Scotts Valley senior quarterback Caden Kilpatrick and the offense wanted to set the tone early going into last week’s football season-opener against Gonzales.
The Falcons had no trouble in doing so following a crushing 38-0 win over the Spartans in non-league play Aug. 29.
“I think our [offensive] line was playing outstanding,” Kilpatrick said. “They were in the trenches all game, just making a difference. I think that’s what won us the game, really. By the second quarter, we just put [Gonzales] away. We were just dominating them.”
It was also the first of six games the Falcons are hosting at Harbor High while a new synthetic turf field and track is being installed on their home campus.
“It was definitely different just because usually when we’re at Scotts Valley, we don’t get a lot of night games,” Kilpatrick said. “It was cool playing in a different atmosphere, but it was definitely a little bit weird. But just glad we got the [win].”
Kilpatrick and his teammates have had time to practice in Santa Cruz for the past three weeks, twice a week.
Scotts Valley head coach Louie Walters said Harbor athletic director James Gaynor has been nothing but short of amazing when it came to opening the doors to their facilities.
“It was cool for it being a ‘home-opener,’ but playing an away game,” Walters said. “But, playing under the lights, there’s nothing better than that.”
Scotts Valley got off to a quick start with an 80-yard scoring drive that was capped off by Vaughn Chomentowski’s 9-yard touchdown run.
Moments later, the defense recorded a safety after the ball was snapped over the head of Gonzales quarterback Jeffrey Schweitzer.
“The defense was solid,” Walters said. “There were a lot of unknowns going into tonight’s game, and they played well.”
From there, it was all Scotts Valley as the offense exploded for 30 points in the second quarter.
Colin Murphy and Jake Locatelli each recorded a pair of touchdowns, while Cole Robbins added a 55-yard run. The Falcons finished with a total of 302 rushing yards.
“It just keeps everyone fresh,” Kilpatrick said about having a group of solid backs sharing the workload. “It’s like a brand new pair of legs every drive.”
Kilpatrick made the switch this year from receiver to quarterback, giving him the keys to run an offense that primarily runs the ball.
Scotts Valley is a run-first team, Walters will let it be known. Yet, Kilpatrick still feels his job is to keep everyone composed and make sure the offense is moving forward, never backwards.
“Just manage the game kinda,” Kilpatrick said. “I don’t have to make the crazy plays, I just have to make the right decisions. That’s really all I have to do.”
Next up, Scotts Valley (1-0) will host Santa Cruz (0-1) at Harbor High on Saturday at 2pm.
“It’s going to be a good matchup,” Kilpatrick said. “They got some good athletes on their side. So, I think the main thing is just coming out like we did in the first game, and just setting the tone early.”
San Lorenzo Valley 31, at South San Francisco 7: It took just one play from San Lorenzo Valley sophomore Jesse Fulkerson to let it be known he was ready to get the season started with a bang.
The speedy tailback broke free down the sideline on the first play from scrimmage for a 48-yard touchdown, and the Cougars defeated the Warriors in non-league play Aug. 28.
SLV head coach David Grant said last week’s trip to the Bay Area was no ordinary one, noting it took them nearly two hours to make the trek.
“That was a challenge for us, getting out of our element a little bit, going up there to The City,” he said. “But our kids handled it really well. I was really impressed just the way they started off the game.”
Fulkerson finished with 54 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on just three carries. Teammate Justin Griffis tallied a team-best 80 rushing yards and one TD on 16 carries, while Cody Goulart added 30 rushing yards and one score on 12 carries.
“We’ve got several dudes that we can hand the ball off to,” Grant said. “I think that just kind of strengthens our offense. People can’t just key on one guy.”
Junior kicker Kolby Handley recorded a 20-yard field goal just before halftime, extending SLV’s lead at 17-0 over a South San Francisco team that is two years removed from winning the Central Coast Section Division V championship.
“At halftime, I was not convinced that it was in the bag,” Grant said. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice cushion to have but I know they have athletes over there. They take football seriously up there.”
On defense, Sawyer Amos and Colton Scarborough each recorded one interception, while Jacob Hardin finished with a team-best 12 tackles for the Cougars.
“Our kids showed up,” Grant said. “The first play of the game we scored a touchdown, which really helped kind of calm everybody down.”
Next up, SLV (1-0) plays at Harbor (0-1) on Friday at 7pm.
Girls’ tennis
Carmel 7, at Scotts Valley 0: The Falcons opened the season with a sweeping loss to the visiting Padres in non-league play Aug. 29.
The most exciting match of the day was at No. 1 singles, as Carmel’s Gaby Samchenko edged Aila Papadopoulos 6-0, 6-7 (6-8) and 10-8 in a third set tiebreaker.
Carmel’s Ruby Iranmanesh beat Scotts Valley’s Montserrat Burgos-Saavedra 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles, while Carmel’s Meya Lin beat Riya Kuriakose 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 in a hard fought battle at No. 3.
At No. 4 singles, Carmel’s Harana Razi-Symes defeated Georgia Chetcuti 2-6, 6-3,10-5 in a three set tie-breaker.
In doubles play, Hannah Heberger and Naomi Foudy defeated Scotts Valley’s Maya Wexler and Carmen Pitterling 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1.
Carmel’s Bridget Trambley and Alisa Babenko beat Raquel Sullivan and Zicheng Zeng 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2, while Lauren Klingel and Grace Xu defeated Scotts Valley’s Konie Lim and Alina Charley 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 doubles.
Next up, the Falcons will begin the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League season at Harbor on Sept. 23 at 4:30pm.
Girls’ volleyball
At Scotts Valley 3, Monterey 2: Hayden Smith and Rylee Giesen each finished with 15 kills to help the Falcons beat the Toreadores in five sets 13-25, 25-27, 26-24, 25-19, 15-10 in non-league action Aug. 29.
Giesen also had 14 kills and three blocks, while Smith added 12 digs. Teammate Aila Papadopoulos finished with 12 kills, and Harlan Hennager had four kills and five blocks.
Makayla McDonnell added five kills, four blocks and three aces for Scotts Valley, which played at Palma on Thursday. Game results were not available prior to this publication’s deadline.
Scotts Valley (1-0) will tip off the SCCAL season at home against Santa Cruz on Sept. 9 at 6:30pm.
