SALINAS VALLEY — King City Mustang and Soledad Aztec football teams completed non-divisional play last week with wins Friday night.
King City improved to 4-1 with a 38-0 home victory over the Watsonville Wildcatz, and Soledad (1-4) won its first game of the season at home against San Lorenzo Valley, 35-21.
This Friday night, the two South Monterey County rivals will open play in the Mission South Division of the Pacific Coast Athletic League at Soledad High.
KING CITY
The Mustangs dominated Watsonville, with running back Carson Tidwell scoring four touchdowns, running for 216 yards on 21 carries and catching two passes for 29 yards.
“Everyone pitched in for Tidwell, to have the game that he did,” said King City head coach Mac Villanueva. “The offensive line, our tight ends and Rocky Villanueva at H back led the way on some great interior and perimeter blocking. Carson is much stronger this year and hard to bring down.”
After a scoreless first quarter, the Mustangs took a 21-0 halftime lead with three touchdowns, and three point-after attempts by Johell Carrillo.
Tidwell scored on a three-yard scoring run at the 11:47 mark of the second quarter and the PAT by Carrillo gave the Mustangs a 7-0 lead. With 8:37 left in the second quarter, Tidwell scored an eight-yard touchdown. The PAT by Carrillo gave King City a two-score lead at 14-0. The touchdown drive was set up after Benjie Bolanos came up with an interception.
The drive for the third touchdown of the half began with a reception by Alexander Macias from quarterback Rocky Vasquez for a first down. Tidwell then added runs of 21 and 6 yards. With .48 to play in the half, Vasquez hooked up with Kody Lambert for a 15-yard pass reception for a touchdown. Carrillo completed the first half scoring with his third PAT for a 21-0 lead.
In the third quarter, Carrillo was successful on a 30-yard field goal to make the score 24-0, and Tidwell put the home crowd on their feet with an 81-yard touchdown run. The PAT by Carrillo gave the home team a commanding 31-0 advantage.
In the final 6:54, Tidwell finished his outstanding performance with a three-yard touchdown run. Carrillo’s fifth PAT completed the scoring at 38-0.
“We spread the ball around in the passing game and our defense did a great job generating turnovers and pressuring the quarterback,” Villanueva said. “This week against Soledad, we have a lot to prepare as they can throw the ball and run it. They do lots of things on offense. We expect a tough and physical game.”
King City dominated on the ground with 259 total rushing yards and added 136 passing yards. Vasquez went 12 of 18 passing for 136 yards. Lambert, Carrillo and Macias caught three passes. On defense, Nathan Vega and Benjie Bolanos had interceptions, and Rocky Villanueva, Vega and Armando Villasenor had sacks.
SOLEDAD
The Aztecs snapped a four-game losing streak with an impressive 35-20 home win against San Lorenzo Valley.
Soledad had lost the previous two games by a total of 11 points and, except for being held to just seven points at North Salinas, have averaged nearly 20 points this season.
In the win against the SLV Cougars, Gio Gallegos had two touchdowns rushing to lead the Aztecs’ run game.
Christian Gonzalez scored on a 61-yard touchdown pass play from quarterback DJ Valenzuela in the first half that gave the Aztecs a 14-7 lead.
In the second half, Gonzalez opened with a 90-yard kickoff return. Soledad completed its scoring on a 11-yard touchdown pass from Valenzuela to Aiden Raso.
“We are ready to play King City,” said Soledad head coach Eric Rodriguez. “Our main goal is stopping #12 (King City’s Tidwell).”
GREENFIELD & GONZALES
The Bruins lost 36-19 on Friday in Watsonville against Monte Vista Christian but put up a battle as they were tied with the Mustangs at 7-7 at the start of the first quarter.
Travis Ryan scored the first Greenfield touchdown with a 35-yard scoring run. Anthony Zuniga scored the PAT.
The MVC Mustangs built their lead to 21-7, but the Bruins ended the first half with a 4-yard touchdown run by Ryan. The score was 21-13 at the half after a missed Greenfield PAT.
The Bruins’ Kenny Pajas scored in the fourth quarter on a 16-yard pass from quarterback Daniel Nava. Greenfield was unsuccessful on the two-point conversion attempt.
Monte Vista concluded the scoring with two touchdowns for the 36-19 final.
Ryan led Greenfield with 233 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Defensively, Angel Hernandez finished with six tackles, including one tackle for a loss; Nisael Gonzalez contributed with five tackles with two for losses; and Anthony Zuniga forced a fumble that was recovered by Anthony Perez.
The Bruins (0-5) face host Robert Louis Stevenson (5-0) on Friday night in their first game of the Mission South Division.
Gonzales High (0-4) will return to action this week after a bye. The Spartans will play against Rancho San Juan in Salinas on Friday.
