By Glenn Reeves greeves@bayareanewsgroup.com
Next man up. It's a refrain heard from coaches late in the season as the cumulative hits of a football season take their toll.
Seldom does that next man up construct work as well as it did Friday for St. Francis in a 17-7 win over Archbishop Mitty at Westmont High School for the Central Coast Section Division II championship. It was the 16th CCS football championship in St. Francis history.
Starting quarterback Kamalii Akina went down in the second quarter with an injured ankle, Starting running back Lutoviko Ahoia, who came into the game with a team-high 869 yards rushing, got banged up in the first half and did not play in the second half.
Dennis Green stepped in for Ahoia at tailback and took on his workhorse role, carrying 28 times for 170 yards. "He's the hardest-working guy,'' St. Francis coach Greg Calcagno said. "He deserves everything he can get.''
The St. Francis offensive line turned in an absolutely dominating performance. The Lancers ran 65 plays from scrimmage to 42 for Mitty and outgained the Monarchs 301-99. "We just forced it down their throat,'' said Devin Hurtado, who scored the final St. Francis touchdown on a 1-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. When Akina went out, sophomore Garrett McCarthy, wearing number 42, came in at quarterback.
"We were down to a JV quarterback and he did a great job,'' Calcagno said. "Our offensive line was fantastic.''
Advertisement On the first possession with McCarthy at quarterback St. Francis (9-4) went on an 83-yard, 15-play drive with Ahoia scoring on a 2-yard with 3:48 left in the second quarter.
There wasn't much mystery about St. Francis' play calling as 14 of the 15 plays on the drive were handoffs to the tailback. The other play was a quarterback keeper for 11 yards on fourth and four by defensive standout Steve Dinneen, who came in on occasion to spell McCarthy. Mitty went three and out and St. Francis put another drive together right before the half, driving 63 yards to the Mitty 5 where Trill Hebert kicked a 22-yard field goal.
The Lancers gave the Mitty defense a heavy dose of Green and Hurtado in the second half, controlling time of possession and the scoreboard. "We wanted to go in the Open but got put in Division II,'' Green said. "We all wanted this victory. We're a brotherhood. If we lost we would never have been able to forgive ourselves.''
Mitty (8-5) broke up the shutout on a 5-yard run by Luke Allen with 7:17 left. The Monarchs got the ball back and went to the pass, but were ineffective. Riley Quinn's second interception of the game put an end to any Mitty comeback hopes.
Archbishop Mitty 0 "‚0 "‚0 "‚7-- 7
St. Francis 0 "‚10 "‚0 "‚7--17
SF -- Ahoia 2 run (Hebert kick)
SF -- Hebert 22 FG
SF -- Hurtado 1 run (Hebert kick)
AM -- Allen 5 run (Bubic kick)
Records -- Archbishop Mitty 8-5; St. Francis 9-4.
Next man up. It's a refrain heard from coaches late in the season as the cumulative hits of a football season take their toll.
Seldom does that next man up construct work as well as it did Friday for St. Francis in a 17-7 win over Archbishop Mitty at Westmont High School for the Central Coast Section Division II championship. It was the 16th CCS football championship in St. Francis history.
Starting quarterback Kamalii Akina went down in the second quarter with an injured ankle, Starting running back Lutoviko Ahoia, who came into the game with a team-high 869 yards rushing, got banged up in the first half and did not play in the second half.
Dennis Green stepped in for Ahoia at tailback and took on his workhorse role, carrying 28 times for 170 yards. "He's the hardest-working guy,'' St. Francis coach Greg Calcagno said. "He deserves everything he can get.''
The St. Francis offensive line turned in an absolutely dominating performance. The Lancers ran 65 plays from scrimmage to 42 for Mitty and outgained the Monarchs 301-99. "We just forced it down their throat,'' said Devin Hurtado, who scored the final St. Francis touchdown on a 1-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. When Akina went out, sophomore Garrett McCarthy, wearing number 42, came in at quarterback.
"We were down to a JV quarterback and he did a great job,'' Calcagno said. "Our offensive line was fantastic.''
Advertisement On the first possession with McCarthy at quarterback St. Francis (9-4) went on an 83-yard, 15-play drive with Ahoia scoring on a 2-yard with 3:48 left in the second quarter.
There wasn't much mystery about St. Francis' play calling as 14 of the 15 plays on the drive were handoffs to the tailback. The other play was a quarterback keeper for 11 yards on fourth and four by defensive standout Steve Dinneen, who came in on occasion to spell McCarthy. Mitty went three and out and St. Francis put another drive together right before the half, driving 63 yards to the Mitty 5 where Trill Hebert kicked a 22-yard field goal.
The Lancers gave the Mitty defense a heavy dose of Green and Hurtado in the second half, controlling time of possession and the scoreboard. "We wanted to go in the Open but got put in Division II,'' Green said. "We all wanted this victory. We're a brotherhood. If we lost we would never have been able to forgive ourselves.''
Mitty (8-5) broke up the shutout on a 5-yard run by Luke Allen with 7:17 left. The Monarchs got the ball back and went to the pass, but were ineffective. Riley Quinn's second interception of the game put an end to any Mitty comeback hopes.
