FELTON >> San Lorenzo Valley High’s football team surrendered its narrow lead in the second half, and the Cougars fell to visiting Stevenson of Pebble Beach 24-14 in a battle pitting the only two unbeaten teams in the Pacific Coast Athletic League Santa Lucia Division on Saturday.

With its win, Stevenson (6-2, 5-0) locked up no worse than a share of its second division title in three years.

Because the Santa Lucia only sends one team to the Central Coast Section playoffs with an automatic berth, the Cougars (8-1, 4-1) need to win their regular-season finale next weekend and hope that the Pirates get upset by Marina (2-7, 1-4) to have any chance at securing an at-large berth to the postseason.

“I’m just really proud of our team,” Cougars coach David Grant said. “They’re a hardworking, tough bunch. We’re gonna get back to work on Monday and finish out the season strong.”

SLV closes the regular season at Pajaro Valley (4-5, 3-2) in Watsonville on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Cougars quarterback Jack Dagan, who wore the No. 21 jersey in the team’s annual David Maze memorial game, passed for close to 100 yards and rushed for 80 yards. He threw one interception.

Dagan scored on a 2-yard run and running back Justin Griffis scored on a 5-yard run to stake the Cougars to a 14-3 lead late in the second quarter, but Caden Olson returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to give the Pirates momentum entering the half.

Stevenson made a goal-line stop in the third quarter. Dagan scored on an apparent touchdown on a 1-yard keeper, according to a side judge who signaled a touchdown, but the ruling was overruled by the head referee, Grant said.

“That was really the ball game to me,” Grant said. “We would have gone up 21-9 at the start of the fourth quarter. instead, all the momentum swung towards them and they went on a 99-yard scoring drive and went up 17-14.”

Tono Borgamini put the Pirates ahead for good with his touchdown run in the third quarter.

SLV drove on Stevenson in the fourth quarter, but threw an interception at the Pirates’ 30-yard line. Stevenson converted the turnover into points. Pirates quarterback Fin Mink iced the game with an 88-yard touchdown pass to Derek Diniz for the final score.

Griffis finished with 70 yards rushing on 12 carries, and Chase Thomsen had five carries for 30 yards. SLV’s Winston Wells had five catches for 70 yards.

“For most of the game we were playing good ‘D,’ ” Grant said. “We were limiting their big plays and forced three turnovers.”

Grant praised linebacker Gabe Machado, defensive back Dom Aguilar and linemen Haden Woolworth and Gio Ricigliano for their efforts on defense.

MVC 50, Seaside 7

SEASIDE — Senior quarterback Dominic Pierini passed for five touchdowns and was pulled with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter of the Mustangs’ PCAL Mission North Division rout Saturday night.

Despite his early exit, Pierini broke his own Santa Cruz County single season passing record. He completed 20 of 27 attempts for 342 yards against the Spartans, giving him 3,367 yards through nine games this season. He passed for 3,057 yards last season.

The Mustangs (5-4, 3-2) close their regular season with a home game against crosstown foe St. Francis (6-3, 3-2) on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Alisal (4-5, 3-2) is also tied for second place with the Mustangs and Sharks after being upset by Watsonville on Saturday night. The Trojans, who have wins over both St. Francis and MVC, close their regular season Friday against Scotts Valley. If the Trojans lose to the Falcons, the MVC-St. Francis winner will advance to the CCS playoffs with the division’s second automatic berth.

Pierini threw two touchdown passes to both Max Torres and Boston Ashe, and one scoring pass to Nico Downie from 23 yards out.

Torres finished with four catches for 119 yards and scored on receptions of 45 and 43 yards. Ashe had seven catches for 110 yards and scored from 79 and 15 yards out. And Downie had five catches for 81 yards.

MVC running back Max Torres had four carries for 77 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He scored on runs of 70 and 7 yards.

On defense, Gunner Sorensen made a team-high 14 tackles for the Mustangs. Torres made seven tackles, including a sack. legor Moskalenko made six tackles, including two sacks. Michael Van Dierondonck had six tackles with a sack, and James Hanzlik also made a sack.

MVC’s Dylan Rush recorded an interception, and Jordan Ramirez had a fumble recovery.

Watsonville 33, Alisal 26

APTOS — Backup quarterback Nate Aguilar threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Luis Marquez with 20 seconds left, and quarterback Anthony Razzo ran in a two-point conversion as the Wildcatz rallied for the PCAL Mission North Division win Saturday night at Cabrillo College.

Isaias Gonzales sealed the win with a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown.

The Wildcatz (4-5, 2-3) close their season at North Monterey County (5-3, 3-1) in Castroville on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Watsonville returned four players who missed the previous two games with injuries: Marquez, running back Alex Arevalo, running back/defensive lineman Abraham Martinez, and cornerback Mathew Silva.

Patrick Miller-Brown gave the Wildcatz the early lead after he opened scoring with a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Martinez’s 40-yard run helped set up his 4-yard touchdown run, which put Watsonville ahead 13-6.

Jayden Duarte rushed for a pair of touchdowns to put the Trojans ahead 20-13 in the third quarter, but Miller-Brown returned a kickoff 65 yards to help set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Martinez.

Kike Jacinto scored on a 54-yard run to put Alisal ahead 26-19 with 10 minutes remaining and set the table for the Wildcatz’s late-game heroics.

NMC 34, St. Francis 26

WATSONVILLE — Running back Joseph Dayritt rushed for three touchdowns, but the Sharks fell short in their PCAL Mission North Division game Saturday.

Dayritt scored on a 41-yard run in the first quarter, and added a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter. He has rushed for 13 touchdowns on the season.

The teams delivered plenty of offensive fireworks in the final stanza, when they combined for five touchdowns.

Sharks senior quarterback/linebacker Javier DaRosa-Fonseca returned from a leg injury and threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jacob Jimenez in the second quarter. The Sharks trailed 14-12 at the half.

“I’m proud of how our guys continued to fight,” Sharks coach John Ausman said. “We weren’t able to overcome some mistakes and missed opportunities. However, we continued to play until the final whistle. Can’t be more proud of this group of seniors and I feel honored to coach them this far and to get another opportunity next week.”

The Sharks (6-3, 3-2) close the regular season at MVC (5-4, 3-2) in Watsonville on Saturday at 6 p.m.