SPRING VALLEY – Maurice Payne knows pain. On the evening of Sept. 19, as Payne was backing away from center and reaching for a fumbled snap, a Santa Fe Christian defensive lineman crashed hard into Payne's right arm, causing a dislocated elbow to the junior quarterback from Monte Vista.

Fast forward to last night – after what Payne described as a “miracle rehab” – there was Payne putting the hurt on Mount Miguel and taking a 35-14 Grossmont South League victory at Monte Vista.

Payne only threw six passes, but he completed four for 130 yards, including a pivotal 57-yard touchdown to Jerrad Scott. Even more devastating was Payne's career-high three touchdown rushes as the Monarchs avenged a similar game last year and beat Mount Miguel for the first time in four years.

“It's amazing he's able to play at all,” Monarchs coach Page Culver said. “And his mechanics are getting better and better every day.”

The win positions Monte Vista (4-4, 1-2) for a shot at the Division III playoffs with games remaining against Granite Hills and Helix. Mount Miguel (3-5, 1-2) will need to win its final games against Valhalla and Steele Canyon, but the Matadors will be hard-pressed if they make as many mistakes as they did last night.

Monte Vista had five interceptions by five players – Scott, Gilbert Gates, Kenneth Tribble, Ryan White and Nick Williams – plus a fumble recovery by Tribble and a 92-yard punt return by Scott. The win came despite just eight first downs and by being outgained 253 yards to 217.

“It was a terrible performance,” Mount Miguel coach Tom Karlo said. “We had too many turnovers. We killed ourselves.”

The first half was fairly even in yards – Monte Vista 83, Mount Miguel 77 – but it was the Monarchs taking advantage of the big plays on defense and special teams that gave them a 21-0 cushion.

Tribble set up two 1-yard touchdown plunges by Payne, intercepting a pass and returning it 11 yards to the 33 late in the first quarter, and then pouncing on a dropped punt return at the 1-yard line late in the second quarter. In between, Scott took a punt return 92 yards into the end zone.

Mount Miguel charged back with a 3-yard TD run by Derall Hunter and a 22-yard fumble return by Anthony Leblanc, but Payne's long TD pass to Scott gave the Monarchs a 28-14 lead with 7:21 to play. Payne reeled off his third TD with 1:13 left.

Hunter, the Grossmont Conference rushing leader, finished with 146 yards on 23 carries.

Mount Miguel opened the game with a successful onside kick recovery by Antonio Soto, but Bates made an interception five plays later.