In short: Santa Maria Saints high school football (Santa Maria, CA), 2026 season: 1-9. Last game: L 0-47 vs Santa Ynez on October 30, 2026. Schedule and results, player season stats, stat leaders, unit grades, ScorePirate ranking and the game-by-game log.
Pass Off 31.6 · Rush Off 5.4 · Pass Def 16.1 · Rush Def 6.8
LEAGUE
OCEAN
ENROLLMENT
400 STUDENTS · PRIVATE
NUMBERS TO NOTE
#104
SP Strength Index (of 114)
1-9
2026 record
-29.0
avg scoring margin, pts/gm
UNIT INDEX — GRADE (YDS VS AVG)
TEAM
PASS O
RUSH O
PASS D
RUSH D
SANTA MARIA
31.6 (-53)
5.4 (-143)
16.1 (+52)
6.8 (+125)
HEAD-TO-HEAD GAME LOG
CLEAR
SEASON NOTES
The biggest worry in Santa Maria's season has been the direction of its ball security. Santa Maria committed 1.2 giveaways per game over its first 4 games (1-3), #51 in Section in that timeframe. In the 6 games since that hot start (0-6), the Saints have committed 2.2 giveaways per game, a 73% rise, #95 in Section in that window. 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 Maria turned it over 52% more than those defenses usually force. On the season, Santa Maria ranks #88 in Section in giveaways.
Santa Maria's offense from the opening weeks has gone missing since. The Saints averaged 13.8 points per game over their first 5 games (1-4), #93 in Section during that time. In the 5 games since that hot start (0-5), Santa Maria has averaged 6.2 points per game, a 55% drop, #110 in Section through those games. The schedule doesn't excuse it: the last 5 opponents have been softer, averaging 28.6 points per game, a #78 scoring defense in Section on the season, against 21.3 points per game, #40 for the first 5. Measured against those opponents' norms (28.6 points per game), Santa Maria scored 78% less than those defenses usually allow. Santa Maria was held to 14 points or fewer 4 times in those games, including 0 against ScorePirate CIF Central Section #20 Nipomo on 9/25. On the season, the Saints rank #107 in Section in scoring.
Few teams in Section have allowed more points over the last 6 games than Santa Maria. Santa Maria allowed 30.0 points per game over its first 4 games (1-3), #79 in Section through that stretch. In the 6 games since that hot start (0-6), the Saints have allowed 45.0 points per game, a 50% rise, #112 in Section over that stretch. The schedule doesn't excuse it: the last 6 opponents have been softer, averaging 23.6 points per game, a #67 offense in Section on the season, against 29.7 points per game, #35 for the first 4. Measured against those opponents' norms (23.6 points per game), Santa Maria allowed 91% more than those offenses usually score. On the season, Santa Maria ranks #107 in Section in scoring defense.
The Saints allowed 10.1 yards per play (2,332 yards on 231 snaps) over their first 6 games (1-5), #114 in Section within that period. Few teams started slower in this department, and few have turned it around as sharply since. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (0-4), Santa Maria has allowed 8.0 yards per play (1,215 yards on 152 snaps), a 21% drop, #87 in Section across those games. The schedule deserves some of the credit: Santa Maria's last 4 opponents have averaged 5.2 yards per play, a #100 offense in Section on the season, against 7.8 yards per play, #28 for the first 6. Measured against those opponents' norms (5.2 yards per play), Santa Maria allowed 53% more per snap than those offenses usually gain. So the improvement is real, but it still trails what those opponents 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 #87 in Section, well below the first 6 (#58), so the recent production comes against lower-level teams overall. On the season, the Saints rank #110 in Section in yards per play allowed.
Something changed for Santa Maria's run defense after the first 6 games of the season. Santa Maria allowed 9.1 yards per carry (1,441 yards on 158 rushes) over its first 6 games (1-5), #108 in Section during those games. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (0-4), the Saints have allowed 8.0 yards per carry (979 yards on 122 rushes), a 12% drop, #95 in Section during that period. The schedule deserves some of the credit: Santa Maria's last 4 opponents have averaged 4.7 yards per carry, a #93 rushing attack in Section on the season, against 7.2 yards per carry, #27 for the first 6. Measured against those opponents' norms (4.7 yards per carry), Santa Maria allowed 71% more per carry than those rushing attacks usually gain. So the improvement is real, but it still trails what those opponents 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 #87 in Section, well below the first 6 (#58), so the recent production comes against lower-level teams overall. On the season, Santa Maria ranks #108 in Section in run defense.
