Plus, scores from around the Foothill League
Just a year ago, the Castaic Coyotes finished the 2025 season as finalists in the Division 5 California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section – a standard that head coach William Jones is looking to exceed.
As the Coyotes begin their journey back to the top steps of the Southern Section, Castaic opened the league season with the ultimate test: Hosting the back-to-back Foothill League champion Hart Hawks.
In the end, the Coyotes secured the 19-6 win over Hart after Pyper Ormes intercepted the would-be game-winning touchdown pass from Hart’s Shelbie Ratzlaff in the game’s final seconds.
“This was a hard-fought game against a hard-fought opponent,” Jones said. “Hart are back-to-back league champions and for us to fight and scrap is big for our program and big for the girls to boost their confidence.”
In the game’s final drive, the Hawks (5-5, 1-1) took possession of the ball with a little over two minutes remaining, trailing, 13-6. The Coyotes’ (4-1, 1-0) Sarah Khalil punched the ball in for a 5-yard touchdown in the team’s previous series.
With three timeouts and the two-minute warning, the Hawks drove the ball downfield and set the ball a yard away from the goal line and two seconds remaining in the game.
The Coyotes’ defense held firm for a goal-line stand with Ormes icing the game with an interception that she took back to the house for a pick-six.
Jones spoke on his team’s defense and execution in the game’s deciding plays.
“Our defensive buckled down. They played bend but did not break defense,” Jones said. “We gave up some plays, but they never stopped even if they made a mistake, they had the next play mentality … that just shows the heart of the Coyotes.”
With the win, the Coyotes kicked off the Foothill League season 1-0 and face another early-season test against the Canyon Cowboys, who’ve outscored their opponents 202-33.
The Coyotes match up against the Cowboys on Thursday at Castaic High School with the game scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
The loss dropped the Hawks to 1-1 to begin the Foothill League season. Despite the loss, head coach Josh Masmela spoke after the game on his team’s performance and is eager to get back on the field and rebound from the defeat.
“I told the girls to remember how you’re feeling at this moment,” Masmela said. “There’s a lot of work to do and we just need to grind in practice, get better, learn from your mistakes. Season’s not over yet and we’ll see them again.”
The Hawks will look to bounce back in Foothill League play on Tuesday at Hart High School in a matchup against the Golden Valley Grizzlies with the game scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
After Tuesday’s games, here are other scores from around the Foothill League:
Valencia 21, Canyon 20: The Valencia Vikings (3-4-2, 1-1) came away with a Foothill League victory in narrow fashion with a home win over the Canyon Cowboys (4-1, 1-1) Tuesday.
With the win, the Vikings are 1-1 to begin the Foothill League season and play again on the road at Saugus High School Thursday in a matchup against the Centurions with the game set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
As for Canyon, the Cowboys will look to bounce back on Thursday at Castaic High School against the Coyotes with the game scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Saugus 14, Golden Valley 0: Following a loss to Canyon in the Foothill League opener, the Centurions (3-3, 1-1) responded with a home win over Golden Valley (2-5, 0-1) Tuesday.
The Centurions will look to build upon their momentum on Thursday with a home contest against the Valencia Vikings scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.
The Grizzlies will look to rebound in Foothill League play on the road Thursday in a matchup against the Wildcats at West Ranch High School with the game set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Photos below from Castaic’s win over Hart:
