Santaluces football *stomped* rival Boynton Beach 38-0 on August 21, kicking off their season with a season-opening thumping in Samuel Putmon’s debut as interim head coach. That kind of shutout win against a rival is always sweet, but this one felt different, ya know? The team rallied big time.
Putmon Takes the Reins, Chiefs Rally Hard
Samuel Putmon, who already put in four years as Santaluces’ defensive coordinator, stepped up big in his first game at the top. He took over after head coach Hector Clavijo was suspended for a year by the FHSAA back in May due to NIL violations. Postgame, the players snuck up and doused Putmon with a bucket of yellow Gatorade and ice, roaring joyously. Putmon himself admitted, “It did surprise me. It’s the way the kids are showing their appreciation for me coaching them and getting our first win. I really appreciate it.”
Quarterback Jaxson Mariconi echoed the sentiment, telling us, “It felt great. We played a lot more as a team instead of as individuals. Every game against them is going to be chippy, but we had a mindset of dominating and we were the better team.” Mariconi also gave a shout-out to the new leader, saying, “Coach P is doing a great job. I can’t complain. He’s doing it for the kids and he’s doing it for the program.” This win marks the fifth straight time Santaluces has beaten Boynton Beach, a seriously impressive streak, especially after a preseason loss to Pahokee had some folks worried.
Boston, Clavijo Unleash the Floodgates
The game started a little slow, even a “wayward start,” but then the Chiefs exploded for 24 points in the final 2:25 of the first half, putting the game totally out of reach. Sophomore wide receiver Brett Boston was absolutely electric, scoring three touchdowns on the night, including two punt returns and a wicked catch-and-run score. His 32-yard punt return finally put Santaluces on the board at 7-0. Boston was quick to credit his crew, saying, “I want to thank the team for getting me great blocks. Those guys we’ve been playing against since we were little, but it’s all love, family. But when we compete, we got to win.”
And then there’s senior kicker Christian Clavijo. Just 30 seconds after Boston’s punt return, Clavijo recovered his own onside kick in Boynton Beach territory, setting up the Chiefs’ second score. This guy is a pro at it, averaging roughly two successful onside kick recoveries per season. “We game-planned for it,” Clavijo said. “It’s our best way of getting the ball back.” The five-star recruit, who is Hector Clavijo’s much younger brother, with a 20-year age gap, clearly has a Division I football future.
The win was massive, but the shadow of Hector Clavijo’s suspension hung over everything. Christian Clavijo shared the struggle, “It’s really tough not making my calls to him. Not seeing him every day. He’s not even allowed at the game, which I think is beyond unfair. It’s tough, but we’re getting through it. It’s a really good group he built.” Brett Boston added that the situation “brought us closer as a family. We’ve been together as kids and we banded together. (Clavijo) is going through a hard process right now. We are praying for him to come back. We need him.” This team’s unity is no joke, and they just put the league on notice. What a start to the season!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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