WATSONVILLE — Ron Myers couldn’t help it.

The Watsonville High head football coach was almost giddy as he gushed about the massive jumps in strength and athleticism his Wildcatz had made since the end of last fall.

“We’re talking real, real improvement,” said Myers, now in the fifth year of his second stint at Watsonville, “and it’s not just one or two guys.”

Watsonville impressively has 63 players on its roster and a majority of them have packed on the muscle and trimmed off the fat in hopes of building on last year’s winning season, the program’s first since 2009.

“They took it serious,” Myers said. “The guys who wanted to get better, did.”

Which is good news, because this year’s group has its eyes set on the program’s first Central Coast Section playoff berth of the decade, and the road to the postseason will be a tough one.

Watsonville will compete in the second-highest division of the newly-formed Pacific Coast Athletic League. In the Mission division, the ‘Catz will see three playoff teams (Alisal High, Scotts Valley High and Soledad High), as well as a pair of programs that competed in the top division of the now-defunct Monterey Bay League (North Salinas High and Monte Vista Christian). The seventh team in the division (Carmel High) has not had a losing season since 2000.

Myers didn’t quite understand how his team was placed among the juggernauts, but didn’t make many excuses.

“We got to step up,” Myers said. “We got to step up.”

Several of the ‘Catz saw the new league as a reward for last year’s success, and were excited to see how they stack up against teams that have been where they want to go: the CCS playoffs.

“Everyday we’ve been in and out working hard, lifting weights, working on our technique, doing everything we possibly can to get better for this league,” said senior Dylan Vargas. “I think facing these great teams, that have shown some really great things in the past, is going to be something else.”




Vargas, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound tight end and defensive end, is one of a handful of players that have stepped into leadership roles following the graduation of last year’s seniors. Running back Matthew Barcelo, linebacker Esteban Reyes, defensive end Rodrigo Hernandez and offensive tackle Andres Galvan are all back for their third varsity seasons and join Vargas at the head of a deep squad.

Junior quarterback Oscar Magaña has also grabbed the reins at times, leading the offense through 7-on-7 drills for the past two summers and making a big impression on the seniors.

“He just leads,” Myers said of Magaña, who stands at a wiry 6-foot-1. “He gets in there and the guys listen to him.”

Magaña will have his chance to make an impact in the passing game, but the Watsonville double-wing offense will lean heavily on the guys on the line and its speedy stable of backs.

Galvan, a 5-foot-11, 270-pounder who earned all-league first team honors last year, is the anchor of an offensive line that loves to maul defenders into the dirt.

“He got all-league last year, putting everyone on their backs,” Reyes said of Galvan. “He’s pretty much what drives our offense.”




Senior Eddie Espinoza will also open up holes for Barcelo (5-8, 165), who led the team in rushing yards each of the last two seasons.

Junior running back Blake Mares and senior wingback James Sandoval will also carry the rock plenty. The two are similarly built, but have different running styles. Mares (5-foot-8, 155 pounds) has several nasty jump cuts and jukes, while Sandoval (5-7, 165) can turn on the jets and reach the corner on the way to six points.

“[They’re] similar,” Galvan said of Watsonville’s three lead runners. “[Mares] can juke people and he can run over people if he has to.”

Added Vargas: “Our offense is going to create some havoc this year.”

On defense, Watsonville has a multitude of lineman at its disposal. Vargas and Hernandez (5-10, 210) can get after the quarterback and stop the run, while junior defensive tackle Pablo Valle (6-2, 205), and senior nose guard Luis Valenzuela (5-10, 299) — among others — will stuff the running lanes.

Reyes (6-0, 220) leads the linebacking corps, which will be tasked with replacing two-way star Evan Delozier. Seniors Cristian Zavala, Javier Marinez, Jesus Mares, Carlos Ortiz and Nathen Reyna will all battle for playing time at the second level of the defense.

At the third level of the defense, Watsonville lacks height but oozes athleticism. Sandoval and fellow senior Alejandro Zepeda have again emerged as the team’s top defensive backs. Senior Luis Guzman has also impressed the coaching staff with his work and preparation throughout the offseason.

“He’s had a great summer,” Myers said of Guzman. “It’s his turn to play, and it’s easy to see that he’s realized that.”

Watsonville also returns its senior kicker Diego Moreno, who did not miss a single extra point last season and routinely booted the football out of Emmett M. Geiser Field onto Riverside Drive.

“There are guys in the pros who can’t go the whole season without missing a single extra point all year,” Myers said.




With Watsonville and Pajaro Valley High in different divisions of the PCAL this season, the Belgard Kup Game will now take place during opening week (Aug. 24) at Geiser Field.

Players on both sides have been mum on the rivalry, but the juices will undoubtedly be flowing when the city’s two public schools meet in the rivalry’s 12th iteration.

“It’s just another regular game,” Esteban Reyes said, “except it’s at the beginning this year”

Watsonville will also continue its century-long rivalry with Santa Cruz High (Aug. 31) and try to ignite a dormant rivalry with St. Francis High (Sept. 7) during its preseason.

Its biggest test of the preseason? A road game against powerhouse Burlingame High on Sept. 14. The Panthers have been one of the most consistent programs in the CCS, finishing with a winning record each of the last five seasons and making the playoffs in every season since 2009.

It’ll be a “measuring-stick” game before Watsonville hits its bye week and preps for its PCAL Mission division opener at North Salinas High (Sept. 28).

By then, the ‘Catz hope their journey to the playoffs will be well underway.

“[Last year’s winning season was] motivating for us,” Barcelo said, “but we just have to keep going.”

Editor’s Note: This article will publish in the Pajaronian’s “Kickoff 2018” section on Aug. 17. The yearly section will feature previews, schedules and player spotlights for the six high school football teams in the Pajaro Valley: Pajaro Valley, Watsonville, St. Francis, Monte Vista Christian, Aptos and North Monterey County.

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