In a lineup of the area's top football players of the past decade, Blake Truhitte will certainly stand out.Â
That's because he never quite looked like a football player. He certainly didn't fit the prototype at quarterback.Â
We are on a quest to find the Player of the Decade for 2010-2019. We will be publishing profiles on 10 nominees for the honor over the new few weeks. Then we'll ask you, our readers, to vote for the Player of the Decade. The first nominee up is Arroyo Grande's Seth Jacobs. He played quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end, safety and linebacker with the Eagles before eventually earning a starting linebacker spot at Oklahoma State.Â
Top-ranked Arroyo Grande edged No. 2 Oxnard Rio Mesa 7-6 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center in Irvine in the 2010 Division 4 title game, completing a divisional three-peat for the Eagles.Â
Photos: Blake Truhitte's days at Santa Maria High
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Santa Maria's Frank Lopez, Blake Truhitte and Adrian Ayala leave the field after the CIF Southern Section Division 12 title game in December of 2017.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte tries to shrug off a tackle with help from Jon Ramos' blocking Saturday at the FCA All-Star Classic.Â
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Santa Maria QB Blake Truhitte was the All-Area MVP in 2017.Â
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte tries to shrug off a tackle with help from Jon Ramos' blocking Saturday at the FCA All-Star Classic.Â
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The Northern Santa Barbara County Athletic Round Table honored its Athletes of the Year on Wednesday. Pictured, from left, is female Scholar Athlete of the Year Danielle Morgan, from Lompoc High, male Athlete of the Year Blake Truhitte, from Santa Maria, male Scholar Athlete of the Year Dustin Gregg, a Santa Ynez senior, and Righetti's Zane Sheckherd, the female Athlete of the Year.Â
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte catches a fly ball hit by Santa Ynez' Dante Berouty, on Friday.
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Santa Maria second baseman Blake Truhitte fields a groundball Wednesday.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte throws to first base to turn a double play after forcing out San Lorenzo's Raul Arechiga at second base.
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Santa Maria second baseman Blake Truhitte forces out Cabrillo's Cameron Binnebose at second base during Tuesday's Los Padres League game. Cabrillo won the contest 6-1, improving to 5-6 overall and 4-4 in the Los Padres League.Â
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Santa Maria’s Blake Truhitte is triple-teamed by La Puente’s Jose Balbuena, left, Jonathan Quiroz and Michael Solis during Friday's CIF Division 5AAA semifinal game at La Puente High School.
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Santa Maria’s Blake Truhitte tries to put the ball up past La Puente’s Jonathan Quiroz during Friday's CIF Division 5AAA semifinal game at La Puente High School. The Saints were hopeful they'd land a state playoff bid after making the semifinals, but were not chose for the Division V regional on Monday.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte runs the fastbreak against Morro Bay.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte penetrates the Morro Bay defense on Thursday.
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Returning Santa Maria High starters Blake Truhitte, Joey Nevarez, Clark Kringel and Kobe Medina are expected to lead the Saints’ basketball team this season. Santa Maria is 2-1 on the season after beginning the year at the Sierra Pacific Tournament last weekend.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte and Daniel Solorio celebrate the Saints' first touchdown against Big Bear in Saturday night's CIF-SS championship game.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte scores the Saints last touchdown against Big Bear.
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Santa Maria's Frank Lopez and Blake Truhitte bring down Big Bear's Jesus "Chuy" Castro'
Saints fall to Bears: Two critical sequences cost Santa Maria in 37-23 loss
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Family and friends console Santa Maria's Adrian Ayala after the game. Santa Maria lost to Big Bear 37-23, with a pair of plays costing the Saints dearly in particular.
Football games are often decided by the little things.
An extra yard here, a penalty or a missed assignment.
There were a lot of critical plays in Santa Maria's CIF championship game against Big Bear, but if one stood out more than the rest it was the sequence at the start of the fourth quarter.
Then, the Saints were down 24-10. But they were driving, primarily using the legs of quarterback Blake Truhitte and running back Bobby Ruiz.
