Josh Butler '26
As the defending CIF champions, the Cate Rams look to go back-to-back as kings of Cali with a loaded roster that showcases both experienced and novice talent across the board.
Cate started the season off with a matchup at Flintridge Prep. It did not go as planned for the Rams, as they fell short 40-26. The game was tied heading into the fourth quarter but led by forced turnovers and a potent offense down the stretch. Cate was unable to leave with a win. On the upside, junior quarterback and captain Pen Brooks had a solid game completing 50% of his passes, including a 48-yard TD pass to fellow junior captain Tyler Martinez.
Along with 3 TD passes and 99 yards on the ground, Pen had a solid game all around. Not to mention the Sophomore stud Ethan Rehnborg, who caught three passes and had two defensive interceptions, one of which was brought back 60 yards for a touchdown. Flintridge prep wrote "CIF who?" on their football team's Instagram post after the game. This lit a fire amongst the players heading back home for week two against Riverside County.
The O-line held up strong throughout the matchup as Cate beat Riverside through the air with a total of 213 yards and four touchdowns. At the same time, sophomore Johnny Foster and junior Kristian Scurtis put on the clamps defensively, combining for 12 tackles and 23 assisted tackles. The Rams started to lose control soon after, giving up a 22-6 lead at halftime and letting Riverside tie the game late in the fourth. But a massive stop on the 2-point conversion led Cate to a game-winning TD catch from senior Jack Whelan, securing Cate's first win. A team win.
The following week Cate proceeded to pulverize Santa Clara in a 65-14 win. This time, Cate pounded the opponent in the run game with a total of 383 yards on the ground led by sophomore Cody Mast. But the true storyline of this game was watching the new guys get some action. Quincy Thorne had three tackles and a deflected pass. Braedo Parker and Barron Crayton brought lots of pressure from the line, showing they belonged. It was an all-around big day for the freshman. Sophomore safety Johnny Foster, who led the team in tackles before suffering an injury during week 2, is back on the practice field. Johnny is someone who puts everything he has into every practice and every game. I spoke with him about his thoughts on returning to the team and how he's feeling mentally and physically. "The injury caused me to sit out several weeks, and it was draining mentally; having to sit on the sidelines watching people play. I want to be out there, and that's what's so mentally hard about it. I look forward to getting back into action and impacting the team."
The next game for the Rams would be an under-the-lights matchup at Carpinteria High School against the number 1 rivals, Thacher.
Under the lights. At Carpinteria high school. Against the number 1 rivals. It was a big week and a big night. Throughout the pre-game, the rams could feel the energy and intensity. They had to bring aggression and play smart to win this game. At halftime, the score read Cate: 15 Thacher:16. The game went back and forth offensively throughout the first two quarters. A controversial call on the half's final drive prevented the Rams from regaining the lead. Coach Bouma said in the halftime huddle: "This is exactly what we thought was going to happen, and it's exactly what we want to happen. This game will come down to who wants it more, who is willing to give more into this second half to come out on top." The O-line struggled throughout the entire game, giving up over 100 yards in holding penalties and giving Pen almost no time in the pocket to complete a solid pass. This led to lots of running the ball offensively. Either Pen was escaping traffic in the backfield, or Kristian Scurtis was powering up the middle. The game continued to go back and forth as each team looked to convert on drives both offensively and defensively. But Thacher proved too big to hold off and came out on top as Cate ran out of time. This will not be the last time the Rams meet the Toads this season, and seeing the emotion and care shown by Cate after the game; it looks like the Rams are eager for their subsequent encounter. The rams look to regain focus in week 5, driving down to face Chadwick as they look to get back on track.
Two weeks later, Cate found themselves in an unexpected position. The former CIF champs are no longer eligible for the playoffs after back-to-back losses to Chadwick and Faith Baptist. Despite the disappointment amongst the players, Cate has one final game left against the team down in Ojai. Thacher will come into town for Cate's last game of the season. This upcoming matchup represents the last game wearing a Cate uniform for seniors Jack Whelan, Zaq Osemwa, Jack Higgins, Daniel Lee, and Oscar (Last Name). Despite no playoffs, the Rams are laser-focused on ending the season with a win against their biggest rivals. And no better way to go out than protecting the home field against the biggest enemies.
To summarize the season, I asked sophomore Cody Mast his thoughts about how the season went. He said, "Following up last year's CIF winning team, there were some big shoes to fill. With a new defensive approach, we made the necessary adjustments. Given the majority of our team consists of sophomores and juniors, we will be able to continue improving into next year."
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