Since 2013, Pajaro Valley has not finished with a winning percentage of .500 or better. However, the Grizzlies’ chances of getting a winning record this fall will be as solid as ever in a league that features six other teams with losing records from last season.
Pajaro Valley will return to the Pacific Coast Athletic League to square off against familiar foes Greenfield, Harbor, Marina and Stevenson, which is the only returning team to post a winning record in league play.
The Grizzlies will also face Pacific Grove and St. Francis, both newcomers to the PCAL-Santa Lucia.
Pajaro Valley began last season with three-straight losses before going to San Jose for a big win against Lynbrook.
But the Grizzlies went on another losing streak, going winless during the first two weeks of PCAL-Santa Lucia division play. They managed to defeat Harbor and lost the final three games of the season, but put up a fighting effort every single time.
Pajaro Valley High has 1,406 students enrolled and the roster size is down from last year with 23 players signed up to play this season.
Kevin Cordova will come into his third season as the head coach and will lead the Grizzlies into another season of competing within the PCAL-Santa Lucia division.
Here’s a breakdown of this year’s Pajaro Valley football team:
- Last year’s record: 3-7
- Last year’s league record: 1-5 (sixth in Pacific Coast Athletic League Santa Lucia division)
- Last year’s MaxPreps state ranking: 986th
- Coach: Kevin Cordova
- Key losses: Russel Pablo played several positions for the Grizzlies and split time with Carlos Herandez at running back…Marcos Aguilar was a strong nose guard on defense and tough interior lineman on offense who played three years on the varsity squad…Manuel Murillo was an all-league first team defensive lineman that disrupted the action up front and was also their big tight end on the offensive side…Josue Gutierrez was an all-league second team linebacker that racked up a good number of tackles last season…Aaron Olivares was another big contributor on the offensive line. The All-PCAL-Santa Lucia second team selection will be tough to replace.
- Key possible returners: Carlos Hernandez (Sr.); the All-PCAL-Santa Lucia division First Team selection is coming back as the starting running back. The 6-foot, 202-pounder finished with 499 yards on 70 carries and eight touchdowns, according to MBayPreps.com. Prior to playing running back, he had experience as a linebacker.…Martin Gonzalez (Jr.); he may only stand 5-feet, 3-inches but the defensive back can still lay a hit and speed is his friend on the field. He was called up to the varsity team as a sophomore, which means he knows what it takes to play at the next level…Ladis Silva (Jr.); will be an up and coming receiver and defensive back this season for the Grizzlies…Jose Rocha (Sr.); The 5-foot, 10-inch, 200-pound offensive lineman came up last season and instantly became a big piece in providing some running lanes for the running backs.
Pajaro Valley senior Carlos Hernandez will take over full time duties as the starting running back this season. (Juan Reyes — The Pajaronian)
PRESEASON
Watsonville High
- When: Aug. 30
- Where: Cabrillo College
- Last year’s MaxPreps state rankings: 677th
- Last year’s overall record: 4-6
- Last year’s league record: 1-5 (tied for last in PCAL-Mission division)
- Coach: Ron Myers
- Notes: The Grizzlies are 2-11 all time and 2-10 in Belgard Kup matches against the Wildcatz. Pajaro Valley has lost two-straight against Watsonville, including last year’s 35-6 loss…The Wildcatz will be without leading rusher and PCAL-Mission Second Team selection Matthew Barcelo, who finished with 569 rushing yards on 94 carries and 10 touchdowns, according to the MaxPreps website…Tight end Dylan Vargas and PCAL-Mission First Team defensive lineman Rodrigo Hernandez are also gone…But Alex Velazquez is coming back as this year’s starting running back and should see a lot of action this season…Plus, with about 25 seniors on its roster, Watsonville will have no issues with numbers or experience this season.
Soquel High
- When: Sept. 7
- Where: Soquel High
- Last year’s MaxPreps state rankings: 768th
- Last year’s overall record: 7-3
- Last year’s league record: 5-1 (second in PCAL-Santa Lucia division)
- Coach: Dwight Lowery
- Notes: The Knights were the runner-up team to division champion Gonzales under first-year coach Dwight Lowery…Soquel junior running back Darius Bedford is coming in as last year’s All-PCAL-Santa Lucia division Offensive Player of the Year…Junior quarterback Tanner Jones and senior offensive lineman Jeremiah Corpuz, who were also named to the PCAL-Santa Lucia first team, are set to return… Soquel will be without the services of defensive lineman David Blanke and defensive back Jarred Martinez…The Grizzlies are 1-2 all time against the Knights, including last year’s 34-21 loss at Cabrillo College.
