SAN JOSE – There’s a new star duo at Archbishop Mitty, and they shined once again in a non-league win over Palo Alto.
For the final non-league game, against the Vikings, sophomore Monarch quarterback Shamir Bey, and his favorite wideout, junior Joseph Vaughn, did their work. The pair connected on three separate occasions in the first half for scores, en route to a 42-6 Monarch victory. The win gives the Monarchs a 2-1 record going into league play, while the Vikings fall to 0-3.
The three touchdowns from Bey to Vaughn came on yardage of 9, 20, and 50 in an exponential growth fashion. Bey, who was coming off an impressive rushing game last week at Menlo-Atherton, put up solid stats in the passing game. He went 9 of 19 for 184 yards and three touchdowns – all of which were to Vaughn, who caught four passes for 114 yards.
“We did a lot of scouting on [Paly’s] defense, and Shamir knew they’d be watching the run,” said Vaughn after the win. “We were really looking to air ball out, and it just happened that I was open and [Bey] was able to get it to me.”
Mitty’s offense was also highlighted by solid rushing performances from two running backs, junior Chaz Saenz and sophomore James Thomas. Saenz had 15 carries for 107 yards and one touchdown, while Thomas tacked on two other rushing scores. Saenz, similar to Vaughn, had the ability last year to be a key starter at a young age. Their varsity experience has allowed them to flourish as their impact on the field continues to progress.
“Every day we get better,” said Saenz. “Our game plan was to just shove it down their throats, shake-n-bake, and run hard.”
On the other hand, the visiting Vikings had trouble moving the ball throughout the entire game. Jackson Chryst, Paly’s junior quarterback, struggled to complete most of his passes in the first half. He was able find his targets later on in final two quarters, but by then it was far too late.
“[Chryst] was getting beat up,” said Vikings coach Danny Sullivan. “We gotta protect him, he’s our guy. When he’s confident out there, he can make any throw.”
Chryst finished 8 of 16 for 71 yards and one touchdown, but probably could have done more damage if he spent less time trying to escape Mitty’s defensive line. In fact, the Monarchs stifled Paly’s offense all around, leaving the Vikings without a first down for most of their drives. The leading rusher for Paly was junior Aiden Chang, who ran for 65 total yards on 18 carries. The largest gain of the night for the Vikings was a 15-yard rush on their final drive from third-string back Manny Soto, but by then they had already waived the white flag.
“We have a lot of work to do on offense,” said Sullivan. “The biggest problem for us is we’re not communicating.”
The game was in Mitty’s hands almost from the first drive. Yet, tense vibes got to young Bey’s mind, who fumbled and lost a snap nearing the red zone to stop Mitty’s chances from scoring right off the bat. Bey would fumble twice more in the game, but the Monarchs, unlike the first mistake, recovered both.
“He’s 15 years old,” said Mitty coach Keith Burns. “They're challenges when you’re young, but he’s wickedly talented.”
Two drives later, the first of three consecutive Bey-to-Vaughn scores would start the avalanche. The first was a 9-yard snag off a Bey scramble. Bey spent a few seconds dipping and cutting away from the Viking defensive line, before heaving up an errant pass that found its way into Vaughn’s hands. The 20-yard score was a quality catch-and-run by Vaughn, who made a few key cuts and juke to rumble his way into the endzone. The final was a 50-yard bomb down the left sideline, which was almost perfectly floated in by Bey right into an open Vaughn’s arms.
“We work hard in practice, and off their field we’re good friends, which definitely helps,” said Vaughn on his connection with Bey.
The second half was almost a blur, highlighted by an impressive 31-yard run by Thomas. It also featured Paly’s only touchdown (and points) of the game, a 7-yard floater by Chryst to tight end Bryant Jefferson. The Monarchs closed out the game with two more rushing scores, one each from Thomas and Saenz. With the final score of 42-6, the Monarchs put on a display of dominance on both sides of the ball, leaving the visiting Vikings with a disappointing finish to preseason play.
The Vikings will try to get a spark going as they will be hosting Aragon (2-0) to open up De Anza league play next Friday night.
The Monarchs look to keep their two-game winning streak alive as they get a week of rest to prepare for a classic WCAL showdown at San Jose City College against Bellarmine (2-1) on September 22.
“We gotta to take care of ourselves right now, that’s the most important thing,” said Coach Burns on the upcoming match-up. “Our league is the best league with the best teams, but before we worry about anyone else we have to worry about ourselves.”
