SALINAS — The Monte Vista Christian Mustangs entered Saturday’s game riding a large wave of momentum.
It was long gone by the end of the first quarter.
The Palma High Chieftains took advantage of a handful of M.V.C. errors in the first half to rout the Mustangs, 37-14, in the teams’ Monterey Bay League Gabilan division game at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas.
M.V.C. (4-3, 2-2) had a punt blocked, missed some key tackles and fumbled the ball away twice before intermission and the Chieftains (3-4, 2-2) took full advantage of the mishaps, jumping out to a 24-0 lead at the half and scoring on their first two possessions of the second half to play the fourth quarter with a running clock.
“We messed up a little with small things on offense and the same thing with defense,” said senior defensive lineman Cory Margo. “We almost had PAM on our hands; we were letting go of so many tackles. I wish we would’ve completed that first quarter. If we showed up on defense and offense we could’ve taken this game.”
The Mustangs were fresh off a dominant win over Alvarez High last week and an encouraging loss against San Benito High the week before. Senior quarterback Sean White had thrown for seven touchdowns over the two promising performances but did not find the end zone on Saturday. White did, however, complete 24 of his 35 passing attempts for 231 yards.
Junior receiver Nick Bautista caught 10 passes for 131 yards and set up a 1-yard rushing touchdown from senior running back Cody Paresa with a 23-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
Paresa, who finished with 52 yards rushing, scored both of the Mustangs’ touchdowns. He sprinted 34 yards into the end zone early in the fourth quarter to put an end to the shutout.
“We just had some turnovers and our momentum just went down,” Bautista said. “If we don’t have those turnovers we definitely score on a lot of those drives and we’re definitely in the game. Our defense was ready for them. Our offense has been rolling this whole season, so far. I thought we were pretty prepared for this game.”
M.V.C. outgained Palma in yardage, 166-148, in the first half but the mistakes were too much to overcome.
“No one expects that many turnovers that early in the game,” said junior defensive lineman Jason Bettencourt, who had three sacks. “Then again, if we come out full throttle we would be ready for anything. I think we did all we could. We definitely didn’t just hand it to them. They’re a good football team. We’re a good football team. We have to be more prepared for anything — be more flexible.”
Chieftains sophomore running back Anthony Villegas punched in a 1-yard touchdown after senior defensive back Liam Short blocked an M.V.C. punt in the first quarter and just three minutes later ripped through a trio of missed tackles for a 72-yard score to put Palma up 14-0 at the end of the first.
M.V.C. fumbled on consecutive possessions to start the second quarter and Palma converted the turnovers into a 28-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Peter Powers to sophomore receiver Jon-Jon Berring and a 42-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Gabe Nale.
The Mustangs tried to catch the Chieftains sleeping with an onside kick to open the second half but Palma recovered and Villegas took off for a 36-yard touchdown three plays later.
Powers tacked on the final Palma touchdown during the closing minutes of the third, lunging in from four yards out for the score.
Villegas finished with 126 yards rushing on 12 carries and Powers added 67 yards rushing on nine totes.
Margo had two sacks and four tackles for loss, while also recovering a fumble for M.V.C., which will need to quickly shake off the loss and prepare for red-hot Salinas High.
The Cowboys have yet to lose an MBL-G game and blew out San Benito, 42-13, on Friday night.
“I don’t feel like we’re this team,” Bautista said. “We just have to fix those turnovers and just execute on our offensive drives. We just have to put this one behind us and focus on Salinas. They’re looking good and we have to be ready for them.”
