San Francisco high school football roundup: Week 8

Rivalries were found throughout the schedule during Week 8 of the 2022 high school football season, highlighted by the Bruce-Mahoney Game and the Battle of the Birds. The Standard has full coverage of those games, plus information on other football and prep sports action from San Francisco and the greater Bay Area.

The Buccaneers rolled to a second-straight win, beating Burton (0-3, 0-2 Academic Athletic Association) so handily that a running clock was initiated in the second quarter. Balboa (3-4, 2-1) got two Edwin Maiava passing touchdowns to Omar Blanco, two Donntae Chung Masina rushing touchdowns and touchdown runs from Noah Degroat and Lauren Salyphanh. Christian Menjivar picked up a fumble for a touchdown and recorded a sack in the end zone for one of two first-quarter safeties. The other came when Michael Zapata blocked a punt. Both teams had a pick-six; Dontae Allen-Wilson recorded one for Balboa, while Junshao Liu’s 28-yard return got the Pumas on the scoreboard for the first time this season.

Seven different players found the end zone as Lincoln (4-3, 3-0 AAA) rolled past the Lions on the road. Andre Petrilli and Diego Cristerna cashed in twice, while Jamelle Newman and Renay Taylor each found pay dirt once. With quarterback Latu Manumua in concussion protocol, Michael Simmons got the start under center. He ran for a touchdown and threw one to Jaylen Lopez, and the Mustang defense got in on the fun as well with sophomore Myles Hamlin’s scoop-and-score. Galileo (0-7, 0-3) scored in the second quarter on QB Nate Chynoweth’s two-yard run.

The same quick-strike ability that Mitty (6-1, 3-1 West Catholic Athletic League) used to beat Sacred Heart Cathedral and Riordan presented itself again on Friday as the Monarchs scored the final 21 points, including two touchdowns in six seconds, to topple the Bells on the road. Danny Scudero’s 90-yard kick return and Steven Anaya’s pick six put the Monarchs in front, and with starting quarterback Wills Towers in concussion protocol, backup Ty Yoshida found Scudero for an insurance score. Bellarmine (3-4, 2-2) got 135 rushing yards on 16 carries from Riley Paran as Ben Pfaff missed his second consecutive game.

Defenses stole the show at Kezar Stadium as Sacred Heart Cathedral (4-3, 2-2 WCAL) recorded its first Bruce-Mahoney shutout of rival St. Ignatius since 1987. St. Ignatius (2-5, 1-3) limited the superstar duo of Jerry Mixon Jr. and RL Miller to 55 yards, but the Mixon-led Irish defense dominated, holding the Wildcats to just 139 yards of total offense. All 10 points were scored in the second quarter. Zaheer Young and Jay Murphy recorded a sack in the end zone for a safety, and Mixon found the end zone on a 6-yard run and the ensuing two-point conversion. Murphy and Jasaun Mabrey each recorded interceptions for SHC, with Murphy’s sealing the game.

“I’ve been coming here, playing on the lawn since I was in fifth or sixth grade. Being a senior now, getting that shutout was special,” Murphy said. “We’re the heart of the city. You see SI’s kids; they all come from Marin. I have my best friends on this team.”

Atticus Moustakas and Pierce St. Geme recorded interceptions for the Wildcats and Gus Parker recovered a fumble in the end zone to keep the deficit at 10 late in the fourth quarter. SHC’s Mikey Calonico, who missed the 2021 game with a broken arm, had a game-high five catches for 50 yards.

Northern California’s top-ranked team had to reassess its offensive game plan after Riordan (3-4, 1-3 WCAL) intercepted quarterback Maealiuaki Smith three times in the first quarter, but Serra (7-0, 4-0) scored 24 in the second quarter and went on to win a game that saw a running clock over the final quarter and a half. Smith overcame his early struggles to complete 14 of his 22 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns, including a 41-yard strike to Joey Villaroman and a 15-yarder to Kyon Loud. Loud starred in all facets, with four catches for 47 yards and three tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks. The Crusaders broke the shutout in the fourth quarter on JahKeenan Williams-Choa’s 70-yard touchdown run.

Valley Christian (1-6, 0-4) kept the Lancers closer than expected, getting within seven on Mathew Botelho’s touchdown pass to Kai Hamilton and even earning an opportunity to drive to tie the game after Tyler Bourland’s fumble recovery near the goal line, but St. Francis (4-3, 3-1) got the stop to seal the game. The Lancers had gone up 21-7 on Bryce Luna’s 38-yard punt return touchdown. Luna excels as a wrestler, and is set to continue his wrestling career at West Point.

Dhiraj Gurung stole the show for Washington (6-1, 3-0 AAA) in the Battle of the Birds, racking up three touchdowns and three interceptions as the Eagles downed archrival Lowell (1-4, 1-1). The last of his touchdowns, an 84-yard scamper after a short James Mertz pass, gave the Eagles the lead for good after the Cardinals had scored 16 straight points to take a 34-32 lead. Mertz threw for four touchdowns in all, connecting with Ayan Razzak and Jefferson Bonilla in the second quarter as Washington scored 20 points in the final 4:38 of the first half. Gurung also ran for a touchdown, and Tommy Mayfield-Commer ran for two. Angelo Ornelas threw for three touchdowns and ran for a fourth in defeat.

Robbie Mascheroni caught two touchdowns and snagged an interception as Campolindo (7-0, 2-0 Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division) held off rival Acalanes (6-1, 1-1) in a battle of unbeatens, 27-24. The Cougars led by 10 before a Jake Boselli touchdown pass to Ethan Torres, and the visiting Dons got the ball back in the final minutes before James Giordani clinched the game with his second interception.

Clayton Valley (4-3, 2-0 East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division) was unstoppable in Friday night’s 42-28 win at San Ramon Valley (5-2, 0-1) behind quarterback Christian Aguilar and running back Micah Avery. Luke Baker threw for 232 yards in defeat.

De La Salle (4-3, 1-0 EBAL Mountain) got back on track with a 41-7 win at California-San Ramon (5-2, 1-1), scoring the final 20 points after the Grizzlies got on the board on Jayden Macedo’s five-yard touchdown pass to Nick Fasshauer.

Sacred Heart Prep (6-1, 2-0 Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division) remained perfect in league play, shutting out Burlingame (3-4, 1-2) 24-0 behind a pair of Anthony Noto rushing touchdowns. RJ Stephens had four sacks, and Eliseo Buffington recorded three. Rival Menlo (4-3, 1-1 PAL Bay) suffered its first league loss, falling 53-42 at home to Half Moon Bay (6-1, 2-1).