North Monterey County senior AJ Gomez accomplished a feat last week that no other quarterback at the school has been able to do in the past 21 years.
The Condors’ three-year starter helped deliver the program’s first league title in more than two decades following a 34-13 victory over Watsonville in Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division–North action Nov. 8.
Gomez and his teammates, along with members of the coaching staff, jumped in exhilaration and rushed the field as time expired on the game clock.
“It means a lot to me,” Gomez said. “I’ve had so many family members come through this school and just tell me about the great history we had in the 80s, and all those league champions that we had. Constantly hearing about the success, it motivated me to chase that success so I could talk about league titles with them, as well.”
The Condors were co-champion alongside Alisal of the now defunct Monterey Bay League in 2003, and outright league champs during the 1999 campaign.
Prior to that, NMC won nine championships as members of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League. They also won a pair of league crowns in the Mission Trail Athletic League, including the program’s first-ever title in 1979.
“It felt like a long time coming,” Gomez said. “Being on here for three years, really working hard, it paid off… I got brought up and coached well by a good coaching staff. Shout out to [head] coach [Juan] Cuevas. He really brought this program around.”
NMC’s defense sealed the deal on Friday night with a pair of TDs late in the fourth quarter starting with a scoop and score by defensive lineman Gabe Raya. Fellow teammate Fernando Miranda forced the fumble.
Moments later, Xavier Jimenez stole the handoff exchange and returned it 40 yards for the touchdown.
“As soon as I saw [Jimenez] get hold of that ball, I knew that it was going to be the end of the game,” Gomez said. “I was happy for him because that’s my brother ever since I met him five years ago. It was exciting to see that for him. It was a long time coming for him to get a touchdown.”
With the win, NMC (7-3, 5-1) also qualified for the Central Coast Section playoffs for the first time since 2010. They earned the No. 7 seed in the Division IV bracket and will play at No. 2 Branham (7-3) in San Jose on Friday at 7pm.
Meanwhile, the ‘Catz spiraled in the second half of the regular season by losing four of the last five games.
“It’s a culture thing,” Watsonville head coach Manny Contreras said. “I felt we weren’t practicing. We weren’t doing what we’re supposed to be doing.”
Gomez tossed three touchdowns and completed 13-of-21 pass attempts for 177 yards. All three scores were momentum changers, including one to Marcos Mendoza who ducked and dodged 68 yards into the end zone just before halftime.
That was just one of several unlucky breaks for the ‘Catz on Friday night. The first slip-up occurred late in the second quarter when Adan Magaña nearly intercepted Gomez’s pass attempt in the end zone. Instead, the ball slipped through Magaña’s fingers and into the hands of running back Chris Rasmussen-Horan for the touchdown reception.
Prior to the throw, Gomez was being chased down by ‘Catz defensive lineman Patrick Miller-Brown. But the elusive quarterback managed to scramble away for the completed pass and a 7-0 lead.
“We just didn’t catch a break,” Contreras said. “It maybe sucked a little bit of the wind out of us right there. But we battled.”
Watsonville quarterback Anthony Razo responded by marching his team down the field with a scoring drive of his own. He connected with receiver Anthony Landa for a 35-yard toss deep into NMC’s territory.
One play later, running back Abraham Martinez capped off the drive with a 2-yard rushing TD that cut the deficit at 7-6.
Razo continued to find a rhythm with his receivers to begin the third quarter, including a 40-yard bomb to Miller-Brown.
On fourth down, the ‘Catz pulled some tricks out of the old magic bag as Nate Aguilar turned a fake field goal attempt into a 20-yard touchdown pass to Miller-Brown that tied the score at 13-all.
“We felt good. We were trying to keep the same momentum that we had last week,” Miller-Brown said.
Miller-Brown had a pick six that helped Watsonville beat Alisal 31-26 on Nov. 2. The win also snapped a three game losing streak.
Watsonville was on the verge of stealing the momentum and once again playing the role of spoiler after last season’s walk-off winner over NMC.
Instead, the Condors retook the lead at 20-13 when Gomez tossed his third touchdown of the evening. This time it was to receiver Jacob Read who slipped past the entire ‘Catz defense for a 16-yard score.
It was all NMC from there on out as it poured 21 unanswered points and on the road to a league championship.
“I really feel blessed to be in this position,” Gomez said. “It hasn’t happened in a long time. It’s just a very good feeling. The banner’s up there, we’re finally gonna put our mark on it.”
At Soquel 44, Aptos 0: Tyreis Lundy had 164 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the Knights in a win over the Mariners in the teams’ PCAL Gabilan Division finale Nov. 8.
Soquel quarterback Sam Whelan tossed three touchdowns—a pair to Hudson Summerrill and one to D’Rell Hopkins.
Dylan Guisado finished with a team-best 38 rushing yards on 13 carries for the Mariners (5-5), who placed fourth with a 2-4 record in the PCAL Gabilan Division standings this season.
Aptos earned the No. 7 seed in the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs. They play at No. 2 Willow Glen in San Jose on Friday at 7pm.
The Rams (10-0) won the Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division crown by going 5-0 in league play this season.
San Lorenzo Valley 21, at Pajaro Valley 20: The Grizzlies were edged by the Cougars in the teams’ PCAL Santa Lucia Division finale Nov. 9. With the loss, Pajaro Valley placed fourth with a 3-3 record in the PCAL Santa Lucia Division final standings, and finished with a 4-6 overall record this season.
St. Francis 56, at Monte Vista Christian 29: Joseph Dayritt had a field day for the Sharks en route to a win over the Mustangs in the teams’ PCAL Mission Division–North finale Nov. 9.
The star running back had a game-best 259 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries, while fellow teammate Javier DaRosa-Fonsca had 186 passing yards and tossed four touchdowns.
Jacob Jimenez hauled in five receptions for 132 yards and three touchdowns for St. Francis. Teammate Robert Gomez had a 24-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.
MVC quarterback Dominic Pierini had 422 passing yards and tossed a pair of touchdowns to receiver Boston Ashe, who hauled in 11 receptions for 193 yards.
Max Torres had 11 receptions for 85 yards to go along with 53 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground for the Mustangs. Teammate Rykin Resurreccion recorded one interception and nine tackles.
MVC placed fourth with a 3-3 record in the PCAL Mission Division–North standings, and finished with a 5-5 overall record this season.
St. Francis placed third with a 4-2 record in the PCAL Mission Division–North Division standings, and finished with a 7-3 overall record this season.
