The Watsonville High girls flag football team capped off its Pacific Coast Athletic League season on a high note with a crushing 40-7 victory over Soledad High on Tuesday night.
The Wildcatz were spearheaded by junior quarterback Aaliyah Arellano, who celebrated her birthday by throwing for 104 yards and a pair of touchdowns. She also showed off her versatility on the field by hauling in two receptions for 32 yards and a TD.
“The season was actually really good for the amount of seniors that we have,” Arellano said. “I just want to say congratulations to all the seniors going out like this. It’s a good feeling.”
Watsonville finished runner-up in the Mission Division standings with an 8-2 record in league play just behind champion King City at 9-1.
For the most part, the players seemed satisfied about the success that they demonstrated during the season.
Watsonville head coach Zach Cook said obviously they’re disappointed in how close they came to capturing a league crown, but it came down to some controversial plays that went King City’s way.
“Eventually, they’re the ones that got the title out of that,” Cook said. “But for the most part, they’re happy.”
As for Watsonville’s seniors, not so much. This particular group became the first class to have played since their freshman year.
Cook emphasized they wanted to go out with something to show for all the hard work they put in these last four years.
Watsonville got off to a hot start after it won five consecutive games to begin the 2026 fall campaign. That was until they suffered a 21-13 loss to cross-town rival Pajaro Valley High in Mission Division play Sept. 14.
“I feel like it’s very competitive, and I feel like both schools [Pajaro Valley and King City] just know the pressure and how it feels,” said Watsonville senior linebacker Dalila Longoria-Giron.
Arellano said every team, including themselves, has its ups-and-downs but the ‘Catz managed to get through the adversity.
“We’re gonna go down together, we’re gonna go up together,” she said. “But the most important part is just the fact that at the end of the day, we have each other’s backs.”
The season is far from over for Watsonville, which has one nonleague game remaining in the regular season at Harbor High in Santa Cruz on Saturday at noon. Then they’ll have to wait until the Central Coast Section seeding meeting on Oct. 29 to find out if they earned the right of an at-large playoff berth.
In the meantime, Cook just wants to keep moving forward and play each game like it’s their last. He said this is also a new opportunity to continue the growth that they’re on, and keep pushing “Catz Pride” while gaining the respect of their opponents.
“We have one of the most unique systems and unique programs, and so we’re just trying to keep that going into the playoffs,” Cook said.
The ‘Catz roster is full of major contributors including freshman quarterback Zoe Saldana, who set a single-game school record with five touchdown passes in a 40-0 win against Pacific Collegiate School on Oct. 14.
On Tuesday, she completed 5 of 9 pass attempts for 56 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
It’s been a blessing for Cook to have a pair of quarterbacks who are extremely talented. He said the last few years were a learning experience for Arellano, but now the veteran is at the point where she can take someone such as Saldana under her wing.
“Zoe as a freshman coming in and playing at the varsity level, it’s always tough for anybody,” Cook said. “But, Aaliyah, this year, leaps and bounds of growth.”
Others stepping up include freshman wide receiver Laisha Zamora-Martinez, who had three receptions for 15 yards on Tuesday night. Running back Gemma Sanchez hauled in two catches for six yards and one touchdown, while wide receiver Sienna Arredondo had 11 yards rushing on two carries.
The ‘Catz defensive unit put together an outstanding performance led by Longoria-Giron. She had a pair of flag pulls to go with two of the team’s nine interceptions, including one for a pick-six.
Teammate junior Audrina Rodrdiguez added two interceptions, giving her a total of 12 for this season.
“I feel like we all played as a team, and everyone did super amazing, which really contributed to our big win,” Longoria-Giron said.
Teammate defensive back Jocelyn Avalos-Melendez secured five flag pulls and one interception, while senior rusher Taylor Alves-Lopez wreaked havoc on the opposing quarterback with five flag pulls, two sacks and consistent pressure throughout the contest.
In regards to the CCS playoffs, it’s something that Cook and the rest of the team has been preparing for since the off-season. This year’s senior class, which includes Longoria-Giron, missed out on the inaugural 2025 postseason.
If given the opportunity, Longoria-Giron said for them to go on a section title run would be the most amazing feeling ever.
“Especially since a lot of our girls, it’s our last year,” she said. “It would be super amazing just getting it all the way to the finish line.”
