Pajaro Valley High won two years ago. St. Francis High exacted revenge last season. Friday’s rubber match at Emmett M. Geiser Field in Watsonville will determine which team truly owns the bragging rights, at least for the rest of the year.
While it will be the third consecutive year P.V. and St. Francis have met, the two programs have battled four times overall. P.V. holds a 3-1 advantage in the series but St. Francis did hammer the Grizzlies in a 34-7 victory last season.
Statistically, the Sharks and Grizzlies were in a near dead heat in last year’s game — St. Francis ran for 238 yards and picked up 13 first downs while P.V. finished with 224 yards rushing and moved the sticks 12 times. The difference came in the red zone and penalties. The Grizzlies scored only once despite reaching the red zone four times and 12 penalties also hurt their chances.
It will be both teams’ season opener and the beginning of new eras for each program. John Ausman and Kevin Cordova will both be coaching their first game as the lead man for their respective team. Ausman took over St. Francis after serving as the defensive coordinator for the past two seasons under Adam Hazel. Cordova, meanwhile, grabbed the reigns at P.V. after a season as the team’s offensive coordinator for Joe Gregorio.
St. Francis showcased its short and intermediate passing game and its power running attack at last week’s Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Jamboree. Senior quarterback Derric Estrada-Haro looked solid passing off of play action and a plethora of running backs powered the Sharks’ rushing game, including senior Carson Cuzick and junior Andrew Seymour.
P.V.’s defensive backfield was impressive at last week’s jamboree, picking off three passes and returning one for a score, and senior running back Jaylen Carreon also turned heads on the other side of the ball.
Here’s a look at the rest of the weekend’s high school football action:
• Aptos High vs Templeton High, 7 p.m. — The Aptos High Mariners have won their season opener each of the last three years and they will be favorites once again against Templeton High on Friday.
The Eagles will make the 134-mile trek up Highway 101 to play at Trevin Dilfer Field for the first time.
Aptos proved it was fast on offense and stout on defense during last week’s Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Jamboree and Templeton will provide the Mariners with a nice test to begin the season.
Senior dual-threat quarterback Morgan Scovell, sophomore running back Shane Simonin and senior receivers Clay Simons and Isaiah Harrold power the Eagles’ offensive attack, which last year scored 86 points over the final two games of the season.
But athletic Aptos, which is ranked No. 137 in the state, according to MaxPreps, could have its way with Templeton, which comes in at No. 518 in the state.
• Watsonville High at Pacific Grove High, 7:30 p.m. — The Watsonville High Wildcatz will try to break a four-year losing streak against the Pacific Grove High Breakers on Friday.
Last year, Watsonville lost on the final play of the game and went on to lose its next two before bouncing back with a trio of wins.
The Breakers are coming off a 5-5 season — their first .500 or worse season in three campaigns — and are young and inexperienced after graduation stripped them of several key weapons, including do-it-all quarterback Noah Cryns.
The Wildcatz, meanwhile, have several experienced players back. Although Watsonville’s rush offense struggled at last week’s SCCAL Jamboree, the Wildcatz should get a boost from the return of their two best running backs, junior Matthew Barcelo and senior Evan Delozier.
Watsonville has not won its season opener since 2012.
• North Monterey County High at Alvarez High, 7:30 p.m. — The North Monterey County High Condors have lost four straight games to the Alvarez High Eagles heading into Friday’s meeting, which will be the eighth consecutive time the two will play.
N.M.C. is a bit of an unknown after graduating its three best offensive weapons and a handful of starters. But the potential of this year’s youthful Condors will clear up with Friday’s result.
Alvarez will be a tough matchup for N.M.C. Eagles’ star seniors, quarterback Matthew Martinez and running back Michael Ramirez, are back and will lead the way for a big and physical bunch.
N.M.C. had beaten Alvarez four years in a row before the latter turned the corner and became a contender in 2013.
• Monte Vista Christian vs King City High, 7:30 p.m. — The Bruce Dini era will begin on Friday night when the Monte Vista Christian Mustangs welcome in the King City High Mustangs for each team’s season opener.
Dini is plenty familiar with King City after coaching in the Mission Trail Athletic League for the past six seasons at Stevenson High. Now the head coach at M.V.C., the offensive mastermind will try to start his stint in Watsonville on the right note.
King City returns standout quarterback Thomas Stephens and receiver Clay Barbree as it looks to notch its first winning season since 2013.
It will be the seventh straight season the two programs have played. M.V.C. has beaten King City in five of the previous six games, including last year’s dominant 32-0 win.