Read the full story at http://bit.ly/2nAKVd9
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte scores the Saints' first touchdown past Big Bear's Dylan Olso during the CIF Southern Section Division 12 championship game at Ralph Baldiviez Stadium on Dec. 2, 2017 in Santa Maria. Truhitte passed and rushed for more than 2,000 yards in his senior season at Santa Maria High, accounting for 4,374 yards and 56 touchdowns that year.
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Quaterback Blake Truhitte, wearing his trademark cleats, gets ready for practice with Santa Maria High School's football team ahead of Saturday night's CIF championship game.
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Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte carries the ball during a quarterback keeper play in a CIF Southern Section semifinal game at South El Monte High School on Nov. 24, 2017.
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Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte throws the ball during a game against South El Monte High School in the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 12 on Friday, November 24, 2017. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte, right, breaks up a pass intended for El Monte's Samuel Figueroa during Friday's CIF Southern Section quarterfinal game between the two teams. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
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Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte carries the ball during a quarterback keeper play in a CIF Southern Section quarterfinal game at South El Monte High School on Friday night, November 24, 2017. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
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Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte throws during a game against South El Monte High School in the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 12 playoffs on Nov. 24. Truhitte helped power the Saints past the Eagles and into the championship game where they'll face 12-1 Big Bear Saturday night at 7:45 p.m.
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Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte breaks a tackle as he caries the ball in for a touchdown during a CIF Southern Section quarterfinal game at South El Monte High School on Friday night, November 24, 2017. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
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Santa Maria captains John Ramos (7), Gabriel Bravo (54), Bobby Ruiz (3) and Blake Truhitte (2) hold hands while they walk out for the coin toss before the semifinal game against South El Monte on Nov. 24, 2017.
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Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte throws the ball during a game against South El Monte High School in the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 12 on Friday, November 24, 2017. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
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Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte throws a pass during Friday night's game against South El Monte High School in the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 12 playoffs.
CIF Playoffs: Santa Maria rolls past South El Monte, earns spot in championship game
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Family members and friends crowd around while Santa Maria players and coaches huddle together following their win 35-14 over South El Monte Friday night in the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 12 playoffs at El Monte High.
SOUTH EL MONTE — Santa Maria is on the brink of the CIF Southern Section Division 12 championship after a convincing semifinal win Friday night.
Quarterback Blake Truhitte ran for four scores and threw for another and the defense checked a high-powered South El Monte offense as the Saints won 35-14 at South El Monte High School.
“We knew they were run-oriented just like we are, they’re battle tested just like we are and we knew we had to stop the run first,” said Saints’ center and defensive lineman Gabriel Bravo.
Read the full story at http://bit.ly/2nBmsED
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Saints quarterback Blake Truhitte looks for a receiver during practice Thanksgiving Day ahead of a semifinal game at South El Monte tomorrow night.
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Saints quarterback Blake Truhitte throws some warm up passes during practice Thanksgiving Day ahead of a semifinal game at South El Monte tomorrow night.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte runs for the game-clinching touchdown against Schurr as the sideline reacts on Nov. 17. Truhitte is the only quarterback in California to rush for more than 2,000 yards this year.Â
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte knocks away a pass to Schurr's Lance Babb on fourth down in the 4th quarter, ending a Schurr drive.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte scores as Schurr's Sebastian Ramos chases during a CIF Southern Section second-round playoff game in 2017.Â
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte scores against Schurr's Aaron Rosales.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte passes against Schurr during the quarterfinal game on Nov. 17, 2017. Truhitte led the Saints to the CIF Southern Section Division 12 championship game that year, passing for more than 2,000 yards and rushing for more than 2,000.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter as Schurr's Isaiah De la Cruz pursues and Saint Gerardo Zul celebrates.
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Santa Maria High School quarterback Blake Truhitte looks for a receiver downfield during Tuesday's practice at Ralph Baldiviez Stadium.
