Prep Football Preview: Mount Miguel @ Santana

 

Mount Miguel Matadors at Santana Sultans (October 28, 2011)

Last Meeting: Oct. 22, 2010 Mount Miguel 41, Santana 10

Is it safe to call this game the Grossmont Valley League Championship? You could assume it is since the remaining opponents between these two are El Capitan (1-6) and Monte Vista (1-6). Santana will enter this game with a perfect 8-0 record but due to an unimpressive schedule, they have received the same lack of respect in local media polls as an unbeaten non-BCS program in college football. Much respect could be earned with a victory over Mount Miguel. The Matadors are coming off of two 50+ point victories since facing their only defeat of the season at Helix.

Tale of the Tape

 

MOUNT MIGUEL (6-1)

Division: IV

League: Grossmont Valley

Coach: Tom Karlo (7th year)

Last Weeks Result: Defeated El Cajon Valley 55-3

Rankings

San Diego Football Network - #8

San Diego Union Tribune - #8

San Diego Reader - #8

North County Times - #8

East County Sports - #8

Max Preps - #9

Key Players

 

Senior DL/OL Malcolm Jackson 6'3" 255lbs

 

Athletic three-technique defensive tackle

Verbal Commitment to Washington

 

Senior RB Derrick Dunn 5'9" 180lbs

2011 Preseason All-CIF San Diego 2nd Team

Leads the East County in All-Purpose Yards (1136)

Rushing for 798 yard & 11 TDs this season

 

Senior OLB/DE Cory Littleton 6'4" 215lbs

 

Also plays on the Basketball team

2010 Grossmont Valley League Defensive MVP

2010 All East County First Team

 

SANTANA (8-0)

 

Division: IV
League: Grossmont Valley
Coach: Dave Gross (8th year)
Last Weeks Result: Def. El Capitan 56-6

 

Rankings

 

San Diego Football Network -  #9
San Diego Union Tribune - Not Ranked
San Diego Reader - Not Ranked
North County Times - Not Ranked
East County Sports - Not Ranked
Max Preps - #14

 

Key Players

 

Senior QB Kyle Gasner 5‘11” 170lbs

 

Passed for 1,292 yards & 16 TDs this season

4.0 GPA

Also plays Baseball & Soccer

Senior WR/QB Landon Lozoya 6‘3 175lbs

 

Leads the East County in Receiving Yards (621) & Receiving TDs (9)
Named one of the top senior college prospects of 2011
Also play on the Basketball team

My Prediction:

This one is tough to call. These teams are so evenly matched it’s ridiculous.

Offense: Mount Miguel’s offense revolves around a running game led by Derrick Dunn. Santana’s offense revolves around an explosive passing game led by QB Kyle Gasner, WR Landon Lozoya, and giant TE T.D. Gross.

Defense: Santana’s Cody Conner and Mount Miguel’s Henry Ingram are tied for the East County lead in interceptions with four each. But Mount Miguel has a killer front seven led by Cory Littleton and Malcolm Jackson that is very capable of creating problems for offenses. The Santana defense will need to find a way to shut down Derrick Dunn and force the Matadors to be dependent on the passing game. In Mount Miguel’s only blemish this season, Dunn was held to only six yards on six carries.

Special Teams: Kicking and punting the ball to Derrick Dunn could spell trouble for Santana. He has the speed and explosion to take it to the house whenever he touches the ball.

Mount Miguel 35, Santana 31

 

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