Eyes were mainly on the clash between De La Salle and St. Francis on Friday night, but there were a few other great games, including some that blindsided audiences around the Central Coast Section.
No. 9 Palma 26, No. 3 Menlo-Atherton 20 (OT)
With M-A blowing past Mitty and Palma stuck in a tight affair with Sacred Heart Cathedral last week, it looked like the Bears would win comfortably in their home opener. Instead, they came out flat and found themselves in an early 10-0 hole with three first-quarter turnovers. Though the Bears did knot things up in the final minutes of regulation, Palma made a stop on 4th-and-1 in overtime and needed just one play to win it as junior Anthony Villegas punched it in from 10-yards out to end the game. Villegas had also scored on a nine-yard run in the fourth quarter.
No. 5 Mitty 22, Acalanes 17
The Monarchs went scoreless in the second half, but made big defensive stops down the stretch and rode Shamir Bey’s legs to victory as he picked up the game-sealing first down. Acalanes had closed to within five points with 9:55 left in the fourth quarter, on a Nick Kresnak to Lucas Eppinger touchdown pass, but the Mitty defense stood tall from that point forward.
San Benito 26, No. 8 Los Gatos 16
Los Gatos head coach Mark Krail’s statements earlier in the week about throwing out the records held true on Friday, and the previously-winless Haybalers picked up an impressive win over a Wildcats team that was hoping a break from the usual setting would provide them a chance to snap the skid against San Benito. The Balers are playing home games at the Salinas Sports Complex this year with their own facility being renovated, but even the change of scenery wouldn’t help Los Gatos.
Eric Green ran for two first-half scores for San Benito, and Juan De Leon broke a 16-16 tie with his 11-yard scoring run with two minutes to go in the third quarter, before Izia Polanco added his second field goal of the game in the fourth quarter, for the final points of the night. Ryan Garwood scored both Los Gatos touchdowns in the game, including the game-tying score early in the third quarter.
No. 25 Independence 35, Piedmont Hills 33
One of East San Jose’s biggest rivalries went the way of the 76ers, while Piedmont Hills suffered a second tight loss to a team from the Santa Teresa Division.
North Salinas 14, Alvarez 6
After winning just one game last year, the Vikings already surpassed their 2017 win total while keeping the Eagles out of the win column. Alvarez has scored just 27 points in three games this season.
Del Mar 35, Westmont 3
The Dons outscored the Warriors 22-0 in the second half to score a win over an opponent from the Mt. Hamilton Division. It's the first 2-0 start for Del Mar since 2008.
Watsonville 16, St. Francis SCP 14
This coastal affair started and ended with special teams scores, as the Sharks scored on a 99-yard kick return touchdown by Devin McLeod to open the game, but a fumbled punt snap gave Watsonville the lead on a go-ahead safety for the decisive score.
Capuchino 39, Hillsdale 0
Brandon Mailangi ran the show on Friday night in San Bruno, with 13 carries for 107 yards and three touchdowns as the Lake Division Mustangs blanked the Ocean Division Fighting Knights.
Gonzales 28, Soledad 0
Gonzales was already the team to beat in the Santa Lucia Division, but rolling over Soledad to claim the Heritage Trophy for the first time since 2009 is a mammoth leap forward for the Spartans. Payton Flores found quarterback Raul Morales on a reverse pass for a touchdown, and Morales found Dominic Emery for a 67-yard scoring strike as well.
Mills 50, South San Francisco 0
What’s already been a tough year for the Warriors got even rougher with a lopsided defeat in Millbrae on Friday. Mills led 28-0 through a quarter and 36-0 at halftime.
