WATSONVILLE — The few, the proud, the Sharks.
A year after winning its first-ever league title and setting the program record for most wins in a single season (8), St. Francis High is eager to prove that 2017’s success was no fluke. But while the Sharks are overflowing with excitement for the start of the season, head coach John Ausman can’t help but to feel the squeeze of the program’s limited varsity numbers.
Heading into the first day of class, St. Francis, a private school of roughly 250 students, has just 19 players on its roster — 13 seniors and six juniors.
It’s not the ideal situation, especially after fielding a varsity group of 27 last season, but it has undoubtedly brought out the best of everybody.
“That’s the one plus about where we’re at numbers-wise,” Ausman said, “I know I have guys that are really committed.”
All 13 seniors played meaningful minutes last season, and a pair of juniors, Hunter Blinkenberg and Lawson Orradre, will be entering their second varsity season after being thrown into the fire as sophomores last fall.
Last year’s top rusher, Carson Cuzick, is gone following graduation, but nearly every other running back returns. Devin McLeod (5-foot-11, 170 pounds), Abel Martinez (5-9, 150), Andy O’Rourke (5-6, 155) and Andrew Seymour (5-8, 165) combined to rush for 1,986 yards and 20 touchdowns last season, and they will be asked to continue that production while working behind an offensive line that is undersized but athletic.
Seniors Diego Ramirez (6-1, 195), Johnny Ceballos (6-0, 240) and Aidan Grissom (5-9, 190) and juniors Blinkenberg (5-7, 165) and Logan Manson (6-0, 165) will be flying around in the trenches trying to open up holes in the team’s Wing-T attack.
St. Francis High senior DL/OL Diego Ramirez talks about the Sharks’ upcoming football season. #RPsports pic.twitter.com/TSz9uu7NQF
— Tony Nunez (@Tony_Nunez) August 8, 2018
With only two backup linemen on the roster, they’ll also try their best to stay healthy for the entire season.
“We got kind of spoiled last year because we were pretty deep [on the offensive line],” Ausman said. “We got spoiled a lot last year, because we had depth in a lot of spots. We miss those seniors from last year, but I’m excited about these seniors.”
Senior Joseph Ramirez is now fully entrenched as the team’s starting quarterback after splitting time for the last two seasons with now-graduated Derric Estrada-Haro.
Junior Joey Garibay will serve as the backup, and could see time at receiver.
Ramirez (5-9, 170) feels like the game has slowed down a bit over the last two years.
“I definitely feel a little more relaxed when I’m playing out there,” the QB said.
St. Francis High senior QB/DB Joseph Ramirez talks about the upcoming football season. #RPsports pic.twitter.com/DpuRUepXUb
— Tony Nunez (@Tony_Nunez) August 8, 2018
Ramirez last season earned all-league first team recognition as a safety, and the Sharks would like him to replicate his stellar season as the last line of defense.
Seymour, who led the team in interceptions (5) and also earned first team honors last season, will play opposite Ramirez in the defensive backfield, which also features McLeod and Martinez.
At linebacker, standout senior Aaron Soto (5-9, 185) leads a group that also features O’Rourke, Blinkenberg and Manson. Soto, who is entering his fourth varsity season and will also carry the ball plenty, will be the vocal leader of the defense, as the Sharks try to hang in the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Cypress division.
St. Francis will see King City High, Monterey High, North Monterey County High, Pacific Grove High, San Lorenzo Valley High and Santa Cruz High in the newly-formed equity league. Even if the Sharks remain at full health, the division will be a tough new challenge — one they said they’re ready for.
“It seems like a very good league for us, because I think we can really compete and go head-to-head with these teams,” Soto said.
St. Francis High senior LB/FB Aaron Soto breaks down the Sharks’ upcoming football season. #RPsports pic.twitter.com/24aUWRWEFG
— Tony Nunez (@Tony_Nunez) August 8, 2018
The ultimate goal?
“Win the league,” Joseph Ramirez said.
St. Francis will start its season against Sobrato High on Aug. 24, before rekindling rivalries with Pajaro Valley High (Aug. 31) and Watsonville High (Sept. 7) in the following weeks. It ends its preseason against The Harker School (Sept. 14) before taking a bye week to heal up and prepare for its league opener at King City (Sept. 28).
“I love the guys that I have,” Ausman said. “They’ve worked extremely hard in the summer for a small group, and they’re going to have to work extremely hard in this new league.”
Editor’s Note: This article will publish in the Pajaronian’s “Kickoff 2018” section on Aug. 17. The yearly section will feature previews, schedules and player spotlights for the six high school football teams in the Pajaro Valley: Pajaro Valley, Watsonville, St. Francis, Monte Vista Christian, Aptos and North Monterey County.
