The San Lorenzo Valley High football team got into the win column for the first time this season following a 35-0 crushing victory over North Monterey County High in nonleague play Sept. 18.
After starting the season with three consecutive losses, the Cougars seemed to have bounced back at the right time.
“What I liked about our team is no one was panicking,” San Lorenzo Valley head coach David Grant said. “We’re starting to get some guys back from injuries, and it just felt good that we’re starting to put the pieces together. The win was just reassuring that we play good football.”
With the win, the Cougars improved to a 1-3 overall record this 2026 fall campaign.
Senior quarterback Brayden Scoma, who finished with a pair of touchdown passes, made some impressive throws while on the run, and had some clutch runs to keep the chains moving.
Junior wide receiver Dylan Chiechi hauled in a 15-yard TD reception in the back of the end zone, while Landon Pifer caught a 20-yard score that put them ahead 14-0.
Senior running back Justin Griffis added one touchdown from 10-yards out, while teammate senior Cody Goulart had a pair of rushing touchdowns, including a 50-yard sprint into the end zone that extended SLV’s lead by 28 points.
SLV senior linebacker Jacob Hardin played for the first time this season. He had more than 10 tackles, including three tackles for a loss.
“He is so explosive on defense,” Grant said. “The way that he flies to the football is kind of inspiring. I think when he’s out there making plays, it elevates the play of other guys around him.”
Hardin recorded one sack on the first play of the game that set the tone for the rest of the night. Senior defensive lineman Gabe Robison also recorded one sack, while senior defensive back Colton Scarborough had one interception in the second quarter.
The Cougar defense didn’t give up any first downs while holding the Condors to less than 100 total yards.
“We talked about it after the game, this is a team win that everybody was part of,” Grant said.
Following the 0-3 start, Grant said one of the biggest takeaways from it was how the special teams unit was underperforming.
It began in the regular season-opener after a 24-21 defeat to South San Francisco High. In that game, the Cougars gave up a kick off return for a touchdown in the third quarter that shifted momentum away from them.
Grant said allowing those types of big plays force the players to improve, which he believes they have done.
The injuries also didn’t help as Hardin, Griffis and several linemen had to sit out during the losing streak. Grant said that meant others had to step in such as senior Jackson Patton, who was converted from a lineman to a linebacker.
“We turn him into a linebacker, and we realize he might be a better linebacker than he is a D-lineman,” Grant said. “That would not have happened if we weren’t in these situations where people had had to step up. It’s been a lot of growth in some cool ways the last few weeks.”
Next up, SLV (1-3) hosts Pacific Grove High (1-3) in the teams’ final nonleague game of the regular season Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is slated for 12:30pm.
The Breakers have lost three consecutive after pulling off a 26-22 stunning win over Carmel High on Aug. 28. Since then, they’ve lost to Half Moon Bay, Monte Vista Christian and Scotts Valley high schools.
“We would love to get another win before [Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission North Division play begins], but our whole focus is going to be on league going forward,” Grant said. “Just looking forward to getting some more guys back and finding out what we can do.”
Scotts Valley 28, at Pacific Grove 14: Senior quarterback Bryce McDonnell connected with senior wide receiver Nick Acton for a pair of TD passes to help lift the Falcons past the Breakers in nonleague play Sept. 18.
Senior wide receiver Monte Jordan had a 90-yard rushing touchdown, while teammate senior Jake Locatelli added a score from 6-yards out for Scotts Valley.
On defense, Clayton Carter and Ben Luckey each recorded one sack, while teammate Colton Keegan recovered one fumble.
Next up, Scotts Valley (2-2) hosts North Monterey County (1-3) in nonleague play for Homecoming Night on Sept. 26 at 7:30pm.
Cross country
SV’s Shehorn wins Tom Leikam Invitational: Scotts Valley senior Hanna Shehorn won the girls division race at the 3rd Annual Tom Leikam Invitational on Sept. 19.
Shehorn crossed the finish line first in 17 minutes, 13.5 seconds on the three-mile course at Pinto Lake County Park in Watsonville.
Hailey Shehorn (18:08.4) took fourth, while teammate junior Stella Sutcliffe (19:46.9) placed 12th in a field of 86 runners. Scotts Valley placed runner-up as a team with a score of 70 points, finishing behind champion Santa Cruz with 51 points.
Other Falcon finishers included sophomore Linnea Hannaleck (22:04.1) finished 38th, and freshman June York (22:11.6) in 41st.
SV’s Stull has top 25 finish at Tom Leikam Invitational: Scotts Valley senior Jackson Stull had a top 25 finish in the boys division race at the 3rd Annual Tom Leikam Invitational on Sept. 19.
Stull placed 21st in 16:48.3 in a field of 112 runners that competed on the three-mile course at Pinto Lake County Park in Watsonville. Aptos High senior Sam Hansen won the race in 15:11.9.
Scotts Valley freshman Levi Perlovich (18:12.5) placed 59th, followed by teammates freshman Caleb Krenz (18:46.7) in 74th, sophomore Stuart Griffith-Jones (18:50.5) in 76th and freshman Sebastian Caron (19:16) in 88th.
Girls golf
At Scotts Valley 177, Aptos 195: Zoe Robbins earned medalist honors for the Falcons in their win over the Mariners in league action at DeLaveaga Golf Course on Sept. 17.
With the win, Scotts Valley improved to a 2-0 record in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play this season.
Robbins, who birdied on the first hole, shot a 29, followed by teammates Jess Ervine (31), Lizzie Goldfield (32), Campbell Flores (41), Camille Zwerling (44) and Hazel James (50).
Girls tennis
At Scotts Valley 7, Harbor 0: The Falcons opened their SCCAL season with a sweeping victory over the visiting Pirates on Tuesday afternoon.
Scotts Valley swept all four singles matches in straight sets and did the same in their three doubles matches.
Falcon freshman Marta Nadyer Camilo beat Joslyn Couerneen 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 singles, while freshman Raaga Chandirimani defeated Maya Thoim 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2.
Scotts Valley senior Raquel Sullivan beat Addisen Kimmel 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 singles, while teammate senior Montserrat Burgos Saavedra defeated Emily Reyes Sebastian 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4.
In doubles play, Scotts Valley senior Konie Lim and sophomore Lily Flores beat Cahristiana Herzog and Malia Dyer 6-4, 6-0 at No. 1.
The freshmen tandem of Lillian Foss and Ava Nelson defeated Harbor’s Elsa Tellez and Fiona Goldman 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 in the most competitive match of the day at No. 2 doubles.
Falcon seniors Alina Charley and Zicheng Zeng beat Marsie McAlister and Aaliya Rasul 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3.
Next up, Scotts Valley (1-1, 1-0) plays at San Lorenzo Valley in SCCAL play Sept. 29 at 4pm.
Girls volleyball
Scotts Valley 3, at Mount Madonna 0: The Falcons swept the Hawks in three sets 25-16, 25-22, 25-16 in SCCAL action Tuesday evening.
Riley Kilpatrick had eight kills, eight aces and four digs for Scotts Valley, which improved to 1-3 in league play this season.
Teammate senior Zoe Norris had 11 kills and five digs, while Stesha Nikolaeva had 23 assists and a pair of aces. Paige Anderson added four aces and six kills.
Cadence Barr finished with a team-best five aces and seven kills for Mount Madonna, which dropped to 0-4 in league play this season.
Next up, Scotts Valley (6-7, 1-3) plays at Soquel on Sept. 29 at 6:30pm.
Editor’s note: Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit results and highlights to jr****@*****ys.com. Follow sports editor Juan Reyes (@jmreyes831) on X for scores and news updates.
