FOOTBALL: Scotts Valley Falls in Non-League Finale

A costly turnover and a backbreaking touchdown pass with only eight ticks left on the clock in the first half left the Scotts Valley High football team behind by three scores at the halftime break.

Despite the major hole against their toughest opponent to date, Scotts Valley rallied to within nine points before it’s comeback hopes ran out of steam Friday afternoon at Sacred Heart Prep.

SHP and Scotts Valley both came into the non-league finale boasting 3-0 records, but it was only the Gators of SHP that left the field Friday still sporting a perfect win-loss mark.

SHP won the game 31-15, scoring it’s final touchdown with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter on a muggy, hot afternoon in Atherton.

“You have to play a good game to beat a good team,” Scotts Valley head coach Louie Walters said. “Today, they were the better team. Turnovers really hurt us.”

SHP dominated the football in the first quarter of play, rattling off drives of 11 plays that led to a short field goal and a 10-play drive on it’s next series.

The home team held onto the ball, but only would come away with three points to show for it.

Falcons senior tailback Collin Corbella ripped the football free from a Gators runner at the 1-yard line, halting a promising scoring chance for the hosts.

Corbella also did plenty of damage on the ground. The Falcons primary back carried the ball 28 times for 142 yards and one touchdown during the ball game.

Only down 3-0 after one, a Scotts Valley swing pass couldn’t be corralled in the back field which led to big trouble. The football deflected off the hands of the intended receiver, then bounced high off the hot turf into the arms of an alert Gators defender.

The 19-yard defensive touchdown put SHP ahead 10-0. SHP would lead 24-3 at the break.

“Usually we come out a lot stronger,” Scotts Valley quarterback Jack Pasquini said. “SHP is a great team. We knew they had a strong defense and that they were going to put the pressure on us. We didn’t start out the way we wanted, but we played with a sense of urgency in the second half and we were able to make some plays out there.”

It was a tale of two halves for the Falcons senior quarterback. Pasquini was held to only seven yards passing and two completions in the first half.

He finished with 15 completions for 158 yards and one touchdown.

Pasquini found sophomore wide out Joe Gillette for a five-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

Gillette finished the game with three catches for 18 yards. Senior Kevin Bargetto led the Falcons with nine grabs for 74 yards.

The Gillette touchdown cut the lead down to 15 points. After a quick three-and-out for the Gators, Scotts Valley got the ball back and marched 53 yards on 15 plays to grind it’s way back into the end zone.

Corbella finished the lengthy drive with a two-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed making the score 24-15 midway through the final quarter of play.

“I just felt like we didn’t get into a rhythm at all,” Coach Walters said. “I am proud of the way the kids fought back. Our lineman played the entire game on both sides of the ball and it was a hot day out there.”

Scotts Valley kicks off Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play next Friday at Soquel High.