While there may have been little suspense in the outcome of the NCS title football games in the top two divisions, all three games in the lower divisions produced tense match-ups as each of those games were decided by one score or less.
De La Salle and Salesian successfully defended their titles from 2013, while Justin-Siena and Clayton Valley returned to the top after a one-year hiatus, and Campolindo won its second section title in the last four years.
Spartans Defense Controls Division I Title Game
Even if their signature ground game had not been clicking – and it was – De La Salle’s defensive performance against Pittsburg was more than enough to propel the Spartans to their 23rd consecutive section championship.
The Pirates were held to just 85 total yards of offense, while the Spartans ran for 371 yards, including three first-half touchdowns from Andrew Hernandez. De La Salle led 28-0 at halftime, and never let Pittsburg mount a challenge.
Boss Tagaloa was a force all night on the defensive line for the Spartans, registering three sacks and four tackles for a loss, while Antoine Custer topped the 200-yard mark on the ground.
Clayton Valley Powers Way to Dominant Victory
Miles Harrison ran for 287 yards and three scores, as the Eagles racked up 328 yards on the ground and built a 27-6 halftime lead in their rematch with Concord. This time, however, there was no comeback by the Minutemen in the 33-6 Clayton Valley win.
The Eagles’ defense held Concord running back Malik Blackburn to just 34 yards on 20 carries, and intercepted Mitch Daniels three times. Daniels’ lone touchdown pass came just before halftime.
Clayton Valley struck first when Nate Keisel found Justin Zapanta for a 71-yard play-action touchdown pass on third and 16. Concord looked poised to even things up on the ensuing drive, but a goal-line stand by the Eagles’ defense gave the ball back to Clayton Valley on its 4-yard line. That was when the Miles Harrison show began.
Harrison bolted 96 yards for a touchdown immediately following the defensive stand, and the Eagles were not challenged from that point. Harrison later added runs of 59 and 49 yards.
Jake Peralta had a phenomenal game for the Clayton Valley defense, intercepting Daniels twice, forcing a fumble, registering 11 tackles, and breaking up two other passes.
Campolindo Outlasts Marin Catholic for Division III Title
The host Cougars never trailed in a tense match-up with Marin Catholic, holding off a late Wildcats rally to prevail 27-21, duplicating their championship victory in 2011.
Campolindo had earlier completed their fourth straight undefeated run through the Diablo Foothill Athletic League, but was seeking its second section title in four years, having beaten the Wildcats, 20-18 for the 2011 crown.
Nick Fadelli opened the scoring for the Cougars on a 5-yard run in the first quarter. Marin Catholic tied things up in the second quarter when junior quarterback Darius Peterson hit Paul Kunst for a 40-yard touchdown pass, a play after nearly getting sacked for a large loss.
Campolindo retook the lead when Jack Stephens hit Max Flower for a 24-yard score, but the Wildcats evened the score at halftime on a four-yard run by Peterson. The junior quarterback finished the game with 69 yards rushing to go with 166 yards through the air.
The Cougars finally got some breathing room when Stephens found Tyler Petite for a 43-yard score in the third quarter, and Conner McNally became the fourth Campolindo player to reach the end zone with his 25-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
Nick Gernhard closed the gap for the Wildcats with a 4-yard touchdown run. Gernhard finished the game as the Wildcats’ leading rusher with 76 yards on the ground. Fadelli led both teams with 124 yards on 25 carries.
Braves Defense Forces Three Turnovers in Victory over Saint Mary’s
Justin-Siena’s defense recovered three fumbles, and had a critical goal-line stand after the offense had turned the ball over deep in their own territory, leading the Braves to the Division IV championship.
Liam Boyd gave the Braves a 6-0 lead in the second quarter when he scored from 28 yards out, only to see Saint Mary’s take a 7-6 lead after a Tamarick Pierce touchdown run. Justin-Siena regained momentum, though, when Naufahu Anitoni hit a 22-yard field goal right before halftime for the 9-7 advantage.
“That last-second field goal was huge for our momentum,” said Braves head coach Rich Cotruvo, who guided his team to its sixth section title this century. “Big games like this are why you schedule tough in your non-league, why you play people who make you become battle-tested. We were confident heading into this game as a result of who we played all year.”
Despite the momentum at the end of the first half, both teams were able to manage matching field goals in the third quarter, making it a 12-10 game heading into the fourth. Boyd increased the lead to eight points with his second touchdown run of the game, although the Panthers stayed alive when the ensuing extra point was no good. Boyd finished the game as the leading rusher with 89 yards, while teammate Aidan Willard added 85 yards on the ground.
Justin-Siena was able to turn back any last-minute attempts by the St. Mary’s offense, limiting the Panthers’ usually potent ground game to just 64 total yards, and holding top receivers Erik Philip and Marquis Mahone-Chambers to a combined two catches for 16 yards.
“We just played with great team defense,” said Cotruvo. “Our strength was as a unit, not as individuals. Every player has a role, and they totally bought into that philosophy.”
Salesian Completes Repeat Title March against Stingy St. Helena Defense
Despite being able to move the ball against the Saints’ defense, Salesian was only able to score twice, but it was enough to escape with a 14-7 title game victory against third-seeded St. Helena.
Charles Hillary ran for 125 yards and a touchdown, and the Pride’s defense held St. Helena and explosive quarterback Jack Preston to 146 yards of total offense to get the win.
After attempting to be balanced on the ground and through the air early in the game, the Pride turned more and more to its rushing attack as the game progressed, finishing the night with 249 yards on the ground. After a short touchdown pass by sophomore Jaylen Tregle gave them a 7-0 halftime advantage, Hillary provided the rest of the scoring needed for Salesian with his 9-yard coring run in the third quarter.
The Pride finished the season with a 12-1 overall record, finished as undefeated champions of the Tri-County Athletic League-Rock division, and back-to-back Division V section champions.