San Lorenzo Valley High
- When: Sept. 13
- Where: Cabrillo College
- Last year’s MaxPreps state ranking: 522nd
- Last year’s overall record: 4-6
- Last year’s league record: 4-2 (second in PCAL-Cypress division)
- Coach: Dave Poetzinger
- Notes: S.L.V. tied with King City for second place behind unbeaten Monterey in the PCAL-Mission division…The Cougars will be without Aidan Callahan, who was named Defensive MVP of the Cypress Division. He was a first-team selection at lineman on both sides of the ball… Running back Taj Glasky, receiver Jacob Auldridge and defensive back Ty Martinez will also be gone…S.L.V. senior R.J. Kindred finished with a pair of interceptions as a defensive back but will also try to step in as the starting quarterback…Junior running back Brodie Brownlee should also see some more playing time…Senior defensive back Matt Stone finished with three interceptions and is set to return…The Cougars won last year’s meeting, 62-19.
Mendota High
- When: Sept. 20
- Where: Mendota High
- Last year’s MaxPreps state rankings: 967th
- Last year’s overall record: 2-8
- Last year’s league record: 2-3 (fourth in West Sierra League of the CIF Central Section)
- Coach: Robert Mejia
- Notes: Since 2011, Robert Mejia led the Aztecs to back-to-back Central Section Division VI championships in his first two seasons…Mendota won a D-V title in 2016 but missed the playoffs the following year for the first time since 2011…It’s also the first time the Aztecs finished with a winning percentage below a .500 since 2010…This is the first meeting between both teams…Mendota will be without leading passer Isaiah Clark, who completed 58 percent of his pass attempts (58-of-100) with 947 yards and eight touchdowns against three interceptions. He also had a team-high four rushing touchdowns and ran for 343 yards on 85 carries…Mendota will also be without running back Fabian Perez, who finished with a team-high 355 rushing yards on 62 carries and three touchdowns…Leading receivers Adan Barajas, who finished with 488 yards on 26 receptions and two touchdowns, and Elijah Torrez, who racked up 462 yards on 25 receptions and six touchdowns, are expected to return…Senior quarterback Justin Silva Jr., who completed 50 percent of his pass attempts (62-of-122) with 709 yards and five touchdowns against eight interceptions is also set to come back…Another key returner is junior Bryan Godoy, who last year had a team-high four sacks to go along with 21 tackles…In 2014, Mendota was featured in a special segment on ESPN.
PCAL-SANTA LUCIA
St. Francis High
- When: Oct. 4
- Where: Watsonville High
- Last year’s MaxPreps state rankings: 772nd
- Last year’s overall record: 4-6
- Last year’s league record: 1-5 (tied for last in PCAL-Cypress division)
- Coach: John Ausman
- Notes: The all time series between both teams is tied 3-3 but the Sharks have won the previous three games. St. Francis won last year’s contest, 41-0…The Sharks will be without linebacker Aaron Soto, defensive back Devin Mcleod and running back Andrew Seymour, who racked up a team high 579 rushing yards on 66 carries and eight touchdowns. All three players were All-PCAL Santa Lucia division first team selections…Senior tight end and defensive lineman Lawson Orradre is set to come back…Seniors Isaac Davila, Hunter Blinkenberg and Logan Manson are also returning as the big boys up front on the offensive line…Senior Joey Garibay is positioned to begin the season as the team’s starting quarterback.
Greenfield High
- When: Oct. 11
- Where: Greenfield High
- Last year’s MaxPreps state rankings: 768th
- Last year’s overall record: 3-7
- Last year’s league record: 3-3 (fourth in PCAL-Santa Lucia division)
- Coach: Adam Barsenas
- Notes: Adam Barsenas is entering his second season as coach for Greenfield…The Bruins have not won a league title in their 19 years of existence, and last year’s 3-7 finish was the program’s eighth straight losing season…Greenfield will be without leading rusher Jamie Soto, who finished with 1,175 yards on 195 carries and 10 touchdowns…Bruins quarterback Daniel Morales, who finished with 741 passing yards to go along with six touchdowns and eight interceptions, is set to return for his senior year…Leading receiver Jose Hernandez, who finished with 214 yards on 21 receptions and four touchdowns, is also expected to return. He tied for a team-high three interceptions…Pajaro Valley is 4-4-2 lifetime against Greenfield…The Bruins won last year’s contest, 37-35.
