Connor Marden was a three-year starter for the Padres from 2012 to 2014. Photo: Prep2Prep.com/courtesy school.
It was a rough couple of decades for the Padres in the 1980s and 1990s, but the last part of the 2000s and the 2010s so far have been great. The story of the program also is connected closely to that of nearby rival Pacific Grove, a series that dates to just before World War II. The school now has all of its football scores in one archive provided by Cal-Hi Sports.
Up next in this series: Los Banos. Yes, we know we were planning for Los Banos after Marin Catholic of Kentfield, but Carmel was ready to go and we decided not to wait. For more on the Cal-Hi Sports football archives project and on how we can help your school, CLICK HERE.
In the official list of scores in a Monterey Peninsula high school football rivalry between Carmel and Pacific Grove, last season’s 35-28 win by Pacific Grove gave the Breakers a 33-32-1 record and enabled them to take back “The Shoe,” a bronze trophy that had been displayed at Carmel for six years (not counting a playoff win by Pacific Grove two years ago).
According to the Carmel High football card files, however, that we at Cal-Hi Sports used to give the school its all-time scores archive, there were at least six games played between the rivals before “The Shoe” rivalry began. Officials at the school are checking, but it’s probably a case in which the official scores are for the years in which the actual trophy has existed.
In the scores we have, the second game reportedly ever played by the Carmel varsity in 1940 was a 6-6 tie vs. the Pacific Grove JV. The two schools also met once in 1941 (PG win), twice in 1942 (both Carmel wins), once in 1943 (Carmel win), once in 1944 (PG win), once in 1946 (PG win) and once in 1947 (Carmel win). It’s possible a 1945 game was played and not recorded, but adding the extra results created a 36-36-3 tie in the series heading into this season.
The bronzed shoe sits in the office of the winning school — either Carmel or Pacific Grove — until the other school wins and then gets to keep it. Photo: ksbw.com.
Another long-time rival that Carmel has played many times over the years has been King City. Guess what the totals are in that series, which dates back to 1943? Would you believe 36-36-1?
In addition to the rivalries, Carmel football history has been marked by two eras – the first under head coach George Mosolf mostly in the 1950s and the second under head coaches Craig Johnston and Golden Anderson in the late 2000s and to the present.
Mosolf guided an unbeaten team in 1949, which was followed by five straight wins to open 1950. He really got going, however, later in the 1950s. From 1955 to 1959, the Padres went 7-1, 6-1-1, 8-0, 7-0-1 and 7-0. There also was a 28-0-2 unbeaten streak from 1956 to 1960.
After Mosolf retired, winning seasons continued early in the 1960s but things went south later in the decade. The 1980s were downright awful with three winless seasons plus three additional seasons of just one win.
Johnston led the program for 18 years from 1990 to 2008. The final eight teams under his guidance had winning records, which seemed to set the stage for 2009 in Anderson’s first season in which Carmel had its best season. The Padres not only went 12-0 and won the CIF Central Coast Section Division III title, but they scored 637 points (averaging 53 per game), a total that makes the Cal-Hi Sports state record book.
The 2011 and 2013 teams were on a similar path as 2009, but in 2011 the Padres had to play Palma of Salinas (which in recent years has been D1 or Open Division in the CCS) and lost 33-21. Then in 2013 and also possibly in line for state bowl game it was Carmel falling 77-53 to its arch-rivals from Pacific Grove in the wildest playoff game in CCS history.
Being led by prolific quarterbacks also has been a staple of Carmel football in recent years. Devin Pearson started as a sophomore on that 2009 team, then ended up with nearly 8,000 yards passing and 76 touchdown passes in a three-year career. He was followed by three years of Connor Marden, which just ended after last season. Marden passed for 7,411 yards and 89 TDs. Going back even further than those two, the quarterback before that, Ken Johnston, also was a three-year starter from 2006 to 2008. In his three years, Johnston, who is the son of Craig Johnston, racked up 8,162 yards and 93 TDs.
Here are some other Carmel football records that the school will soon have in its possession courtesy of this archive initiative:
WIN-LOSS RECORDS FOR EACH DECADE
1940s: 36-30-4
1950s: 52-22-5
1960s: 55-24-1
1970s: 36-60-3
1980s: 23-75
1990s: 35-59-2
2000s: 66-38
2010s: 51-10
REPORTED ALL-TIME RECORD HEADING INTO 2015 SEASON:
354 WINS, 318 LOSSES, 15 TIES*
*Note: Forfeit win from 1950 not included. Including that result, 1950s record would be 53-22-5 and all-time would 355-318-15.
