HS football: Beware of Sharks

St. Francis High got off to a hot start last season by winning three of its first four games in the preseason.

But once league play began, the Sharks hit a bump in the road and struggled to keep up with some teams that featured bigger roster sizes. 

St. Francis, alongside Santa Cruz, finished at the bottom of the Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress Division standings at 1-5.

The Sharks and Pacific Grove, which finished 2-4 in the PCAL-Cypress, were the two teams that dropped down to the Santa Lucia division, while Monterey moved up to the Cypress division.

The Santa Lucia is the lowest division tier in the PCAL in terms of competition level. The league also includes the Gabilan — the top-rated tier — and the Mission, which is considered the second-highest tier.   

St. Francis will begin league play against the Breakers, followed by matchups with Pajaro Valley, Marina, Greenfield, Stevenson and Harbor. St. Francis and Stevenson School are the only two private schools in the league.

John Ausman is entering his third season as head coach. In 2017, he helped lead the Sharks to their first-ever league title in what was previously the Mission Trail Athletic League Coastal division. 

Here’s a breakdown of this year’s St. Francis football team:

• Last year’s MaxPreps state ranking: 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

• Key losses: St. Francis will be without three players who were All-PCAL Santa Lucia division First Team selections, starting with linebacker Aaron Soto, a tackling machine with 67 total tackles for the Sharks…defensive back Devin Mcleod will also be missed in the defensive backfield. He racked up 90 tackles, recorded two interceptions, four pass deflections and two fumble recoveries. He also finished with 431 rushing yards and three touchdowns…running back Andrew Seymour racked up a team-high 579 rushing yards on 66 carries and eight touchdowns…Andy O’Rourke, who tallied 81 tackles, 5 and 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles, will be another key defensive player gone after graduation.

• Key possible returners: Lawson Orradre (Sr.); The starting tight end and defensive lineman is set to come back. He will be a nice target for starting quarterback Joey Garibay and an extra blocker upfront for the offensive line. On the defensive line, he finished with 54 total tackles, a sack and a pass deflection. His speed should help him get to the quarterback, especially in third down situations…Isaac Davila (Sr.); A big body on the offensive line and a run stopper on the defensive line. He finished with 53 tackles last season…Hunter Blinkenberg (Sr.); Another big body on the defensive line who last season finished with 76 total tackles, a forced fumble and a 1/2 quarterback sack. He’s also going to be a huge asset on the offensive line…Logan Manson (Sr.); part of a group of the big boys up front on the offensive line as well as on the defensive unit…Joey Garibay (Sr.); he is positioned to begin the season as the team’s starting quarterback. He’ll also attempt to repeat last year’s solid defensive performance after he recorded three fumble recoveries, two pass deflections, an interception and 14 tackles. 

St. Francis High senior Joey Gaibay is positioned to begin the season as the team’s starting quarterback. (Juan Reyes — The Pajaronian)

PRESEASON

King City High

• When: Aug. 29
• Where: Watsonville High
• Last year’s MaxPreps state rankings: 646th
• Last year’s overall record: 5-5
• Last year’s league record: 4-2 (tied for second in PCAL-Cypress division)
• Coach: Mac Villanueva
• Notes: King City has finished with a .500 winning percentage or better in each of the last four seasons…The Mustangs have not won a league title since the mid ‘80s…St. Francis is 0-3 lifetime against King City. The Sharks lost last year’s league game against the Mustangs, 14-7…The Mustangs are going to miss defensive back/receiver Luis Briseno, tight end Isaias Gonzales, defensive lineman Gabriel Oritz and linebacker Alex Villasenor, all gone to graduation…The Mustangs, however, do have reigning PCAL-Cypress Lineman of the Year Francisco Sandoval coming back for his senior season.

