By Jondi Gumz
Talented players and a defensive-minded coach who played in the NFL, that’s the story of this year’s Soquel High football team, which has earned 11 wins and the Central Coast Section Division II championship.
On Nov. 25, the No. 2 seed Knights shut out — 28-0 — No. 5 seed Christopher of Gilroy (11-1) at San Jose City College.
Soquel High football coaches and seniors on Senior Night. Kneeling (from left): Esteban Gonzalez-Cruz, Owen Cattaneo, Cruz Ferris, Troy Vienna, Braylon Noble, Jordan McCord, and coach Jacob Myers. Back Row: coaches Sean Ortega, Chuck Jones, Darryl Williams, Dwight Lowery; seniors Malakai Ross-Graves, Cade Petersen, Luke Bettey, Tito Ramirez, Jacob Magaña, and Justice Grauel Tebong. • Photo Credit: Sam Crane
They earned one more playing opportunity, a CIF NorCal Regional Bowl, hosting Casa Roble (12-1) of Orangevale, rated 107th in the state, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1.
In this division 4AA, the Matilda Torres Toros (11-3) play the Jurupa Hills Spartans (8-6)
The State Bowl Championships are Dec. 8-9.
Soquel High Coach Dwight Lowery is a Soquel High alum who played at Cabrillo College, San Jose State University and then for the New York Jets.
This season, he has guided his team to a 16-2 record.
Both losses were away, to 9-0 Salinas, which won Pacific Coast Gabilan Division league championship, and a non-league loss to Los Gatos, the first game of the season.
Lowery, who has coached the Knights since 2018 – during the Covid years— is grateful for the team chemistry that he sees as a part of this season’s success.
Coaching, of course, is a factor.
“I don’t ever go into a game thinking we’re going to lose,” he said after the Nov. 4 victory over Aptos. “You always go in with a plan to win.”
The 22-0 semi-final win over Monterey on Nov. 17 was at home on the field named for Dewey Tompkins, a legendary coach at Soquel High for 32 years who guided the Knights to a 9-0 undefeated season in 1976.
In a post-game interview, Lowery said, “We have some guys that can really play, that really should be getting recruited.”
He named four seniors:
Malakai Ross-Graves, defensive end, All-League First Team defense in 2022 at Santa Cruz High. He had a 93-yard two-point safety vs. Monterey. He’s second on the team with 4.5 sacks and third in tackles with 4.9. He’s 6-3 and 250 lbs.
Cade Petersen, linebacker, defensive line and athletically gifted, able to play multiple roles, All-League First Team Defense in 2022. He has 4.5 sacks. He’s 6-1 and 225 lbs.
Justice Grauel Tebong, running back, outside linebacker, middle linebacker, All-League First Team defense in 2022, leading the team in tackles with 6.3 per game. He has six rushing touchdowns, and he’s credited with causing a fumble and two quarterback hurries. He’s 6-4 and 218 lbs.
Jordan McCord, wide receiver, cornerback, and athletically gifted, League co-MVP in football in 2022 and ran 100 meters in 10.81 in track. He has 10 receiving touchdowns and leads the team with 46.5 receiving yards per game. He has 558 receiving yards, and 2,092 yards in three years. He also has two interceptions. He’s 5-11 and 170 lbs.
It helps that quarterback Sam Whelan, only a sophomore, has 1,317 passing yards, 16 touchdown passes and a rating of 113.6.
CCS Football Championship
This was a game with big plays on offense.
Senior Jordan McCord rushes against Carmel. He has 10 touchdowns this season. • Photo Credit: Ashley Bauerle
Jordan McCord slipped through defenders like a ghost on a 67-yard touchdown run at the outset.
Braylon Noble, a senior, rushed for 50 yards and two touchdowns.
Hudson Summerill, a sophomore who had a 41-yard touchdown reception against Monterey, saved a drive with a 33-yard gain on third-and-15.
Once again, the defense prevented their opponent from scoring. Justice Grauel TebongTebong and Cade Petersen tallied four sacks between them.
Monterey
The defensive line held the Monterey Toreadores to 74 yards of offense.
Justice Grauel Tebong was named MaxPreps’ Player of the Game.
His two touchdowns came on seven carries.
This is his third Player of the Game award.
Tyreis Lundy, a newly eligible junior halfback, rushed for 97 yards, bursting through the Monterey defense on a 28-yard run.
Carmel
In the quarterfinals against previously undefeated Carmel, the Knights got off to a slow start, tied 14-14 at halftime, and left with a 34-14 win.
There were plenty of second half highlights: a 98-yard touchdown run by Lundy, who scored twice on only eight carries, and 84-yard touchdown pass by sophomore quarterback Sam Whelan, and senior Jordan McCord scoring two touchdowns.
Braylon Noble, senior receiver and defensive back, was MaxPreps’ Player of the Game.
Palma & Aptos
When Soquel played powerhouse Palma, the Knights won 14-7.
MaxPreps named three Players of the Game, Jordan McCord, Esteban Gonzalez Cruz and Justice Grauel Tebong.
Another satisfying victory came against Aptos 26-14.
The Mariners coached by Randy Blankenship had beaten Soquel 62-0 in 2015, before Lowery became coach.
This year, the Knights put Soquel back on the map for football.
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TOP PHOTO: Senior Tito Ramirez (22) revs up the Soquel Knights on Senior Night vs. Palma. • Photo Credit: Sam Crane