Mount Miguel High School football coach Verlain Betofe called it “big-boy football.”
“That was a dogfight,” Betofe said after his No. 8-ranked Matadors went on the road and upset No, 7 San Marcos 28-27 in the season opener. “San Marcos runs a great program. They were in the Division 1 championship game last season because they’re good.”
The game was every bit as close as the score.
Trailing 28-21, San Marcos took possession at the Mount Miguel 46 with 1:06 to play. A 12-yard pass from Kreet Makihele to Lucas Swillens moved the ball to the 34 and a pass-interference penalty moved it to the 19.
On the next play, Makihele hit Ezekiel McIntyre for a score, making it 28-27 with 44 seconds to play.
San Marcos coach Tom Carroll shunned a tying kick, going for a go-ahead 2-point PAT. But Mount Miguel forced Makihele out of the pocket and his hurried throw into the left corner sailed wide.
“We went for the win,” Carroll said. “We had to go for the win.”
Mount Miguel appeared to have the game put away when Tre Jefferson intercepted a Makihele pass with 2:17 to play.
“I just read my keys,” Jefferson said. “My man turned inside, I read it and got the ball.
“We practiced against that. And practice makes perfect.”
But the Matadors couldn’t move the ball and on fourth down at their 47, the snap sailed wide of punter Clint Eddleman.
Eddleman scooped up the ball at the 17, escaped a host of tacklers and got a punt off on the run.
The play lost one yard, but could have been much worse.
Mount Miguel scored first, hitting San Marcos with a big play when left-handed quarterback Jeremiah Loper found freshman Tamarrion Wiliams behind the defense for a 61-yard TD strike. San Marcos drew even, driving 79 yards on 12 plays with Zamar Reese going the final 3 yards.
After an exchange of punts, Mount Miguel hit the Knights with another big one. This time, Loper faked a run, then flipped the ball to sophomore Khalonie Jordan, who sped down the far sideline for a 62-yard score.
San Marcos fumbled away the ensuing kickoff with Titus Tauanuu recovering at the San Marcos 38.
Six plays later, Jeremiah Holliday scored from 3 yards out to give Mount Miguel a 21-7 lead.
San Marcos lost a chance to score when on the Mount Miguel 17, Jefferson tipped a Kreet Makihele pass and Jordan Fuga intercepted. San Marcos got back in the game, scoring on the opening drive of the second half with Reese scoring on a 5-yard run.
Jayden Hunter rushed 20 times for 81 yards for Mount Miguel as the Matadors rushed for 128 yards.
Loper completed 9 of 23 for 219 yards and a pair of TDs. He also scored on a 10-yard run. Zamar Reese rushed 16 times for 99 yards for San Marcos, which had 147 rushing yards.Makihele completed 11 of 21 for 155 yards, but was intercepted three times.
Mount Miguel 28, San Marcos 27
Mount Miguel 7 14 0 7 -28
San Marcos 0 7 7 13 – 27
MM — Williams 61 pass from Loper (Ettleman kick)
SM — Reese 3 run (Hackett kick)
MM — Jordan 62 pass from Loper (Ettleman kick)
MM — Holliday 3 run (Ettleman kick)
SM — Reese 18 run Hackett kick)
SM — Swillens 1 pass from Makihele (Hackett kick)
MM — Loper 10 run (Ettleman kick)
SM — McIntyre 19 pass from Makihele (pass failed)
Originally Published: August 22, 2025 at 11:27 PM PDT