By Richard Paolinelli
MaxPreps.com
One team had gone 15 years without winning its league championship. The other hadn't finished on top in 26 seasons. But on Friday, night both teams finally ended their long title droughts.
For Menlo-Atherton, unseating four-time defending league champion Aragon came down to the final game of the season on the road against Woodside. After waiting for so long, the Bears took care of business early and often, rolling to a 48-7 victory to clinch their first Peninsula Athletic League's Bay Division championship since 1992.
Menlo-Atherton (9-1 overall, 7-0 PAL Bay) scored on six of its first seven possessions and went to the halftime break with a 41-0 lead.
The win was the seventh straight for the Bears going into the Central Coast Section playoffs, where they will be the No. 1 seed in the Large School Division and host Homestead (8-1-1) Saturday afternoon. The Bears are hoping to avoid last season's disappointing end. Menlo-Atherton rolled out an eight-game win streak before losing three straight, including the playoff opener.
Menlo-Atherton gained 550 yards, nearly 200 coming in the opening quarter, on 51 total offensive plays.
Further south, the Gilroy Mustangs found themselves trapped in the same league behind perennial powerhouse Palma for many frustrating seasons.
But Gilroy's 57-27 rout over San Benito Friday night capped an improbable regular season and handed the Mustangs (8-2 overall, 6-0 Tri-County Athletic League) their first league crown since 1981.
Junior quarterback Jamie Jensen racked up 472 yards and eight touchdowns through the air with Danny Contreras (seven catches for 259 yards and four touchdowns) and Sean Hale (8-116-2) being the prime targets.
The win secured the No. 3 seed in the Open School Division playoffs as Gilroy will host Valley Christian (7-2-1) Saturday in the opening round of the playoffs. A win on Saturday could set up a possible showdown with No. 7 Palma if the Chieftains can get past No. 2 Los Gatos.
Bellarmine Prep Upset
With a possible No. 1 seeding in the Open School Division within its grasp, all Bellarmine Prep needed was a win over Serra High to go into the playoffs as the division's team to beat.
Unfortunately, the West Catholic Athletic League champions could not seal the deal as Serra rallied from 17 points down with a late touchdown to stun the Bells, 24-20.
Bellarmine dropped all the way to the No. 4 seed and will have to face Serra again this Saturday in the opening round of the playoffs.The loss also dropped the Bells into the same half of the bracket with No. 1-ranked Oak Grove, who at 9-1 will host No. 8 Mitty at 7-3 in the opening roundon Friday, and a possible second round match-up.
Serra's senior fullback Tiuke Tuipulotu scored twice in the final two minutes to lead the Padres to Friday's upset win despite a three-touchdown effort by Bellarmine's tailback, Usua Amanam.
CCS Seedings
The CCS released its seedings for the four divisions late Sunday with the opening round set to begin Friday evening.
In the Large School division, in addition to No. 1 Menlo-Atherton against No. 8 Homestead, No. 2 North Salinas will host No. 7 Milpitas, No. 3 Palo Alto hosts No. 6 El Camino and No. 4 Aragon will host No. 5 Piedmont Hills.
In the Medium School division, No. 1 Riordan will host No. 8 Terra Nova, No. 2 Live Oak hosts No. 7 Sobrato, No. 3 Monterey hosts No. 6 Saratoga and No. 4 Pioneer will host No. 5 North Monterey County.
In the Small Schools division, No. 1 Pacific Grove, fresh off an upset of Carmel, will host Soquel. No. 2 Del Mar hosts Greenfield, No. 3 Seaside hosts Santa Cruz and No. 4 Scotts Valley will battle Carmel.
