In short: Santa Clara Saints high school football (Oxnard, CA), 2026 season: 4-5 in the Citrus Coast League. Last game: L 15-23 vs Channel Islands on October 23, 2026. Next: at Del Sol, October 30, 2026. Schedule and results, player season stats, stat leaders, unit grades, ScorePirate ranking and the game-by-game log.
The number to watch when Santa Clara meets Del Sol is Santa Clara's scoring defense. Santa Clara allowed 7.5 points per game over its first 4 games (4-0), #16 in CIF-SS in that timeframe. In the 5 games since that hot start (0-5), the Saints have allowed 31.0 points per game, a 313% rise, #298 in CIF-SS in that window. The schedule has a lot to do with it: Santa Clara's last 5 opponents have averaged 21.9 points per game, a #254 offense in CIF-SS on the season, against 12.8 points per game, #362 for the first 4. Measured against those opponents' norms (21.9 points per game), Santa Clara allowed 42% more than those offenses usually score. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 5 opponents average a rating that would rank #330 in CIF-SS, well above the first 4 (#400), so the dip has come against better teams overall. Meanwhile, Del Sol's offense has been middle of the pack in recent weeks. The Jaguars have averaged 29.8 points per game over their last 5 games (2-3), #137 in CIF-SS during that time. Those games came against a middle-of-the-pack set of scoring defenses in CIF-SS (24.0 points per game on the season, which would rank #217). Against those norms, Del Sol scored 24% more than those defenses usually allow. Overall, those opponents average an SP Strength Index rating that would rank #289 in CIF-SS, a lower level of competition. Del Sol offers Santa Clara a fair measuring stick for whether the trend is real. Santa Clara is 4-2 this season when it holds opponents under 27, and 0-3 when it doesn't.
The turnover battle could decide Santa Clara's next game, against Del Sol, and the recent returns favor Del Sol. Santa Clara committed 0.8 giveaways per game over its first 5 games (4-1), #66 in CIF-SS through those games. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (0-4), the Saints have committed 1.8 giveaways per game, a 119% rise, #286 in CIF-SS through that stretch. The schedule has a lot to do with it: Santa Clara's last 4 opponents have averaged 1.4 per game, a #178 defense in CIF-SS on the season, against 0.9 per game, #301 for the first 5. Measured against those opponents' norms (1.4 per game), Santa Clara turned it over 26% more than those defenses usually force. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 4 opponents average a rating that would rank #304 in CIF-SS, well above the first 5 (#399), so the dip has come against better teams overall. Conversely, Del Sol's defense has been one of CIF-SS's better units in recent weeks. The Jaguars have forced 1.5 takeaways per game over their last 4 games (2-2), #128 in CIF-SS over that stretch. Those games came against a middle-of-the-pack set of offenses in CIF-SS (1.4 per game on the season, which would rank #245). Against those norms, Del Sol forced 6% more turnovers than those offenses usually give up. Overall, those opponents average an SP Strength Index rating that would rank #304 in CIF-SS, a lower level of competition. Unless Santa Clara's ball security rediscovers its early form, the edge in this matchup belongs to Del Sol.
NOTES
The biggest worry in Santa Clara's season has been the direction of its offense. Santa Clara averaged 36.5 points per game over its first 4 games (4-0), #65 in CIF-SS within that period. In the 5 games since that hot start (0-5), the Saints have averaged 11.4 points per game, a 69% drop, #363 in CIF-SS across those games. The schedule doesn't excuse it: the last 5 opponents have been softer, averaging 28.1 points per game, a #276 scoring defense in CIF-SS on the season, against 23.3 points per game, #196 for the first 4. Measured against those opponents' norms (28.1 points per game), Santa Clara scored 59% less than those defenses usually allow. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 5 opponents average a rating that would rank #330 in CIF-SS, well above the first 4 (#400), so the dip has come against better teams overall. Santa Clara was held to 14 points or fewer 3 times in those games, including 0 against Grace on 10/2. On the season, Santa Clara ranks #242 in CIF-SS in scoring. Del Sol's defense, #335 of 404 (32.6 points per game), could be the get-right matchup Santa Clara needs. Santa Clara is 2-0 this season when it scores 33 or more, and 2-5 when it doesn't.
The Saints forced 2.4 takeaways per game over their first 5 games (4-1), #30 in CIF-SS during those games. Few teams started faster in this department, and few have cooled off as sharply since. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (0-4), Santa Clara has forced 0.8 takeaways per game, a 69% drop, #284 in CIF-SS during that period. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 1.5 per game on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (1.4 per game), Santa Clara forced 47% fewer turnovers than those offenses usually give up. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 4 opponents average a rating that would rank #304 in CIF-SS, well above the first 5 (#399), so the dip has come against better teams overall. On the season, the Saints rank #104 in CIF-SS in takeaways. Del Sol's ball security, #343 of 404 (1.9 per game), could be the get-right matchup Santa Clara needs.
