MONTALVO SCORED 5 TDS AS JUNIOR HIGH BEARCATS COMPLETE 10-0 SEASON

Callen Montalvo finished his junior high career with a career night, scoring five touchdowns in a 34-6 win at Alumni Field in Charleston as the Junior High Bearcats completed a perfect 10-0 season to win the Conference 3A-1 title.

Montalvo ran seven times for 127 yards with four touchdowns and also took a lateral pitch from his quarterback, Drake Brackney, but did so during an interception return, and ran 52 yards for a fifth touchdown.

That one was, obviously, not planned. Montalvo reported on the sideline as the clock wound down on the conference title season that he was yelling “I got you” to Brackney as he returned the interception and was alert when the ball was lofted his way in stride.

But first the Bearcats spotted the Tigers a 6-0 lead. That was news in itself as it was the first conference opponent to have a lead against the Bearcats and the first since September 5.

Charleston, who is assured of at least a tie for second in the league, took advantage of a Bearcat fumble, going 48 yards in six plays, scoring after a bobbled snap.

Montalvo and the Bearcats answered on their next possession. Montalvo got a modest 2 yards on his first carry and Hayden Daniel got 42 on a third-and-6.

Sadler Miller got 13 on another third down and Montalvo scored from the 1 to tie it at 6-6 with 7:37 left in the first half.

An Ayden Rhinehart sack led to a Tiger punt to get the ball back and the Bearcats took the lead two plays later as Montalvo went 55 yards for a touchdown and a 12-6 lead.

Another Tiger punt left the Bearcats 80 yards away from the end zone with an even three minutes on the second quarter clock.

Daniel, who had 80 yards on five carries, got 20 to get the ball to the 47 and after the Bearcats recovered their own fumble, Montalvo went 52 yards for his third touchdown.

Daniel ran for the conversion and it was 20-6.

Montalvo returned the second half opening kickoff 18 yards and the Bearcats appeared to be on their way to putting the game away until another fumbled exchange gave Charleston life.

The Tigers would, however, have to punt and the Bearcats spent the rest of the quarter moving to the Tiger 9 yard-line.

Montalvo scored his fourth touchdown on the first play of the final quarter and Daniel again ran for the 2-point conversion and it was 28-6 with 7:54 to play.

Charleston then began to move with an urgency, doing so with moderate success. After reaching the Bearcat 27 a pass was snared by Brackeny at the 18, as he made his way back toward the opposite end of the stadium, Montalvo trailed him.

As Brackney was leveled at the 48 he pitched the ball to Montalvo who completed the 82-yard return and it was 34-6.