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Jack Herrell and Zach Freire connect during SHP’s 22-21 loss to Burlingame. Photo taken Oct. 1, 2021 by Bob Dahlberg/@bobd_photo. -
Luke Renert makes a play for Sacred Heart Prep. Photo taken Oct. 1, 2021 by Bob Dahlberg/@bobd_photo. -
Matt Bucher (7) reacts after recording a sack. Photo taken Oct. 1, 2021 by Bob Dahlberg/ @bobd_photo.
On the conversion play that decided the football game, the Burlingame High ball carrier was hit hard at the goal line, but the hit was neither hard enough nor soon enough to make a difference for Sacred Heart Prep in its 22-21 loss on Friday night.
The Gators surrendered a touchdown and two-point conversion with 14 seconds left to drop the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division opener. It was their fourth consecutive loss – each by a touchdown or less.
Here’s how it was decided:
SHP used two explosive plays and one solid drive to score its three touchdowns, taking its first lead in the opening minute of the second half when Zach Freire caught a swing pass and raced upfield for a 78-yard score and a 21-14 lead.
However, the Gators failed to gain a first down the rest of the game, giving Burlingame chance after chance and forcing the SHP defense to come up big repeatedly. At some point, though, there was only so much the Gators could parry away. Burlingame had five fruitless possessions after that SHP touchdown, but the sixth was the charm.
Taking possession on its 45-yard line with 3:28 left, the Panthers (5-0, 1-0) drove to the SHP 9 for a first down with less than a minute to go. SHP smacked Burlingame for a 2-yard loss, and cornerback Carter Shaw batted down a pass in the end zone with his left hand and defended a pass that fell incomplete, also in the end zone.
That left Burlingame with fourth-and-goal at the 11 and with only 20 seconds left. This time, the Panthers went away from Shaw.
“Wisely so,” SHP coach Mark Grieb said.
Burlingame’s QB Ryan Kall hit Charlie Koch on a quick slant for the touchdown, with only 14 seconds left.
“We were in zone, that’s what we’d been playing all game,” Grieb said. “Just ended up a little bit too soft on that right side.”
Unwilling to play for a tie, the Panthers went for two. SHP had a bead on running back Elijah La Guardia, but the play was whistled dead because the Gators had too many men on the field. With the ball moved up to the 1 ½, Burlingame went to La Guardia up the middle. A goal-line hit wasn’t enough. He was in.
Burlingame victory.
“We gave them too many opportunities,” Grieb said. “It’s tough because this team has come a long way and even though it’s another close game that we lost, we are making improvement. It’s just unfortunate that we haven’t seen that final result on the scoreboard.
“”ough to put words on it. I know the guys are disappointed.”
Burlingame, playing its fifth home game to open this season and ninth consecutive home game overall, moved the ball well early, taking advantage of a 46-yard pass to La Guardia before serving him the ball for a 1-yard score.
But SHP answered back immediately to tie the score, 7-7, when Freire, on a halfback option hit a wide-open Shaw down the right sideline for 80 yards.
“That was the first time we’ve done it this year,” Grieb said. “They’re just so aggressive on the outside that we felt like we could take advantage of it. It worked out.”
The touchdown not only stabilized the Gators, but it was the biggest in a game full of highlights for Shaw. The junior, a second-year starter at cornerback, recovered a fumble deep in SHP territory late in the fourth quarter to give SHP a solid shot at victory. But the Gators were unable to move the chains and use the clock, allowing Burlingame one more chance.
“He’s an outstanding football player,” Grieb said. “On both sides of the ball. His effort is really outstanding. We put Carter on the best player the other team’s got. Carter did a great job and rose to the occasion. I’m proud of him.”
SHP returns home for the first time since its opener, when it plays Terra Nova next weekend in a PAL Bay contest. Perhaps Grieb finally will see the result that his team has been so close to achieving.
