By Richard Paolinelli
MaxPreps.com
Two teams nearly short-circuited their scoreboard while another pair couldn't find a way to put a dent in theirs. In short, it was just another typically wild and crazy week of football in the Central Coast Section.
In Burlingame, two of the top teams in the Bay Division of the Peninsula Athletic League met on Friday as Burlingame hosted Terra Nova.
But after 48 grueling minutes of action, both teams walked off into the night having to settle for a 0-0 tie as neither team could find away to get points on the board.
Burlingame (2-3-1 overall, 2-1-1 PAL Bay) had two good chances to win the game in the final minutes, but squandered two red zone chances.
The first scoring opportunity died on a fumble at the Terra Nova 10, the deepest penetration of the night for either offense, and the second failed when a 37-yard field goal attempt as time expired sailed wide to the right.
Terra Nova (2-3-1, 2-1-1) had four of the game's six turnovers and its best scoring chance of the game came in the second quarter as the Tigers drove to the Panthers 13. But a penalty moved Terra Nova back and Burlingame blocked a 41-yard field goal attempt. The only other potential scoring chance for Terra Nova came in the third quarter, but it missed a 37-yard field goal attempt.
While those two teams failed to score at all, Sequoia and Hillsdale threatened to tilt their scoreboard in a wild 60-42 win by Sequoia in Redwood City.
Sequoia (2-4, 2-2 PAL Ocean Division) rolled out to a 21-0 lead and had to turn away a late surge by Hillsdale (1-5, 1-3) to preserve the victory.
Sequoia got two rushing touchdowns each from Ruben Ramirez, Jose Ramirez (157 yards) and Miguel Flores (159 yards) and one touchdown each from George Holland (100 yards) and Bobby De La Cruz.
Hillsdale countered with three touchdowns from Marcus Dunlap-Almo - two on kickoff returns and the third on a 70-yard pass reception- and two more touchdowns from Evan Thodos to stay in the game.
The first quarter alone took over 40 minutes to play and it was Miguel Flores' 75-yard kickoff return for a score on the last play of the game that pushed the two team's combined score past the century mark.
Backup QB leads Palma
David Fales, in his second start since replacing starting quarterback Connor Farotte, continues to lead Palma as it drives toward the playoffs.
Fales was 7 of 8 for 169 yards as he led the Chieftains to a 49-7 rout over Alisal on Friday night.
Palma (5-1, 3-0 Tri-County Athletic League) seems to have overcome an early-season loss to powerhouse De La Salle as well as the loss of Farotte - who is still recovering from the concussion that sent him to the hospital after collapsing on the sidelines during Palma's win over North Salinas.
In Friday's league opening win, Palma scored just 94 seconds into the game and rolled out to a 35-0 lead by halftime.
Palma running back Nate Ramirez was responsible for most of the damage, rushing for 62 yards on four carries with two touchdowns, catching a pair of Fales passes for 35 yards and collecting one of four interceptions by the Chieftain defense.
Gardiner leads Oak Grove
Nevin Gardiner, coming off a 2,000-yard rushing season in his junior year, hasn't been feeling 100 percent in his senior year. Until now.
Gardiner finally returned to form in Oak Grove's 42-6 win over Lincoln with 195 yards on 26 carries and three touchdowns as he improved to 842 yards rushing for the year. The Eagles improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in league play with the win.
