KING CITY — With a packed crowd and the return of the homecoming festivities, the King City Mustangs’ offense erupted for 35 of the 42 points to secure the win over the North Monterey County Condors, 42-0.
Before last Friday’s win, 34 points was the highest point total that King City put up.
The Oct. 15 game was the Mustangs’ best performance of the year. They scored a season-high in points, and their defense once again didn’t give up a point for the third straight game.
The one trend the King City offense followed was that they didn’t score a touchdown all season in the first quarter. But they broke that trend in this game against North Monterey County.
After a turnover down on King City’s first offense position, the Condors took it over deep into their territory, but they fumbled and gave it back to the Munstangs on their six-yard line. In the very next play, Mustangs running back Elijah Clavijo ran into the endzone for his fourth touchdown of the season, breaking a scoreless streak in the first quarter of games.
The second quarter was disastrous for North Monterey County, as they gave up 28 points.
Mustangs quarterback Jjey Martinez connected with Alexis DeDios on a long pass to set them up at the one-yard line. Then, running back Ivan Lizardi scored on a one-yard run, increasing King City’s lead to 14-0.
After the King City defense forced a North Monterey County punt, DeDios showed off his punt return skills and ran the ball 44 yards for a touchdown, increasing the lead to 21-0. Since the Gonzales game, DeDios has scored at least one touchdown in every game.
According to online player stats, DeDios is fourth in Monterey County among wide receivers with a total of 436 yards.
DeDios and Lizardi both scored in the quarter again, increasing the lead to 35-0 at halftime. This is the Mustangs’ most points scored at the half all season.
King City only added on one more score when Martinez found Brooks Hearne for an eight-yard touchdown pass, making the final score 42-0. Martinez now has eight touchdown passes on the season.
For as good as the Mustangs were against North Monterey County, they will need to play their best on both sides of the ball this Friday when they welcome the Scotts Valley Falcons, who are tied for first in the Pacific Coast Cypress Division with King City.
The Mustangs’ No. 1 ranked defense will go head-to-head with the Falcons’ No. 7 ranked offense in the county. What can be considered the most important King City game of the decade will battle it out for first place and a spot in the playoffs.
“It’s a big one,” said King City head coach Mac Villanueva.