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Spectators applaud as Santa Maria High School football player Blake Truhitte is named Athlete of the Week during Monday's Northern Santa Barbara County Athletic Round Table.
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Santa Maria High School football player Blake Truhitte and Hancock College basketball player Grace Rosa are Athletes of the Week.
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Carpinteria Warriors Jacob Mata (80) tries to sneak around Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte (2) during Friday night's play-off game.
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Carpinteria Warriors Jacob Mata (80) is brought down by Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte (2) during Friday night's play-off game.
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Santa Maria's quarterback Blake Truhitte (2) maneuvers around Carpinteria's Jacob Macias (2) during Friday night's play-off game.
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Santa Maria's quarterback Blake Truhitte finds a hole and runs the ball in for a touchdown during Friday night's play-off game against Carpinteria.
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Santa Maria's quarterback Blake Truhitte looks for an open man during Friday night's play-off game against Carpinteria.
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Saints wide receiver Jonathan Ramos (7) just misses a Blake Truhitte pass during Friday night's play-off game against Carpinteria.
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Saints quarterback Blake Truhitte (2) moves the ball upfield during Friday night's play-off game against Carpinteria.
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Saints quarterback Blake Truhitte (2) moves the ball upfield during a playoff game against Carpinteria in 2017.
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Santa Maria Saints tight end Gerardo Zul (81) and quarterback Blake Truhitte (2) celebrate after Truhitte's run into the end zone during a playoff game against Carpinteria in 2017.
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Santa Maria Saints tight end Gerardo Zul (81) and quarterback Blake Truhitte (2) celebrate after Truhitte's run into the end zone during Friday night's play-off game against Carpinteria.
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Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte (2) moves the ball upfield during a playoff game against Carpinteria in 2017. Truhitte accounted for seven touchdowns in the Saints' 56-28 win. Truhitte passed and rushed for more than 2,000 yards in his senior season at Santa Maria High, accounting for 4,374 yards and 56 touchdowns that year.
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Santa Maria's quarterback Blake Truhitte (2) sneaks around Carpinteria's Jacob Macias (2) during Friday night's play-off game.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte breaks a tackle to score during a Northern League match-up on Friday in Nipomo. The Saints scored 41 of the last 47 points in the game to beat the Titans 41-25, clinching the school's first football title since 1988. They'll host Carpinteria in the first round of the playoffs Friday night.Â
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Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte, seen as he runs against Nipomo during the Nov. 3 Northern League game, was named the Northern League's MVP this week. Truhitte helped Santa Maria claim its first league championship since 1988 this year.
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Blake Truhitte fires a pass downfield during a Northern League match-up on Friday in Nipomo.
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Santa maria High School's Blake Truhitte tries to intercept a Nipomo pass, forcing Nipomo receiver Jeduthun Matautia-Reyes (1) to turn defender during Friday night's Northern League game in Nipomo. Santa Maria won 41-25 to wrap up the league championship.
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Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte (2) looks or an open man during Friday night's game against Calabasas Viewpoint.
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Saints quarterback Blake Truhitte (2) takes a tumble after getting tackled by a Calabasas Viewpoint defender during Friday night's non-league game.
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Saints quarterback Blake Truhitte (2) looks for an open man during Friday night's game against Calabasas Viewpoint.
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Saints quarterback Blake Truhitte (2) looks for an open man during Friday night's game against Calabasas Viewpoint.
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Saints quarterback Blake Truhitte (2) gets taken down by a Calabasas Viewpoint defender during Friday night's non-league game.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte steals the ball from Farmerville's Miguel Ayala in the Santa Maria Holiday Tournament on Monday. Truhitte scored 13 points in the Saints' 79-73 win.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte drives against Farmerville's Victor Castrejon in the Santa Maria Holiday Tournament on Monday.
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Santa Maria's Blake Tuhitte drives past Cabrillo's Jordan Tyler during a Los Padres League game in December. Both Truhitte and Tyler have been voted to the All-Area First Team.Â
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Cabrillo's Jordan Tyler collects a rebound under pressure from Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte, left, and Gabe Cortes.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte drives against Cabrillo's Leandrew Knight.
