RYAN SILAPAN
Prep2Prep Senior Editor

August 26, 2016

SALINAS, CA — For the third straight year the Aptos and Salinas High football teams squared off in both team’s season opener. As in previous meetings, it was a nail-biter until the end, with Aptos again being the victors.

The Mariners — a reigning three-time Central Coast Section champion — behind three Jack Wolf rushing touchdowns and a defense that forced five turnovers, fended off a strong Cowboys team for a 21-14 victory Thursday night at The Pit. Wolf scored on touchdown runs of 24, 1 and 6 yards while the Mariner defense had four interceptions and a fumble recovery.

“It was just a really hard fought battle,” said Wolf, who rushed for 66 yards on 14 carries while battling cramps throughout the game. “They are a really good team, they come out and hit hard and we just executed and stayed calm.”

The Mariners may not have a name for its secondary, like the Seattle Seahawks have with their “No Fly Zone”, but they may want to think of one. Aptos (1-0) ended the first three Salinas offensive drives all with interceptions. Two of the ensuing Mariner drives resulted in touchdowns.

Sophomore defensive back Bubba Gallardo — who was making his varsity debut — led the Mariners' defense with two interceptions, while Joey Riccabona and Aidan McAnerney also each recorded a pick.

“Our coaches have been teaching us that if we stay in our zones things are going to happen,” Gallardo said. “We just stayed in our zones and forced turnovers.”

Along with the four interceptions, Aptos recorded four sacks, led by two from Chris Ilar, while Cody Whitney recovered a fumble.

Wolf scored the first points in the Central Coast Section when the senior broke free for a 24-yard touchdown with 4:06 left in the first quarter and added his second touchdown early in the second quarter. Salinas junior Brett Reade came in for Cowboys starting quarterback Julian Soratos in the second quarter, and engineered Salinas’ lone score of the first half when he took a quarterback keeper on third and goal, and found pay dirt from 10 yards out. Aptos led Salinas 14-7 going into halftime.

The Cowboys defense held Aptos' usually strong ground game to only 51 yards on 20 carries in the first half.

“You can tell they are experienced,” Wolf said of Salinas’ defensive line. “They fight hard and gave us a really good battle.”

Sophomore Marcos Reyes led the Mariners with 77 rushing yards on 13 carries. In all, the Mariners rushed for 143 yards on 49 carries. Aptos quarterback Gavin Glaum threw for 73 yards on 5-of-10 passing.

The Mariners took a 14-point lead to start the second half when Aptos engineered its best drive of the game, going 71 yards on 12 plays, resulting in a Wolf six-yard touchdown run. Salinas (0-1) got within a score when Jacob Gonzales took a reverse handoff 27 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-14 with 10:44 left in the game. The Cowboys got the ball back on their own 16-yard line with 1:33 left in the game, with a chance to possibly tie the game, but couldn’t muster a game-winning drive.

Despite the loss Salinas, who came into the game ranked No. 19 in the Prep2Prep CCS top 25 rankings, took the game in stride.

“Against a real good and disciplined ball club, we turned the ball over five times, and against a team like that it’s going to be a struggle,” Salinas coach Steve Goodbody said. “But I was so proud, we fought hard for four quarters against a darn good football team.”

Richard Cerda led Salinas' rushing attack with 145 yards on 21 carries, while Reade threw for 93 yards and an interception on 10-of-20 passing. Senior Cooper Smith had four receptions for 52 yards and recorded two sacks on defense, while Andrew Padilla chipped in with a pair of sacks as well.

Salinas will visit Pioneer for its second game of the season on September 2 at 7:30 p.m. Aptos, who came into the game ranked No. 9 in the Prep2Prep CCS top 25, will next face Archbishop Mitty at Foothill College, also on September 2 at 7 p.m.

Before looking ahead to a formidable West Catholic Athletic League opponent, the Mariners will enjoy Thursday’s victory and the spectacle that was playing in the unofficial CCS kickoff game.

“It was a fun football game,” Aptos coach Randy Blankenship said. “I think the people got their money’s worth and I think both teams are tested. We both found out why we do all the hard work in the offseason. It was a heck of a game.”