St. Francis senior Joseph Dayritt racked up a game-best 226 rushing yards to go along with a pair of touchdowns, and the Sharks defeated Pajaro Valley, 28-8, in non-league play Sept. 6.
“It was just another day at work, honestly,” he said. “I love being with this team. We have that ability to unite with each other and just keep pushing.”
St. Francis scored 28 unanswered points after the defense allowed Pajaro Valley to score the game’s opening touchdown less than one minute into the game.
“We set our pace and we set our tone,” Dayritt said. “Our biggest thing when we get punched in the mouth, we fight back.”
Teammate Coy Jordan finished with 91 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on 11 carries, helping the Sharks tally 301 total rushing yards on the afternoon.
Dayritt currently leads St. Francis with 323 total rushing yards and four touchdowns in two games, according to statistics on the Monterey Bay Preps website.
“[Dayritt and Jordan] are two excellent running backs, but it doesn’t start without the front,” St. Francis head coach John Ausman said.
Ausman was talking about the big offensive line led by Jacob Rocha at center, Mick Flynn and Jacob Almeida at the guard positions, and Niko Reyes and Adan Sarabia-Aguilar at tackles.
The Sharks also have a big fullback in Chax Gottlieb-Maier, who helps guide the way for whichever tailback is behind him.
“It starts there, and then it moves on, and [Dayritt and Jordan] finish the runs, which really helps us,” Ausman said.
But it was Pajaro Valley that struck first when Isaias Villasana’s long return on the opening kickoff put them near St. Francis’ 25 yard line.
The drive was capped off with a 9-yard touchdown run by Benito Lara-Alvarez.
The two point conversion was good, giving PV an 8 to 0 lead with 11 minutes and 11 seconds in the first quarter.
After that, the Grizzlies were shut out the rest of the way.
“We had an opportunity to be at our best, and our competitive greatness was not here today,” Pajaro Valley head coach Casey Neligh said. “St. Francis is a heck of a heck of a football team. We know what they’re doing. They know what we’re doing. And so it comes down to who’s going to execute every single play. Great football game today.”
In the second quarter, Villasana mishandled a punt return catch while St. Francis’ Vince Tovar recovered it on PV’s 5-yard line with 2:35 remaining in the first half.
Moments later, Jordan bull rushed his way into the end zone that gave the Sharks a 14-8 lead going into halftime, and they never looked back.
Coming out of the break, it took two plays and 90 yards for Dayritt to score his second TD of the afternoon. Jordan extended the Sharks’ lead at 28-8 to cap off the scoring.
“We weathered the storm, we continued to play,” Ausman said. “We just got to clean up execution, and we’ll be all right. Proud of how the boys responded, and we’ll go from there.”
After the game, Pajaro Valley presented a letterman jacket to 2013 graduate Michael Fierros—a longtime supporter of the school’s athletic programs.
Next up, St. Francis (2-0) is on a bye week and then will host Pacific Grove (2-0, 1-0) in non-league action Sept. 20 at 12:30pm. Pajaro Valley (1-1) will host Denair (2-1) on Saturday at 2pm.
Boys cross country
Aptos’ Hansen wins Jackie Henderson Invitational: Aptos junior Sam Hansen kicked his way to victory at the 6th Annual Jackie Henderson Memorial Invitational at North Monterey County High on Sept. 6.
Hansen won the three-mile race in 14 minutes, 52 seconds edging Willow Glen senior Duncan Lorang (14:56) in second and Aptos senior Brady Bliesner (14:59) in third in a field of 219 total runners.
Aptos junior Anthony Sandford-Carroll (16:24) placed 51st, while teammates Sean Mullen (17:32) and Ethan Pope (19:08) finished 116th and 179th, respectively.
Monte Vista Christian senior Gavin Beckmen took 21st in 15:49, setting a new school record in a three-mile race. He surpassed James Ponzio’s previous record-breaking mark of 15:55 that he set at the Pacific Coast Athletic League Championships in 2021.
