Prep football teams at the crossroads

By Keith Peters

Sports Editor, Palo Alto Weekly

We’ve come to that juncture in the high school football season known as the crossroads, where it’s time to go in one direction or another.

Sacred Heart Prep (1-1, 4-2) has come to a critical point in its season. If the Gators are to win their first-ever PAL Bay Division title, they have to beat host King’s Academy (2-0, 5-1) on Friday night (7 p.m.).

No matter what happens, though, Sacred Heart Prep appears a lock for one of the league’s four automatics berths into the CCS playoffs. The Gators will have to beat host Menlo-Atherton on Oct. 30 to make that happen.

Menlo-Atherton (0-1, 1-5) plays host to Aragon on Friday at 3 p.m. in a game the Bears must win to keep their postseason hopes alive. Menlo-Atherton likely could earn one of the automatic berths by beating Aragon and Sacred Heart Prep on consecutive Fridays and then topping winless Woodside to finish the regular season.

Another bubble team is Menlo (0-2, 3-3), which has allowed 81 points in its past two games — both losses. The Knights have three PAL Ocean Division games remaining before playing Sacred Heart Prep in a nonleague game for the Valpo Bowl trophy. Should Menlo win all four and finish 7-3, it might earn the Knights a postseason berth.

While the Coast Athletic League’s eight-man football season doesn’t offer up any playoffs, Priory will be looking to bounce back from a big loss last weekend.

Priory (0-2, 1-3) will host Crystal Springs on Saturday at 1 p.m., after dropping a 58-24 game to host Marina last week. Ray Ross threw for two touchdowns and Connor Mather returned a kickoff 79 yards for the Panthers’ points.

■ Latest prep scores, game details from PA Online Sports.