TIDBITS (4 found)
• Club Santa Maria has lost 6 straight, and a loss would make it 7 in a row. The last time they lost 7 or more in a row was 2025, a run of 11.
• Club The last time Santa Maria went a game averaging 5.0+ yards per carry was November 9, 2023 against Dos Palos (L, 28-45). Since then Santa Maria has gone 31 straight games being held under 5.0 yards per carry, a school-record 31 straight in the 9 seasons on record.
• Club The last time Santa Maria went a game holding the opponent under 100 rushing yards was October 20, 2023 against Pioneer Valley (W, 32-7). Since then Santa Maria has gone 33 straight games allowing 100+ rushing yards, a school-record 33 straight in the 9 seasons on record.
• Club The last time Santa Maria went a game forcing 3+ turnovers was August 23, 2024 against Righetti (L, 7-27). Since then Santa Maria has gone 30 straight games forcing fewer than 3 turnovers, a school-record 30 straight in the 9 seasons on record.
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 2 game; last updated Nov 6; roster and numbers checked Oct 6.
Click a column heading to sort. MIN hides players below that many attempts.
Season complete at 1-9 with no games on file beyond a normal 10-game regular season -- read as no postseason appearance. This library still has no playoff-round/bracket source, so this label comes from game count alone, not a confirmed bracket result.
SM — 2026 OVERALL AVERAGES
SPLIT
GP
PPG
OPP PPG
YPG
OPP YPG
PLAYS/G
OPP PLAYS/G
OVERALL
10
10.0
39.0
154.9
394.4
36.6
42.7
HOME
6
11.3
32.3
146.7
351.2
35.7
42.3
ROAD
4
8.0
49.0
204.0
481.0
42.0
43.3
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 (offense 7/10, defense 9/10, sacks/INT 6/10 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 31.6/100 (-53 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Offense: grade 5.4/100 (-143 yds/gm vs average)
Pass Defense: grade 16.1/100 (+52 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Defense: grade 6.8/100 (+125 yds/gm vs average)
Unit grades: 0-100 league percentile, adjusted for the opponents faced.
LAST YEAR
SM finished 2025 at 1-9. Missed playoffs. Notable win: 39-6 over HOOVER (HOOVER finished 27% that season). Toughest loss: 6-42 to PIONEER VALLEY (36-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.
• SANTA MARIA has committed 2+ turnovers in 4 straight games (10/2/26–10/30/26). It has not reached 5 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• SANTA MARIA has lost 6 straight (9/18/26–10/30/26). It has not lost 7 straight since 9/5/25–9/4/26 (2026).
• SANTA MARIA has lost by 20+ in 3 straight games (10/9/26–10/30/26). It has not lost by 20+ in 4 straight since 9/5/25–10/30/25 (2025).
• SANTA MARIA has allowed 30+ in 3 straight games (10/9/26–10/30/26). It has not allowed 30+ in 4 straight since 9/5/25–9/4/26 (2026).
SM's defense has averaged 0.0 takeaways per game over their last 3 games. Their 18-game average is 0.4 takeaways per game. (-100%)
SM's defense has averaged 352.5 rush yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 17-game average is 252.9 rush yards per game. (+39%)
SM's defense has averaged 8.1 YPA over their last 3 games. Their 17-game average is 12.5 YPA. (-35%)
SM's defense has averaged 104.5 pass yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 17-game average is 160.3 pass yards per game. (-35%)
SM's defense has averaged 8.6 YPP over their last 3 games. Their 17-game average is 11.0 YPP. (-22%)
(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 -- MOST IMPORTANT NUMBERS -- how a number is scored
Every split this report computes is scored on how strong the number is and how much it sets this team apart from its opponent and the rest of the field, and the top 5 per team are listed. A condition needs at least 8 occurrences to count.
Full Data Exports
Data Export 1 -- TRENDS — TAB-SEPARATED (10 columns)
Where SANTA MARIA sits among 114 section teams on the two Unit Index composites -- Offense Grade 28.9, Defense Grade 20.9.
YARDS / CARRY: SANTA MARIA VS THE SECTION
SANTA MARIA ranks #93 of 95 section teams in yards per carry (1.90) -- a weakness worth a look.
SANTA MARIA: SP STRENGTH INDEX BY SEASON
The program's index across 5 seasons on file -- -14.1 in 2022 to -18.4 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.
