When you’re fresh off winning three-straight Central Coast Section titles, as well as five consecutive Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League championships, you would think the pressure is on once again for the Aptos High football team to keep up its dominance. However, the Mariners look at it as that was the past and this is the now.
“I believe each team is separate and a team to itself,” Aptos coach Randy Blankenship said. “That’s something we talk about. We aren’t trying to keep a streak going, we are trying to make sure that this group understands that we go as this group goes. If they want to have a good year, we’ll do it.”
It’s a new year, but with all that Aptos is returning, they’ll be hard pressed to not have a good year. The Mariners returns their starting quarterback, leading receiver and two of the team’s top three rushers from last season.
Senior Gavin Glaum returns behind center in Blankenship’s run-heavy Wing-T attack, one year after setting the school’s record for passing yards in a single season. Glaum threw for 1,579 yards and 11 touchdowns last year, and has another season under his belt of learning the complexities of the Wing-T.
“I think I’ve improved a lot from last year,” Glaum said. “I’m healthy this year and feel great so far.”
Glaum won’t throw the ball that often, but when he does he’ll look towards fellow senior Joey Riccabona, who led the Mariners in catches (21) and receiving yards (381) last year. For Blankenship, 62, who is entering his 42nd year of coaching, keeping Aptos hungry and refusing to rest on their laurels is something he takes great pride in.
“Sometimes when you win you think winning is just going to take care of itself, but like (Alabama coach Nick) Saban says ‘There’s no continue to success,’” Blankenship said. “So really I’m just trying to make this season their season and forgot about the past and see what happens.”
Standing in the way of Aptos from winning a sixth-straight SCCAL title, or as the Mariners look at it one for this senior class, will be the two valley schools in Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley. SLV gave the Mariners its closest league game in years, falling 28-26 in Aptos, while Scotts Valley held Aptos to its lowest halftime lead in league when the Falcons trailed the Mariners 14-7 with the SCCAL title on the line in the final regular season game of the year. The game against Aptos is also circled on many calendars of its tougher league foes.
“Every year we go up against them we just know that we have to put in so much extra work than they do to be able come out on top,” Scotts Valley quarterback Tyler Stow said. “Luckily we have our bye week before Aptos so it’s a very focused and dedicated week to coming out on top and trying to beat the best team in our league for the last five years.”
Aptos (9-4)
Aptos has all the makings to once again make another run at a CCS title this year. The Mariners are the consensus favorite to capture its sixth-straight SCCAL title and depending on how this year’s non-league games and the team’s health goes, Aptos could take advantage of the SCCAL’s opt-up clause into one of the CCS three Open Division’s.
The Mariners have won 27-straight SCCAL games dating back to 2010. Time will tell, but until someone actually knocks off the Mariners, it is their league to lose.
One thing for certain when it comes to the Mariners is they are going to run and run often.
“In high school football a team that can run the ball wins games,” Blankenship said. “You can go back in the state and look at the teams that won all the titles, probably 95 percent of them run the ball more than anything. It makes your offensive line tougher and makes your defense tougher.”
Scotts Valley (8-4)
Scotts Valley came within a last second Noah Ryan 22-yard field goal of advancing to the CCS Division V title game last year.
The Falcons return four starters on each side of the ball and will need to replace its quarterback, leading rusher and top receiver but one thing about Scotts Valley is they do adapt on the fly.
“Every year we are different — I coach what we got,” Scotts Valley coach Louie Walters said. “Some years we’ve had big huge kids and just pound the ball, some years kids weren’t as big so we’re going to spread it out and throw it, I think with this group it’s going to be 50-50.”
Stow takes over behind center for Scotts Valley this year and will look to hand the ball off to senior running back Tanner Gilton.
Walters isn’t shy about the way he runs his offense.
“Try and pound the ball a little bit and let Tyler make some magic throwing the ball,” Walters said. “I think we’ll be a little more balanced, last year we were a run-heavy team. The plan is to put Tanner in the I-(formation) and toss him the ball and let him do cool things.”
San Lorenzo Valley (6-5)
The Cougars are looking for the breaks. Last year, SLV’s were few and far between, including a 28-26 loss to Aptos and a five-overtime loss — yes five overtimes — to rival Scotts Valley.
SLV will rely on senior Tanner Murray, who takes over behind center this year for the Cougars, who replace their starting quarterback, leading rusher and receiver this year.
Scott Poetzinger will get the bulk of the carries after rushing for 550 yards and seven touchdowns.
If the Cougars can stay healthy and actually get some breaks, a third straight trip to the CCS playoffs could be in the cards.
Santa Cruz (3-7)
The Cardinals took solace in beating their two league rivals, Harbor and Soquel, in impressive fashion, but those were the only highlights last year. This year the Cardinals are looking to build off its season finale win over Soquel along with a promising junior varsity class to propel them into the upper echelon of the SCCAL.
Santa Cruz last made the CCS playoffs in 2007, the last time they won a CCS title.
Soquel (1-9)
Soquel had trouble putting points on the board last year, scoring 14 points or less in six of its 10 games.
The Knights will begin the season with a bye before welcoming Los Altos. Soquel will be on the road against Pajaro Valley and Watsonville before wrapping up non-league play at home against Capuchino and St. Francis Central Coast Catholic.
The Knights will have a new quarterback, lead running back and lead receiver this year and begin SCCAL play October 7 when they visit Santa Cruz in the annual Stump game.
Harbor (0-10)
There’s nowhere to go but up for the Pirates, after going winless and surrendering at least 42 points in every contest in a winless 2015 campaign.
Waylon Prather returns for his second season as coach of Harbor and will have the services of senior quarterback Jack Biddle, who threw for 264 yards and five touchdowns last year.
Harbor opens its season at Lynbrook and will begin SCCAL play on Oct. 8 when they visit SLV.
