Scotts Valley’s football team came up with a new motto for the upcoming 2025 fall season.
Brick by brick.
Falcon senior lineman Caleb Mendoza said that’s because from here on out every game and every practice will be a new battle to help restore the program’s legacy.
“We want to emphasize that there may be ups and downs, but brick by brick, we’re gonna build up this season for sure,” he said. “[As seniors], this is our final year. I feel like everything we’ve done has built up till now.”
Scotts Valley doesn’t necessarily have to build from the ground up, yet the goal was to turn things around following a dismal 2024 season riddled with injuries that ended in a 3-7 overall record.
Mendoza said their morale took a huge hit when receiver Jacob Womack and quarterback Lucas Ringel were sidelined before the campaign even began. Then the injury woes continued after Niko Smutzer went down, and Eli Velez played banged up throughout the entire fall season.
Scotts Valley senior Vaughn Chomentwoski said it was also easy to tell they lacked the simple details such as fundamentals and footwork. That’s why a majority of this year’s team participated in a pair of 7-on-7 tournaments that included big wins against Palma and Sequoia.
“It really helps keep your skills at a good level at a good pace, and makes it that much easier to bounce back at the beginning,” Chomenstowski said. “And it’s fun to play all those teams, too.”
Chomentwoski said the feeling at the beginning of a new campaign is always exciting, adding that watching his teammates work during the offseason makes it that much more motivating.
“I just like the team that we have, the people themselves,” he said. “Outside of them being players we’re all really good friends. We lift each other up and stuff, and I think everybody’s really motivated to have a good season.”
Senior Caden Kilpatrick will be the starting quarterback, while senior Zane Siechen will also see some time under center.
Other key returners include seniors Vinny Noce, Fabricio Ore-Gomez, Elliot Nixon, Gabriel Dodge and Colin Wheatley, along with junior receiver Jake Locatelli.
“Those juniors got thrown into the fire because of the unfortunate injuries we had last year,” said Scotts Valley head coach Louie Walters. “They got some varsity experience, which is a good thing.”
Another name to look out for is junior Carter Clayton, a strong and big athlete that has “sky’s the limit” written on his back.
“I feel like they have a lot of potential,” Mendoza said.
Chomentowski said he likes the fact the youngsters aren’t afraid to play at the highest level, which in return gets him and the rest of the veterans excited.
“These kids, they come out here and they want to hit me,” he said. “That’s fun to see in a team.”
Chomentowski is part of a running back committee that includes seniors Colin Murphy and Cole Robbins along with Locatelli.
“I feel like we have so many different people that can do something,” Chomentowski said. “I think coach [Walters] knows that this year. He’s gonna spread it out and we get to see everybody do something amazing.”
Prior to the first day of practice, Chomentowski emphasized the importance of having trust and compassion for one another. He said that means putting everything to the test and looking toward each other for something to get done.
“We look to our sides and see our brothers next to us,” he said.
Mendoza added there’s also a sense of seriousness and commitment now that they are a senior-heavy team.
“I think our chemistry is just great this year,” he said. “We’ve grown up together, coming from middle school and to high school. We played football together for four years now, and it’s getting real.”
Scotts Valley returns to another newly realigned Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission-North Division after it finished with a 2-4 record in league play in 2024. They are two years removed from winning the Mission Division, but Walters, who is entering his 25th year at the helm, likes the direction his program is headed.
“The vibe is good,” Walters said. “They really created a brotherhood where they want to be in it together.”
The Falcons will square off against familiar foes in San Lorenzo Valley, Monte Vista Christian, Watsonville, North Monterey County and St. Francis for a shot at the Mission-North title.
Mendoza said there’s still a bad taste in their mouths from last year, especially after losing to long-time rival SLV.
“We’re excited because we feel like this year, it’s gonna be different,” he said. “A lot of people are thinking of us as not a very good team because of our record last year, but they’re not ready.”
If a league title run is destined for Scotts Valley, it’ll have to do so on the road due to construction for a new stadium with a new synthetic turf and track along with permanent bleachers and press box.
Instead, they’ll have to host teams at Harbor High School in Santa Cruz starting with the season–opener against Gonzales on Aug. 29 at 7:30pm.
“We’re the road warriors this year,” Walters said. “When you build a new stadium there’s always one class that misses out playing at home. But these kids are fine, they don’t care where they go.”
Mendoza and Chomentowski both said it hurts knowing they won’t get to play home games on their own field for one last year, yet they’ll continue to look on the bright side. Such as playing under the lights for more than just the Homecoming game.
“I love walking out on this field, from the locker room down on the field, like your home stadium, it’s a different feeling,” Chomentowski said. “But if I’m just thinking about how terrible it’s gonna be the whole time, or how much I’m gonna not like playing at Harbor, it’s not gonna be a good season. Looking at the upsides.”
Scotts Valley football 2025 schedule
Aug. 29: vs. Gonzales, 7:30pm
Sept. 6: vs. Santa Cruz, 7:30pm
Sept. 19: at Greenfield, 7:30pm
Sept. 27: vs. Soledad, 7:30pm
Oct. 4: at Stevenson, 2pm
Oct. 11: vs. San Lorenzo Valley*, 7:30pm
Oct. 18: vs. Monte Vista Christian*, TBA
Oct. 25: at Watsonville*, 7:30pm
Oct. 31: at North Monterey County*, 7:30pm
Nov. 8: vs. St. Francis*, 7:30pm
*PCAL Mission-North Division game
All home games to be played at Harbor High School
