SANTA CRUZ >> St. Francis High’s football team showcased offensive diversity with the arm and legs of quarterback Javier DaRosa Fonseca and rolled to a 41-8 victory over Harbor on Thursday night.

The Pirates looked to contain running back Joseph Dayritt but the Sharks had other weapons.

Fonseca ran the option to perfection and picked up 53 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He connected on his first seven passes on the way to an 11-for-14 aerial night for 150 yards and a score. Jacob Jiminez hauled in six of those throws for 60 yards and Robert Gomez caught three for 80 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown. Gomez added a tally on a 13-yard run and John Croghan ran for 45 yards and two touchdowns on nine rushes.

The Sharks (3-1) scored touchdowns on all five first-half possessions in building a 35-0 lead at halftime.

“That’s probably the most well-coached team we’ll see,” Harbor coach James Gaynor said. “They do a good job coaching their guys up. They got athletes. Number 25 (Joseph Dayritt) is a stud. We keyed on him, but then number 7 (DaRosa Fonseca) would pull it out and run the option. And they threw it a bit.”

Fausto Gonzales carried the bulk of the load for the Pirates (1-2). He rushed 17 times for 68 yards. Andres Martinez executed a nifty fourth-and-goal bootleg and pulled up to find Alberto Pegueros wide open on a 2-yard pass for Harbor’s touchdown in the third quarter. Martinez passed to Israel Lopez-Lopez for the subsequent two-point conversion.

The Sharks marched 59 yards in seven plays for a touchdown, never even reaching a third down, on their opening drive. Fonseca cashed it in from a yard out.

After a Pirates’ punt, the Sharks roared 84 yards in six plays for another score, Gomez caught a short pass and did the rest himself. He broke a tackle and rocketed up the field for a 51-yard score and a 14-0 lead.

“We started off hot,” DaRosa Fonseca said. “Our play action was good and we pounded the rock. It’s a big confidence boost going into next week (league opener versus Seaside).”

Early in the second quarter, it was Gomez again. He returned a punt 32 yards to Harbor’s 13 and scored from there two plays later as the Sharks’ offensive line paved the way.

DaRosa Fonseca also noted the physical dimension the guys in the trenches bring.

“My offensive (linemen) — all of them,” DaRosa Fonseca said. “I want to praise every single one of them. They keep me safe back there in the pocket.”

That crew included Nick Paz, Nicolas Ibarra, Marcus Gonzalez and Jacob Rocha, among others.

Midway through the second quarter, Fonseca ran it in to the end zone from 19 yards. John Croghan punched in a 2-yard tally before halftime. Croghan also scored from 6 yards in the fourth quarter.

After halftime, even though down 35-0, Harbor fought back with renewed energy. On the first drive of the third quarter, Gonzalez carried eight times for 37 yards in a 60-yard scoring drive.

“I’m proud of how the guys finished the game,” Gaynor said. “We kept fighting. We didn’t quit. I think tonight we had only 21 players, with eight out injured. And St. Francis is very physical. It was good to see that drive and how we can attack.”

Gaynor noted that the Sharks put up 66 points the last time the two squads met, three years ago. Senior Johan Perez was one of the Pirates defenders fighting back against the Sharks, with several big tackles and a fumble recovery.

St. Francis turns its focus to its Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division North opener. The Sharks host Seaside on Sept. 28 at 12:30 p.m.

“We came out hard and strong,” Dayritt said. “We will take away to not be complacent no matter who we are playing. I’m very excited for league. I think it will be our best season yet.”

Harbor faces Stevenson on Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. at home in the teams’ PCAL Santa Lucia Division opener.

Aptos 67, Seaside 6

APTOS >> The Mariners scored on offense, defense, and special teams in their rout of the Spartans on Thursday night.

“I’m very proud of how explosive our offense was and how we managed to score on both defense and special teams, but we’ve got plenty of things to get right as we get into league,” said Zach Hewett, the Mariners’ first-year head coach. “We need to stop getting in our own way with penalties and mental lapses.”

Dylan Guisado scored on a 30-yard run on the Mariners’ third offensive play and finished with three rushing touchdowns. He also scored on runs of 67 and 5 yards.

Ryan Solorio scored on a 1-yard run and a 77-yard punt return. Teammate Nate Garcia scored on a blocked punt return.

Casey MacConnell recorded two interceptions and returned on of them 32 yards for a TD in second half. MacConnell had a kickoff return for a touchdown called back on a block-in-the-back penalty.

“Casey MacConnell was all over the place tonight, playing like the guy I thought he could be this season,” Hewett said. “Ryan Solorio showed how versatile he is by running and receiving on offense and scoring on special teams.”

Moises Torres also recorded an interception, and Gavin King-Boston forced a fumble that was recovered by Nate Garcia.

Aptos’ Gavin Macdonald scored on a 10-yard run, quarterback Josh Bermio scrambled for an 8-yard touchdown, and Michael Slaughter scored on a 1-yard run.

Aptos (3-1) hosts Hollister (2-1) to open PCAL Gabilan Division play on Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Sentinel Sports Editor Jim Seimas contributed to this report.