Santiago Beats Pacifica With Late Score

Victor Martinez scored on a two-yard plunge with 1 minute 48 seconds remaining to give Santiago a 36-33 upset of visiting Pacifica.

That put the Cavaliers (5-3, 3-1) in the playoffs for the first time this decade.

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Santiago can finish second in the league with victories over La Quinta and Los Amigos in the final weeks of the season. Preseason favorite Pacifica (5-3, 2-3) must defeat Bolsa Grande Thursday to keep its hopes of an at-large playoff spot alive.

The Cavaliers took control early, building a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. A seven-minute drive to open the game was capped by a 15-yard scoring pass from Ben Tran to Ray Martinez. A failed Pacifica fake punt gave Santiago the ball at the Mariner 45, and four plays later the Cavaliers worked a fake as Aris Ulloa went 38 yards from punt formation.

Pacifica never got its running game going, netting only 11 rushing yards. J.D. Stern (277 yards passing) helped the Mariners score 26 points in the second and third quarters. He connected with Geoff Gilpin on a 73-yard scoring play in the third quarter that gave Pacifica a 19-14 lead, then connected with Casey Huffmire with 2:21 left for a 31-yard touchdown.

Santiago scored two consecutive touchdowns to retake the lead. A 34-yard run by Octavio Villa set up a one-yard Carlos Carbajal touchdown, and Victor Martinez’s 25-yard gain on the next Santiago possession set up a eight-yard Villa sweep for a 29-26 lead.