Santa Cruz Claims League Title with 38-14 Win Over Harbor

UPDATE: Santa Cruz High’s football team has clinched the Santa Lucia league title and secured a spot in the Central Coast Section playoffs after a decisive 38-14 victory over rival Harbor earlier today. This win marks a remarkable turnaround for the Cardinals, who just two years ago faced a scoreless and winless season.

The Cardinals dominated the field with 351 yards of total offense and made critical defensive stops throughout the game. The victory was celebrated during their senior night, as Santa Cruz improved to 6-2 overall and 5-0 in league play.

“I’m just happy for the guys,” exclaimed second-year head coach Sergio Escobar. “We’re able to string together wins after last season. I’m happy we’re 300% better than last year. It’s a testament to these guys. They bust their tails all the time.”

In a thrilling rivalry game, the Cardinals took control early. After a strong opening drive, Anderson Hernandez kicked a 37-yard field goal to put Santa Cruz on the board. The team broke the game open in the second quarter with two touchdown receptions from Rocco Marini, who scored on passes of 33 and 28 yards.

“It’s huge, because they came in and beat us two years ago,” Marini said. “They were saying this is their Super Bowl. It’s amazing, we just came and beat them. We showed up.”

The Cardinals’ running back Angelo Meyer shone brightly, rushing for 116 yards on just 11 carries, including a spectacular 47-yard touchdown. The Pirates struggled to keep pace, despite a spirited performance from running back Hudson Coffey Pennell, who scored both of Harbor’s touchdowns.

With just one game left in the regular season, Santa Cruz will face Gonzales on November 7 at 7:30 p.m.. Even if second-place Pajaro Valley wins their remaining games, Santa Cruz will advance to the playoffs due to their earlier victory over the Grizzlies.

Despite the loss, Harbor showed resilience. “I’m proud of the effort,” said Pirates coach James Gaynor Jr.. “When we started in August, our No. 1 goal was to try and beat Santa Cruz. That’s going to remain our goal.”

In total, the game featured a staggering number of penalties, with Harbor racking up 16 penalties for 135 yards, more than their total offense. The Pirates will look to regroup as they prepare to host Gonzales on Friday at 6 p.m..

This significant victory for Santa Cruz is not just a celebration of a league title but a testament to their incredible turnaround from last season. As the playoffs approach, all eyes will be on the Cardinals to see how far they can go.