Sacred Heart Prep and Terra Nova played to their strengths on Friday evening in Pacifica as the Gators ran for seven touchdowns while Tigers scored on four passing touchdowns. The Gators remain undefeated at 6-0 while Terra Nova drops to 2-4 after the Gators posted a 49-28 win.
Sacred Heart Prep jumped out to a 20-0 advantage with scoring runs by running back Lapitu Mahoni (five yards out), quarterback Mason Randall (29 yards out), and JR Hardy (14 yards out). Terra Nova finally scored in the second quarter on an Anthony Gordon to Eric Viana 10-yard pass to end the half with a 20-7 deficit.
Mahoni and Hardy would add second touchdown runs of five and 26 yards respectively in the third quarter to increase the lead to 35-7. The Tigers cut the lead to 35-28 with three straight possessions of passing scores to wide receiver Jordan Genato (29, 25, and 15 yards out) that included recovering an onside kick.
Ben Burr-Kirven made his season debut by scoring from 48 yards out to increase the Gator advantage to 42-28. Genato would return the ensuing kickoff to the Terra Nova 37 and then make two consecutive catches to the Gator 15. But the second reception dislocated his hip, which required paramedics to cart him off. The long delay was both a mental and physical drain on Terra Nova, as Gordon would throw his second interception to Mitchell Martella in the end zone. On the next offensive play, Burr-Kirven would race 80 yards to conclude the scoring.
The Gators were 5-0 without Burr-Kirven and look to be that much stronger with him. A tantalizing matchup with the other undefeated Peninsula Bay League member Burlingame (6-0 currently) in three weeks could decide the league title. The Gator passing game is suspect but it seems moot, as the running game is deep.
Terra Nova squares off against Burlingame next week in a must win game if they still aspire to win league. The defense has not been competitive all season and the offense has had to shoulder the burden.
Ben Burr-Kirven 6-foot-0, 200 pounds RB/LB Sacred Heart Prep (2015): The Washington commit made his season debut with 143 rushing yards. He quietly made sure-handed tackles in the first half but made his mark in the running game with the last two touchdown runs of 48 and 80 yards to put the game away.
Anthony Gordon 6-foot-3, 180 pounds QB Terra Nova (2015): Gordon ran the high pace passing attack well with 320 passing yards. He could make all the throws but was a bit inaccurate on some of the long passes that led to interceptions. He needs to add some bulk for the college level but could fit nicely in a pass friendly scheme.
Lapitu Mahoni, 5-foot-11, 185 pounds RB/LB Sacred Heart Prep (2016): Mahoni is a bruising back who was able to run up the middle for good yardage. The junior had two running scores in the victory.
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