Never could a pregame performance be more of a sign of what was to come than the Montgomery High band’s version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
The battle for the Metro South Bay title on the field that followed was every bit of a thriller, with a long-awaited outcome for the visiting Olympian High.
The Eagles claimed sole possession of their first league title in 11 years by spoiling the Aztecs’ homecoming with a 22-13 victory Friday night at Montgomery in the season finale for both teams.
“Honestly there was a lot of pressure coming in, it’s been a long time since we won it and this team really wanted it,” said Olympian sophomore quarterback Jayden Fuentes, who ended up the game’s leading rusher with 83 yards on nine carries all in the second half.
Olympian’s last league title was in 2012 when they were a perfect 4-0 in the Metro Mesa League in Gil Warren’s last year at the helm. That year they finished 11-1 and top-seeded in Division III with their only loss to third-seeded Lincoln 20-7 in the semifinals. They beat the Hornets 21-14 earlier in the season.
Just two years ago was Olympian was 0-10.
After a scoreless opening quarter, Olympian (6-4, 3-0 Metro South Bay) got on the board first when big middle linebacker Ceejay Clavier went into the backfield and scored from four yards out to cap an 11-play, 71-yard drive with 8:31 left in the half.
“I like to think that if I’m healthy nobody is going to stop me,” said the 6-foot-2, 230-pounder, who only carried the ball twice this season, finishing with 14 yards on four carries and two TDs on this night.
Montgomery (4-6, 1-2) answered back when quarterback Andie Deanda found Jayden Cannon up the right sideline for a 32-yard TD with 1:51 remaining.
The difference in the half came on the extra point, when Olympians’ Josue Vargas sliced through to block the kick.
In the third quarter it was again the Eagles scoring, only to see the Aztecs answering back.
Coby Dunn (15 carries, 79 yards, TD) upped the Eagles lead to 15-6 on a 15-yard sprint to the corner with 3:33 left in the quarter.
Two plays later, back came the Aztecs.
Deanda (8-for-22, 166 yards, 2 TDs) was flushed out of the pocket and on the run found Zantex Thomas between defenders at midfield. Thomas evaded the coverage and raced 65 yards for the score to close the gap to 15-13.
Deanda also led the Aztecs in rushing with 53 yards on 14 carries.
A controversial inadvertent whistle aided the Eagles final score.
An Olympian fumble at the Montgomery 3-yard line, recovered by the Aztecs, was reversed and the down replayed after the whistle was blown while the ball was still loose by an official who couldn’t see it.
Two plays later Clavier went in standing from the 2.
“It wasn’t our best performance, our offense was kind of choppy, but you’ve got to give Montgomery a lot of credit for that,” said Eagles first-year coach Bradley Carter.
Montgomery’s last .500 season was 2017 (6-6), when they beat Poway in the first round 28-14 before losing to El Camino.
With a loss it will be the first losing season since Freddy Dunkel took the helm in 2018. Under the former SDSU alumnus these Aztecs are 37-11 in his five years.
OLYMPIAN 22, MONTGOMERY 13
Olympian – 0 7 8 7 – 22
Montgomery – 0 6 7 0 – 13
O – Clavier 4 run (Carranza kick)
M – Cannon 32 from DeAnda (kick failed)
O – Dunn 15 run (Clavier run)
M – Thomas 65 from Deanda (Garcia kick)
O – Clavier 2 run (Carranza kick)