52.6 ALL-TIME WINNING PERCENTAGE
(Based on half-win, half-loss for tie)
Best Records For Single Season
12-0 – 2009
9-0 – 1949
8-0 – 1957
7-0-1 – 1958
7-0 – 1959
12-1 – 2011
11-1 – 2013
Worst Records For Single Season
0-10 – 1987
0-10 – 2000
0-9 – 1981
0-9 – 1988
0-7 – 1944
Most Points Scored (Single Game)
78 – VS. Pacific Grove, 2009
71 – VS. Gonzales, 2012
69 – VS. Burton (San Francisco), 2001
69 – VS. Soquel, 2011
67 – VS. Junipero (Monterey), 1955
64 – VS. Gonzales, 2011
63 – VS. Gonzales, 2010
63 – VS. Pacific Grove, 2011
62 – VS. Greenfield, 2004
62 – VS. Stevenson (Pebble Beach), 2008
62 – VS. Marina, 2013
Most Lopsided Wins
78-6 – VS. Pacific Grove, 2009
71-0 – VS. Gonzales, 2012
67-0 – VS. Junipero (Monterey), 1955
64-0 – VS. Gonzales, 2011
60-0 – VS. Greenfield, 2009
58-0 – VS. Greenfield, 2009
57-0 – VS. Pacific Grove, 1958
69-12 – VS. Burton (San Francisco), 2001
63-7 – VS. Pacific Grove, 2011
55-0 – VS. Live Oak (Morgan Hill), 1958
62-7 – VS. Stevenson (Pebble Beach), 2008
55-0 – VS. Marina, 2011
Most Points Allowed (Single Game)
77 – VS. Pacific Grove, 2013
63 – VS. Alvarez (Salinas), 1997
62 – VS. Soquel, 1985
62 – VS. Pacific Grove, 2006
61 – VS. Salinas, 2014
57 – VS. Santa Cruz, 1993
56 – VS. Sacred Heart Cathedral (SF), 2008
Most Lopsided Losses
57-0 – VS. Santa Cruz, 1993
62-12 – VS. Soquel, 1985
49-0 – VS. Palma (Salinas), 1994
48-0 – VS. Palma (Salinas), 1995
48-0 – VS. Stevenson (Pebble Beach), 2000
49-3 – VS. Palma (Salinas), 1992
45-0 – VS. Palma (Salinas), 1997
45-0 – VS. Seaside, 1999
Records Against Notable Opponents
22-16 VS. Stevenson (Pebble Beach)
39-32-3 VS. Gonzales
36-36-1 VS. King City
36-36-2 VS. Pacific Grove
8-14-1 VS. Monterey
10-25-1 VS. Palma (Salinas)
Longest Winning Streaks
18 – 1948-1950 (last four, then 9-0, then first five)
14 – 1957-1958 (an 8-0 season, then first six, then tie)*
13 – 2009-2010 (a 12-0 season, then first)
12 – 1958-1960 (last win, then 7-0, then first four)*
12 – 2011 (won first 12, then loss)
*Note: The two win streaks were part of a 28-0-2 unbeaten streak.
Longest Losing Streaks
19 – 1987-1988 (0-10 season followed by 0-9, won first game of 1989)
17 – 1980-1981 (lost last eight, then first nine)
15 – 1999-2000 (last five, then 0-10, won first game of 2001)
13 – 1984-1985 (last six, then first seven)
Remember, any school in the state can have this research finished in a customized fashion in return for a reasonable fee. For details, CLICK HERE.
Thanks to Stockton office assistant editor Paul Muyskens for contributing to this post. Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
7 Comments
The “official” series listed on The Show Trophy only date from when the trophy was created by the two schools. Also, check carefully – there are TWO ties in the series. It is a surpurb and balanced rivelry.
It gets confusing because we’re counting all scores and not just since the trophy was created. You are correct. There are two ties for years of The Shoe but three going back to 1940.
i played from 54 to 57 the actual shoe was given to the carmel hi by business teacher loyad miller and i am now an coach on the pacific grove varsity football team. miller gave the shoe approx 1946. inlayed at carmel
87 season 0-10?
NO
Beat Monterey, Won 7 games
We have every score. Carmel 1987 did not play Monterey. Losses 13-0 Harbor, 39-7 Watsonville, 42-0 AG, 33-0 N Salinas, 40-12 Palma, 20-0 King City, 12-7 Alisal, 21-0 RLS, 40-6 Gonzales, 26-0 PG. If wrong, glad to fix. Doesn’t appear wrong.
That true we won the shoe ?
The 80’s weren’t all bad. In the 83 football season the Padres were MTAL Champs with wins over King City and a 21-0 shutout of Pacific Grove.