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Santa Maria Times | Lompoc Record | Santa Ynez Valley News
It was an intriguing week of high school football, despite the fact that multiple high-profile teams took Friday night off to prepare for league play.
There's still plenty of individual performances worth highlighting in the Player of the Week contest.
Santa Ynez, Santa Maria and Pioneer Valley each have two candidates this week. Santa Ynez beat Santa Maria 21-0, but the Saints were impressively resilient, able to move the ball down the field on offense while the defense was able to provide some resistance, at least against the Pirates' rushing attack.
Aidan Scott and Daulton Beard had their way with the Santa Maria secondary while Saints Josue Elena and Malachai Jordan were effective against the Pirate defense.
Pioneer Valley got its first win of the season in a 28-27 victory against Dos Palos. The Panthers have Lucan Brafman and Anthony Arias up for the award this week. Brafman came through with a big kick in the win while Arias was the Panthers' top rusher and scored twice.
Crescencio Perez scored three times in Orcutt Academy's lop-sided win over Alpaugh while Malakai Langley again made an impact on special teams for St. Joseph.
Whos the Player of the Week?
Aidan Scott, Santa Ynez TE/DE
Scott had a hand in helping the Pirates score in the 21-0 win over Santa Maria last week, hauling in five catches for 110 yards and a score. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior also helped the Pirates pitch a shutout. Scott had five tackles and 3.5 tackles-for-loss for the Pirates. Scott has 14 catches for 302 yards and two scores in three games this year. He also has 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Daulton Beard, Santa Ynez WR
Beard is one of the most promising players in the area. He proved that again Friday night, dominating the Santa Maria secondary. He's too tall, too fast. He had seven catches for 161 yards and a score and could've had much more. He dropped a pass early in the game that could've gone for a long touchdown. Still, he racked up 161 yards receiving and it looked like he barely broke a sweat.
Beard, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound junior has 19 catches for 434 yards and three scores in three games. The Pirates will open Mountain League play against Mission Prep Friday night, their toughest opponent of the young season.
Malachai Jordan, Santa Maria WR
While Beard and Scott were lighting up the Santa Maria secondary, junior receiver Malachai Jordan was showing that he's quite the weapon too. Jordan had six catches for 90 yards and was constantly working to get open against a tough Santa Ynez secondary led by Nolan Oslin. Jordan has the potential to be one of the top receivers in the Ocean League by the end of the season.
Josue Elena, Santa Maria QB
Elena had his best game of the season. Santa Maria's short, quick passing game gave the Pirate defense some trouble. The Saints just couldn't find the end zone, turning the ball over twice in the red zone. Elena was 21 of 30 for 196 yards with one interception late in the game.
Anthony Arias, Pioneer Valley RB
Arias led the Panthers' rushing attack in their 28-27 win over Dos Palos. The senior not only rushed for a team-best 96 yards in the game, he also scored two rushing touchdowns to help the Panthers get their first win of the season.
Lucan Brafman, Pioneer Valley K
Brafman is nominated after having, perhaps, the most gutsy performance last week. Brafman stepped up to the ball and knocked through the crucial extra point in last week's win over Dos Palos. This came after he missed an earlier PAT. It took courage and cool for Brafman to knock through the winning point in the final minutes of the fourth quarter last week.
Crescensio Perez, Orcutt Academy RB/DB
Perez had 13 carries for 143 yards and three touchdowns in the 8-man Spartans' 56-8 win over Alpaugh last weekend. The senior also had three tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and a two-point conversion in the win.
Malakai Langley, St. Joseph RB/DB/KR
Langley has been impactful this year in the return game for the Knights. He had a crucial kick return touchdown in the win over Palos Verdes and then provided another game-changing return against Newbury Park last week. The Knights were down 24-14 in the third quarter against the Panthers, and Langley took the kick to the house for a touchdown to give St. Joseph some late life. The Knights couldn't overcome the Panthers' vaunted passing attack, falling 31-21.
Readers can vote online at santamariatimes.com; lompocrecord.com and syvnews.com. The winner will be announced before the games kick off Friday night.
Photos: Pioneer Valley takes on Dos Palos

Pioneer Valley’s Dylan Pirkl (66), Andrew Eberhard (2) and James Torres (18) celebrate after the Panthers stopped Dos Palos on fourth down to end a Bronco drive, ensuring the Pioneer Valley win.

Pioneer Valley’s Allan Jimenez runs against Dos Palos’ defenders on the Panthers’ game winning drive.

Pioneer Valley’s Anthony Arias gets away from Dos Palos’ Caleb Sanchez.

Pioneer Valley’s Andrew Eberhard (2) blocks an extra point kicked by Dos Palos’ Jesus Bon, setting up the Panthers’ winning margin.

Dos Palos’ QB Peyton Van Worth takes a water break at sunset in 80+ degree temperatures with high humidity.

Pioneer Valley’s Adrian Mora tackles Dos Palos’ Drake Hennagan.

Pioneer Valley’s Eric Cruz tries to knock away a pass to Dos Palos’ Elias Esquivel. The Bronco held on.

Pioneer Valley’s Lucan Brafman (84) celebrates his extra point that became the winning margin over Dos Palos.

