It was a day full of emotions for San Lorenzo Valley senior Olin Bates after he played on his home turf one final time in last week’s regular season finale.
The towering defensive lineman was all over the field, recovering one fumble and recording one interception in the Cougars’ 24-14 victory over North Monterey County on Nov. 8.
With the win, SLV capped off a perfect 5-0 record in league play en route to a Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division-North crown for the 2025 fall campaign.
“It kind of really is a testament to how hard we worked in order to come as far as we have,” Bates said. “It took so many days that seemed like they didn’t matter…those are the days that really matter and are really important.”
SLV earned the No. 7 seed in the Central Coast Section Division IV playoffs. They play at No. 2 Willow Glen of San Jose on Friday at 7pm.
Prior to last week’s regular season finale, SLV had already clinched at least a share of the league title. But, senior Gabe Machado wasn’t looking to split a championship.
“We didn’t want to share a title, that’s what [head coach Dave] Grant was telling us,” Machado said. “He shared the title back when he was in high school, with Harbor, and he talks about that nearly every day.”
It’s SLV’s first league title since 2010 when it was a member of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League, and 14th overall for the program.
SLV head coach and former player Dave Grant was part of two SCCAL title runs, including the one they had to share with Harbor in 1996. He knows how much bringing home a championship banner means to the community.
“The last few years we’ve been getting better and better,” Grant said. “We push these guys hard, it’s year round. Weightlifting, conditioning program, and then we hit summer where we really turned up the dial.”
On top of winning a league title, Bates got to don the illustrious No. 21 jersey that was worn by former player David Maze, who was killed in an alcohol related driving accident in 1997.
“All the coaches, we really felt that [Bates’] work ethic was incredible, his leadership, his positive attitude, it really is everything that we want,” Grant said.
The jersey is presented prior to the final home game of the season, and given to a player who best exemplifies dedication and determination, such as Maze.
“Very emotional for me, it’s a really big honor,” Bates said. “I just have a lot of respect, and love for the sport. Getting things like this, they’ll make me tear up.”
Bates added, “Another thing about wearing this is you need to start carrying yourself to a higher level. It also inspires other people to have that.”
The Cougars had to find some inspiration within themselves early on when junior Jacob Hardin left the game in the first quarter with a strained hip. They were also without sophomore running back Jesse Fulkerson, who broke his leg against Watsonville on Nov. 1.
“We could not have done what we did this year without Jesse,” Grant said. “He’s gotten a lot of love from his teammates, and it’s just another example these guys care about each other.”
After a scoreless opening stanza, junior Brayden Scoma ran in his lone touchdown of the afternoon that put the Cougars on the scoreboard at 7-0 in the second quarter.
NMC responded by building a 14-7 lead following a pair of touchdowns from senior receiver Jacob Silva, including a 62-yard rushing score.
Silva then hauled in a 26-yard scoring reception from junior Jaycob Ducusin just before going into halftime.
“We underestimated them, for sure,” Machado said. “We just needed to get stops, and we kind of just came out flat. Jacob Hardin went out early, that was definitely a big part of our defense.”
SLV continued to implode to begin the second half starting with back-to-back penalties that stalled a well-looking drive on offense.
Grant was then hit with a personal foul that gifted NMC an additional 15 yards on its first drive of the third quarter.
Yet, that was the final present the Condors would receive that afternoon.
SLV junior lineman Gabe Attia recovered one fumble to begin the fourth quarter.
Moments later, they recaptured the lead when junior Justin Griffis zig-zagged his way through a wall of defenders while breaking a couple of tackles for a 22-yard TD.
Scoma followed up with a 3-yard scamper to successfully convert the 2-point attempt, putting the Cougars ahead at 21-14.
Griffis finished with a game-best 110 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
Junior kicker Kolby Handley added some extra cushion late in the game for SLV. He nailed a season-best 37-yard field goal attempt right down the middle, extending the lead at 24-14 with four minutes remaining in the contest.
SLV’s ferocious defense delivered the final blow when junior lineman Jackson Patton jumped on a loose ball to recover a fumble.
NMC lost a total of four fumbles: two by Gabe Raya, one by Leo Cruz and one by Ducusin.
“I got a lot of respect for North Monterey. Tough dudes, good coaches,” Grant said. “The first half, we were sluggish, and we hunkered down at halftime.”
SLV’s season continues this weekend in the opening round of the CCS playoffs against Willow Glen—champion of the Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa-Valley Division.
The Rams, ranked No. 26 in the CCS rankings on Max Preps, finished with a perfect 5-0 record in the league standings, and an 8-2 overall record in the regular season. SLV (8-2, 5-0) is ranked No. 37 in the CCS rankings.
Willow Glen is led by senior quarterback Aiden Akery, who has completed 62% (87 of 141) of his pass attempts for 1,203 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Akery’s main targets include receivers Gavin Ferraro, Riley McKee, Chris Amann and Caden Morefield, who has a team-best five receiving TDs.
Akery is dangerous with his legs, as well. He has 384 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 83 carries, while teammate senior Lucas Favela leads the team with 469 rushing yards to go along with three TDs.
“I’m just looking forward to the competition,” Machado said. “It’s a different atmosphere, I’ve never played in a playoff game. No one on our team has played in a playoff game. We’re playing for something big, something we haven’t won.”
