View Full Gallery from Kern Valley at Mira Monte, Photos by Nick Ellis
BY VINCENT PEREZ
Shamar Oliver was all smiles after.
Mira Monte High’s premiere running back has every reason to be happy – he just ran the ball 35 times for 305 yards and scored a touchdown in the 32-29 Lions’ (1-3) victory over the visiting Kern Valley Broncs (1-3) on Friday, Sept. 20. Oliver earned the Kern High Network Player of the Game in the Game of the Week.
“I owe my teammates the greatest gratitude. I would not have been able to rush for 305 yards without their help,” said Oliver. “My praise goes to the offense and defense did one hell of a
job.” The running back has more than just his teammates to thank for his performance on Mira Monte’s homecoming night.
Oliver said he and his late, older brother, Zacharias made a promise each other: To stick with football, go to college and play in the NFL.
“I’m keeping my promise to him,” said Oliver. Zacharias passed away in December 2016 at the young age of 19. Oliver keeps Zacharias in his mind on and off the field.
The Broncs scored first in the second quarter on a quarterback pass from junior Kaden Preston to sophomore Airian Navin. The Broncs held a slim 7-6 lead and tried to grab three more by a PAT.
Influenced by a missed PAT from the Broncs, the Lions, with six minutes left in the half, marched down the field, scoring on an Adrian Mercado running touchdown. The Lions’ senior quarterback threw 4-for-8, on one touchdown, one interception, totaled 68 yards passing and rushed for 22 yards. Oliver ran the ball an impressive 59 yards on six carries to the Lions’ first points. But he did not grab the victory alone.
On their next drive, Lions’ senior running back/linebacker Jaulynne Riggens blew open the Broncs’ defense on a 50-yard dash, putting the Lions in scoring position on Kern Valley’s 35. Riggens scored a rushing touchdown and racked up five tackles on defense.
With about a minute left in the first half, Mercado heaved a 14-yard rainbow pass across left field to Brown. There was enough hang time that seemed to slow down time. Brown made a leaping catch behind the cornerback’s arms to score Mira Monte’s first lead.
Now holding a 12-7 lead, Mira Monte head coach Christian Johnson called the play to go for two and the risk paid off. Lions’ senior tight end, Anthony Chacon caught the carefully placed ball and Mira Monte led 14-7. The Lions scored again on an Oliver rushing touchdown immediately after, when Lions’ junior cornerback Joe Galindo recovered a fumble on the Broncs’ receiving drive. Mira Monte led 20-7 at half.
Yet, the Broncs would not go down without a fight. Preston punched in a three-yard run in the third, but the Broncs still trailed 26-14.
Oliver put away his third touchdown on the Broncs with less than two minutes before the fourth on a three-yard run himself. The Lions led 32-14 going into the fourth and the Broncs saw it as a welcome challenge.
Preston, with a little less than five minutes in the game, ran 89 yards to the Lions’ 1-yard line, nearly missing a spectacular touchdown. Junior running back, Vincent Pearman scored on the next play, which reduced the Lions’ lead, 32-21.
With a minute left in the game, Preston threw a dart-like pass to senior receiver Davin Lee, and Preston ran in a 2-point conversion, reducing the Lions’ lead again, 32-29.
The last hope for any comeback story hinged on a Broncs onside recovery and Mira Monte’s Alfredo Reyes rescued the ball for the second time on an onside, ending any come-from-behind Kern Valley upset.
Johnson knew his players earned the win.
“Our kids have had some heart-breaking losses [the first weeks of the season] but they came out this week and battled,” he said. Last week, Arvin (2-2) defeated Mira Monte 39-33 in overtime.
Next, the Lions will play on the road at Morro Bay High School (2-2), its last nonconference game next Friday, Sept. 26. The Broncs face Strathmore Union (4-0, 1-0) at home on the same day.
Photos by Nick Ellis
