Riordan quarterback Michael Mitchell Jr. #9 scrambles against Mitty, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
No. 11 Archbishop Riordan 27, No. 8 Serra 21
Riordan held off Serra and got revenge for last season’s blowout loss in San Mateo as Vanderbilt commit Mike Mitchell threw three touchdown passes to help the Crusaders jump out to a 21-7 lead in the fourth quarter of the West Catholic Athletic League matchup in San Francisco.
Wesley Winn, Jacob Dubriwny and Cynai Thomas all caught touchdowns, with Thomas’ grab going for 45 yards.
Run-heavy Serra had controlled the clock in the first half, with Nano Latu running for a TD on a drive that was kept alive by a fake punt. However, Riordan drove down the field and went into halftime tied 7-7 when Winn caught a short curl route in the end zone with 10 seconds left in the half.
Trailing 21-7, the Padres’ offense finally came to life in the final period. Latu caught an 80-yard screen pass from Andrew Heneghan early in the fourth quarter to make it 21-14, but Riordan answered with a 21-yard Jeremiah Jones touchdown run.
Heneghan’s 22-yard scoring strike to tight end Clay HInsdale with five minutes left cut the margin to six.
But Riordan’s huge offensive line, led by Tommy Tofi, made sure that Serra would never get the ball back. The Crusaders ran out the clock and improved to 5-4, 4-2.
Serra dropped to 4-5, 3-3.
The Padres will finish their season playing their one Friday night home game of the season against Valley Christian. If Serra loses, then that will clinch the program’s first losing regular season since 2005, when the Padres were 3-7.
Riordan, now winners of three in a row, will play host to St. Francis next Saturday.
– Joseph Dycus
No. 19 Salesian 42, St. Mary’s-Berkeley 7
Carlton Perrilliat did it all for the Pride as he caught a touchdown pass, returned a punt for a score and had a pick-six to lead Salesian to a blowout win against St. Mary’s at home. Running backs Isaiah Latigue, Brandon Butler and Marcus Burke each had a rushing touchdown for Salesian.
Roberto Mora III converted all seven of his extra point attempts.
St. Mary’s (6-3, 3-1) finishes the regular season against Vallejo at home next Saturday.
Salesian, which improved to 8-1, 3-1, travels to Pinole Valley on Friday.
The Pride are in a tie for first place in the Tri-County Athletic League Rock Division with St. Mary’s and El Cerrito. All three teams could claim a share of the league title if they all win their Week 11 matchups next week.
– Nathan Canilao
Sacred Heart Prep 21, Menlo-Atherton 7
Sacred Heart Prep picked up a nice bounce-back win one week after taking a lopsided loss at Wilcox. Nico Pollioni threw three touchdown passes, two to Kyle Chai and the other to McKinley Palmer. Chai added a fourth-quarter interception to help seal the victory. SHP improved to 4-5 overall and earned its first win in the rough and tumble PAL Bay Division (1-3). Menlo-Atherton dropped to 6-3 overall and 2-2 in PAL Bay play.
– Christian Babcock
Menlo School 27, Palo Alto 13
Menlo School (6-3, 1-3) jumped out to a 27-0 lead and cruised to an easy win in PAL Bay action. The Knights’ first league win of the year was powered by quarterback Jack Freehill, who tossed touchdown passes to Tyler Fernandez (30 yards) and Jamie Forese (45 yards). Freehill also ran for a 5-yard score himself. KC Chavinson added a pick-six, and Ben Salama tossed a two-point conversion to Brett Frauenhofer. Dylan Taylor ran in a 5-yard TD for Palo Alto (5-4, 1-3), and Dylan Robinson caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Justin Fung.
– Christian Babcock
Piedmont 41, Kennedy-Fremont 7
Two of Markos Lagios’ four touchdown passes were on the money – literally – as Piedmont clinched at least a share of MVAL Mission Division title. Lagios threw a touchdown to Cash Panico and another to Cash Elmquist in the rout. Lagios also ran for one touchdown. Xavier Henderson caught his other two TD tosses. The defense was led by Brandon Dicke, and had a shutout going until late in the fourth quarter. Piedmont improved to 8-1, 4-0 and will play host to Newark Memorial on Friday.
– Joseph Dycus
Saturday, Nov. 2
EAST BAY
TCAL Rock
Salesian 42, St. Mary’s-Berkeley 7
WACC Mission
Newark Memorial at Washington-Fremont, 7 p.m.
Piedmont 41, Kennedy-Fremont 7
WACC Shoreline
Alameda 47, San Lorenzo 13
SOUTH BAY/PENINSULA
BVAL Santa Teresa-Valley
Prospect at Sobrato, 2:30 p.m.
PAL Bay
Sacred Heart Prep 21, Menlo-Atherton 7
Menlo School 27, Palo Alto 13
PAL De Anza
Burlingame at Capuchino, 7 p.m.
PAL Ocean
Carlmont at Half Moon Bay, 7 p.m.
West Catholic
Archbishop Riordan 27, Serra 21
Originally published at Joseph Dycus, Christian Babcock, Nathan Canilao