PACIFIC GROVE—The St. Francis High football team remains on the quest to finish the season undefeated for the first time in the program’s history.
Senior running back Diego Wolfe recorded three touchdown runs for the Sharks, including two in the second half en route to a 34-14 win over Pacific Grove in Pacific Coast Athletic Cypress Division play Oct. 28.
St. Francis (9-0, 5-0) will try to close out the season with an unblemished record and capture its third league title in the past six seasons.
They will will travel to south Monterey County to battle against Soledad (8-1, 5-0) for the Cypress Division crown on Nov. 4 at 7:30pm.
“Traditionally, Soledad is one of those teams that has numbers, size and some athletes,” St. Francis coach John Ausman said. “I’m excited about the opportunity and we’ll enjoy this one for a day, and then get back to work.”
Wolfe put the Sharks on the scoreboard after a 1-yard TD in the first quarter. But, the Breakers responded with a 22-yard touchdown run by Noah Garry to tie the score at 7-all going into halftime.
Garry finished with a team-high 128 yards rushing on 17 carries and one touchdown.
“PG came out and they were aggressive,” St. Francis coach John Ausman said. “Some of those things we had taken advantage of in earlier games, we didn’t.”
Ausman said they had some dropped interceptions and the defense was called for numerous offside penalties, which hurt them at times.
“We didn’t execute very well in the first half,” he said.
Nethaniel Madrigal-Hernandez scored twice in the second half, including a 1-yard run in the third quarter that gave the Sharks back the lead.
The lead didn’t last long after the Breakers tied the score at 14-all on Jacob Salcido’s 1-yard TD.
Madrigal Hernandez and Wolfe sealed the deal in the fourth quarter, each scoring once to put the Sharks ahead for good at 35-14 with 6:44 left in the game.
“We just executed, played our game, kind of calmed down and coach [Vernon] Calhoun made a couple of offensive adjustments,” Ausman said. “It was good to see our guys have to fight through a little adversity, come to the realization that some things don’t come easy.”
Soquel 35, Monte Vista Christian 10: Jaiden Cote caught a 50-yard touchdown reception for the Mustangs in their loss to the Knights in PCAL Mission Division play Oct. 28.
MVC kicker Mario Melo notched a 30-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
The Mustangs (3-6, 1-4) will play at Carmel (4-5, 2-3) in the regular season finale on Nov. 5 at 2pm.
Greenfield 42, Pajaro Valley 0: Senior linebacker Edgar Martinez recorded an interception for the Grizzlies in their loss to the Bruins in PCAL Santa Lucia Division play Oct. 28.
Pajaro Valley (2-7, 2-3) will play its season finale against Marina (6-3, 3-2) at Seaside High School on Nov. 5 at 6pm.
Rancho San Juan 56, Watsonville 7: Vicente Baltazar scored a touchdown for the Wildcatz in their loss to the Trailblazers in PCAL Cypress Division play Oct. 28.
Peyton Hatton recorded his 35th touchdown of the season for Rancho San Juan (8-2, 4-2), which will have a bye week to finish the regular season.
Watsonville (2-7, 0-5) will host North Monterey County (2-7, 0-5) in the season finale on Nov. 3 at 7:30pm.