TIDBITS (9 found)
• Club Santa Clara has lost 5 straight, and a loss would make it 6 in a row. The last time they lost 6 or more in a row was 2024, a run of 11.
• Club The last time Santa Clara went a game throwing for 200+ yards was November 8, 2024 against Southlands Christian (W, 67-32). Since then Santa Clara has gone 20 straight games being held under 200 passing yards, a school-record 20 straight in the 22 seasons on record.
• Club Santa Clara has gone 8 straight games being held under 8.0 yards per attempt (August 28, 2026 through October 23, 2026), going 3-5 over that stretch, matching the program record of 8 straight on record.
• Club Santa Clara is 22-0 all time when scoring 40+ points in the games on file (22 such games).
• Club Santa Clara has gone 4 straight games averaging 5.0+ yards per carry (October 2, 2026 through October 23, 2026), going 0-4 over that stretch, the program's longest such streak since 2025 (7 games).
• Club Santa Clara has gone 4 straight games forcing fewer than 3 turnovers (October 2, 2026 through October 23, 2026), going 0-4 over that stretch, the program's longest such streak since 2025 (9 games).
• Player Diego Marin has 24 tackles over his last 3 games (8.0 a game, September 18, 2026 through October 9, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Rudy Cerna has gone 2 straight games rushing for 100+ yards, the longest such streak of his career.
• Player Mickey Ramirez has gone 5 straight games without catching a touchdown pass. The last time he caught a touchdown pass was September 11, 2026 against Hollywood (W, 31-6) — 2 TD catches.
MILESTONE WATCH
Santa Clara
Jax Martinez needs 4 tackles for 50 (averaging 5.1 a game)
Win chances are the site's own game projections where one is on file, otherwise the SP Strength Index gap with a small home edge. The realistic range covers 80% of outcomes (10th to 90th percentile).
Every player with a stat on file, listed only where he has one. Open the arrow beside a name for his game-by-game line. Stats through the Oct 23 game; last updated Oct 25; roster and numbers checked Sep 10.
Click a column heading to sort. MIN hides players below that many attempts.
CIF-SS Mid-Valley CHAMPION (def. Bishop Diego 20-14)
CIF-SS Offensive Player of the Year (Mid-Valley): CIERRE WOOD
Section and state results and Players of the Year: CIF-SS Record Book. League finishes judged from league schedules on file (2025 seasons); earlier league titles are not on file.
PPG/OPP PPG use every played game on file. YPG/PLAYS-PER-GAME columns only ever come from games with a full box score on file, which can be a smaller sample than GP -- see the coverage note below when that's the case for this team.
Averages use only games with that number on file (defense 6/9, sacks allowed 7/9 games). SACKS ALW comes from the opponent's box score; TO FORCED is takeaways; TO MAR is takeaways minus giveaways, and its bottom cell is the season total. Dashes mean not on file.
UNIT INDEX
Pass Offense: grade 14.8/100 (-90 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Offense: grade 28.8/100 (-58 yds/gm vs average)
Pass Defense: grade 41.0/100 (+8 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Defense: grade 30.4/100 (+37 yds/gm vs average)
Unit grades: 0-100 league percentile, opponent-curved (two-way solve over current + past seasons, recency-weighted). Composite counts yardage, efficiency vs league YPA/YPC (50% tilt), and negative plays at sack=7yd, INT=45yd, TFL=4yd -- adjustable v1 constants.
OPPONENT TRACKER
(full explanation: Appendix, Note 2)
DATE
SITE
OPPONENT
THEIR RECORD
THEIR PPG
2026-10-30
at
DEL SOL
3-6
26.2
LAST YEAR
SC finished 2025 at 0-10. Missed playoffs. Toughest loss: 6-28 to DUARTE (22-point margin).
"N/A" stands in for a box score that does not have stats entered. A total followed by a count in parentheses covers only the games with that stat on file.
TALKING POINTS (15 storylines)
SC HAS PERFORMED BEST THIS DATA SET WHEN...
• SC holds its opponents under 100 rushing yards (.999), and has won 3 straight when doing so
• SC holds its opponents under 7.0 yards per play (.667), but most recently lost to Carpinteria when doing so
• SC averages 7.0+ yards per play (.750), but most recently lost to Channel Islands when doing so
• SC rushes for 100+ yards (.667), but most recently lost to Channel Islands when doing so
• SC's offense has failed to reach 200 pass yds in 9 straight games (08/21/2026-10/23/2026), going 4-5 over that stretch.
• SC's offense has failed to reach 8.0 YPA in 8 straight games (08/28/2026-10/23/2026), going 3-5 over that stretch.
