Ever since Monte Vista football head coach CJ Anderson left the program in 2022, the Mustangs have faced an uphill battle to reclaim their spot in the Division 1 playoffs, finishing 2-8 in the 2022 season, and 4-6 in the 2023 season, all while enduring losses to their crosstown rivals, San Ramon Valley. Heading into the 2024 season with a star-studded roster, students and players alike were optimistic for a turn-around. So, how did the Mustangs fare this season?
The Mustangs started this season off hot, winning five of their first six games against some prominent programs such as Bishop O’Dowd and Antioch. But things went downhill soon after, as Monte Vista proceeded to lose all four of their remaining league games, eventually missing the Division 1 playoffs for a third consecutive season. The Mustangs ended their season 0-4 in the East Bay Athletic League, finishing 5th. But why was this the case? Having 3 NCAA commits on their offense alone, it wasn’t entirely poor play that contributed to the losing streak.
Junior running back for the Mustangs, Tyler Palmer, believes it was something more than just the players’ skillset. “I think towards the end of the season we lacked team spirit. We would always start well in games but it was hard to keep that continuous because we lacked spirit,” said Palmer.
In fact, Monte Vista came close to winning two of their five league games. Against California High School, the Mustangs were neck and neck with the Grizzlies until the fourth quarter, where they capitalized on their momentum to finish the game with a victory. Moreover, against Amador Valley High School, who just won the NorCal Division 3-AA title, Monte Vista had a lead in the first half, before ultimately losing by 4 points.
However, the disappointing trend of losses didn’t stop Monte Vista from entering the high school football playoffs. In early November, the Mustangs were moved down a division to compete against Bishop O’Dowd High School in Northern California Regional playoffs.
The Mustangs put on a show in their game against Bishop O’Dowd on November 15th, accounting for over 430 yards of total offense along with 4 touchdowns. With Fresno State University commit and starting quarterback Brayden Turner being out with an injury, junior Ian Ondricek stepped in for the Mustangs and threw for 66 yards, ran for 59, and had two total touchdowns. But the star of the show was running back and University of Washington commit Julian McMahan, who had 307 yards on the ground and 2 touchdowns, setting a Monte Vista record for most rushing yards in a single game.
Monte Vista senior Helios Lung added, “I think it was quite bonkers. To run for over 300 yards in a playoff game and have most of the team’s total yards is truly a spectacle to be marveled at”.
But unfortunately for Monte Vista, their season ended in a heartbreaking, falling short by a field goal in overtime. Despite the emotional ending, the Mustangs showcased flashes of potential late in the season that had been missing earlier. Finally returning to the playoffs, many students may wonder: should Monte Vista remain in Division 2? And if they do, can the talented roster push even further than they did this year?
