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An opportunistic offense and bend-but-don’t-break defense were key elements Saturday in Sacred Heart Prep’s 21-14 victory over The King’s Academy.
The Gators (3-5, 2-2 PAL Bay) trailed 14-7 at halftime and watched TKA go on a 14-play drive to start the second half. The Knights advanced as far as the 10-yard line, but a 15-yard penalty and a couple of losses pushed the ball back to the 31 and forced a punt.
SHP then put together its best drive of the game, going 80 yards in eight plays with Anthony Noto scoring on a 3-yard run. An 18-yard run by Andrew Latu, an 11-yard run by Noto and a 29-yard run by quarterback Mitchell Taylor preceded the touchdown.
TKA fumbled on the kickoff return and Tyler Weisel recovered at the 22. Three plays later Latu scored on a 1-yard run to give the Gators the lead.
TKA, coached by Pete Lavorato who took SHP to two state championship games and won four consecutive Central Coast Section championships while at the Atherton school, went on another lengthy, time-consuming drive full of short gains on running plays. The Knights converted twice on fourth down and once on a third and 1. But on the 13th play of the drive SHP’s John Adrian Dioli recovered a fumble.
Two fumble recoveries, two touchdowns within three plays of each other and the Gators had control of the game.
TKA got the ball back one more time and a desperation halfback pass was intercepted by John Chung — his second interception of the game.
“Defensively our team raised its level of play in the second half,” SHP coach Mark Grieb said. “We were physical and made plays when we needed down the stretch. I’m proud of the way the defense finished the game.”
SHP took the opening kickoff and drove 60 yards for a 1-yard Latu touchdown run. Ravu Savali carried four times on that drive for 25 yards and Taylor picked up 27 yards on a quarterback run.
King’s Academy (2-6, 0-3) scored two second-quarter touchdowns to take the lead at halftime.
SHP concludes Bay Division play at home Friday against Half Moon Bay and then plays its traditional rivalry game against 8-0 Menlo School.
