7-5 Terra Nova in final, makes no apologies
To those worried that Terra Nova could throw a monkey wrench into the state playoffs, the Tigers say, “Phooey.”
To those surprised that the seventh-seeded football squad from Pacifica has reached the Central Coast Section Division 3 final, coach Tim Adams says, “We’re not surprised at all.”
And to those who think the Tigers (7-5) have no shot in the final against top seed and Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division rival Half Moon Bay (12-0), a team the Tigers lost to 45-7 during the regular season in the annual Skull Game, Adams says: “Honestly, I looked at film of that game and didn’t even recognize our guys. The kids were embarrassed by that game and are really happy for the chance to show better.”
Led by the resurgence of 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior running back Brandon Auelua, and the season-long play of senior quarterback Nathan Gordon (2,828 passing yards, 28 touchdowns in 11 games), Terra Nova will get that chance at 7 p.m. Saturday at Sequoia-Redwood City.
The Tigers, making their fourth CCS championship appearance since 2009, go after their third title in that span.
A flurry of nine injuries — four to starters, including Auelua — followed by the Half Moon Bay drubbing, hit the Tigers hard physically and mentally. The offensive line then began to heal, led by center Derek Franson (5foot-10, 225 pounds) and tackle Daniel Constantine (6-1, 258). Coupled with the return of Auelua, Terra Nova gained confidence.
The Tigers ended the regular season with a 17-14 win over Burlingame, then beat second-seeded Aptos (24-14) and third-seeded Palma-Salinas (45-20) on the road in the playoffs.
Auelua rushed for 358 yards and nine touchdowns in those three games for a spread team that runs four wideouts. His running paved the way for Gordon to throw to receivers including Richard Walls (60 catches, 851 yards, six touchdowns), Jackson Kubal (58, 824, 10) and Scotty Tomei (48, 696, eight).
“We’re a completely different team than the one that lost (to Half Moon Bay) the first time,” Adams said. “But, man, (Half Moon Bay coach) Keith (Holden) does a great job, and they’re in the midst of a great season. We’re looking to make it much more competitive game.”
The schools have played the annual Skull Game since 1965. Even with the Half Moon Bay trouncing Nov. 3, Terra Nova holds a 32-16-5 edge in the series.
“Our motto this week is they have the skull, but we’re going to get the ring,” Adams said. All the fixings: Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa’s 29-28 North Coast Section Division 3 semifinal win over Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park no doubt wll go down as one of the more memorable playoff games in North Bay history for many reasons.
The two rival North Bay teams, both deeply affected by the Tubbs Fire, had split two previous games, and the decider was also an elimination game.
The winning score — a 42-yard reception by Kyle Carinalli on a pass from Beau Barrington — came with just 1:32 to go and from two players whose families lost homes in the fire. As joyous as the win was for Newman, which lost about half its school in the fire, it was equally painful for Cotate, which controlled play most of the way.
There was controversy, too. Cotate had taken a 28-22 lead with 3:06 left when Jake Simmons threw a long touchdown pass to Jaelen Ward ,who— before entering the end zone — ran parallel to the goal line for several seconds because the defensive back had slipped. According to Ward and Cotate coach Gehrig Hotaling ,he did it to run precious seconds off the clock.
The referees saw it differently. They thought Ward was taunting and penalized Cotate 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. Newman coach Paul Cronin agreed with the call afterward; Hotaling thought Ward was penalized for making a smart play.
Sure enough, the penalty was key. Cotate missed the 35-yard extra-point try, Barrington and Carinalli connected for the game-tying touchdown, and Newman made the extra point and won by a point. MaxPreps senior writer Mitch Stephens covers high school sports for The San Francisco Chronicle.