Half Moon Bay and Terra Nova to hash out 2017 legacy in CCS title game

Now, in a turn of events that seemed unforeseeable after the Nov. 3 “Skull Game,” a rivalry that has long favored Terra Nova — which leads the regular-season classic with an all-time record of 32-16-5 — the feud will carry over into the postseason for the first time ever, with the Tigers and the Cougars meeting Saturday night at Sequoia High School for the CCS Open Division III championship.

“They embarrassed us,” Terra Nova head coach Tim Adams said. “They kicked our butts fair and square. We took our lumps ... but that’s not the Terra Nova team we like to put on the field. We’ll have a much better chance Saturday night. Let the kids fly around and let things land where they may.”

Despite Terra Nova’s historical dominance, Half Moon Bay enters a clear favorite. The No. 1 seed, the Cougars are not only enjoying an undefeated 12-0 season, they have won 15 straight games dating back to last season with their last loss coming at the hands of the Tigers in last year’s “Skull Game.”

After that, HMB won three straight to repeat as CCS Division V champions.

“They’ve got a great run going right now,” Adams said. “But we’re definitely a different team (than the last meeting) right now.”

The difference for Terra Nova has been the return of two promising linemen — seniors Dan Constantine and Derek Franson — both of whom were injured in the Oct. 6 PAL Bay Division opener against Aragon. Both returned for the “Skull Game” but were only cleared to practice in the week leading up to the game, with Franson, a center and defensive tackle, not seeing any days of practice and jumping into action against HMB cold, according to Adams.

“Yes they were in the ‘Skull Game’ but they weren’t themselves,” Adams said.

Since Terra Nova has returned Franson and left guard Constantine, senior running back Brandon Auelua has enjoyed the three most explosive games of his varsity career. Against Burlingame, and a pair of CCS playoff wins over Aptos and Palma, Auelua has averaged 152.7 yards rushing per game.

“That’s a guy that just takes a game over,” Adams said. “I don’t know if in the postseason this year there’s been a more dominant player in CCS.”

HMB’s big-two of quarterback Gavin Tomberlin and running back Chase Hofmann have been dominant in their own right.

Tomberlin, through two playoff games, is 18-of-29 passing for 310 yards and four touchdowns. Not to mention, the left-handed dart-thrower hasn’t misfired with an interception in 21 straight games, last getting picked off Sept. 9, 2016 against Capuchino.

Hofmann has been a grinder, showing more brawn than trailblazing rushing numbers. Minus his game-high carry last week against Live Oak, the senior has logged 44 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per. That one game-high carry though, a 64-yard touchdown run, bumped up that average to 5.6 yards per carry. It also helped put him over the top for a season-high 188 yards rushing in last week’s CCS semifinal.

One person not surprised by Terra Nova’s postseason run is Half Moon Bay head coach Keith Holden. The sixth-year head coach was mindful of the Tigers’ sudden dual-threat offensive attack, but was certain not to overlook quarterback Nate Gordon, who is the PAL Bay Division passing leader, averaging 257.1 yards per game.

“To prepare for them in two days is a nightmare,” Holden said. “They pose a lot of problems. I’m not surprised.”

But Holden has some mojo going for him. In a tradition that started at the beginning of HMB’s back-to-back CCS championship postseasons, the no-nonsense head coach can be seen on the sidelines sporting more jewelry than Elvis. It was something that started innocently enough, when he began wearing for the Cougars’ first playoff win in 2015 the CCS championship ring he earned as offensive coordinator with the Cougars in 2005.

The “problem” is, Holden kept sporting all his jewelry for superstitious reasons, and while HMB hasn’t lost a postseason game since, he has added two more rings to the repertoire.

“We’ve had a good run,” Holden said. “I feel kind of ridiculous. But it’s my superstition.”

What happens if he earns a fourth CCS championship ring Saturday night?

“I’ll deal with that if I have to,” Holden said.