WATSONVILLE—Watsonville High seniors Adrian Arevalo and Matthew Flores ran for scores in their final home game at Emmett M. Geiser Field, helping the Wildcatz to a 22-6 win against Rancho San Juan High in Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress Division action on Thursday night.
Senior receiver Anthony Campos added another score for Watsonville, which snapped a two-game losing streak in league play.
Flores got things started in the first quarter with a 1-yard run that put the Wildcatz up, 6-0.
The Trailblazers then drove down to Watsonville’s 13-yard line.
During that drive, the Wildcatz’s defense intercepted a pass attempt by Rancho San Juan quarterback Nolan Tompkins. The turnover was negated by a roughing the passer penalty called on Watsonville.
Rancho San Juan had a chance to score on fourth-and-goal from the 8-yard line, but Tompkins’ pass attempt in the end zone was incomplete.
Watsonville put together a drive just before halftime that was capped off with a 30-yard field goal by Albert De Haro, putting the Wildcatz ahead, 9-0, at the break.
The Wildcatz kept the momentum going on their first offensive possession in the second half. Arevalo had a 30-yard run and Campos caught a 20-yard strike to set them up at Rancho San Juan’s 2-yard line.
The drive was capped off with a 7-yard touchdown by Arevalo with 8:20 remaining in the third quarter.
On their ensuing possession, the Trailblazers turned the ball over again when Vincent Mosqueda intercepted Tompkins’ pass attempt at Watsonville’s 28-yard line.
The Wildcatz took advantage of their opponent’s mistake. They drove down to Rancho San Juan’s 20-yard line with the help of a 30-yard run by Arevalo.
Watsonville quarterback Marcus Magaña threw a short pass to Campos, who avoided a couple of tacklers on his way into the endzone.
Rancho San Juan’s lone bright spot was an 8-yard touchdown run by Peyton Hatten with 57 seconds left in the game. The score was set up by a 23-yard pass from Tompkins to Carlos Rodezno.
The Wildcatz (4-5, 2-3) will travel to Castroville to play against North Monterey County High (3-6, 2-3) in the teams’ season finale on Nov. 5 at 7:30pm.
Pajaro Valley 30, Harbor 28: Isaac Ortiz dove into the end zone in the final seconds of Saturday’s thrilling win against the Pirates in PCAL Santa Lucia division play.
Ortiz, who scored with 4 seconds left in fourth, finished with a pair of touchdown runs. The go-ahead score capped off a 72-yard drive that the Grizzlies put together in the final minute of the game.
Ortiz also recorded a safety that gave PV a 9-8 lead going into halftime.
The teams exchanged the lead four times in the fourth quarter, but it was the Grizzlies (2-6, 1-2) who prevailed at the end to extend their win streak to two.
Roger Ruiz scored two touchdowns for the Grizzlies, who play their season finale against St. Francis (5-3, 3-0) at Cabrillo College at 7:30pm.
San Benito 41, MVC 6: Will Mesa caught a 90-yard touchdown pass from Mark Spohn in the second quarter of the Mustangs’ PCAL Gabilan Division loss Friday night.
Monte Vista Christian School trailed 31-0 before getting on the scoreboard against the Haybalers (7-1, 5-1).
The Mustangs (1-7, 0-7) play their season finale at home against Aptos (7-1, 5-1) on Friday at 7:30pm.
*Additional reporting by sports editor Juan Reyes
Week 11 schedule
Friday
Aptos at Monte Vista Christian, 7:30pm
Watsonville at North Monterey County, 7:30pm
Saturday
Pajaro Valley vs. St. Francis at Cabrillo College, 7:30pm
