WATSONVILLE — The Aptos High Mariners football team scored 21 points in the second quarter and another 28 in the third to crush the St. Francis High School Sharks 49-14 on Oct. 24.
Aptos High’s Johnny Martinez intercepts a pass in front of Parker O’Hara of St. Francis with less than a minute left in the first half.
While the end results was a lopsided score, the game looked competitive early.
Neither team scored in the first quarter.
In the second quarter Aptos got rolling and took a 14-0 with about 3 minutes left in the half, but the Sharks responded.
Quarterback Maximus Madrigal connected on passes to Colton Stevens and Eddie Toras, and Vince Tovar made a big un up the middle, before Madrigal connected with Toras in the end zone to make it 14-7.
St. Francis rally didn’t last long as it took the Mariner’s less than a minute to respond.
Preston Carvalho took a handoff from quarterback Jared Verdia-Moya and ran 50+ yards down to around the 10 yard line.
Aptos High’s Jason Ruiz (12) and Jacob Kissinger tackle Colton Stevens of St. Francis.
On the next play, Verdia-Moya threw a TD pass to Parker O’Hara to put the Mariners up by 14 again.
With 50 seconds left in the half, St. Francis attempted to rally again and made it all the way down the field before the Mariners’ Johnny Martinez intercepted a pass in the end zone with three second seconds left.
With a 21-7 lead at half, the Mariners dominated the third quarter, scoring 28 consecutive points.
The win was Aptos’ fourth straight, improving the Mariners to 5-3 overall and 3-0 in the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Mission North Division. St. Francis fell to 2-6 overall and 0-3 in league play.
TOP PHOTO: Aptos High running back Preston Carvalho makes a long gain just before halftime to set up a TD.