Teammate senior Conor Gilliam (16:06) took 36th place for the Mustangs, who placed fifth as a team with a score of 233 points.
Other top Mustang finishers included freshman Owen Beckmen (16:07; 37th), followed by freshman Joseph Palacios (16:22; 47th place), senior Dilano Lucero (17:42; 127th), sophomore Neil Radar (18:18; 152nd) and junior Luciano Guerra (18:41; 164th).
Watsonville junior Nain Garcia-Ferria took 24th in 15:53, followed by Desi Salinas-Holz (17:22; 104th), junior Damien Villarruel (18:21; 155th) and junior Jesse Fernandez-Rocha (19:32; 189th).
Girls cross country
MVC’s Conca shines at Jackie Henderson Invitational: Monte Vista Christian sophomore Anna Conca placed 10th in a personal best 18:12 at the 6th Annual Jackie Henderson Memorial Invitational at North Monterey County High on Sept. 6.
Teammate junior Finley Castro (19:05) took 25th while also running a personal best on a three-mile course. MVC senior Alie Kolbach (22:43) placed 94th, followed by senior Nylie Joneson (24:34; 130th) and junior Maya Moore (25:07; 135th).
Aptos senior Maya Schiro (18:12) placed 15th, while teammate junior Kenzie Culbertson (19:27) took 32nd.
Watsonville senior Azucena Sandoval (18:54) finished 21st, followed by junior Aileen Reyes (20:45; 56th), senior Karen Martinez (23:18; 108th), junior Valeria Garcia-Flores (24:27; 129th) and senior Kurihani Carbajal-Vega (25:14; 137th).
MVC placed 10th as a team with a score of 285 points, while Watsonville (327) took 16th.
Flag football
King City 19, at Aptos 12: Aptos senior Ella Porter recorded a pair of touchdowns, and the Mariners fell to the Mustangs in non-league play Thursday night. Next up, Aptos (1-3, 0-1) hosts Santa Clara on Sept. 16 at 7:15pm.
St. Francis 32, at Watsonville 0: St. Francis sophomore Lilanna Whitmeyer recorded five total touchdowns, and the Sharks shutout the Wildcatz en route to a victory in Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division play Thursday evening.
Whitmeyer completed 20-of-33 pass attempts for 311 yards with four touchdowns, while tallying 56 rushing yards and one TD. Teammate Maya Calfee hauled in nine catches for 143 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while sophomore Kiera Grio had six receptions for 107 yards and one TD.
Calfee also recorded three interceptions on defense, while Grio and Eden Findrick each had one interception.
St. Francis (6-1, 4-0) plays at Carmel (3-0, 3-0) on Sept. 17 at 5:45pm, while Watsonville (1-4, 0-4) plays at Monterey on Saturday at 11am.
Girls volleyball
Aptos 3, Monte Vista Christian 0: Aptos junior Ella Dueck had two aces, 10 kills and six digs, and the Mariners defeated the Mustangs in three sets 25-19, 25-13, 25-22 in non-league action Sept. 3.
Teammate Ellie Hardesty had three blocks and three kills, while Sienna Fozzati added six aces and five kills for the Mariners, who defeated Soquel in three sets in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play on Thursday evening.
Aptos (2-3, 1-1) is scheduled to compete at the Menlo-Atherton Bay Area Classic on Saturday.
Mount Madonna 3, San Lorenzo Valley 2: Mount Madonna’s Corwyn Harris finished with a team-best 15 kills, and the Hawks defeated the Cougars in five sets 25-22 19-25 19-25 27-25 15-11 in SCCAL play Thursday evening.
Teammates Rosemary Konviser and Cadence Barr each contributed 12 kills, while Minami Wu had a team-best 45 assists for Mount Madonna (1-3, 1-0), which hosts Harbor on Sept. 16 at 6:30pm.
