PLAINVIEW- Defensive intensity was on display Friday night in a season-opener that marked the head coaching debuts for Monterey’s Todd Pearson and Plainview’s Marcos Hinojos.

Although both defenses controlled most of the game, Sam Teague and the Monterey rushing attack squeaked out just enough momentum to catapult the Plainsmen to a 14-6 victory at Greg Sherwood Memorial Stadium.

Monterey held the Bulldogs to just 227 yards off total offense, 55 of which came on a Jason Miller-to-Prenston Thomas touchdown pass with only 1:23 remaining in the game.

“I think the defense really kept us in the football game,” Pearson said. “They stopped Plainview time and time again and gave our offense a chance to do something.”

Early on, though, it was the Plainview offense that seemed to have the most continuity. The Bulldogs moved into Monterey territory on each of their first three possessions, but each time the Plainsmen defense found a way to shut down the surge and force a punt.

Monterey finally broke through and opened the scoring when Sam Teague capped off a 7-play, 80-yard drive with a 13-yard scoring run with 2:48 left in the first half. Prior to that drive, the Bulldog defense had held Monterey to just one first down in three possessions.

The Plainsmen garnered two Plainview turnovers right after the Teague score, but were not able to convert either into points. Ashton Cerka intercepted Miller just inside Monterey territory with 2:07 left in the half. Yet, a pair of Teague incompletions were sandwiched around a clipping penalty and forced the Plainsmen to punt. On the next play, Plainview’s Jonathon Garza fumbled the ball back to Monterey with 1:00 left. The Plainsmen were unable to move the ball and were left with no points when Phillip Armendariz’ 45-yard field goal attempt was blocked.

Both teams continued to struggle offensively in the second half. Monterey nearly took a two-score lead late in the third quarter after the Plainsmen defense had forced Plainview to punt from inside their own end zone and Tyler Pearson retured the 37-yard kick to the Plainview 20. Thomas Walker rushed for 8 yards and again for 12 before he had the ball stripped at the goal line and it rolled through the end zone for a touchback.

Plainview’s best chance to score came midway through the fourth quarter when they drove 40 yards in 10 plays to the Monterey 44. But a fake punt attempt on fourth-and-5 with failed when Chance Aven gained only three yards and the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs.

Four plays later, Teague found the end zone for the second time when he sprinted up the middle for a 35-yard score.

“I would say that it was real pretty for us tonight, but we got the job done,” said Teague, who finished with 113 rushing yards. “I think we are going to be good once we get the kinks worked out.

Jackson scored on a nifty 55-yard catch-and-run from Miller six plays into the next drive to finally get Plainview on the board, but an onside-kick attempt was recovered by Monterey’s Adrian Guzman to seal the win for Monterey.

MONTEREY 14, PLAINVIEW 6

Monterey 0 7 0 7 – 14

Plainview 0 0 0 6 – 6

Second Quarter

MONTEREY- Sam Teague 13 run (Phillip Armendarez kick), 2:48

Fourth Quarter

MONTEREY- Teague 35 run (Armendarez kick), 3:00

PLAINVIEW- Marquis Jackson 55 pass from Jason Miller (pass failed), 1:23

TEAM STATISTICS

MON PLA

First downs 10 15

Rushes-yards 36-212 29-67

Passing yards 35 160

Comp.-att.-int. 2-12-0 20-28-2

Punts-avg. 6-33.6 6-32.3

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Penalties-yards 6-51 7-45

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Monterey, Sam Teague 15-113, Thomas Walker 17-94, Gerard Clay 1-5, Miles Kelly 1-1, Demetri Gambles 1-0, Troy Nicholson 1-(-1): Plainview, Jonathon Garza 12-31, Prenston Thomas 5-14, Chance Aven 5-12, Kevin Garza 1-10, Roy Smith 1-4, Jason Miller 5-(-4).

PASSING: Monterey, Teague 1-9-0 22, Nicholson 1-3-0 13: Plainview, Miller 20-28-2 160.

RECEIVING: Monterey, Nicholson 1-22, Everson 1-13: Plainview, Marquis Jackson 10-98, Aven 4-32, Thomas 1-19, Garza 1-10, Keaton Hatch 1-2.

Monterey

Plainview