The Monterey Trail Mustangs win the Metro Conference Championship undefeated after beating McClatchy Oct. 26 and are headed to the Division I playoffs.

With an opportunity to secure an undefeated regular season record as well as a legitimate shot at a first round bye in the upcoming CIF Sac Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, the Monterey Trail Mustangs didn’t want to leave anything to chance.

Playing like a team in control of their own destiny, the Mustangs came away with a 55-0 victory against McClatchy inside Hughes Stadium at Sacramento City College on Friday, in a game that was never really in doubt for the team in white and green.

The Mustangs (10-0 overall, 5-0 Metro League) asserted themselves quickly in the contest and displayed why they are undefeated. The Mustangs scored on their first two possessions as senior running back Viktor Oliver scored on the ground from 47 yards out on their first drive, with senior quarterback Zach Larrier following that up with a 32-yard scoring strike to senior Andre Crump, who took a short slant the distance. Just like that, the Mustangs led 14-0 halfway through the first quarter.

With McClatchy (2-8 overall, 1-4 Metro League) unable to get anything going offensively, things got worse in the second quarter for the Lions as Monterey Trail added three more scores before halftime. Larrier connected on a pair of 20-yard scores to senior wide receiver Eli Mirza, and sophomore tailback Prophet Brown scored on a 47-yard scamper as the Mustangs rolled into the half with a comfortable 35-0 lead.

With mostly underclassmen playing in the second half, Monterey Trail added another 20 points en route to the victory.

Larrier, who only played the first half of the game, went 6-of-11 passing for 100 yards and three touchdowns. The Mustangs’ ground game had several contributors on the night, with senior running back Jehiel Budgett leading the way with five carries for 84 yards and a score. Junior Caleb Ramseur added six carries for 80 yards and a touchdown of his own, and Brown tallied two carries for 60 yards and his aforementioned score in the first half.

“We did a great job,” Monterey Trail head coach TJ Ewing said afterward. “I thought the kids supported each other and were positive. A lot of kids got playing time, so we got to see what some of the other kids can do. I thought our guys really stayed with it. But I’m more proud of our practices and how we’ve practiced throughout the weeks. We practice so hard against each other, that’s what I’m more proud of.”

For Larrier, one of the leaders of the standout players and leaders on the team, the undefeated season is a great accomplishment.

“It feels great,” he said. “That was our goal from the beginning, so we just came out here and we accomplished it. I’m proud of us, I know we’re proud of each other, and now we’re getting ready to grind for the playoffs.”

Over the weekend the CIF released their playoff brackets, and the Mustangs’ 10-0 mark did in fact earn them a first round bye as well as the number two seed. This is the first year that the CIF has implemented bye weeks in the postseason, and Ewing knows it will be beneficial for his team. “It’s huge,” Ewing said. “It shows how hard those kids worked in order to do that.”

Monterey Trail will not play again until Friday, Nov. 9. Their opponent will be determined after the opening round games have concluded.

Nevertheless, the players know what will be at stake when they take to the field again, and the leaders on the team will make sure they are prepared.

“We’re going to make sure everybody makes it to watch film on time, and go 100 percent at practice,” Larrier said of how he and his teammates are approaching the postseason. “That’s where we really learn and get better. I’m going to make sure I go 100 percent and so is everyone else, so we’re all clicking on full cylinders.”

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