CCS football semifinal previews

Despite putting up prolific numbers earlier in the season, as the competition has increased, Menlo production has gone down.

The Knights’ 28-0 loss to PAL Bay Division champion Los Gatos took a lot out of the Knights, contributing to not only them forfeiting their next game to Wilcox to injuries, but also a decrease in points. In its first seven games, Menlo averaged nearly 46 points per game. But since the loss to Los Gatos, the Knights scored 21 points in a regular-season ending 21-6 win over Sacred Heart Prep, followed by a 17-7 win over No. 5 King’s Academy last week.

The Knights will have their hands full again this week as they’ll face a St. Ignatius team that appears to be peaking at the right time. The Wildcats go into Friday’s game on a three-game winning streak, including a 49-7 trouncing of No. 8 Alisal last week, a game in which SI rushed for 370 yards.

Division III

No. 8 San Mateo (8-3) at No. 4 Live Oak-Morgan Hill (9-2), 7 p.m. Friday

The Bearcats just missed being the No. 1 seed in Division IV by just a few points, instead getting the No. 8 seed in Division and a first-round matchup with an undefeated Woodside squad, who the Bearcats gave its first loss with a 20-13 decision in overtime.

Despite rushing for 269 yards, going over the 200-yard mark for the 10th time this season, San Mateo is finding it harder to get to the end zone. The 20 points scored was the second-lowest output of the season for the Bearcats. This after scoring 24 points in a win over Burlingame in “The Little Big Game” two weeks ago.

San Mateo will need to up its points production if it hopes to hang with Live Oak as the Acorns are scoring an average of nearly 40 points per game. They won three of their last four regular-season games to finish second behind an undefeated Santa Teresa team in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division.

Live Oak drilled fifth-seeded King City 40-16 in the first round last week.

Division IV

No. 5 Half Moon (7-4) at No. 1 Branham (6-5), 7 p.m. Friday

Ahead of last week’s thrilling 29-21 win over No. 4 Burlingame, Half Moon Bay head coach Keith Holden said he didn’t like facing a team that was familiar with his triple-option, scrum offense.

The Cougars ran its scrum package one time against the Panthers and it was stuffed. Holden and the Cougars are hoping for better results when they take on the top-seeded Bruins.

HMB is playing some of its best football right now, having won four games in a row, averaging 40 points per game during the winning streak.

Branham limped into the playoffs, losing four of its last five regular-season games. But a month after losing to BVAL Mt. Hamilton foe Christopher-Gilroy 26-14, the Bruins returned the favor in the first round last week, beating Christopher, 35-34.

Branham is scoring an average of nearly 35 points per game this season and have gone over the 40-point mark four times this season.

Division V

No. 3 Terra Nova (8-3) at No. 2 Sobrato-Morgan Hill (7-4), 1 p.m. Saturday

The Tigers rebounded from a thumping at the hands of Half Moon Bay in the “Skull Game” two weeks ago by beating up No. 6 South City 40-20 last week.

That loss to HMB was a mere speed bump for Terra Nova, who entered CCS having won five of its last six regular-season games. Quarterback Joey Donati had another strong all-around game against South City, accounting for five touchdowns — three passing and two rushing.

A week after a season-high 278 yards passing against HMB, Donati had 252 against the Warriors.

Defensively, the Tigers have been stout, the rivalry loss notwithstanding. The 20 points allowed was only the fifth time this season Terra Nova has allowed double-digit scoring.

Sobrato also comes into this semifinal matchup with a head of steam, riding a six-game winning streak, following a 28-17 win over No. 7 Santa Cruz last week. The Bulldogs rely heavily on a ground attack that is rushing for nearly 220 yards a game.

No. 4 Jefferson (9-2) at No. 1 Piedmont Hills (8-3), 7 p.m. Saturday

The Grizzlies, who have won nine in a row, are into the CCS semifinals for the first time since 2010 after a 40-17 win over No. 5 Pioneer. And they did it with a punishing running game that mauled Pioneer to the tune of 399 yards, averaging 11.4 yards a carry on 35 carries. Quarterback Robert Saulny-Green did the bulk of the damage, finishing right at 200 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just 10 carries.

And since a season-opening, 44-7 loss to Terra Nova, the Jefferson defense hasn’t given up more than 21 points in its last 10 games.

The Grizzlies defense will need to be on point against a Piedmont Hills squad that is scoring an average of 35 points per game during the Pirates’ seven-game winning streak. After slipping by Silver Creek 21-13 two weeks ago, the Pirates had a much more comfortable 31-6 over San Jose in the first round last week.