Pioneer Valley’s Dylan Pirkl pass rushes against Dos Palos’ Eric Henson.

Pioneer Valley’s Adrian Mora tackles Dos Palos’ Mike Cantu for a loss after the Bronco caught a pass during a Sept. 9 game.

Pioneer Valley’s QB Alexander Garcia gets the snap as Dos Palos’ Eric Henson rushes.

Pioneer Valley’s Allan Jimeniz runs for a touchdown against Dos Palos in the first quarter.

Dos Palos’ Drake Hennagan runs against Pioneer Valley defense.

Pioneer Valley fans watch the Panthers play Dos Palos at sunset.

Pioneer Valley’s Anthony Arias scores against Dos Palos.

Pioneer Valley’s Eric Cruz runs against Dos Palos.

Pioneer Valley’s Pepe Gonzalez and Andrew Eberhard (2) knock away a last minute pass to Dos Palos’ Aaron Jones.
Photos: Santa Ynez and Santa Maria battle in non-league game

Santa Ynez receiver Daulton Beard goes up for a pass during Friday's game at Santa Maria. Beard had over 150 yards receiving and a touchdown in the Pirates' 21-0 win.

Santa Ynez running back Dallas DeForest is wrapped up during Friday's game at Santa Maria.

Santa Maria's defense swarms Santa Ynez quarterback Luke Gildred for a sack during Friday's game.

Santa Ynez's Adam Stephens carries the ball on a run during Friday's game at Santa Maria.

Santa Ynez's Daulton Beard breaks a tackle during Friday's game at Santa Maria.

Santa Maria's Josue Elena runs with the ball during Friday's game against Santa Ynez.

Santa Ynez tight end Aidan Scott tries to break away from Santa Maria's during Botros Akkari in Friday's game at Santa Maria.

Santa Ynez quarterback Luke Gildred carries the ball during Friday's game at Santa Maria.

Santa Maria's Adrian Pasos runs with the ball during Friday's game against Santa Ynez.

Santa Ynez linebacker Isaac Moran (28) wraps up Santa Maria's Jabdiel Calderon during Friday's game at Santa Maria.

Santa Ynez junior Adam Stephens carries the ball during Friday's game against Santa Maria.

Santa Maria's Felipe Ramirez-Suarez carries the ball during Friday's game against Santa Ynez.Â

Santa Ynez coach Greg Gandalfo talks to quarterback Luke Gildred during the game at Santa Maria.Â

Santa Ynez quarterback Luke Gildred passes during Friday's game against Santa Maria.

Santa Ynez tight end Aidan Scott catches a touchdown pass during Friday's game against Santa Maria.



Isaac Moran carries the ball during the Sept. 9 game at Santa Maria. The Pirates host Mission Prep in a Mountain League game Friday while Santa Maria hosts Atascadero in an Ocean League game.

Santa Ynez senior Isaac Moran carries the ball during Friday's game against Santa Maria.

Santa Ynez captains Dylan Peters (1) and Nick Crandall (52) ahead of Friday's game against Santa Maria.

Santa Ynez quarterback Luke Gildred throws during Friday's game against Santa Maria.

Santa Ynez sophomore Ryder McClurg (5) celebrates after teammate Aidan Scott (88) nearly scored on a long catch-and-run during Friday's game against Santa Maria.

Santa Ynez defensive back Nolan Oslin runs with the ball during Friday's game against Santa Maria.

Santa Ynez receiver Daulton Beard tries to haul in a pass from Luke Gildred during Friday's game against Santa Maria.

Santa Ynez' Aidan Scott is tackled during Friday's game against Santa Maria.

Santa Ynez linemen Joey Garcia (75) and Jorge Puder during Friday's game at Santa Maria.Â

Santa Maria's Josue Elena throws during Friday's game against Santa Ynez.

Dallas DeForest receives a handoff from Luke Gildred.Â

The colorguard presents the flags ahead of the Santa Ynez-Santa Maria game Friday.





Santa Maria's Jabdiel Calderon ahead of during Friday's game against Santa Ynez.



Photos: VCA rolls past Orcutt Academy 69-26
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Valley Christian Academy's James Fakoury, right, breaks up a pass intended for Orcutt Academy's Tyler Miller during Saturday's game. The Lions won 69-26 in their season opener.Â
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Valley Christian Academy's Jacob Sanders leaps to catch a pass from quarterback Sean Swain during Saturday's game against Orcutt Academy.Â
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Valley Christian's Jordan Tittes had a big hand in the Lions' 75-20 win over Cuyama Valley on Saturday.Â
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VCA's Jacob Sanders stiff-arms a defender during a game against Orcutt Academy.Â
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VCA coach Pete Fortier talks to his players ahead of Saturday's game against Orcutt Academy.Â
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Orcutt Academy's Crescencio Perez carries the ball during Saturday's game at VCA.
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Orcutt Academy's Isaiah Weichenger throws a deep pass to LeRoy Johnson for a touchdown in Saturday's game against VCA.
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Orcutt Academy's Tyler Miller hauled in this 53-yard touchdown after bobbling it during Saturday's game.Â
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Tyler Miller celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during Saturday's game.Â
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VCA"s Jacob Sanders carries the ball during Saturday's 69-26 win over Orcutt Academy.Â
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