Bellarmine comeback jolts M-A

Austin Ajiake scored his third touchdown of the night on a 1-yard run with 1:33 left, giving visiting Bellarmine a 21-16 victory over Menlo-Atherton on Friday night.

Ajiake’s score gave the 19thranked Bells their first lead of the game. The No. 9 Bears, the defending Northern California Division 2-AA champs, then drove the length of the field, but a pass from the 6 fell incomplete in the final seconds.

Propelled by a 96-yard touchdown return by Nick Anderson on the opening kickoff, M-A took a 16-7 lead into the fourth quarter. Ajiake, who opened Bellarmine’s scoring with a 45-yard TD run and rushed for 178 yards, cut the lead to 16-14 with 7:48 left on a 15-yard run. An interception and 27-yard return by Anthony Magri set up the winning score. #1 De La Salle-Concord 42, Amador Valley 7: The visiting Spartans jumped all over the Dons, scoring on their first three possessions. Henry To’oto’o returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown, and Kairee Robinson rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Centennial-Corona (Riverside County) 63, #6 Pittsburg 21: Highly touted quarterback Tanner McKee accounted for six touchdowns, three running and three passing, and visiting Pittsburg was no match for the nation’s No. 6 team. Pittsburg played without starting quarterback Trey Turner, out for the season with a knee injury, and its top two running backs, according to coach Vic Galli. Turner’s replacement Justin Boyd passed and rushed for a touchdown, and Willie Harts III had a TD run and catch. Reed (Nev.) 38, #7 Clayton ValleyConcord 22: Host Reed, which lost in the Nevada state 4A North final last season, opened a 38-7 lead in the third quarter against the Eagles. Manteca 22, #8 Valley Christian 20: The visiting Warriors’ fell when their 40-yard field-goal attempt missed on the final play. Sacred Heart Cathedral 35, Fernley 26: The Irish fought back from deficits of 14-0 and 26-21 in the head coaching debut of Barry McLaughlin. Mission 30, Jefferson-South San Francisco 14: David Rodas threw touchdown passes to Robert Lee and Willi Chase, and Jelani Al-Malik and U’Jah Pratt rushed for touchdowns for visiting the visiting Bears, who trailed 14-12 at halftime. Acalanes 56, Alhambra 14: Quarterback Robby Rowell threw seven touchdown passes in the first half for the host Dons, three to wideout Aidan McNamara. Rowell finished with 203 yards passing, completing 14 of 16 passes. Nico Marieiro returned a kickoff 93 yards for a TD for Alhambra.