So much for playoff jitters.
St. Monica Prep (9-2) dropped the hammer early on Friday night, scoring 20 unanswered points in the first quarter to blitz visiting Los Altos 33–13 in a CIF-SS Division 7 opening-round showcase at Corsair Field.
Star quarterback Bradley Cassier took control from the first snap, forcing the high-flying Conquerors (9–2) into panic mode before the fans had even settled into their seats.
> Read The Sun’s exclusive interview with Cassier here.
Mariners Strike Early
St. Monica opened the scoring just 36 seconds into the contest, with Cassier finding the end zone at the 11:24 mark. A mishandled snap on the extra-point attempt left the Mariners ahead 6–0.
The offense continued to roll throughout the opening quarter.
Cassier connected with senior Christopher Barnes on a 20-yard completion as the Mariners moved the ball efficiently through the air. The New Mexico-bound passer also found Anthony Mason for a spectacular 50-yard touchdown strike, helping St. Monica build a 20–0 advantage by the end of the first quarter.
The early offensive explosion established the game’s tempo, forcing Los Altos to play from behind against an increasingly confident Mariners defense.
Defense Preserves the Advantage
While the first quarter belonged to St. Monica’s offense, the second became a defensive battle.
Los Altos tightened its coverage and generated pressure on Cassier, recording a fourth-down stop after penalties erased two potential St. Monica scoring opportunities. The Conquerors also sacked Cassier late in the half.
But the Mariners answered with defensive plays of their own.
Senior Evan Benet intercepted a Los Altos pass attempt, shutting down a potential momentum shift. With just 14 seconds remaining before halftime, #3 added another interception to preserve the shutout.
Cassier even contributed on special teams, delivering a 40-yard punt late in the second quarter.
The Mariners entered halftime with a 20–0 advantage.
Los Altos Responds After Halftime
The Conquerors emerged from the locker room with renewed energy.
Running back Evan Rojas helped ignite the Los Altos offense with a 28-yard run into St. Monica territory. Facing fourth-and-six at the Mariners’ 36-yard line, Los Altos completed an 18-yard pass to senior Alonzo Guerrero to keep the drive alive.
Rojas eventually finished the possession with a three-yard touchdown run at the 8:38 mark of the third quarter. The successful extra point trimmed St. Monica’s lead to 20–7.
For a brief stretch, the Conquerors looked poised to make things interesting.
But St. Monica responded.
A roughing-the-passer penalty against Los Altos helped extend the Mariners’ next possession, and Cassier connected with Dequan Carter for another touchdown. Although the extra-point attempt failed, St. Monica had restored its 19-point advantage, leading 26–7 with 6:49 remaining in the third quarter.
Los Altos mounted another promising drive, moving into the red zone behind a 15-yard gain from Nathaniel Sanchez. But the Mariners’ defense delivered one of the game’s most important stops, recovering a fumble at their own five-yard line to extinguish the scoring threat.
Cassier quickly flipped field position with a 35-yard completion to Barnes, demonstrating the explosive passing ability that had defined St. Monica’s opening quarter.
Mason Helps Put the Game Away
Entering the fourth quarter with a 26–7 advantage, St. Monica shifted its focus from explosive plays to controlling possession and managing the clock.
The deliberate approach paid off.
Mason capped a sustained drive with a five-yard touchdown run at the 8:40 mark. The successful extra point extended the Mariners’ lead to 33–7.
Mason’s second touchdown of the evening complemented his earlier 50-yard scoring reception, highlighting the versatility of St. Monica’s offensive attack.
The Mariners’ defense continued applying pressure, recording another quarterback sack as the clock wound down.
Los Altos added a late highlight when Sanchez broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run in the final seconds. The extra point brought the score to 33–14, but the outcome was already decided.
Cassier took the final knee to close out the victory.
Moving Forward
For St. Monica Prep, the first-round victory demonstrated more than offensive firepower.
The Mariners showed an ability to build an early lead, withstand a second-half response, capitalize on defensive takeaways, and control the clock when protecting an advantage.
Cassier’s leadership and versatility, Mason’s two-touchdown performance, and a defense that repeatedly disrupted Los Altos’ scoring opportunities combined to deliver a convincing postseason opening statement.
The Mariners advance to face Mid-Cities champion Paramount Pirates (10-1) next Friday at Corsair Field.
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Photo & video: 3D Athletics Media
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