Press Banner
Big plays were seen aplenty as Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley high schools battled for bragging rights at Wayne Richards Field in Felton on October 15. Scotts Valley (2-1 league, 5-2 overall) came away all the richer after an impressive 36-21 victory over SLV (1-2, 3-4) avenging last years mud bowl loss.
The Falcons day was highlighted by three touchdowns on plays of more than 50 yards.
The big plays came in the form of a 57-yard pass from quarterback Jack Pasquini to wide receiver Andrew Stumbo, a 51-yard pass to another wide-out Kevin Bargetto and a 90-yard kickoff return by Victor Pasanisi.
“We couldn’t afford to give up big plays like we did,” said SLV Head Coach Doug Morris. “We knew we had to stifle their offense and we just didn’t do that.”
Although Pasanisi finished the day with 57 yards rushing and another 131 in return yards, he nearly had one of the best games of the year by anyone in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League.
Early in the first quarter Pasanisi took a sweep around the outside and broke free for a 64-yard touchdown that was called back for an illegal block in the back penalty. Later in the second quarter, the elusive Pasanisi took a short screen pass 44 yards for a touchdown that again was called all the way back on a holding penalty. Then in the third quarter, Pasanisi took yet another sweep around end for a 66-yard touchdown run and for a third time, it was called back for holding and no touchdown.
“I know they didn’t count toward the score,” Pasanisi said. “Those touchdowns counted for me. I am not too bent about it. If we lost by three touchdowns that would have been a different story but we pulled off the win.”
If the 176 yards had not been negated, Pasanisi would have finished the day with 364 total yards and four touchdowns.
“Victor is a very special kid, he is really fun to watch run out there,” said Falcon Head Coach Louie Walters. “Can you imagine if we hadn’t had those called back.”
Senior Colin Corbella was the one who piled up the stats, rushing for 180 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Falcons.
As the Cougar offense sputtered against a stiff Falcon defense, their defense and special teams took over scoring responsibilities. The Cougars’ Robbie Biagiotti intercepted a Falcon screen pass for the Cougars and returned it 30 yards for six points in the waning minutes of the first half to put the Cougars on the board. The extra point was muffed on a bad snap.
The Cougars second score was set up by a punt block by defensive lineman Ian Reavey who batted the ball to teammate Trevor Patterson who recovered the downed ball at the Falcons one yard line. Running back Jonny Cooper punched in the score and cut the deficit to 14 midway through the 3rd quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Pasanisi ran the ball down the left sideline almost untouched on his 90-yard touchdown return and verily sealed SLV’s fate.
Late in the fourth quarter, SLV quarterback Tyler Gilbert hit Jordan Reynolds on a 21 yard touchdown for the last score of the game.
SLV plays next at Soquel at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, while Scotts Valley, will host Harbor High for their homecoming game under the lights at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21.
