High School Showcase: T.J. Ewing Previews Monterey Trail

Monterey Trail HC T.J. Ewing joins the High School Showcase to discuss the Mustangs' culture, tough schedule and sophomore Nigel Flowers.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Aug 26, 2026, 5:37 PM Updated: 6:35 pm

Follow on Google News

The sun sets behind the goal post. High School Football, the Exeter Eagles vs the Gov. Mifflin Mustangs in Shillington Friday night September 22, 2017. Gov. Mifflin won 28-14. Photo by Ben Hasty (Photo By Ryan McFadden/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)

(Photo By Ryan McFadden/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)

High school football season is nearly here, bringing Friday night games back to schools all throughout the Sacramento region. With plenty of potential future NFL and collegiate talent, there’s plenty to watch locally.

Sactown Sports is expanding its coverage of the local high school football scene with the ‘Sactown Sports High School Showcase’, a weekly feature highlighting some of the top teams, players and matchups from around the area. Each week, The Drive Guys with Whitey Gleason and Allen Stiles will be joined by a reporter, coach or another voice connected to the local football scene to get the latest insight.

For the latest edition of the High School Showcase, The Drive Guys were joined by longtime Monterey Trail head football coach T.J. Ewing, who discussed the Mustangs’ approach to player development, the consistency the program has established and some of the players who could make an impact this season.

With another season arriving, one of Ewing’s biggest early priorities is figuring out exactly where everyone fits.

“Personnel, getting the right guys in the right spots and then figuring that out,” Ewing said when asked what comes to mind entering the first week of the season.

Ewing went on to explain that the program’s support allows his staff to work with players for much of the year and to continually evaluate their progress. That can be especially valuable with multi-sport athletes.

Ewing has been at Monterey Trail since the school opened, and several others around the program have remained there for long periods.

With several established schools nearby, Ewing remembered Monterey Trail entering a community where other programs had already been established.

Those early challenges helped create relationships that have lasted throughout Monterey Trail’s rise. “When you go through something hard, you have more of a tie with the person you’re going through,” Ewing said.

After scrimmaging Manteca, the Monterey Trail Mustangs open their regular season Friday on the road against Pittsburg.

Ewing wants to learn where his players stack up, identify areas for improvement, and determine what he and his staff may need to adjust moving forward.

“We’re going to find out real quick where we stand,” Ewing said of the opener.

In the early days, several players have caught Ewing’s attention, and most of them are returning faces.

He praised Senior quarterback Viliami Kefu for his poise and leadership. Junior Ethan Guerrero gives the Mustangs another versatile option as a multi-position player who can also get behind center.

Familiar with the program, sophomore running back Nigel Flowers received varsity opportunities as a freshman last season and rushed for nearly 600 yards in eight games. He should get even more opportunity this season.

Flowers is the fourth brother from his family to come through the Monterey Trail program, giving Ewing an opportunity to watch him grow up around Mustangs football before eventually taking the field himself.

The talent quickly stood out. “He’s special,” Ewing said. “He’s super special.”

Flowers is still in the early stages of his high school career, and Coach Ewing still has plenty to learn about its entire roster. Monterey Trail opens its season Friday, Aug. 28, at Pittsburg.

Listen to and watch Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys with Kevin “Whitey” Gleason and Allen Stiles, airing weekdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. PT on Sactown Sports.