Archbishop Mitty 0 "‚0 "‚0 "‚7-- 7
St. Francis 0 "‚10 "‚0 "‚7--17
SF -- Ahoia 2 run (Hebert kick)
SF -- Hebert 22 FG
SF -- Hurtado 1 run (Hebert kick)
AM -- Allen 5 run (Bubic kick)
Records -- Archbishop Mitty 8-5; St. Francis 9-4.
CCS football playoffs: Archbishop Mitty, St. Francis advance to Division II title game
By Ray Hacke Posted: 11/28/2014
LOS ALTOS HILLS -- When Archbishop Mitty quarterback Brett Foley got his legs churning, it spelled trouble for Wilcox on Friday night in the Central Coast Section Division II semifinals.
The senior rushed for 162 yards and four touchdowns on nine carries as Mitty defeated Wilcox 59-21 to advance to next week's final against West Catholic Athletic League rival St. Francis. "He hurt us bad," Wilcox coach Dan Brown said. "We just couldn't tackle him."
That was especially true in the second half, when Foley repeatedly gashed Wilcox's defense for big gains that either ended in touchdowns or set them up. With the score tied 21-21 in the third quarter, Foley rushed for a 12-yard gain to the Chargers' 4-yard line. Senior running back Luke Allen scored on the next play to put Mitty (8-4) ahead to stay. Mitty then capitalized on two recovered fumbles. After the first, Foley broke loose for a 55-yard gain and scored from 3 yards out three plays later.
The Monarchs' next drive began deep in Wilcox territory, and it took just two Foley runs totaling 36 yards to help make the score 42-21 with 3:29 remaining in the third quarter. Allen finished with 122 yards and two TDs on 12 carries for Mitty. Dakari Monroe also scored two touchdowns -- one on a second-quarter TD pass from Foley, the other on a 99-yard interception return that capped the scoring.
Senior quarterback Adam Hernandez accounted for all three of Wilcox's touchdowns, running for two and throwing for another, a 75-yarder to David Martinez.
Wilcox 6 15 0 0--21
Mitty 14 7 21 17--59
W — Hernandez 19 run (kick failed)
AM — Foley 10 run (Bubic kick)
AM — Foley 4 run (Bubic kick)
W — Martinez 75 pass from Hernandez (Martinez pass from Hernandez)
AM — Monroe 12 pass from Foley (Bubic kick)
W — Hernandez 1 run (Uribe kick)
AM — Allen 4 run (Bubic kick)
AM — Foley 3 run (Bubic kick)
AM — Foley 23 run (Bubic kick)
AM — Allen 9 run (Bubic kick)
AM — Bubic 24 FG
AM — Monroe 99 interception return
Records — Wilcox 7-5; Archbishop Mitty 8-4.
Monarchs take first step to the CCS Championship with a powerful 49-15 victory over Willow Glen! "Air Foley" with a big night...
QB Brett Foley leads the Monarchs to a
42-21 victory over Riordan
Game Highlights - Prep2Prep By Matthew McHugh
Valley Christian slips past Archbishop Mitty (full story)
By Darren Sabedra dsabedra@mercurynews.com
LOS ALTOS HILLS -- With his team trailing after an errant throw was returned for a touchdown, Valley Christian quarterback Michael Machado told his teammates in the huddle Friday night to forget about that play. "We're still in this," Machado said. "We're going to flush that, and we're going to go right down the field and score."
With Archbishop Mitty leading by five points midway through the third quarter, Valley Christian went on an 80-yard drive that ended with Machado throwing a 20-yard touchdown pass to Mark Quinby for what turned out to be the decisive score.
Valley Christian held on to win 15-14 and remain tied with Bellarmine College Prep and Serra for first place in the West Catholic Athletic League with one game to play. If Valley Christian (7-2, 5-1) wins next week against Sacred Heart Cathedral, it will share the championship because Bellarmine closes out its season at Serra.
LOS ALTOS HILLS, CA - Senior quarterback Brett Foley ran for a pair of touchdowns and kicker Kris Bubic connected on two key field goals to lead Archbishop Mitty to a 27-14 victory over Serra in a West Catholic Athletic League game Friday night at Foothill College. (prep2prep report)
Bellarmine 20 Mitty 17
Bellarmine College Prep improved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the WCAL, spoiling Mitty’s lone home game on its campus with a 20-17 victory. The loss dropped Mitty’s record to 4-3, 2-2, all but ending the Monarchs’ hopes of defending the WCAL title their shared with Serra last season. (Merc Report) PHOTOS!
Monarchs rock St. Ignatius 17-14 on big time plays of 80 and 69 yards!
St. Francis holds off Archbishop Mitty 15-14
Mercury News
Devin Hurtado scored the game-tying touchdown with 7:31 remaining and Riley Quinn's PAT provided the margin of victory as St. Francis held off Archbishop Mitty 15-14 on Friday night. The host Lancers survived a last-minute field goal attempt from 48 yards.
