With the regular season winding down, the stakes have gotten much higher.
League championships and playoff positioning were on the line at many high school football fields Friday night across the Bay Area.
James Logan all but wrapped up its league title with a win on the road over Moreau Catholic. Los Gatos held off Palo Alto in the closing minutes for a key Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division win.
Monte Vista stepped up yet again to narrowly win another league contest.
In Atherton, Sacred Heart Prep took care of business against The King’s Academy.
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As always, if you know of a Bay Area football player who had a star performance Friday night, reach out and email us at sports@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Will Mackie, Sacred Heart Prep
The junior helped secure a 24-9 victory over visiting The King’s Academy moments after disaster nearly struck on Senior Night. One play after SHP lost a fumble inside the 10-yard line with just over four minutes left, Mackie seemingly shot out of a cannon around the right tackle to blindside TKA’s quarterback on a strip-sack fumble recovery in the red zone. Three snaps later, SHP running back Tevita Moimoi plowed in from 3 yards out for the insurance touchdown.
Ryan O’Neil, Campolindo
The running back ran for 85 yards and caught five passes for 47 yards and a touchdown as Campolindo bounced back from a stunning loss to Acalanes to topple previously unbeaten Las Lomas 31-14.
Nate Rutchena, Monte Vista
The senior wideout and safety scored on a 29-yard reception and returned a fumble 28 yards for a score in a 31-21 win over Clayton Valley Charter for the ninth-ranked Mustangs.
Will Schweitzer, Los Gatos
The 6-foot-2 junior linebacker and tight end made two key plays in his team’s 29-22 victory over Palo Alto. After Palo Alto took an 8-7 lead and recovered its onside kick in the first quarter, Schweitzer grabbed an interception and returned it to the Palo Alto 21, setting up a touchdown. When Palo Alto scored with 2:28 left to get within seven points of Los Gatos, Schweitzer dived on the Vikings’ onside kick attempt and the Wildcats kept possession the rest of the game.
Chase Sims and Shamoun “V” Duncan-Niusulu, James Logan
It wouldn’t be right to mention Chase Sims or Shamoun “V” Duncan-Niusulu without the other. Sims recorded 129 rushing yards and two touchdowns, one on a 40-yard run and the other from a pick-six. Duncan-Niusulu rushed for 142 yards with three touchdowns. The two combined to outscore Moreau Catholic as James Logan won the first-place showdown in the Mission Valley Athletic League 36-20.
Josue Torres, Milpitas
The senior running back scored on runs of 2 and 20 yards in the second half Friday night as traditionally-strong Milpitas posted just its second win on the season, winning its Homecoming game 28-7 over Santa Clara.
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