SANTA CRUZ >> The roar from Santa Cruz High’s football players and fans could be heard blocks away.

Junior quarterback/defensive back Neven Ristic intercepted a pass, and the Cardinals beat Marina 57-49 in Pacific Coast Athletic League Santa Lucia Division play on Friday to snap the program’s 19-game losing streak.

The Cardinals (1-7, 1-3) were a loud, giddy bunch as they paraded about with their teammates. Two assistant coaches doused first-year head coach Sergio Escobar with a giant jug of Gatorade.

They continued their celebration in the locker room.

“Damn, it feels good, doesn’t it?” said Escobar, a Santa Cruz alum, as his players cheered with approval.

The losing skid dated back to Oct. 14, 2022, when the Cardinals competed in the PCAL’s highest level, the Gabilan Division. They were held scoreless in their 0-10 campaign last season.

“The seniors who had to battle through that tough season, I was happy that we were able to get them one, get them to feel some success,” Escobar said. “And, hopefully, we can build off this one and learn from the mistakes that we did do and continue to get better.”

Ristic passed for 275-plus yards and five touchdowns , and rushed for one score. He threw three scoring strikes to senior receiver Adrian Pendergast, and two to junior receiver Soji Agbelekale.

“It was a crazy game,” Ristic said. “This would be my perfect script for a win. Maybe not the fumble; I fumbled at the 1-yard line, but, everything else, I wouldn’t change a thing. First win. It’s huge.”

Pendergast also rushed for a touchdown, and Brodie Hale ran for a score.

Fernando DeCosta caused a fumble on Marina’s first possession in the second half.

Donovan Maben rushed for a school record 301 yards and scored five touchdowns to lead Marina (1-6, 0-3).

“Defense was optional out there today, it seemed like,” Escobar said. “But we played big. I told the guys it wasn’t gong to be easy. I told them the ball always wasn’t going to bounce our way, but how we came back from the mistakes was really a testament of who you are as a man, and we were able to capitalize.”

Santa Cruz plays at San Lorenzo Valley (6-0, 2-0) in Felton on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Alisal 33, St. Francis 27

SALINAS >> Quarterback Javier DaRosa-Fonseca rushed for 100-plus yards and a pair of touchdowns, and passed for another score, but the Sharks fell short in their PCAL Mission North Division game Friday.

Alisal (3-4, 2-1) produced the go-ahead scored on a 45-yard with 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

On its final possession, St. Francis drove the ball down to Alisal’s 2-yard line. DaRosa-Fonseca suffered a knee injury, and the Sharks’ bid to tie the score came up short with 8 seconds on the clock.

“I’m extremely proud of the guys, how they fought and played together,” Sharks coach John Ausman said.

DaRosa-Fonseca scored on runs of 2 and 50 yards, and completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jesse Navarro — all in the second quarter.

“Our O-line did a great job and we ran pretty effectively,” Ausman said.

DaRosa-Fonseca has 13 rushing touchdowns and five touchdown passes on the season.

Joseph Dayritt scored his seventh touchdown of the season on a 5-yard run in the first quarter.

The teams were tied 7-7 at the end of the first quarter and 27-all at the half.

The Sharks (5-2, 2-1) play Scotts Valley (2-5, 1-2) at Cabrillo College on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.