Santa Maria had to hit the road for their first game and it wasn't the result they were hoping for. They fell 50-45 to the La Villa Cardinals on Friday. The Cougars were given a dose of their own medicine in this game as the Cardinals apparently hadn't forgotten their defeat the last time these teams played back in August of 2024.
When it comes to explaining why Santa Maria lost, don't look at Daniel Martinez. Despite the final result, he rushed for 233 yards and three scores while picking up 14.6 yards per carry. Martinez really tore up the turf during one magnificent 73-yard run. Another player making a difference was Miguel Alaniz, who threw for 140 yards and a pair of TDs on only nine passes.
Even if they lost, Santa Maria's defensive line still kept up the pressure with three sacks. Ruben Torres was particularly dangerous to the passing game, picking up two himself.
La Villa was led to victory by Isaiah Felix and Frankie-Raye Gonzales. Felix rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns while picking up 8.5 yards per carry, while Gonzales rushed for 88 yards and a pair of scores on only seven carries. Felix is on a roll when it comes to rushing touchdowns, as he's now punched in two or more in each of the last five games he's played dating back to last season.
Santa Maria will have a little extra prep time after the loss as they won't be playing again for a while. They'll take on Monte Alto at 7:30 p.m. on the 12th. As for La Villa, they wasted no time getting back out on the field and have already played their next matchup, a 44-13 defeat against Lyford on the 4th.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
