CCS
The Blossom Valley Athletic League had a mostly rough opening night of the Central Coast Section playoffs, winning two of seven games Friday, one of which involved two of its own teams. But the other victory was probably the biggest in the section. Live Oaktraveled from Morgan Hill to Kezar Stadium in San Francisco to face Sacred Heart Cathedral, a surprise fourth-place finisher in the West Catholic Athletic League. When Sacred Heart’s Areon Mitchell caught a 90-yard touchdown pass from Will Irons for the game’s first score, it looked as if things were on cue. But when it ended, Live Oak had a 28-21 victory that moved the fifth-seeded Acorns into the Open Division III semifinals next week against top seed and undefeated Half Moon Bay. Cole Davis’ 10-yard run gave Live Oak (7-4) its only lead of the night with 1:03 left. Davis also tied the score 14-14 with a 2-yard run. Sacred Heart finished its season 6-5 on a 2-2 night for the WCAL. … Half Moon Bay (11-0) built a two-touchdown halftime lead on its way to a 38-20 victory over Burlingame (6-5). Gavin Tomberlin completed 8 of 11 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 74 yards to lead the Cougars into the Open III semifinals … Terra Nova (6-5), likely under-seeded at No. 7 because it had to forfeit its opener this season after a skirmish with Moreau Catholic in a scrimmage, knocked off second-seeded Aptos (7-4) 24-14. Brandon Auelua, who has been slowed by injuries this year, showed he was finally healthy, rushing for 179 yards including an 89-yard touchdown run. … After trading touchdowns in the first overtime, fourth-seed Santa Clara emerged with a wild 33-27 victory in Division IV over fifth-seed Independence, the decisive points coming on a 2-yard run by Erik Ketton in the second overtime. Antonio Soto also had a big game for Santa Clara, including a fumble recovery to set up a field goal. Ketton moved to QB after Christopher Brown went down with an injury and was a “beast,” according to his coach, Hank Roberts. Independence (7-4) had battled back from a 21-7 deficit to force overtime. … Cannon Yates caught a scoring pass from his younger brother, Carson Yates, to help top-seed Leland (10-1) avenge its only loss of the season, defeating eighth-seed Willow Glen 10-7 in a Division IV game. Justin Kuhns’ 33-yard field goal late in the third quarter broke a 7-7 tie. Willow Glen finished 7-4. … After a relatively slow start, fourth-seed Valley Christian got things rolling at home against fifth-seed Oak Grove and went on to a 36-0 victory in an Open Division II game. Isaiah McElvane rushed for 140 yards and Charlie Bostic ran for 119 yards and a touchdown to lead Valley Christian (9-2). Oak Grove finished 6-5. … Serra (9-2) routed Mitty (5-6) 52-7 as Isiah Kendrick rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught a 23-yard touchdown pass. The Padres led 31-0 at the half. … Joey Sabel caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Jeremy Teteak and then ran for a touchdown — all in the first quarter — as fourth-seed Hillsdale (8-3) defeated fifth-seed Sobrato (8-3) 28-7 in Division V. … Trailing by a touchdown after three quarters, defending Open I champion and fifth seed Menlo-Atherton erupted for 23 unanswered points to defeat fourth-seed San Benito 37-21.
NCS Vincent Mossotti’s 97-yard kickoff return set the tone for Campolindo (8-4), which cruised to a 44-20 victory over Maria Carrillo (4-6). Campolindo, the top seed in Division II, scored four touchdowns in the first quarter and led 41-14 at halftime. Shun Ishida rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns — on three carries. … Granada earned a ticket to the Division II semifinals by routing Casa Grande 56-28. The Matadors (8-4) led 28-0 after the first quarter, and the game was played with a running clock in the fourth period. Granada coach Tim Silva said Zack Macintire, Malini Ti’a and Tommy Reeves were among the many players who had big games. … Ninth-seeded Miramonte and No. 1 seed Marin Catholic hooked up in a dandy that had six lead changes before MC (10-0) edged the Matadors (8-4) 49-39 in the Division III playoffs. Miramonte quarterback Will Cassriel threw three touchdown passes — two to Ethan Fischler — and scored on a 1-yard run. Peter Stehr had TD runs of 35 and 50 yards for Miramonte. … Encinal’s perfect season came to an end against second seed Cardinal Newman in the Division III playoffs as the Jets (11-1) left Santa Rosa with a 49-32 loss. Encinal closed the score to 35-20 early in the fourth quarter, but the Jets couldn’t stop the Cardinals. Senior quarterback Theori Oliver had a big night, running for three touchdowns and passing for one more. … Harker (11-0), the No. 3 seed in Division IV, sped out to a 24-0 halftime lead and ended Piedmont‘s season 38-12. Nate Kelly passed for three scores before intermission and ran for a touchdown in the second half. Quarterback Jacon Prager accounted for both Piedmont TDs with a 1-yard run and 36-yard TD pass to Ian Joseph. The Highlanders finished 7-5. … Freedom stars Giles Jackson and Baylei Coston combined for well over 200 yards and four touchdowns as the Falcons (9-2) clipped Amador Valley (7-5) 38-20 in the Division I quarterfinals. Jackson scored three touchdowns while Coston had seven catches and a punt return for a touchdown. Senior linebacker Tyler Dixon had at least three sacks, Freedom coach Kevin Hartwig said.