Bay Area High School Prep Sports generic image
MOUNTAIN VIEW — There were doubts in the spring of 2021, when Archbishop Mitty’s sophomores were forced to play varsity or else there would be no team and they were manhandled by bigger and stronger opponents, going winless.
There were doubts in the fall of 2021, when the Monarchs endured a 1-9 season.
But after a 48-7 rout at Mountain View on Friday night, the Monarchs are being rewarded for their perseverance. Their 2-0 record so far in 2022 represents more victories than Mitty experienced in the past two high school football seasons combined.
“Taking our lumps for two seasons, it can either make you or break you,” third-year coach Danny Sullivan said. “We’re two games in, and we’re leaning toward making it. We know what’s coming down the pipeline in terms of our West Catholic League schedule, but we’re not faltering. We’re not backing down.”
Senior receiver Ben Kim, a travel-team hockey player who dropped that sport when he fell in love with football as a freshman, was one example of a player who struggled to cope with the constant disappointments of 2021.
“Last year was rough on everybody,” Sullivan said. “But I think he took it the hardest. We had some really honest conversations over the past eight months. To say he’s bought in is an understatement.”
Kim caught seven passes for 102 yards and scored from 28 and 34 yards as Mitty responded to an early Mountain View score with 48 unanswered points. Kim’s ability to slice through the defense, even on a fourth-and-11 and with Mountain View (1-1) anticipating a pass, made him a threat on nearly every play. He also had a deep 60-yard touchdown reception nullified by penalty.
“They were playing really far back, around 10-12 yards, at least on my side,” Kim said. “I talked to my coach and QB, and we felt we could play a little quick game. When they would become more aggressive, then we could go deep. That’s what we did.”
After giving up a 45-yard pass from Kevin Conway to Drake Wilkening on Mountain View’s opening drive, leading to a 16-yard scoring pass to Din Alaee, the Mitty defense cracked down.
The Monarchs immediately took away the run. Mountain View was held to minus-9 rushing yards. Of the Spartans’ 12 running plays, including sacks by Dreyton Johnson and Danny Scudero, eight lost yardage.
Given the freedom to tee off against the pass, Mitty dialed up zone blitzes among a variety of creative schemes to put the pressure on Conway. The junior completed 11 of 30 passes for 139 yards and an interception and frequently threw off-balance and while twisting his body away from onrushing defenders.
“Our approach to this game was, ‘[Be] fast and physical,’” said Monarch senior linebacker and captain Malakai Marshall. “It’s something we preach. Make the quarterback uncomfortable. And you could see that every time he dropped back to pass, he had to let it go really fast.”
Mitty quarterback Diego Ortega-Gerow completed 16 of 26 passes for 209 yards and three scores, and running back Adam Nazari did most of his damage in a clock-churning second-half with 149 yards on 12 carries.
Despite the past losses, the trust is now there and the team is on board, Sullivan said. And Kim, for one, is seeing the doubts turn to confidence.
“It was crazy what all of us went through, every single day,” Kim said. “But in the gym and on the field, we grinded. We believed. We put our hearts and souls into each other. I definitely think we’re a dark horse. Teams have got to be prepared.”
Originally published at David Kiefer