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Blake Truhitte carries the ball while Roberto Buenrosto tries to pull the ball away from the Santa Maria quarterback during a game last November.
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Roberto Jr. Buenrosto grabs tries to pull the ball away from Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte
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Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte carries the ball as Robert Buenrostro reaches for a tackl Friday night.Â
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Saints quarterback Blake Truhitte starts to dive for the goal line as he is chased by Templeton tacklers during the Santa Maria homecoming game Friday night.
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Saints quarterback Blake Truhitte starts to dive for the goal line as he is chased by Templeton tacklers during the Santa Maria homecoming game Friday night. Truhitte rushed for three scores and went 12-for-14 passing in the Saints' win.
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Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte tries to break away from Santa Ynez defenders during last year's matchup. Santa Ynez hosts Santa Maria Friday night in a non-league matchup. The game can be seen live at santamariatimes.com Friday night, with the pre-game show slated for 6:45 p.m.
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Santa Maria Saints quarterback Blake Truhitte is tackled by a Pioneer Valley Panther player during a non-league game Friday night at Santa Maria. Gabriel Bravo
4. Blake Truhitte, Santa maria, Sr., QB (5-8, 150)
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What a season this guy had. With very little quarterbacking and general football experience and no summer program, Truhitte burst onto the scene in 2016, leading the Saints to their best season in years.
Truhitte completed nearly 70 percent of his throws (102 for 150) with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. He was more effective on the ground, carrying the ball 111 times for 796 yards and eight touchdowns.Â
Truhitte and teammates Garcia and Bobby Ruiz make for a lethal combination. Everyone knows how valuable quarterbacks are and Truhitte is a prime example of that. Santa Maria is a good team, but adding in a play-making QB takes the Saints to the next level.
And that's where I think they're headed this year. To that next level.
The road isn't easy. There are some tough games and the Northern League won't be a cakewalk for them. But I think this is the Saints' year and, barring any injuries, they have a serious shot at winning a league title.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte lines up for a play in the first half of the Saints - Righetti Warriors game under a Harvest Moon Friday night.
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Saints quarterback Blake Truhitte rolls out to his left for a short pass during the Saints game against the Warriors at Righetti.
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Santa Maria's Isiah Garcia takes a handoff from quarterback Blake Truhitte in the first half of the Saints' game against Righetti on Sept. 16. The Saints went on to a 22-20 victory.
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Cabrillo's Cameron Hudspeth stops Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte. Bill Morson, Contributor
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Santa Maria quarterback Blake Truhitte is chased down by Cabrillo's Cameron Hudspeth Friday night at Huyck Stadium. Truhitte went 21-for-28 for 298 yards and two touchdowns last week. The Saints play at Friday night.
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Santa Maria's Blake Truhitte scores Tuesday in the second inning of a 16-2 win over Southern Utah's Milford. It was Santa Maria's second straight win in an elimination game.Â
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Santa Maria Babe Ruth's 13-15-year-old All-Star team, featuring Marc Rubalcaba, front, and, left to right, Slim Lopez, Blake Truhitte, Isaac Baez and Trevor Garcia won a state championship in Reedley last week and is set to host the Pacific Southwest Regional next weekend at Elks Field.Â
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Santa Maria left fielder Blake Truhitte hauls in a fly ball during Tuesday's game against Templeton. Truhitte made a diving catch for the third out of the fourth inning.Â
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Blake Truhitte tracks down a fly ball Tuesday in the Los Padres League game against Templeton. Truhitte made the catch.Â
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Santa Maria's Paul Navarro, top, runs home to score as Tommy Herrera, front, advances on a hit by Blake Truhitte.
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Santa Maria’s Blake Truhitte is all by myself as he scores during the Saints’ game against Nipomo Tuesday night at Santa Maria.
Photos: Santa Maria's historic 2017 football season
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