The Santa Maria High School football team is coming off one its best seasons in program history, finishing as CIF Southern Section Division 12 runner-ups in 2017. The Saints also set plenty of school records in route, including earning its first league title in 29 years and its first postseason win since 1994.
Santa Maria is one of 13 schools transferring to the CIF Central Section and will join the newly formed Ocean League.
Head coach Dan Ellington recognizes last year’s success but says the past is the past. "I think the success we had last year kind of sets the tone and brings a new high expectation for the football program at Santa Maria" he said. "Going through the playoffs and battling each week for 14 weeks, you learn a lot. I think it really helped our program."
Senior wide receiver John Rojas explains last year’s season will not hinder the team’s potential. "We don’t want to look back at the season because we don’t have those players. We want to come out here with the players we have and playmakers we have now. We want to work hard and hopefully get to the place we were at last year," Rojas said.
Santa Maria will battle cross-town foe Righetti to open the season on August 17.
