TheLounge
11-28-2007, 01:33 PM
From a game-opening onside kick, to Matt Mosher connecting on two halfback-option passes to Sam Knapp, the Menlo-Atherton football used the big play to down Aragon in a thrilling 41-27 win over the Dons in the semifinals of the Central Coast Section Large School Division game at Foothill College Friday night.
With everything else being equal, and it pretty much was —*M-A outgained Aragon 476 to 406 —*it was big plays that propelled the Bears to their first CCS title game since winning the Division II crown in 2002. The Bears opened the game with a squib kick. It went through one Aragon defender before the second kicked the ball back toward the onrushing M-A kickoff team. The Bears recovered and went on to score to set tone.
Steve Disibio made the statement play of the game when he out-fought an Aragon defender to catch a ball near the goal line. Then, through sheer effort and strength, twisted out of the defender’s grasp and lunged into the end zone for a 31-yard score with about a minute to play in the first half.
Mosher did not attempt a pass during the regular season but he made two — and completed both — Friday night. His first went for a 43-yard scoring strike to Knapp in the first quarter and the second to Knapp to convert a huge third-down and set up a Bears’ touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Late in the game, it was the Bears’ defense to rise to the occasion. With the Dons on a must-score drive, they faced third-and-one. They attempted a QB sneak only to see the Bears shut itdown. Facing a do-or-die fourth-and-one, they again went with the sneak and against M-A denied the Dons, all but locking up the win.
***
Aragon’s Seta Pohahau proved he is the best player in the PAL this season. Not only did he account for 229 yards of total offense and two touchdowns, he made — at least —*11 tackles on defense. He was also in on countless tackles and was usually the Don defender wreaking havoc in the Bears backfield.
Three plays standout:
1. In the second quarter, M-A quarterback Troy McCabe rolled to his right. From his backside, Pohahau chased McCabe down — running over two would-be blockers in the process. He didn’t get a sack but got a hit on McCabe.
2. In the fourth quarter, Pohahau again chased down McCabe. He wrapped up the Bears’ signal caller just as he released the ball. Pohahau tossed McCabe to the ground, eliciting an audible “uuhhh,” from McCabe. To say his bell was rung would be an understatement. M-A needed to call a timeout so McCabe could get his bearings.
3. Later on the same drive, M-A running back Will Latu came through the hole, only to cut back right into Pohahau’s path. The Aragon linebacker buried his facemask in Latu’s chest and pancaked him to the ground. After a few minutes laying on the turf, Latu limped off the field.
***
Last week I said I gave the rushing edge to Aragon but after watching M-A’s Latu and Jamal Wilkins, I change my mind. The Bears’ dominance on the offense line meant they were gaining four, five yards on every rush. Wilkins, at 5-foot-6, gashed the Dons for 91 yards on 11 carries — Uber-reporter Emanuel Lee said it was like the parting of the Red Sea every time Wilkin touched the ball.
***
M-A’s offensive line essentially won the game for the Bears. Despite playing without certain all-league starter Malakai Mataele, the Bears still dominated the line of scrimmage. Running backs Will Latu and Jamal Wilkins combined to average 6.7 yards per carry. They also did a great job protecting quarterback Troy McCabe for most of the night, who averaged 21 yards per completion. Early on, McCabe had all day to survey the field and pick out his receivers. Aragon eventually put pressure on him with blitzes, but the Bears’ successfully ran the ball to blunt some of that pressure.
Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117.
With everything else being equal, and it pretty much was —*M-A outgained Aragon 476 to 406 —*it was big plays that propelled the Bears to their first CCS title game since winning the Division II crown in 2002. The Bears opened the game with a squib kick. It went through one Aragon defender before the second kicked the ball back toward the onrushing M-A kickoff team. The Bears recovered and went on to score to set tone.
Steve Disibio made the statement play of the game when he out-fought an Aragon defender to catch a ball near the goal line. Then, through sheer effort and strength, twisted out of the defender’s grasp and lunged into the end zone for a 31-yard score with about a minute to play in the first half.
Mosher did not attempt a pass during the regular season but he made two — and completed both — Friday night. His first went for a 43-yard scoring strike to Knapp in the first quarter and the second to Knapp to convert a huge third-down and set up a Bears’ touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Late in the game, it was the Bears’ defense to rise to the occasion. With the Dons on a must-score drive, they faced third-and-one. They attempted a QB sneak only to see the Bears shut itdown. Facing a do-or-die fourth-and-one, they again went with the sneak and against M-A denied the Dons, all but locking up the win.
***
Aragon’s Seta Pohahau proved he is the best player in the PAL this season. Not only did he account for 229 yards of total offense and two touchdowns, he made — at least —*11 tackles on defense. He was also in on countless tackles and was usually the Don defender wreaking havoc in the Bears backfield.
Three plays standout:
1. In the second quarter, M-A quarterback Troy McCabe rolled to his right. From his backside, Pohahau chased McCabe down — running over two would-be blockers in the process. He didn’t get a sack but got a hit on McCabe.
2. In the fourth quarter, Pohahau again chased down McCabe. He wrapped up the Bears’ signal caller just as he released the ball. Pohahau tossed McCabe to the ground, eliciting an audible “uuhhh,” from McCabe. To say his bell was rung would be an understatement. M-A needed to call a timeout so McCabe could get his bearings.
3. Later on the same drive, M-A running back Will Latu came through the hole, only to cut back right into Pohahau’s path. The Aragon linebacker buried his facemask in Latu’s chest and pancaked him to the ground. After a few minutes laying on the turf, Latu limped off the field.
***
Last week I said I gave the rushing edge to Aragon but after watching M-A’s Latu and Jamal Wilkins, I change my mind. The Bears’ dominance on the offense line meant they were gaining four, five yards on every rush. Wilkins, at 5-foot-6, gashed the Dons for 91 yards on 11 carries — Uber-reporter Emanuel Lee said it was like the parting of the Red Sea every time Wilkin touched the ball.
***
M-A’s offensive line essentially won the game for the Bears. Despite playing without certain all-league starter Malakai Mataele, the Bears still dominated the line of scrimmage. Running backs Will Latu and Jamal Wilkins combined to average 6.7 yards per carry. They also did a great job protecting quarterback Troy McCabe for most of the night, who averaged 21 yards per completion. Early on, McCabe had all day to survey the field and pick out his receivers. Aragon eventually put pressure on him with blitzes, but the Bears’ successfully ran the ball to blunt some of that pressure.
Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117.