STAFF REPORT
1. M.V.C. (7-1, 5-0): The football gods couldn’t have given a more perfect scenario in this storybook season for Monte Vista Christian.
The Mustangs went from having a game cut in their season to a guaranteed spot in the Central Coast Section playoffs.
M.V.C. also captured at least a share of the PCAL Mission division title with last week’s win against North Salinas High.
Next up, it’s a season finale showdown against Seaside High (8-1, 4-1). They have a shot to win the league title outright.
2. Aptos (5-4, 4-2): The Mariners lost a heartbreaker against Palma High. They also lost a chance for at least a share of the PCAL Gabilan division title.
But Aptos is still fighting for a CCS playoff spot. They could also play spoiler by beating Salinas High (8-1, 6-0), which is looking to go unbeaten in league play.
They’re going to need a lot of offensive production going up against Cowboys’ senior quarterback Carl Richardson, who will have scouts from NCAA Division I programs in attendance at tonight’s game.
Aptos has lost two-straight against Salinas, including last year’s 28-24 loss at “The Pit.”
3. N.M.C. (6-3, 3-2): North Monterey County High was stunned at home by a King City High team that had been struggling in league play.
Condors’ coach Sean Gomes said they shot themselves in the foot with penalties too many times, especially on drives that looked like scoring opportunities.
The season isn’t over, yet. N.M.C. plays Gonzales High (6-3, 3-2) tonight in PCAL Cypress division action.
The last time the teams met was in 2015. Gonzales defeated the Condors, 16-0.
4. St. Francis (6-3, 4-1): The Sharks are on a four-game winning streak and they are a team that keeps improving week after week.
They were nearly picked to be in the No. 3 spot. But they might not have enough to take out North Monterey County (yet, it’s any given Friday, right?).
Pacific Grove High (6-3, 5-0) is likely to finish the season undefeated in league play. But that’s not going to stop the Sharks from playing hard in the season finale against Harbor High (1-8, 0-5).
St. Francis is 6-4 all time against Harbor.
5. Pajaro Valley (2-7, 2-3): The Grizzlies bounced back with a nail-biting win against Marina High.
Pajaro Valley High had an all-around team performance and hadsome of the younger players step up on the offensive side.
It’s the second time in the program’s history that they’ve won two league games in the same season.
Pajaro Valley will try to make some history in the season finale against Stevenson School (5-3, 3-2) at Cabrillo College on Saturday.
Pajaro Valley is 0-2 lifetime against Stevenson. The Pirates won last year’s game, 49-27.
6. Watsonville (2-7, 0-5): The Wildcatz nearly pulled one off on the road against Gonzales.
Watsonville put on a much better performance this week and had the lead in the third quarter.
Now, it’s about finishing games. But they’ll have another big task ahead of them against long-time rival Santa Cruz High (7-2, 5-0).
The rivalry between both teams dates back to more than 100 years and is the longest running in California.
Since 2004, the Wildcatz are 10-5 against the Cardinals, including last year’s 41-14 road win.
