The Central Coast Section playoffs, then, present a whole new set of issues with which to deal: Deciding which games to cover that best uses our limited resources. Saturday was one of those days. There were three water polo championship matches, two volleyball championship matches, the College of San Mateo’s football bowl game, as well as five more CCS, first-round football games. On top of all that, all were being held at different sites around the Peninsula and South Bay.

After a late night Friday, I was up nearly at the crack of dawn Saturday morning to prepare for a long day at work. I left my house around 8:30 a.m. to drop off my daughter at my parents house in Fremont. I wasn’t planning on getting to the Sacred Heart Prep girls’ water polo championship match, but I actually arrived at Santa Clara University to catch the final minutes of the second period and the entire second half. I then stayed to cover the Sacred Heart Prep-Menlo School boys’ polo championship match, with an eye on the clock knowing the kickoff to the CSM game was only minutes after the end of the boys’ water polo match.

After interviews, I jumped in the car and headed up 101 to CSM. I got to the stadium minutes before halftime, knowing I had a couple hours to photograph the football game before I had to be in San Jose for the Sacred Heart Prep girls’ volleyball championship match.

With about 10 minutes left in the CSM game, I had to bail. I knew the chances of the volleyball match starting on time was slim, but I had to cover my bases in case it did start on time. So back down 101, I mistakenly took the 880 exit, then across Brokaw Road to 680 and Independence High. The match started about 40 minutes late but it went quickly as Sacred Heart Prep swept top-seeded Notre Dame-Salinas. Then, it was back to my parents house to pick up my daughter around 7:30 p.m. and home by 8 p.m.

Whew.

To recap: Nearly 12 hours from the time I left my house to the time I got back home; three different venues — Santa Clara, College of San Mateo and San Jose; five different freeways or highways — 84, 880, 101, 680 and 580.

***

The only person who might have had just a busy day as the Sports Lounge was Sacred Heart Prep athletic director Frank Rodriguez. He started the day at Santa Clara University for the girls’ water polo championship match, but couldn’t stay for the boys’ match. He had to be back at school as the site administrator for the Gators’ CCS football game. Following his team’s 45-14 win over San Lorenzo Valley, he hustled down to Independence High for the Gators’ volleyball match.

It was worth all the driving. The Gators captured three CCS titles Saturday: Boys’ and girls’ water polo, and girls’ volleyball, as well as winning a CCS football game.

“It’s been a great day to be a Gator,” Rodriguez said following the volleyball match.

And his day wasn’t over. He had to jam back up the Peninsula to San Francisco International Airport to pick up his daughter, who was coming home for the first time since starting college at Villanova University.

***

In my years covering Peninsula Athletics, I’ve always heard that Terra Nova fans were some of the best when it comes to supporting their teams.

So imagine my surprise when I got to the Tigers’ CCS football opener Friday night and saw there was a half empty stadium.

Those in attendance saw arguably one of the best performances in Terra Nova history as the Tigers rallied from a 24-7 deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Live Oak 28-24.

During the game, someone from the Terra Nova stands shouted, “Where’s the band?”

No Terra Nova cheerleaders either. I asked one of the kids working the Terra Nova sideline where everyone was. He said he was surprised as well and suggested maybe the rainy weather during the day may have scared off some people.

He said he talked to a group of friends during school, who said they weren’t going because of the weather, to which the kid explained to them the forecast called for clear skies by game time.

Which was correct. It may have been a little chilly, but no rain.

That was the last home game of the year, by the way. Now that the Tigers are in the CCS Division III semifinals, they have to travel to Oak Grove High in San Jose to face Peninsula rival San Mateo.

***

In the “Tigers stun Acorns” story in the Nov. 21 edition of the Daily Journal, the Terra Nova player who blocked a punt was misidentified. The correct player was Anthony Capitulo.

Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117.