Panthers Celebrate Senior Day Against Rival Salesian

Sautrday, November 1, 2025 - The Saint Mary’s Panthers celebrated Senior Day on Saturday, honoring six football players and six cheerleaders before taking on rival Salesian High School. Football seniors Wyatt Swanson, Emilliano Ceron, Khalil Chaney, Spencer Kramer, Sutton Ralls, and Jayson Webb were recognized for their dedication to the program. The Cheer Team also celebrated their seniors — K’mai Bland, Nicole Davis, Charlotte Geist, Nancy Malloda, Flora Sherris-Watt, and Rediet Tesfaye — for their leadership and school spirit.

The game started with both teams trading scores in a competitive first half. The Panthers held brief leads at 14–13 and 21–13, but a few costly mistakes allowed Salesian to regain momentum. By halftime, Saint Mary’s trailed 33–21.

In the second half, Salesian’s offense continued to find success, adding two more touchdowns to secure a 54–21 victory.

Despite the loss, the day was filled with appreciation for the seniors who have given so much to Panther Athletics. Saint Mary’s will close out the 2025 season next week on the road at Vallejo High School.

Panthers Battle Late, Fall to Pinole Valley in Saturday Thriller

Saturday, October 25, 2025 - On a rainy Saturday afternoon, the Saint Mary’s Panthers put together one of their most competitive performances of the season, facing off against the Pinole Valley Spartans in a game that stayed tight from start to finish.

Saint Mary’s went into halftime holding a narrow 17–16 lead, showcasing poise on both sides of the ball. The second half turned into a possession-by-possession battle, with neither team giving much ground. With the score tied at 30–30 and just 1:10 remaining, the Panthers marched down the field in a final attempt to tie the game. Two near-misses, a deep ball to senior Jayson Webb, and an out route to fellow senior Wyatt Swanson, kept the Panthers inches from completing the comeback.

The Spartans ultimately edged out a 37–30 victory, dropping Saint Mary’s to 1–7 on the season.

Senior quarterback Sutton Ralls led the offense with 213 yards through the air on 18-of-35 passing, connecting for two touchdowns. Aluzio Żarnowiecki and Alejandro Diaz Zepeda each hauled in scoring receptions, while the run game found the end zone with touchdowns from Adam Steiner and Wyatt Swanson.

Saint Mary’s now turns its attention to Senior Day this Saturday, where the Panthers will host rival Salesian Preparatory High School. Fans are encouraged to come out, support the team, and celebrate the Class of 2025.

Panthers Fall to De Anza Despite Late Surge

Saturday, October 28, 2025 - On a sunny Saturday afternoon, the Saint Mary’s Panthers traveled to De Anza High School to take on the Dons in their Homecoming game. From the opening kickoff, the Panthers showed strong defensive effort, forcing key stops throughout the first half. However, a late gamble before halftime gave De Anza the edge, sending Saint Mary’s into the break trailing 7–13.

In the third quarter, the Panthers’ offense came alive. Senior quarterback found junior Aluzio Żarnowiecki on a post route for a touchdown. With the extra point from Emiliano Ceron, Saint Mary’s took a 14–13 lead—its first of the game.

Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived. On the ensuing kickoff, De Anza returned the ball for a touchdown and converted the two-point try to go up 21–14. The Panthers created several scoring opportunities in the fourth quarter but were unable to capitalize. De Anza added one more touchdown late to secure the 27–14 win.

Through seven weeks, Saint Mary’s has averaged 15 points per game while allowing 28 defensively. The Panthers look to bounce back next Saturday at 1:30 PM on Brady Field, when they host Pinole Valley in front of the home crowd.

Panthers Battle in Homecoming Thriller, Fall in Overtime to Kennedy

Saturday, September 27, 2025 - The Saint Mary’s Panthers football team took the field for Homecoming against Kennedy High School of Fremont in a back-and-forth contest that had fans on the edge of their seats.

Kennedy struck first on the ground, but the Panthers managed to block the extra point. Saint Mary’s answered quickly with a long connection to senior Jayson Webb, setting up a touchdown run by senior Wyatt Swanson to take a 7-6 lead.

In the second quarter, the Panthers’ defense tightened up, holding Kennedy scoreless while adding another touchdown to head into halftime ahead 13-6.

Kennedy opened the second half with a score to tie the game at 13. In the fourth, they pulled ahead 20-13 with less than three minutes remaining. The Panthers weren’t done yet—marching down the field and finding the end zone with under 30 seconds left. But a blocked extra point by Kennedy sent the game to overtime.

In overtime, the Panthers struggled with dropped passes and a missed snap, stalling their drive. Kennedy capitalized quickly, scoring on a sweep to close out the game 26-20.

Despite the tough loss, the Panthers showed grit and resilience in front of their Homecoming crowd. They now head into a bye week before opening league play against El Cerrito on Friday, October 10th at El Cerrito.

Panthers Fall on the Road to Castlemont

Friday, September 19, 2025 - The Saint Mary’s Panthers dropped their second straight contest Friday night, falling to the Castlemont Knights by a final score of 41-22.

Saint Mary’s went into halftime trailing 13-8 after senior Wyatt Swanson found the end zone on a rushing touchdown. The Panthers carried momentum into the third quarter, opening with a surprise onside kick recovery. That aggressive play paid off when sophomore Demarco Cruz hauled in a touchdown pass to pull the Panthers closer.

