SOQUEL — Ken Caldwell, a 1959 Santa Cruz High alum and record-setting starting quarterback for the Cardinals, will be in attendance when his alma mater takes on host Soquel in another physical and passionately played edition of the The Stump rivalry game Friday night.
Caldwell, 81, and his wife are regulars at Soquel games these days. One of their grandchildren, Cole Johnson, is a returning starting quarterback for the Knights and off to a hot start having thrown for six touchdowns through two games.
You see the dilemma, right? Caldwell is quick to point out that his loyalties haven’t been compromised.
“No question, Soquel,” the grandfather said. “I’m always rooting for him to do well and for his team to win.”
The Knights, despite getting off to a 2-0 start, are an underdog of sorts. Even though they’ve dominated the lifetime series against Santa Cruz, 42-17-1, they’ve lost the teams’ past three meetings.
“My class hasn’t won it yet, so, obviously, there’s huge motivation to win it,” said Johnson, a senior.
The Cardinals (1-1) have huge motivation, too. They were hit hard by graduation after winning the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Mission Division title last season. With the title, the Cardinals earned a promotion to the league’s top tier, the Gabilan Division, where they’ll take on some of the Central Coast Section’s top programs, including Salinas, Palma, Aptos and Hollister. The Cardinals, despite having a small, but talented roster, are expected to endure some lumps in league. If they hope to post a winning record this season, it’s paramount that they win their nonleague contests, including their game against the Knights. Plus, it’s a rivalry game.
The Stump rivalry wasn’t even a thing when Caldwell shined for the Cardinals. Soquel played its first season when it opened in 1962. Santa Cruz’s biggest foe when Caldwell was in high school was Watsonville. The 100-year-old schools still meet on the gridiron, making it one of the state’s oldest series. (The Cardinals beat the Wildcatz 50-7 last week.)
Caldwell led the Cardinals to one of their most historic seasons in 1958. They went 9-0 overall and 6-0 in league after barely scraping by Monterey in their second meeting in the regular-season finale. Caldwell remembers that he and his teammates were somewhat dejected after accomplishing the unthinkable, because their high-powered offense didn’t put up a massive score like it had in previous games. There wasn’t a state championship — or Central Coast Section playoffs for that matter — in those days, but the San Francisco Chronicle and SF. Examiner named the Cardinals the No. 1 team in Northern California in their final poll.
While most teams ran the ball extensively, Caldwell and the Cardinals aired it out a bit under legendary coach Larry Siemering, a former NFLer who served as the head coach at University of the Pacific (1947-51) in Stockton and Arizona State University (’51).
Siemering’s offense was diverse and complex. Running backs John Kirby and Ken Negro were two of its biggest stars, but Caldwell was no slouch. He broke the school record at the time for passing yards in a season in ’58, finishing with just under 1,000.
Caldwell knows a thing or two about slinging the ball downfield, so Johnson pays attention when he and his family meet after games.
“He gives me compliments,” Johnson said. “Sometimes he’ll give me a couple pointers, but mostly compliments.”
Caldwell said he often finished games with a clean jersey; his offensive line was that good. Still, he offers tips on self-preservation to his grandson: run out of bounds if you have to and slide to avoid contact after running the ball.
Every time Johnson and his family visit the Caldwell’s in Lafayette, or the grandparents make a trip to the Johnsons in Capitola, the grandfather plays catch with his three grandsons. Admittedly, Johnson takes something off his ball. Caldwell knows what he’s capable of, though.
“Cole has a great arm, much better than I ever had,” he said. “He can really throw the ball. He’s really accurate and zings it in there.”
Caldwell and Johnson don’t downplay how special the opportunity is to play catch with each other.
“It means everything to me,” Caldwell said. “I loved that they’re all into sports. It’s been great to have three boys to share sports with.”
They also play golf, attend Cal football games, and watch college and NFL games on TV together. It’s family bonding at its finest.
“It’s awesome,” said Johnson, of playing catch with his granddad. “I love it. My dad didn’t play football in high school. It’s nice to have someone to connect with and follow in their footsteps.”
Johnson would love nothing more than lead his team to an unbeaten season — just like grandpa did — but it’s a long way between now and season’s end. This much is for sure, to do that the Knights have to get through a heck of a Santa Cruz team this weekend.
Win or lose, Johnson knows he has a solid support group waiting for him at game’s end, and someone special to play catch with.
IF YOU GO
High school football
Thursday
MVC at Alisal, 7:30 p.m.
St. Francis at Greenfield, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Scotts Valley at Watsonville, 7 p.m.
Mission College Prep at Aptos, 7:30 p.m.
Harbor at Saratoga, 7:30 p.m.
Santa Cruz at Soquel, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Richmond at SLV, 2 p.m.
Pajaro Valley at Pacific Grove, 7:30 p.m.
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