STILL PERFECT
Cougars improve to 14-0 with win over Sutter, will play for state title
HALF MOON BAY >> They will remember this night in Half Moon Bay maybe forever — the overflow crowd, the hugs, the smiles, the sounds of the band and the undefeated football team that brought everyone together.
This special season on the coast will go the distance, as Half Moon Bay won a Northern California championship Saturday, grinding out a 28-7 victory over Sutter for the Division 3-A title.
When it ended, the players hoisted another trophy and could not stop smiling, their dream season adding one more cherished memory for the scrapbook.
They will play for a state championship next Saturday at Southern California 3-A champion Steele CanyonSpring Valley, a 28-26 winner over El Modena on Saturday.
“It’s unbelievable,” coach Keith Holden said. “I am so happy for this group. Great group of young men. Tremendous character. Tremendous work ethic. They earned it. Nothing was handed to them.”
The Cougars (14-0) did it behind two-way standout Chase Hofmann, quarterback Gavin Tomberlin and a number of big plays from many others on this seniorladen roster.
Hofmann rushed for two touchdowns. Tomberlin threw for one touchdown and ran for another.
The Cougars also blocked a field-goal try and a punt, recovered two fumbles and got a huge tackle at the 2-yard line on the final play of the half to preserve a 14-0 lead.
“Big play after big play, that’s great,” said Hofmann, who blocked the field goal. “But our defense was out there a lot. When we stopped the run, we made them go to their uncomfortable thing of passing.”
Half Moon Bay scored on its first series, a drive ignited by a gutsy call on fourthand-9 from the HMB 33 just six plays in. Tomberlin tossed the ball to punter Dylan Williams on a fake, and the speedster dashed 11 yards for a first down.
“The fake punt was a big momentum changer,” Tomberlin said. “They thought they had us. I think we ran that pretty well. Executed it well all week, and it paid off.”
Four plays later, Tomberlin threw what he described as one of the best passes of his life, a strike over the middle to Jake Quosig for a 45yard touchdown that put the Cougars on top 7-0.
“I like that one,” Tomberlin said.
The lead widened to 14-0 early in the second quarter when Hofmann scored from the 7 to complete a 65-yard, 12-play series.
Sutter (12-2) reached the HMB 6 on its next possession but came away without points when its short field-goal try was blocked by Hofmann’s leap and outstretched arms.
It appeared the half would end without much drama when Sean Fitzgerald chased down a punt to keep the ball from reaching the end zone, and Carlos Luna downed it at the 1 with 1:34 left.
Sutter got several big runs from Trever Facey to reach the HMB 30 with 6.5 seconds left. After a timeout, the Huskies got the ball into the hands of running back Bryce Kunkle, who raced down the left sideline aiming to cut the lead in half.
But Fitzgerald brought him down at the 2 as time expired. Sutter went 97 yards in 94 seconds but still had a zero on the scoreboard.
Hayden Von Almen set up Half Moon Bay’s third touchdown when he blocked a punt in the end zone. The Cougars took over at the Sutter 6, and two plays later Hofmann scored from the 4 to make it 21-0.
Facey’s 4-yard run with 3:38 left in the third quarter pulled Sutter to within 21-7, and the Huskies forced a three-and-out on HMB’s next possession.
But Williams, who couldn’t kick extra points in the second half because of a sore foot, was strong enough to punt, and he changed field position with 55-yard blast to the 16, getting some extra yards by the gusty conditions.
Half Moon Bay put the game away the next time it had the ball as Tomberlin scored from the 3 to stretch the advantage to 28-7 with 8:22 left.
Sutter outgained HMB 331 yards to 227 and made Hofmann work for everything. The senior finished with 84 yards in 26 carries.
But on this night and in this incredible season, it did not matter.
The Cougars brought what seemed like the entire town together Saturday night and did not let the community down.
They are going to play for a state championship.
“Couldn’t ask for a better coaching staff, couldn’t ask for a better community, couldn’t ask for any better brothers,” said Tomberlin, who hugged each one of his teammates after the game.
“This is the place I want to be. I just wish I could play football my whole life with these guys.”