El Camino revels in resurgence of the Bell Game

With the two teams fighting for second place in the Peninsula Athletic League Lake Division, this year featured a rare evenly matched game. El Camino’s three previous wins during the streak were by scores of 49-12 in the 2020 season; 39-0 in 2019; and 41-15 in 2018.

“You know it’s going to be a hostile environment,” El Camino head coach Rustin Mayorga said. “So, I think it was just a great way to end the season if you weren’t going to go to the playoffs.”

Both teams saw a resurgence this season. The Warriors (5-2, 6-4) have garnered much attention for turning around their varsity football program under head coach Frank Moro, who returned this season for the first time since 2013. South City not only snapped a 26-game losing streak, the team finished with an overall record above .500 for the first time since 2012.

El Camino also finished above .500 for the first time in a generation. The Colts last did so in 2013, and in taking second place in the Lake Division enjoyed their best finish since claiming a co-PAL Lake championship in 2011.

Saturday’s showdown came down to the wire, with El Camino rallying back from a 14-0 deficit to take its first lead with six minutes remaining in regulation. Senior running back Antonio Arenas scored the game-winner, bouncing off right tackle for a 7-yard touchdown run.

“We got back to the basics,” Mayorga said. “Just kind of beat guys with speed, wearing them down, and then we got to the red zone, put our big boys in and just kind of beat them to the punch.”

It was a big moment for the Colts, who have played in some big games this year. But both previous outcomes, ones that could have helped propel El Camino to the postseason — PAL Lake champion Woodside is the C-league’s only team to earn a bid to the Central Coast Section playoffs, it was announced Sunday — saw the Colts come up short in the waning minutes.

El Camino opened the year with a 27-20 non-league loss to San Mateo, the eventual champions of the PAL Ocean Division. Then in a battle for first place in the Lake Division at Woodside, the Colts dropped a 41-32 decision.

Arenas’s game-winning touchdown — his second score of the game — provided El Camino fans with their playoff-environment moment.

“The crowd was going crazy,” Mayorga said. “The players were up and down because I think they knew in their heart — they knew the momentum was on their side and they had it.”

Still, the game came down to one last defensive hurrah for the Colts.

South City, riding the legs of sophomore running back Elijah Fields, moved the ball into the red zone with just under two minutes to play. The Warriors were facing fourth-and-8 at the Colts’ 19, and ran a halfback option, with quarterback Mariusz Tan pitching to running back Darren Miller, who then pulled up and attempted a pass into the end zone.

El Camino’s defense was ready for the trick play.

“One cue for us that we knew, obviously we knew it was going to come, but the real indicator, we noticed (before the play) the running back took his glove off and wiped his hand,” Mayorga said.

With rushers Christopher Anguiano and Carlos Luna breathing down Miller’s neck, the pass was broken up in the end zone by James Stam and Jeffrey Gamboa.

“I kid you not though, when he threw that ball up, it felt like it was in the air for about 10 seconds,” Mayorga said.

The Little Big Game

Burlingame 49, San Mateo 21

With the game tied 14-14 at the half, the Panthers responded with a punishing 35 second-half points to claim “The Paw” rivalry trophy at home against San Mateo. Burlingame’s 49 points tie a “Little Big Game” record for the most scored by the program against its archrival.

Burlingame senior Lukas Habelt led the way, rushing seven times for a career-high 175 yards and four touchdowns. Habelt blasted in a 1-yard score in the second quarter to give the Panthers a 14-7 lead, then added scores of 48, 12 and 87 yards in the second half. Joey Nowrocki scored the game-winner for Burlingame with a 21-yard run midway through the third quarter.

Burlingame gained 421 yards of total offense, including 358 rushing yards.

The Bearcats were paced by senior running back Daniel Feletoa, who carried 20 times for 109 yards. Quarterback Giancarlo Selvitella scored twice for San Mateo, one passing and another rushing, in gaining 117 total yards.

Both teams are headed to the CCS playoffs. Burlingame drew the No. 4 seed in Division III and will host No. 5 Hollister this Friday at 7 p.m. San Mateo drew the No. 6 seed in Division IV and will travel to No. 3 Branham this Friday at 7 p.m.

Serra 43, Sacred Heart Cathedral 7

The Padres (7-0 WCAL, 10-0 overall) finished out their third undefeated regular season in program history, cruising to victory over SHC (4-3, 6-4) at Freitas Field. Serra last went undefeated in the abbreviated 2020 season, played in the spring of 2021, going 3-0 in West Catholic Athletic League play and 5-0 overall. The last time the Padres ran the table in a conventional regular season format was in 1954, going 4-0 in league and 9-0 overall.

The No. 1-ranked team in Northern California, Serra earned the No. 1 seed in the CCS Division I playoffs. The Padres will host No. 8 Palma this Saturday at 1 p.m.

Woodside 45, Gunn 10

The Wildcats (8-2) won their eight straight game Saturday at Bradley Field in a non-league matchup with Gunn (0-10). Sophomore running back Evan Usher scored touchdowns of 40, 35 and 36 yards to front the big victory. Woodside now advances to the CCS playoffs and will open on the road as the No. 6 seed at No. 3 Seaside this Friday at 7 p.m.