SAN JOSE — Pajaro Valley High’s football team was handed its first loss, 13-6, by host Independence in the teams’ tightly contested battle of unbeatens in nonleague action on Friday night.
“Our guys played great; I’m super proud of them,” said Ray Myers, the Grizzlies’ first-year head coach. “They went out there against a big, physical team, and we played like a big physical team too, at times. It was exactly what I expected it to be, watching film and in person and knowing us and how we play in person. I thought our physicality was good.”
Pajaro Valley High’s Andrew Chavez intercepts a pass intended for Independence’s Trustin Nguyen during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Perhaps the only thing more exciting than the matchup — at least in the eyes of the public address announcer — was the news from the snack shack in the third quarter that nachos were on sale for $1. He was giddy beyond belief as he encouraged the crowd to take advantage of “this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
He was equally joyous for both 76ers scores, which left him bellowing “touchdoooowwwwn!!!” with fervor. His screams were likely heard throughout East San Jose.
While the outcome went down to the wire, Pajaro Valley has no time to sulk or play the “what-if” game. It must turn its attention to an even bigger game on the horizon. The Grizzlies (2-1 overall) open Pacific Coast Athletic League Santa Lucia Division play against defending champion Santa Cruz (2-0) on Sept. 19 at 6 p.m.
“This was a great test for us tonight, going into league, for sure,” Myers said. “Because we’ll play a lot of teams like this in our league.”
Pajaro Valley High’s Landin Manzi runs for a short gain against host Independence during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Pajaro Valley High’s Antonio Andrade tackles Independence’s Chase Pagaduan during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Pajaro Valley High’s Adrian Mendoza breaks tackles for a long gain against host Independence during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Pajaro Valley High’s Adrian Valadez Jimenez runs for a short gain against host Independence during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Pajaro Valley High’s Adrian Valadez Jimenez is tackled by Independence’s Jessiah Amaral during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Pajaro Valley High’s Andrew Chavez intercepts a pass intended for Independence’s Trustin Nguyen during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Pajaro Valley High’s Uriel Murillo tackles Independence’s Kaleo Garcia during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Pajaro Valley High’s Landin Manzi and Nicholas Martinez tackle Independence running back Chase Pagaduan during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Pajaro Valley High’s Adrian Mendoza runs for a touchdown against host Independence during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Pajaro Valley High’s Lucas Ortiz knocks away a pass intended for Independence’s Jessiah Amaral during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Pajaro Valley High quarterback Ethan Andrade looks to pass against host Independence during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
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Pajaro Valley High’s Landin Manzi runs for a short gain against host Independence during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Quarterback Gurshan Randhawa gave the 76ers the lead for good when he connected with receiver Jessiah Amaral on a 3-yard pass play with 2:33 left in the first half. Mateo Torres followed with the crucial extra-point kick following the 12-play, 51-yard drive, which featured three third-down conversions.
76ers running back Chase Pagaduan made it 13-0 with his 7-yard run to cap a 12-play, 69-yard drive to open the second half. Independence was in punt formation on 4th-and-6, when the Grizzlies were flagged five yards for encroachment. The 76ers brought their offense back on the field and converted on 4th-and-1 to extend the drive. Torres’ extra-point kick failed after the ball hit the crossbar and bounced back into the end zone.
Pajaro Valley High’s Lucas Ortiz knocks away a pass intended for Independence’s Jessiah Amaral during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
The Grizzlies responded with their best drive of the night. They marched 80 yards on 14 plays. Adrian Mendoza capped the drive with his 7-yard touchdown run.
The 76ers were called for encroachment on the extra-point kick, and the Grizzlies put their offense back on the field and attempted a two-point conversion. Mendoza was stopped short of the goal line on his run.
“I thought we ran the ball really well today, at times,” Myers said. “When we got going, running, our brand of football, they couldn’t stop us with what we did. The only thing that I thought stopped us sometimes could’ve been us. That’s why I always tell the guys, ‘Every time you point the finger, three fingers point back at you. So what can each person on this team do better next time?’ ”
Despite the failed conversion, Pajaro Valley had new life. What they didn’t have was the ball. The 76ers took over with 10:24 remaining and employed their clock-draining run game as they looked to tack on an insurance score. They marched from their own 23 to the red zone, but Randhawa fumbled the ball out of the back of the end zone as he attempted to score with 1:11 remaining.
Pajaro Valley High’s Adrian Valadez Jimenez is tackled by Independence’s Jessiah Amaral during the teams’ nonleague football game in San Jose on Friday. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
After two runs for a loss of yards and an incomplete pass, the Grizzlies turned the ball over on downs after quarterback Ethan Andrade was sacked by Kyler Balanga.
Randhawa kneeled on the ball to kill the final 25 seconds.
“I think it’s a good win for our program,” 76ers coach Jay Braun said. “I’m so proud of our boys to get this victory against a very good and talented Pajaro Valley team. We had a lot of respect coming in for them. They’ve done a lot of good things. We knew we had to bring our energy and emotion tonight and play good, sound football to win.”
Pajaro Valley’s defense was stout for much of the game, but especially after a bad snap and botched punt gave the 76ers 1st-and-10 at the Grizzlies’ 23-yard line. Two players later, Grizzlies defensive back Andrew Chavez came to the rescue. He darted in front of intended receiver Trustin Nguyen to make the interception.
The Grizzlies didn’t turn the ball over, but they were plagued by five fumbles.
Pajaro Valley finished with 110 yards on offense on 36 carries. Adrian Valadez led the way with 68 yards on 17 carries.
Running back Landin Manzi, coming off a 274-yard, four-touchdown outing for the Grizzlies, was held to 29 yards on 13 carries.
“It’s tough running against good teams,” said Manzi, of the Grizzlies’ collective showing. “I think if we fix the mistakes we had, we can run the same plays. It’s just hard when you’re making the same mistakes, running the same play and having the same result. … Defense was really good. I thought it was amazing.”
Independence (3-0) rushed for 145 yards on 37 attempts, and passed for 71 yards on 13 attempts. Pagaduan ran for 118 yards on 28 carries.
THE SCORES, SCHEDULE
Thursday
St. Francis 32, at Everett Alvarez 26, 2OT
Friday
At Independence 13, Pajaro Valley 6
Saturday
King City at SLV, 12:30 p.m.
Santa Clara at Santa Cruz, 3:30 p.m.
Stevenson vs. Scotts Valley at Harbor High, 7:30 p.m.