CVC defeats the Exeter Monarchs in a 43-7 thrashing on the opening of the Monarchs’ newly renovated stadium
By Paul Myers @PaulM_SGN
EXETER – The Monarchs (5-3, 1-2) have won five games on the season which means they have assured themselves a division IV playoff spot this November. But if they want to have a chance at a Valley title they will have to play much better against fellow division IV foes like the Central Valley Christian Cavalier (8-0; 3-0).
For Exeter, Friday night’s matchup was an opportunity to shine under the brand new lights of their brand new turf field. And up until Friday night they have played all of their 2017 matchups on the road. Unfortunately, on the night of their first true home game at the newly renovated Monarch Stadium, the team came out flat, and CVC went full throttle running up the score 43-7 by the end of the game. Of course, Exeter’s three second half turnovers did little to help them in a second half push.
“When you turn the ball over that many times you don’t deserve the win the game,” said Exeter head coach Keirsten Lamb.
While the final was lopsided, the majority of the first half was a back-and-forth matchup. The Monarch defense roared on CVC’s first drive of the game and forced the Cavaliers to punt. Then Exeter’s Isaiah Urban punished the Cavaliers run defense on a series of traps and sweeps. While the Cavaliers bent, they didn’t break and held Exeter out of the end zone from the 16 yard line. Unfortunately, it was Exeter’s own doing that kept them off the scoreboard when a bad snap thwarted their own field goal attempt.
CVC took over the ball on downs and went to work on their ground game. By the time they reached midfield they had the Monarchs reeling. CVC running back Jaalen Rening gashed the Exeter defense for a 40 yard gain that could have ended with a touchdown if it wasn’t for a Monarch safety bringing him down at the 4 yard line.
Exeter’s defense held on as long as they could while being backed up to their own goal line, but CVC’s Spencer Morris managed to capitalize on a fourth and goal from the 1 yard line when he rushed up the middle for the game’s first score.
By the beginning of the second quarter the Monarchs had the ball at the 50. After gaining a first down, Exeter’s quarterback Jose Molina stepped back and let it fly for the Monarchs’ first pass of the game. Molina connected with Christian Genetti who was running a fade up the near sideline. Once the ball fell in his hands, Genetti let his speed do the rest as he outran CVC’s cornerback on his way to the end zone. The score tied it up 7-7 with 11:00 minutes left in the first half. Unfortunately for Exeter, that would be their last score of the game.
The Cavaliers went on a scoring bonanza after that. With four minutes left in the half CVC’s Rening rushed for a touchdown from the half yard line making the score 14-7. On the ensuing kickoff an early whistle stole a fumble recovery away from the Cavaliers, but they would get it back when Genetti fumbled the ball away on their own side of the field. CVC quickly turned that turnover into a touchdown making the score 20-7 with 2:12 on the clock. When Exeter got the ball back they couldn’t overcome the strength of the CVC defense, and had to punt it away. Despite being backed up in their territory, CVC gashed the Monarch defense for huge yardage putting them at the Exeter 28 yard line. On the very next play, Cavalier quarterback Jj Lino launched the ball to wide receiver Tanner Rocha who went up high to snatch it out of the air. Rocha managed to outrun the rest of the defense for the Cavaliers’ third second quarter touchdown making the half time score 26-7.
The Monarchs worked hard to get back in the game but sparks of momentum were quickly extinguished with morale crushing turnovers. Coach Lamb noted that if his team is going to make a run in the playoffs against teams like CVC and Golden West, they are going to have to play better.
“We have spurts of greatness at times but we just have to sting those things together,” Lamb said.
Exeter’s next game will be against the Selma Bears (6-2) in Selma. The Bears should be coming in with some confidence after defeating the Immanuel Eagles last Friday, 31-14. The game is slated for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27.