Despite adding one more score, Saint Mary’s couldn’t keep pace with Castlemont’s offense, which put up 41 points in the matchup. The loss moves the Panthers to 1-3 on the season, while the Knights picked up their first victory to improve to 1-2.

The Panthers now turn their attention to next weekend, as they look to bounce back at home on Saturday against Kennedy. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Panthers Show Grit in Thriller Against American High School 

Week 2 Final: Saint Mary’s 34, American 41

Friday, September 12, 2025 - Football traveled to TAK Memorial Stadium Friday night to face American High School, in what turned into a back-and-forth battle full of big plays and momentum swings.

The game started with an early punch from the Eagles, who broke free for a 67-yard touchdown on just their second play. Saint Mary’s responded with a strong drive deep into the red zone, only to have an interception end the chance at the 2-yard line. The Panthers’ defense held firm late in the first quarter, and early in the second, senior quarterback Sutton Ralls connected with sophomore Demarco Cruz on a go route from 20 yards out to tie the game 6-6.

Despite the Panthers’ fight, American added two more scores before halftime, sending Saint Mary’s into the break down 20-6.

The Eagles extended their lead to 27-6 early in the third quarter, but the Panthers showed why resilience is part of their identity. With under four minutes left in the third, Saint Mary’s scored twice in an incredible 75-second span. Ralls hit junior Alejandro Diaz-Zepeda for a 45-yard strike, then—after recovering a disguised onside kick—found Cruz again, who broke loose for another touchdown. Suddenly, the Panthers had cut the deficit to 27-20 heading into the fourth quarter.

American answered with a long touchdown to make it 33-20, but the Panthers refused to go away. Facing 4th and 9, Ralls found senior Jayson Webb for a clutch 24-yard gain to keep the drive alive. Moments later, he connected with junior Aluzio Żarnowiecki on a 42-yard pass, setting up another score to trim the lead to 33-27.

Momentum stayed with Saint Mary’s as Diaz-Zepeda recovered another onside kick. On the very next play, Ralls scrambled and found Żarnowiecki again—this time for a 55-yard touchdown. After the extra point, the Panthers had their first lead of the game, 34-33, with just minutes remaining.

Unfortunately, the Eagles had one final answer, finding the end zone in the closing seconds to escape with a 39-34 victory.

Though the result wasn’t what they hoped for, the Panthers showed heart, fight, and perseverance from start to finish. As Coach George reminded the team afterward: “We just ran out of time.”

Saint Mary’s will return to action next Friday, September 19, when they host Castlemont at 7:00 p.m.

Panthers Bounce Back with Home Opener Victory Over Terra Linda

Week 1 Final: Saint Mary’s 16, Terra Linda 12

Saturday, September 7, 2025 - What a difference a week makes. After being shut out in week one by Deer Valley, the Saint Mary’s Panthers returned to their home field with renewed energy and determination. The result, a much-improved performance and a 16-12 victory over Terra Linda.

From the opening kickoff, the Panthers showed they were ready to put points on the board. Senior quarterback Sutton Ralls connected with junior Aluzio Żarnowiecki for an early gain, followed by a strong run from senior Wyatt Swanson to move the chains to midfield. On the very next play, sophomore Adam Steiner broke free for a 50-yard touchdown run, the Panthers’ first score of the season.

Terra Linda answered back with a touchdown of their own, and by the end of the first quarter the game was tied 6-6.

In the second quarter, both defenses tightened, forcing multiple three-and-outs. With time winding down before halftime, Ralls found senior Jayson Webb on a post route for a key touchdown. Senior kicker Emiliano Ceron added the extra point, sending the Panthers into the break with a 13-6 lead.

The third quarter was a defensive battle. Terra Linda threatened late, but Steiner delivered a textbook hit to jar the ball loose from a receiver on fourth down, preserving the lead heading into the fourth.

Early in the final quarter, Saint Mary’s extended their lead when Ceron drilled a field goal from nine yards out, pushing the score to 16-6. Terra Linda rallied with a late touchdown to close the gap to 16-12, but the Panthers refused to let the win slip away. On a crucial third-and-11, Swanson powered through for a 15-yard run. Moments later, Ralls connected with sophomore Demarco Cruz for another first down that sealed the victory.

The Panthers showed resilience, balance, and a determination that sets the tone for the rest of the season. They’ll look to carry that momentum on the road next week as they travel to face American High School in Fremont.

Panthers Look Ahead After Tough Season Opener

Week 0 Final: Saint Mary’s 0, Deer Valley 41

Friday, August 29, 2025 - The Saint Mary’s Panthers kicked off their 2025 football season on Friday with a challenging matchup against Deer Valley High School, falling 0–41 in the season opener.

While the scoreboard didn’t reflect the outcome the team hoped for, the Panthers took the field with grit, heart, and the kind of determination that can’t be measured in points. The game served as a valuable learning experience and a starting point for what promises to be a season of growth and progress.

Head Coach Trestin George Sr. remains confident in the team's potential: “This is just the first chapter. We saw moments of fight and resilience that we can absolutely build on.”

With a full season ahead, the Panthers are focused on refining their game, sticking together, and continuing to improve each week. The team is determined to bounce back stronger.

Next up: Saint Mary’s returns home to Brady Field this Saturday for a 1:30 PM kickoff against Terra Linda. Come out and support your Panthers as they look to turn the page and write a new story in Week 2.