m. (neutral site)
September
2: Christian at Scripps Ranch, 7 p.m.
8: Christian at Santa Fe Christian, 3:30 p.m.
15: Christian at Awaken Christian (Las Vegas), 7 p.m.
22: Valhalla at Christian, 7 p.m.
29: Point Loma at Christian, 7 p.m.
October
6: Christian at Morse, 7 p.m.
20: Christian at Mira Mesa, 7 p.m.
28: La Jolla at Christian, 7 p.m. Ocean (8-Man) League
FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN
August
25: California School for the Deaf (Riverside) at Foothills Christian, 7 p.m.
September
1: Los Angeles Windward at Foothills Christian, 7 p.m.
8: PAL Academy (San Bernardino) at Foothills Christian, 7 p.m.
14: Victory Christian Academy at Foothills Christian, 6 p.m.
22: Foothills Christian at Calvin Christian, 6:30 p.m.
29: Sage Hill (Newport Beach) at Foothills Christian, 7 p.m.
October
13: Foothills Christian at St. Joseph Academy, 7 p.m.
20: Coastal Academy at Foothills Christian, 7 p.m.
26: Foothills Christian at San Diego Jewish Academy, 3:30 p.m.
