By Richard Paolinelli
MaxPreps.com
They've had this game circled on their calendars at Oak Grove High for months now, ever since a heartbreaking two-point loss in the 2006 Central Coast Section Open Division championship game.
Oak Grove laid to rest the demons of last year and staked its claim as the section's top team with an impressive 27-7 victory over Palo Alto on Friday night. Palo Alto advanced to last year's Division II state championship game with a 23-21 overtime win over Oak Grove.
The loss has stuck in Oak Grove's craw ever since.
Still, Oak Grove had struggled in the early going of this season, losing its season opener against St. Francis before rebounding to defeat Gilroy last week.
Friday's effort however, was more of what was expected of Oak Grove this year as the team prepares for league play and may be the springboard that sends the team back to the section title game.
Nevin Gardiner led Oak Grove with 113 yards on 31 carries while scoring twice.
Palo Alto's main offensive threat, fullback Sione Mataele,was held to just 13 yards on 10 carries as the Vikings fell to 2-1 on the season as the prepare for league play next week.
In the section's other game of the week, De La Salle served notice to the rest of the state that they intend to return to the state's Division III championship game this year with a 55-0 dismantling of Palma in a battle of previously unbeaten teams.
De La Salle, which has outscored its three opponents by a combined total of 150-36 and 117-0 in the first half alone, raced out to a 41-0 advantage as Palma (2-1) was never in the contest at all on Saturday.
In other CCS football action over the weekend, North Salinas improved to 4-0 on the season with a 28-20 victory over Seaside on Friday. TheVikings' have already doubled last year's win totals and are off to their best start in 18 years. North Salinas will face Palma this Friday.
Woodside capitalized on turnovers and penalties to hand Alisal a 28-6 defeat as Jason Simpson carried the load for the Wildcats, gaining 215 yards on 24 carries and rushed for two touchdowns. One of Simpson's scoring romps covered 84 yards. Quarterback Jeff Turner had two of his three completions go for touchdowns to round out the scoring for Woodside. Alisal had four turnovers in the game.
Sequoia scored all of its points in the fourth quarter to rally for a 14-12 victory over San Mateo in a Peninsula Athletic League, Ocean Division opener between two winless teams on Friday. Quarterback Gustavo Moreno ran for a touchdown to help lead the comeback.
In another PAL battle between winless teams, Burlingame captured its Bay Division opener with a 19-6 victory over South San Francisco behind Jesse Butterfield's 142 yards rushing. Butterfield scored one touchdown for the Panthers, whose defense contributed with four interceptions.
Terra Nova also claimed its first win, handing Menlo its first loss in a Bay Division opener for both teams as the Tigers held on for a 21-14 victory. Quarterback Julian Bernard completed 14-of-30 passes for 144 yards and rushed for a pair of one-yard touchdowns to lead the way.
Aragon's Seta Pohahau piled up 166 yards rushing to lead Aragon to an easy 43-7 victory over Carlmont. The Dons (2-1, 1-0 PAL Bay) successfully converted on fourth down four times and easily dominated the game as they began their defense as four-time league champions.
Water Polo
Menlo girls goalie Elise Ponce recorded 14 saves to help the Knights escape with a 9-8 victory over Aragon in overtime. Cayley Bowles had five goals and Sara Madding added three more in the win. The boys completed the sweep on Wednesday with a less dramatic 20-4 rout over Aragon, led by James Balassone's four goals.The Woodside girls rallied with four goals in the final period to edge Burlingame 10-8. Jaimie Breen led all scorers with six tallies, includingthe go-ahead score.The Menlo-Atherton's boys erupted for 12 first-period goals in a 20-1 rout of San Mateo.
Volleyball
Carlmont swept aside Woodside 25-17, 25-17, 25-17 in the PAL Bay Division opener for both teams on Tuesday. Colleen Garrett and Justine Record combined for 32 kills to lead Carlmont.In other PAL Bay action, Menlo defeated Sequoia 25-14, 25-7, 25-9 as Natalie Sandman recorded 10 kills.Aragon's Katie Hurley racked up 20 kills to lead the Dons to a 25-19, 21-25, 25-15, 25-22 win over Burlingame.Mills got eight kills from Jenna Feingold to defeat Menlo-Atherton 7-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-18.
