QB Blair leads Miramonte to NCS Division V crown
Miramonte, which relied on its running game and relentless defense to grind out victories this year, opened up the playbook in its 4220 victory over St. Bernard's in the North Coast Section Division V championship game at Acalanes High in Lafayette.
Matadors quarterback Carson Blair threw for four touchdowns, two to Andrew Bjornson and another pair to Jack Quinnild, who caught his ninth and 10th TDs of the season to help give Miramonte its first section title since 2013.
“It's awesome, just awesome,” Miramonte coach Jack Schram said.
The Matadors (9-3) kept St. Bernard's star Wyatt Simoni, who had rushed for 30 TDs before Saturday, mostly in check. Schram said his defense, which features Luke Milmoe and Andrew Davenport, played an outstanding game. He also drew attention to a less noticeable factor that made life difficult for St. Bernard's running game.
“They were playing up there in the mud,” Schram said. “Us having the No. 1 seed was key, because we played them on a legitimate, even field.”
Miramonte's Myles Bastani threw a touchdown to Mitch Reichenbach. Charlie Hwang ran for one score.
CCS Division II SOQUEL 28, CHRISTOPHER 0>>
After two straight successful comebacks against higher-seeded opponents, Christopher's playoff run ended in the Central Coast Section Division II championship game Saturday at San Jose City College.
The Knights (11-2) sacked Christopher QB Jaxen Robinson four times and limited the Cougars (11-2) to 102 total yards. They also caused three turnovers.
The only score before halftime was a 14-yard touchdown run by Braylon Noble with 3:51 left in the first quarter. But on the first drive of the second half, Soquel's Jordan McCord produced perhaps the key play of the game, a 67yard touchdown run.
William Rizqallah led Christopher with 61 yards on 12 carries.
CCS Division V SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO 13, SANTA TERESA 7 >>
Two years removed from having no varsity football team, South San Francisco (12-1) completed a remarkable ascent Saturday, beating Santa Teresa (6-7) for the CCS Division V championship at MacDonald High in San Jose.
The Warriors ran 67 plays from scrimmage, 55 on the ground using a throwback full-house T-formation with two tight ends for a significant portion of the game.
Santa Teresa, the defending CCS Division IV champion, broke through to block a South City punt at the start of the second quarter and fell on it in the end zone to take a 7-0 lead. The Warriors responded with a 77-yard drive that concluded with a 3-yard run for a touchdown by fullback Marcus Mercurio.
The Saints finished with 130 yards of total offense split evenly, 65 rushing and 65 passing. Their defense kept it close. Jaikob Wright and Tevita Pekipaki had sacks. Santa Teresa did a good job of keying on star running back Elijah Fields, who took a number of hard hits and had to work hard for 79 yards on 21 carries.
Mercurio rushed for 105 yards and both touchdowns.
NCS Division VI ST. VINCENT DE PAUL 48, SALESIAN 12 >>
St. Vincent de Paul-Petaluma led 48-0 before Salesian (10-3) got on the scoreboard with a Luis DeJesus TD run in the fourth quarter. The Mustangs led 21-0 at the half and scored four third-period touchdowns at Rancho Cotate High.