The Aptos High athletics department announced Wednesday that the varsity football team will not play Friday night’s game against Hilmar High.
The Mariners were set to host the Yellowjackets in a non-league game to make up for an originally scheduled Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan division matchup against Gilroy High.
Aptos High athletic director Travis Fox said the Mariners were allowed to play the game but in order to do so they would have to forgo their forfeit league win against the Mustangs.
“Which is ok, however, that would put us a half-game behind everyone else in league play,” Fox said.
That’s a very big deal, especially in a division where each win matters.
“It’s kind of a unique deal that PCAL has never dealt with before,” Fox said. “As a team, we decided to stick with the Gilroy forfeit so that we would still have a chance in league.”
The Mariners are 3-1 in league play, including the forfeit win. They currently sit in third place in the PCAL-G standings behind Salinas (4-0) and San Benito (3-0).
The Mustangs forfeited their six remaining games after the Gilroy Unified School District announced a large number of varsity players had suddenly quit the team.
Those players quit after learning several teammates were cited for sexual battery after allegedly assaulting a teammate.
However, Gilroy petitioned to the PCAL Gabilan division and the Central Coast Section to rescind its forfeits for the final four games of the season.
A majority of the coaches, including Salinas’ Steve Zenk, were not on board to play Gilroy following the announcement. But Aptos coach Randy Blankenship said he was all-in to play either the Mustangs or Yellowjackets.
“We would like to play a game,” Blankenship said. “We’re still not where we need to be.”
Both Aptos and Hilmar were looking to fill a void in their schedules left by Gilroy and Modesto Christian, which was originally scheduled to play the Yellowjackets. Modesto Christian canceled its season due to low numbers.
Hilmar (6-1, 2-1) plays in the Trans Valley League of the Sac-Joaquin Section and is ranked No. 151 in the state, according to MaxPreps.
It would’ve been a big test for the Mariners, but now they wind up with a second bye week this season.
Blankenship said he knows how to work through the break.
“We’ve already done that once,” Blankenship said. “This week we’ll change it a little bit.”
Fox said the replacement game was something that came together last minute and the school was excited about at least having a chance to host one more game.
“But we still want to at least have a chance at the league title,” Fox said.
The J.V. team will still travel to Gilroy on Friday to play in the Mustangs’ homecoming game. The varsity team will host Christopher on Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