Harbor High
- When: Oct. 19
- Where: Cabrillo College
- Last year’s MaxPreps state ranking: 1,035th
- Last year’s overall record: 0-10
- Last year’s league record: 0-6 (last in PCAL-Santa Lucia division)
- Coach: James Gaynor
- Notes: Harbor has not won a league game since 2014 when it was still a member of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League. The Pirates have not posted a winning record in more than two decades…Harbor will be without last year’s rushing leader Jared Kruse, who tallied 490 yards on 90 carries and five touchdowns…The Pirates will have linebacker Brendan Bobo, an All-PCAL-Santa Lucia division first team selection, back on the team. He finished with a team-high 4 and 1/2 sacks and was the team’s leading receiver with 301 receiving yards…Pajaro Valley is 5-3 all time against Harbor. The Grizzlies won last year’s meeting, 45-6.
Pacific Grove High
- When: Oct. 24
- Where: Pacific Grove High
- Last year’s MaxPreps state rankings: 793rd
- Last year’s overall record: 4-6
- Last year’s league record: 2-4 (fifth in PCAL-Cypress division)
- Coach: Chirs Morgan
- Notes: Pacific Grove suffered its second straight losing season and was one of two teams to drop down to the PCAL-Santa Lucia division…The Breakers will be without leading passer Freddy Albert, who completed 56 percent of his pass attempts (68-of-122) for 1,090 yards to go along with eight touchdowns and four interceptions…Pacific Grove will also be without defensive lineman John Kerick, who was an All-PCAL-Cypress first team selection…However, running backs Anthony DaSilva and Blake Moore will return for their senior year. DaSilva finished with 381 rushing yards on 90 carries and seven touchdowns, while Moore had a team-high 572 rushing yards on 96 carries and three touchdowns…It’s the first meeting since 2012. The Breakers won, 41-21.The Grizzlies are 1-3 lifetime against Pacific Grove.
Marina High
- When: Nov. 1
- Where: Monterey Peninsula College
- Last year’s MaxPreps state rankings: 988th
- Last year’s overall record: 4-6
- Last year’s league record: 2-4 (fifth in PCAL-Santa Lucia division)
- Coach: Jason Dennis
- Notes: The Mariners will be led by first year coach Jason Dennis, who takes over a program that’s finished with a .500 winning percentage just once in their short history…Marina will be without leading receiver and All-PCAL-Santa Lucia first team selection Ernie Guevara. He finished with 457 receiving yards on 32 receptions and six touchdowns…The Mariners will also be without defensive back Michael Norlund, who was another all-league first team selection…Marina is expecting junior quarterback Mikey Barrera to return. He completed 61 percent of his pass attempts (60-of-97) for 651 passing yards to go along with seven touchdowns and three interceptions…It’s the third meeting between both teams. Pajaro Valley won the first game, while Marina won last year’s contest, 20-12.
Stevenson High
- When: Nov. 9
- Where: Cabrillo College
- Last year’s MaxPreps state rankings: 894th
- Last year’s overall record: 4-5
- Last year’s league record: 4-2 (third in PCAL-Santa Lucia division)
- Coach: Kyle Cassamas
- Notes: It’ll be the third season under Kyle Cassamas, who led the Pirates last year to a third place finish in the PCAL-Santa Lucia…Pajaro Valley is 0-2 lifetime against Stevenson. The Pirates won last year’s game, 49-27…Stevenson will be without linebacker Alex Murray, who was the All-PCAL-Santa Lucia division Defensive Player of the Year. He recorded at team-high six interceptions and 75 total tackles. He was also crucial on the offensive side by scoring a combined eight touchdowns on the ground and through the air…The Pirates will also be without all-league first team selections Connor Adams, Ryan Douglas and Hans Xu…Stevenson is expecting quarterback Dylan Santos to return for his senior year. He completed 59 percent of his pass attempts (89-of-151) for 1,261 yards to go along with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions
• Editor’s Note: This entry is part 4 of 6 in a weekly series that will delve in each local high school football program’s schedule. Following alphabetical order, St. Francis and Watsonville high’s breakdown will conclude in the Aug. 23 edition of The Pajaronian.