•••

Yerba Buena High

• When: Sept. 6
• Where: Yerba Buena High
• Last year’s MaxPreps state ranking: 937th
• Last year’s overall record: 6-4 
• Last year’s league record: 4-3 (Tied for fourth in West Valley League)
• Coach: Marco Osuna
• Notes: Yerba Buena will be without quarterback Paul Phravixay, who completed 48 percent of his pass attempts (40-for-87) for 685 yards, five touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also racked up 575 rushing yards on 40 carries and 11 touchdowns…The Aztec Warriors will also be without receiver Jesus Loera, who finished with 388 receiving yards on 21 receptions and three touchdowns…But senior running backs Edward Gonzalez, the team’s leading rusher with 1,027 yards, and Andrew Isais, who scored a team-high 14 touchdowns, will return. Both players are set to have breakout seasons on the defense, as well…The Sharks are 1-1 lifetime against the Aztec Warriors…Yerba Buena defeated St. Francis, 41-14, in the teams’ previous matchup in 2014.

•••

Watsonville High

• When: Sept. 12
• Where: Geiser Field
• Last year’s MaxPreps state ranking: 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 Wildcatz are 2-0 lifetime against the Sharks. Watsonville won last year’s contest, 16-14…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 20 seniors on its roster, Watsonville will have no issues with numbers or experience this season.

•••

The Harker School

• When: Sept. 20
• Where: Harker School in San Jose
• Last year’s MaxPreps state rankings: 807th
• Last year’s overall record: 7-2 
• Last year’s league record: 0-0
• Coach: Mike Tirabassi
• Notes: Mike Tirabassi is entering his sixth season as coach for Harker…The Eagles missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015…Harker School was a semifinalist in the NCS/Les Schwab Tires Football Championships in 2017…The Eagles will be without leading passer Anthony Meissner, who completed 60 percent of his pass attempts (77-of-127) with 1,404 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also finished with 358 rushings yards on 94 carries and five touchdowns…They’ll also be without the services of Jared Anderson, who finished with 811 receiving yards on 40 receptions and 10 touchdowns…Leading rusher Devin Keller Hernandez, who finished with 492 yards on 82 carries and four touchdowns, is expected to return for his senior season…Senior Giovanni Rofa had a team-high six interceptions…The Sharks won last year’s contest, 28-10, which was the programs’ first meeting since 2014…St. Francis is 3-2 against Harker dating back to 2006.

•••

PCAL-SANTA LUCIA

Pacific Grove High

• When: Sept. 27
• 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…The Sharks won last year’s meeting against the Breakers, 41-21. St. Francis is a perfect 4-0 against Pacific Grove dating back to 2009.

•••

Pajaro Valley High

• When: Oct. 4
• Where: Watsonville High
• Last year’s MaxPreps state ranking: 986th
• Last year’s overall record: 3-7
• Last year’s league record: 1-5 (sixth in PCAL-Santa Lucia division)
• Coach: Kevin Cordova
• Notes: The Sharks have won two-straight against the Grizzlies, including last year’s 41-0 road win. St. Francis is 2-3 against Pajaro Valley dating back to 2006. Senior running back Carlos Hernandez, an All-PCAL-Santa Lucia division First Team selection, is coming back. The 6-foot, 202-pounder finished with 499 yards on 70 carries and eight touchdowns, according to MBayPreps.com…Junior defensive back Martin Gonzalez may only stand 5-feet, 3-inches but he 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 will be an up-and-coming receiver and defensive back this season for the Grizzlies…Senior Jose Rocha, a 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.

•••

Marina High

• When: Oct. 11
• Where: Santa Cruz High
• 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: New coach Jason Dennis 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…In 2017, St. Francis defeated Marina, 17-0. The Sharks are a perfect 4-0 lifetime against the Mariners.

•••

Greenfield High

• When: Oct. 25
• 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…St. Francis is 3-3 lifetime against Greenfield…The Sharks defeated the Bruins two years ago, 42-13.

•••

Stevenson School

• When: Nov. 1
• Where: Strawberry Field
• 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…St. Francis is 3-7 lifetime against Stevenson…It’s the first meeting between both teams since 2015. The Pirates won that game, 38-0…Stevenson will be without linebacker Alex Murray, who was the All-PCAL-Santa Lucia division Defensive Player of the Year. He recorded a 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.

•••

Harbor High

• When: Nov. 8
• Where: To be determined
• 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…St. Francis is 6-4 all time against Harbor…The Grizzlies have won two straight games against the Pirates. Pajaro Valley defeated Harbor, 42-14, in 2017.

Editor’s Note: This article will be published in the Aug. 23  edition of The Pajaronian.