Hurtado finished with 189 yards on 22 carries. Derek Bauerle scored two third-quarter touchdowns for Archbishop Mitty, one on a 96-yard run.
Archbishop Mitty 0 0 14 14
St. Francis 6 2 0 7 15
SF -- Hurtado 77 run (kick failed)
SF -- Safety (Mitty recovered own fumble in end zone)
AM -- Baurele 2 run (run failed)
AM -- Baurele 96 run (Baurele run)
SF -- Hurtado 15 run (Quinn kick)
Records -- Archbishop Mitty 3-2, 1-1; St. Francis 4-1, 2-0.
Archbishop Mitty beats Sacred Heart Cathedral in WCAL opener
Prep Football Round up
Trevor Lewis returned a blocked field goal 60 yards for a touchdown and the Archbishop Mitty Monarchs won their WCAL opener 33-27 against Sacred Heart Cathedral on Friday night at Foothill College. Mitty overcame four touchdowns from SHC's Jamar Williams-Sheppard and withstood a late comeback by the Irish after leading 30-14 midway through the third quarter. Williams-Sheppard finished with 303 yards rushing. Dakari Monroe rushed for 111 yards for the Monarchs.
Sacred Heart Cath. 7 7 7 6--27
Archbishop Mitty 14 10 6 3--33
SHC -- Williams-Sheppard 80 run (kick good)
AM -- Monroe 12 run (Bubic kick)
AM -- Lewis 60 return of blocked kick (Bubic kick)
SHC -- Williams-Sheppard 58 run (kick good)
AM -- Bubic 27 FG
AM -- Granberry 46 pass from Foley (Bubic kick)
AM -- Bauerle 8 run (kick blocked)
SHC -- Williams-Sheppard 46 run (kick good)
AM -- Bubic 37 FG
SHC -- Williams-Sheppard 2 run (kick failed)
Records -- Sacred Heart Cathedral 3-1, 0-1; Archbishop Mitty 3-1, 1-0.
Prep Football Round up
Trevor Lewis returned a blocked field goal 60 yards for a touchdown and the Archbishop Mitty Monarchs won their WCAL opener 33-27 against Sacred Heart Cathedral on Friday night at Foothill College. Mitty overcame four touchdowns from SHC's Jamar Williams-Sheppard and withstood a late comeback by the Irish after leading 30-14 midway through the third quarter. Williams-Sheppard finished with 303 yards rushing. Dakari Monroe rushed for 111 yards for the Monarchs.
Sacred Heart Cath. 7 7 7 6--27
Archbishop Mitty 14 10 6 3--33
SHC -- Williams-Sheppard 80 run (kick good)
AM -- Monroe 12 run (Bubic kick)
AM -- Lewis 60 return of blocked kick (Bubic kick)
SHC -- Williams-Sheppard 58 run (kick good)
AM -- Bubic 27 FG
AM -- Granberry 46 pass from Foley (Bubic kick)
AM -- Bauerle 8 run (kick blocked)
SHC -- Williams-Sheppard 46 run (kick good)
AM -- Bubic 37 FG
SHC -- Williams-Sheppard 2 run (kick failed)
Records -- Sacred Heart Cathedral 3-1, 0-1; Archbishop Mitty 3-1, 1-0.
Monarchs defense punishes Pittsburg Pirates 13-7 and looks forward to 2014 W.C.A.L. action!
See ALL the GAME PHOTOS!
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Monarchs shipwreck Vikings 55-14!
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Los Gatos makes a strong statement in a season-opening win over Archbishop Mitty
By Darren Sabedra dsabedra@mercurynews.com
LOS GATOS -- Nine months after ending the previous season with a statement-making win over a traditional West Catholic Athletic League power, Los Gatos began the new season by beating another one. Read the full story here!
LOS GATOS 21, ARCHBISHOP MITTY 13
Archibishop Mitty 0 0 7 6 -- 13
Los Gatos 0 14 7 0 -- 21
LG — Wood 40 run (Sedgwick kick)
LG — Wood 56 run (Sedgwick kick)
AM — Granberry 34 pass from Foley (Eppel kick)
LG — Occhipinti 21 pass from Brown (Sedgwick kick)
AM — Monroe 25 pass from Foley (no PAT attempted)
Records -- Los Gatos 1-0; Archibishop Mitty 0-1.
By Darren Sabedra dsabedra@mercurynews.com
LOS GATOS -- Nine months after ending the previous season with a statement-making win over a traditional West Catholic Athletic League power, Los Gatos began the new season by beating another one. Read the full story here!
LOS GATOS 21, ARCHBISHOP MITTY 13
Archibishop Mitty 0 0 7 6 -- 13
Los Gatos 0 14 7 0 -- 21
LG — Wood 40 run (Sedgwick kick)
LG — Wood 56 run (Sedgwick kick)
AM — Granberry 34 pass from Foley (Eppel kick)
LG — Occhipinti 21 pass from Brown (Sedgwick kick)
AM — Monroe 25 pass from Foley (no PAT attempted)
Records -- Los Gatos 1-0; Archibishop Mitty 0-1.
