STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
SANTA MARIA— The Santa Maria Cougars are set to embark upon their first playoff journey under coach Israel Gracia, who recently completed his first regular season with the program and has instilled a culture of versatility and can-do spirit for a school that has often found itself playing the role of the underdog.
By virtue of a 35-30 win over Freer, the Cougars (7-2, 3-2 16-2A DI) earned the third seed in District 16-2A Division I and will travel to Taft to face Weimar in the bi-district round of the Class 2A University Interscholastic League playoffs at 7 p.m. tonight.
The Wildcats (9-1, 3-1 15-2A DI) are led by junior running back Ravon’Dre Wicks, who has rushed for 1,339 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 10.7 yards per carry.
“(Weimar is) really talented on both sides of the ball,” Gracia said. “I think with the skill position kids we match up well.”
Anchoring a defense that allowed a mere 164 yards per game is middle linebacker Marcos Sandoval.
“Whatever position we play, all of us work together as a team,” Sandoval said. (In order to) be able to accomplish our goals and finish the game strong. … We all have contributed, and I give credit to all of my teammates.”
Santa Maria clinched its third straight playoff berth through a combination of factors — a seasoned coaching staff and a veteran core, and players who were willing to adapt and make sacrifices. Most notable among them is starting quarterback Nathaniel Rodriguez. In addition to being a dual-threat option with 521 rushing yards and 764 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, he is also a first-team defensive tackle.
Rodriguez, a transfer from Los Fresnos, had grown up in Santa Maria and played in middle school in his hometown. He said Gracia met with him prior to the season and told Rodriguez that the quarterback position was his for the taking if he was willing to earn it.
Rodriguez took that message to heart and established himself as the clear frontrunner after an injury to Jesse Ortiz forced Gracia to start Rodriguez after experimenting with both players under center.
As a result, Ortiz was shifted out to receiver and became another weapon of choice alongside Bernie Castellanos, the teams’ leading scorer. Castellanos, a wideout with 706 yards on 31 catches and 13 touchdowns, also handles the kicking duties for the Cougars.
Ortiz is one of four Santa Maria receivers with at least 100 yards, hauling in seven catches for 165 yards and three touchdowns. The Cougars’ top running back, Erick Castellanos, is the only rusher with more yards than Rodriguez. Castellanos has rushed for 575 yards on 87 carries and six touchdowns.
“(Ortiz) is good at blocking,” Rodriguez said. “He’s also good at those slants on the inside and those corner routes. He’s my main target on those routes.”
Gracia said earning signature wins over Progreso, a Class 4A school, and La Villa, Santa Maria’s traditional rival, was in a way a paradigm shift for Santa Maria’s expectations.
“It’s exciting to just watch the program grow,” Gracia said. “We have grown up big time from day one.”
He is confident after the come-from-behind win over Freer that his team has an opportunity to elevate itself in a similar fashion against Weimar.
“These kids have grown up a lot,” Gracia said. “They’re finally realizing that we’re never out of it. … These kids are confident because of what we were able to pull off last week.”