Five years have passed since Mark Macres died from cancer.

His image adorns a rock that overlooks the entrance to the stadium of Monterey Trail High School, an institution that he co-founded as vice principal.

The hands of Monterey Trail football players, band musicians, and other fellow students touched his rock for good luck while they left the stadium after the Mustangs defeated the Florin Panthers, 55-14 during the Macres Memorial Game at the Mark Macres Memorial Stadium.  

The Mustangs kept the Macres trophy that displays the scores of each game. The trophy remains on campus until next year’s meeting. 

“Mr. Macres was a tremendous leader for both schools,” Monterey Trail head coach, T.J. Ewing said after the game. “We have the sense of his presence.” 

Ewing mentioned that his school keeps their awareness of cancer with the Macres rock.

“We love him and we appreciate his wife and kids who come out each year,” Ewing said.

An expression of unity was poignantly shown before the game began. The marching bands from both schools gathered together to perform the national anthem. Both teams lined up on the field while Macres’ widow was honored that night.

“The winner will take great pride in calling the Mark Macres Memorial Stadium, ‘Our House,’” the game announcer said.

The Mustangs excelled throughout the Macres Bowl, where a mix of stealth, solid defense and muscular offense granted them a 20-point lead by halftime.

Soon after the first quarter began, Monterey Trail marched down the field through a series of successful runs that all paved the way for running back Elijah McGolthin to score on a 21-yard run.

Florin’s offense barely breached Mustang territory afterwards and the ball soon returned to Monterey Trail’s hands. After a recovered fumble and a near interception, Mustang running back Adrian Tellez dodged defenders left and right to score on a 26-yard touchdown.

Demetrius Hartsfield returned the ensuing kickoff to the Monterey Trail 5-yard line. Florin scored on the next play and added the extra point to slice the deficit in half.

Monterey Trail dashed such optimism early in the second quarter when running back Trey Nahhas scored on a three-yard touchdown.

Afterwards, the Panthers’ offense struggled to gain yards and gave the ball back to Monterey Trail after quarterback Ben Walls was sacked.

Two plays later, running back Sterling Powell reached the end zone on a 28-yard run to boost the lead to 28 points.

The hits kept coming from the Mustang offense in the rest of the second quarter despite one goof: a bungled field goal attempt.

Florin’s last hurrah came right before halftime.

Walls suffered a series of incomplete passes and one sack – yet he rebounded on fourth down when he tossed a 20-yard touchdown.

The Mustangs dominated the second half when they easily overcame Florin’s exhausted defense to break the 50-point mark early in the fourth quarter.

“I thought our offense did a good job,” Ewing said. “They have their own rhythm now.”

Monterey Trail’s junior varsity team also defeated Florin earlier that night, 32-6.