By Richard Paolinelli
MaxPreps.com
LOS ALTOS HILLS - They were the defending section champions and no one expected them to have a chance to repeat. Not with the powerful Menlo-Atherton offense that awaited them Friday.
But Palo Alto High stunned the Central Coast Section with a 14-7 victory over Menlo-Atherton in the Large School Division section championship game, giving the Vikings their second straight section title and an outside chance for another State Bowl berth, which will be announced Dec. 9.
Friday's game was a battle of attrition as Menlo-Atherton's offense, which had been averaging nearly 39 points a game over the past nine games, was shutdown for most of the contest.
Neither team got on the scoreboard until the fourth quarter, setting up a final flurry of scoring capped by a game-winning touchdown with 13 seconds left to send the Vikings to their second title in as many years.
Mike Scott's 14-yard catch of a Will Brandin pass broke a 7-7 tie and sent Palo Alto to the upset win.
Open School Division
Oak Grove rode the strong legs of Nevin Gardiner and his 2,000-yard rushing season to the Open School Division title game.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, Gardiner was injured on the team's first offensive play and did not return.
So when Gilroy jumped out to a 14-point lead, it didn't look good at all for Oak Grove.
But with cornerback Stacy Long scoring three touchdowns, including a game-sealing 27-yard interception return, and 130 yards and two TDs from backup running back Omari Carr, the Eagles rallied for a 46-35 section winning victory.
It was the sixth section crown for Oak Grove (12-1).
Small School Division
It took a while, and the wait included a close call in 1993, but Santa Cruz finally captured its first ever CCS football title with a 21-14 victory over Pacific Grove in the Small School division title game.
Santa Cruz had reached the CCS final just one time before, the 1993 Division III game, but fell to St. Francis, 33-20.
Medium School Division
Tis the season for chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
But for Archbishop Riordan, acorns did just fine Saturday as it rolled to a 54-19 victory over the Live Oak Acorns to claim its first section title in the Medium School Division title game.
Riordan's Darius Bell threw three touchdown passes, caught one and ran for another while hitting on 10-of-15 attempts for for 233 yards through the air.
Daniel Cannon was Bell's primary target, catching five passes for 156 yards. Cannon finished with 1,410 yards receiving for the season.
