Upon further review, St. Francis football head coach John Ausman took note after last week’s set of scrimmages that the coaching staff might be dealing with a problem.
No need to worry, though.
Ausman made sure to mention that it was what he called a “good problem.”
“We can build on that, you can coach and fix the things, technique, assignments,” Ausman said. “But effort and enthusiasm is all on those players. They did a good job today for that.”
One of those “quandaries” for Ausman is having a pair of quarterbacks in junior Max Madrigal and sophomore Noah Magana who are battling for the starting role this season.
Both young slingers looked impressive for the Sharks during Aug. 22’s preseason scrimmage against host North Monterey County and Carmel—the defending California Interscholastic Federation State Division 5-AA champion.
Now it’s up to Ausman, who is entering his ninth year at the helm, to make that decision prior to the team’s 2025 season and home-opener against Greenfield on Saturday afternoon.
“They both came in and sometimes when you have a QB battle, sometimes there’s a lull, or you can see a difference in the play of the team and the play of the individual,” Ausman said. “We didn’t see that, and that’s what we’ve seen all year. I’m okay with having a great problem.”
Whether it’s Magana or Madrigal, the new starting quarterback will have a difficult act to follow with the departure of Javier DaRosa-Fonseca.
In 2024, DaRosa-Fonseca tossed for 1,218 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions, while tallying 698 rushing yards and 13 TDs on the ground, according to statistics on the Monterey Bay Preps website.
He was one of 13 seniors who graduated and left a program that each year struggles with numbers on the roster sheet. Ausman said it’s gotten to the point where it’s already structured in their DNA and culture.
“Seniors who were juniors last year and saw those seniors, I think they’ve done a very good job stepping up for those seniors we’ve lost,” Ausman said.
Lucky for Ausman, the rest of the offense also shows some depth beginning with senior fullback Chax Gottlieb-Maier and senior running back Coy Jordan, who will lead the way in the backfield.
“It’s just making the best of what we have,” Jordan said. “Just coming together, figuring out what we have and what we’re going to do.”
Also in the mix at running back is senior Joseph Dayritt and junior Frankie Ortiz. On the outside, the Sharks have wide receivers Colton Stevens, Jacob Jimenez and Robert Gomez Jr.
St. Francis has a veteran-heavy presence in the trenches with the return of senior linemen Jacob Rocha and Jacob Almeida. They will be joined by a couple of newbies in sophomore Mick Flynn and junior Niko Reyes.
Gottlieb-Maier best described their style of play with just one word.
“Tough,” he said. “We might not be a big school, but we’re gonna come out there and first play of the game we’re gonna hit you in the mouth.”
On defense, Rocha and fellow senior linebacker Jaden Casey-Ganeshalingam will be in the middle. Junior defensive back Vince Tovar is set to make noise at the cornerback position, while senior lineman Paise Gitcho has been causing havoc as an edge rusher.
Aidan Berrelleza-Hernandez, a junior, also makes his return as the team’s top kicker.
“What I’m excited about is that each one of these young men have kind of grown into a role,” Ausman said. “As they’ve accepted and they embrace that role, whether they like the role or not, knowing that what they do in that role will impact a bigger or smaller role.”
St. Francis has one of the more unique schedules this season. For starters, nine of their 10 regular season games will be played on a Saturday—including four games on the road.
Plus, each contest is against a Pacific Coast Athletic League opponent, giving them a total of five crossover and five league games.
The Sharks will kick off the season at home on Borina Field in a non-league meeting against Greenfield on Aug. 30 at 12:30pm, followed by a non-league game at Pajaro Valley on Sept. 6 at 12:30pm.
After that, the Sharks along with a majority of teams in the PCAL have an early bye-week, forcing them to play either eight or nine consecutive games.
“Now it’s can you manage a season of eight straight games and be ready to play each and every week against teams that you could beat, but you also know they could beat you,” Ausman said.
In 2024, St. Francis finished with a 4-2 record in Mission-North Division play. Those two losses came against Alisal and defending league champion North Monterey County, creating a parity within the division.
It’s been four years since the Sharks captured the PCAL Santa Lucia Division title, becoming Santa Cruz County’s lone program to win that division.
“We have the ability to win league this year,” Gottlieb-Maier said. “I think we can do it, and we believe in our group of guys.”
Others in the fight for a league title include San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley, along with cross-town rivals Monte Vista Christian and Watsonville.
Ausman said each group is a well-coached physical football team, and they must be on their A-game as they go through the gauntlet.
“That’s what you want going in each week, knowing you’re gonna have to play your best football to win,” Ausman said. “I’m really excited for the season. I know it’s going to be challenging, but that’s what you want.”
St. Francis football 2025 schedule
Aug. 30: Greenfield, 12:30pm
Sept. 6: at Pajaro Valley, 12:30pm
Sept. 20: Pacific Grove, 12:30pm
Sept. 26: at King City, 7:30pm
Oct. 4: Alvarez, 12:30pm
Oct. 11: Watsonville*, 12:30pm
Oct. 18: at San Lorenzo Valley*, 12:30pm
Oct. 25: at North Monterey County*, 1pm
Nov. 1: Monte Vista Christian*, 12:30pm (Senior Day)
Nov. 8: vs. Scotts Valley*, 7:30pm (at Harbor High)
*PCAL Mission-North Division game