• SC's defense has averaged 0.3 takeaways per game over their last 3 games. Their 28-game average is 1.5 takeaways per game. (-78%)
• SC averages 5.9+ yards per carry (SC's own median) (.714)
• SC's offense has averaged 11.4 points scored per game over their last 5 games. Their 29-game average is 22.9 points scored per game. (-50%)
• SC holds its opponents under 8.0 yards per attempt (SC's own median) (.600)
• SC holds its opponents under 8.5 yards per play (SC's own median) (.600)
• SC rushes for 133.0+ yards (SC's own median) (.643)
• SC averages 6.7+ yards per play (SC's own median) (.643)
• SC's offense has exceeded 5.0 YPC in 4 straight games (10/02/2026-10/23/2026), going 0-4 over that stretch.
• SC's offense has committed 1+ turnover in 4 straight games (10/02/2026-10/23/2026), going 0-4 over that stretch.
• SANTA CLARA has rushed for 200+ in 2 straight games (10/16/26–10/23/26). It has not reached 3 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• SANTA CLARA has lost 5 straight (9/18/26–10/23/26). It has not lost 6 straight since 11/15/24–10/31/25 (2025).
• SANTA CLARA has had a 100-yard rusher in 2 straight games (10/16/26–10/23/26). It has not had a 100-yard rusher in 3 straight since 8/28/26–9/11/26 (2026). It has reached 3 straight 3 times in the last 4 years and has reached a high of 4 straight (2024) in that span.
SC's defense has averaged 0.3 takeaways per game over their last 3 games. Their 28-game average is 1.5 takeaways per game. (-78%)
SC's defense has averaged 6.2 YPA over their last 7 games. Their 21-game average is 10.0 YPA. (-38%)
SC's defense has averaged 169.7 pass yards per game over their last 5 games. Their 21-game average is 129.6 pass yards per game. (+31%)
SC's defense has averaged 6.3 YPP over their last 7 games. Their 21-game average is 8.9 YPP. (-29%)
SC's defense has averaged 24.4 points allowed per game over their last 7 games. Their 29-game average is 33.9 points allowed per game. (-28%)
SC's defense has averaged 5.9 YPC over their last 10 games. Their 21-game average is 8.1 YPC. (-27%)
SC's defense has averaged 139.7 rush yards per game over their last 10 games. Their 21-game average is 187.7 rush yards per game. (-26%)
(moved to the Appendix, Data Export 1, to keep this section shorter -- the full spreadsheet-paste table is there unchanged)
APPENDIX
Full-length explanations and full-size data exports for the shortened notes and relocated tables referenced throughout this report, numbered in the order their pointers appear above.
Explanatory Notes
Note 1 -- SEASON OUTLOOK
Every remaining game is projected from schedule-adjusted ratings; already-played games carry their real result. Records are simulated distributions, not a single guess -- MOST LIKELY FINAL is the single most probable record and its own probability, PROJECTED RECORD is the season's expected win total expressed in record form (an average across every simulated outcome, so it can land on a fraction of a game).
Note 2 -- OPPONENT TRACKER -- why some cards have no record shown
Only meaningful for an opponent who is ALSO a tracked team in the library -- an opponent with no games on file here at all shows the date and site alone.
Note 3 -- MOST IMPORTANT NUMBERS -- how a number is scored
Every split this report computes is scored on four weighted criteria and the top 5 per team are listed. In Cooper's own weighting order: (1) the WIN% attached to the condition, counted only when the condition has occurred at least 8 times -- a smaller sample is dropped outright, not discounted; (2) the PPG attached to it, with higher better on offense and lower better on defense, and each side normalized against its own kind so a defensive number competes with defensive numbers rather than against scoring averages; (3) how far the number sits from the OPPONENT's on the same condition, across win%, PPG and how often the condition happens at all; and (4) where it falls among every other team previously run through this workbook and cached. Criteria 1 and 2 measure how strong a number is; 3 and 4 measure how much it distinguishes this team. Weights: win_pct 40%, ppg 27%, matchup 20%, pool 13%. See important_numbers.py.
Full Data Exports
Data Export 1 -- TRENDS — TAB-SEPARATED (10 columns)
Where SANTA CLARA (OXNARD) sits among 399 section teams on the two Unit Index composites -- Offense Grade 27.9, Defense Grade 31.5.
TURNOVER MARGIN / GAME: SANTA CLARA (OXNARD) VS THE SECTION
SANTA CLARA (OXNARD) ranks #7 of 332 section teams in turnover margin per game (3.67) -- a strength worth a look.
SANTA CLARA (OXNARD): SP STRENGTH INDEX BY SEASON
The program's index across 5 seasons on file -- -6.8 in 2022 to -14.0 in 2026.
These graphs were chosen by the program from this season's most notable numbers. Build your own -- any stat against any other, for any mix of teams, seasons or players, with a JPEG download -- in the Graph Builder.
