Nogales Clinches Montview League Title with Dominant Win

In a commanding performance, Nogales High School secured the Montview League title with a decisive 29-0 victory over Ontario on October 26, 2023. This win marks the first league championship for the Nobles since 2018 and their first winning season since 2017.

Nobles head coach Matt Villasenor expressed pride in his team’s achievement, stating, “Bringing the title back to Nogales says a lot about the kids, the coaching staff, and everyone else who has put so much work into the program.” The victory also qualifies the Nobles for the playoffs for the second consecutive year, a feat not accomplished since 2017 and 2018.

As playoff pairings are set to be announced by the CIF Southern Section on Sunday, the Nobles are aiming for a home game. They are currently projected to compete in Division 13, although this may change based on their final ranking in the HSratings computer system.

The Nobles wasted no time in establishing control over the game. Senior quarterback Santino Garcia opened the scoring with a 75-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Isaac Guzman just 11:16 into the first quarter. Villasenor noted, “We kind of take what they give us. This is senior night tonight, so we told the kids to go out there and play hard and have fun.”

Garcia had an impressive outing, completing 8 of 10 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. The Nobles capitalized on a miscue by the Jaguars early in the game, scoring a safety that gave them a quick 9-0 lead. Senior Orlando Zamora then extended the lead with a 16-yard touchdown run as part of a robust 59-yard scoring drive. Zamora finished the night with 109 yards on 9 carries and two touchdowns.

An unexpected delay occurred during the game when the stadium lights went out following the Nobles’ extra point attempt. Zamora humorously remarked, “Some people were saying that we turned the lights out after we scored.” After a 45-minute interruption, the lights were restored, allowing Noah Lopez to kick the extra point, pushing the score to 16-0.

Both coaching staffs agreed to run the clock for the remainder of the game to minimize injury risk. Ontario’s head coach Jeremiah Budnovich commented on the situation, stating, “We wanted to get out of here with no injuries and be ready for the playoffs next week.”

The Nobles continued their offensive dominance, with Nathan Estrada returning a punt 43 yards to set up another scoring opportunity. Fabian Rangel capped the game with a 14-yard touchdown run, solidifying the Nobles’ victory.

This season has been a turnaround for the Jaguars, who, under Budnovich’s leadership, have improved significantly from last year’s 2-8 record, achieving their first winning season since 2008. Despite the loss, sophomore quarterback Trevor Beltran showed promise, but the Nobles’ defense, led by Steven Aguilar and Christian Flores, held the Jaguars in check throughout the game.

As both teams prepare for the upcoming playoffs, the excitement surrounding Nogales’ victory reflects their hard work and determination, setting the stage for a promising postseason.