Both Monterey Trail and Florin high schools had an extra incentive last Friday.

They were playing for the Mark Macres Memorial Trophy, an award given to the winner of the Monterey Trail-Florin game.

Monterey Trail had won the past three meetings.

Make that four.

Mark Macres was a teacher and administrator at Florin and then a founding vice principal at Monterey Trail.

Macres died in 2007 after a battle with cancer.

“Macres saved our school and convinced everyone to go positive,” said Monterey Trail head coach T. J. Ewing. “He gave this campus a good environment from the start.”

Florin head coach Mike Morales echoed those sentiments.

“Mark was a great teacher and a good role model, it’s just too bad he’s gone from cancer,” he said.

With big plays on offense and key goal-line stands on defense, Monterey Trail rolled to a 49-12 win over Florin. The game was played on campus at Monterey Trail High School, at the stadium named in Macres’ honor.

The two programs share the stadium, and Florin was considered the home team.

Monterey Trail started off strong with a three-and-out stand on defense, and then scored on their first play from scrimmage on a 51-yard run by senior quarterback Michael Calvan.

They did not look back from there.

“This was an exciting game,” said Ewing. “It feels good to win a tough, emotional game for the trophy.”

Senior running backs Drake Tofi and Derek Bellamy carried the load for Monterey Trail.

Tofi scored on runs of four and one yards, while Bellamy scored on a nine-yard run.

“Our seniors played well and did their job. I’m proud of them,” said Ewing.

Monterey Trail evened it record at 2-2 this season. They have a bye this week before traveling to Inderkum Oct. 1 for the preseason finale.

Florin’s Mike Mosley scored on a four-yard touchdown run and fellow running back Rayshawn Johnson scored on an 11-yard run.

Florin is now 0-3.

Despite a third consecutive loss by 37 points or more, Florin is hoping to be more competitive when Metro League play begins Friday at home against Sacramento.

“We start league next (this) week and are ready for a tough league with a lot of speed,” said Morales. “We want to play physical, execute well, and look for Mosley and Johnson to continue right where they left off tonight (last Friday).”

Ben Brown is a journalism student at Laguna Creek High School.