SBART Luncheon: Local Football Teams Find Success, UCSB Soccer in Tight Big West Races

Several local high school and college teams provided updates on their fall seasons, which are now in the final stretch, on Monday at the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon at Harry’s Plaza Cafe.

Of those teams who were in attendance, there were three high school football squads who are currently in the middle of special seasons.

Local Football Teams on the Rise

Cate School’s 8-man football team has enjoyed a stellar 2024 campaign to the tune of a perfect 7-0 record following last week’s dominant 55-0 win over Orcutt Academy.

It has been a season of dominance for the Rams, who have now gone 13 straight quarters without allowing a point while the offense continues to score at will.

Cate has several impressive wins under its belt, including victories over defending CIF-SS champion Chadwick and three-time CIF-NS champion Fresno Christian.

“This year is special for us, we have 14 seniors that have put the time, effort, energy and work in over two pretty tough years,” Cate coach David Soto said. “We knew this was going to be a real special group… The players have really made this season one for the record books.

The Rams will continue Tri-Valley League play with a matchup against Villanova Prep on Saturday before a rivalry matchup against Thacher to end the regular season.

In 11-man football, both San Marcos and Dos Pueblos are looking to snap program droughts.

The Royals, who have not made the playoffs in 20 years and have not won a league title in 26 years, virtually confirmed a spot in the CIF-SS playoffs with last week’s 38-22 win over Hueneme.

Now San Marcos (5-2-1, 3-0 Tri-County League) will face off against the only other undefeated league team in Agoura this Friday at Agoura High. The winner will then control their own destiny to become the inaugural Tri-County League champions.

“I’m excited about the fact that we have worked so hard to get to this position,” Royals coach Ralph Molina said. “We’re going to play a good football team, we know that and we’ve played some good teams already… It’s going to be a big night for San Marcos.”

Across town, Dos Pueblos has enjoyed a revival of its season after starting the year 1-4. The Chargers are off to a 2-1 start in Tri-County League play, and a win this week against Fillmore would put them in a playoff spot. They have not reached the playoffs since 2019.

Dos Pueblos has evolved in a major way throughout the season, thanks in part to the introduction of transfers Simon Alexander and Wyatt Mitchell. Skill players Ivan Velez and Kaleb Williams have played large roles as well.

“[Fillmore’s] line of scrimmage is incredibly large so we’re going to have to meet the physical nature of the game,” Chargers coach AJ Pateras said.

Key Week Ahead for UCSB Soccer Teams

With just two matches to go in the regular season, the Gaucho women’s soccer team finds itself in sole possession of second place in the Big West with a record of 4-0-4, trailing only the 6-0-1 Hawaii Rainbow Wahine.

UCSB will round out the regular season at home this week with a Thursday matchup against UC Davis at 7 p.m. and a Sunday afternoon showdown with Hawaii at 5 p.m.

Depending on what happens earlier in the week, Sunday’s matchup could be for the Big West regular season title.

As for the men’s squad, the Gauchos sit in a three-way tie for first place with Cal Poly and CSU Bakersfield at 3-1-2 in Big West action.

UCSB will look to separate itself from the pack with matchups against CSU Northridge on Wednesday and CSU Fullerton on Saturday. Both matches are at 7 p.m. at Harder Stadium.

The men’s team will play its regular-season finale on the road on Saturday, Nov. 2 against UC Riverside.