Terra Nova moved a big step closer to a PAL-Bay Division title with a surprisingly easy 38-14 win at Menlo-Atherton Friday night. The victory leaves the Tigers (5-4, 3-1 PAL-Bay) needing only a win next week at last-place Half Moon Bay in the annual Skull Game Friday night. The loss ended any hopes of the Bears (5-4, 3-2) capturing a league title; however, Menlo-Atherton has already clinched an automatic bid into the CCS playoffs.
Quarterback K'Ren Spain (20-of-25 passing, 180 yards, 1 TD, 2 TDs rushing) was once again efficient in leading Terra Nova to the victory. The Tigers raced out to a 21-0 first-half lead on the strength of a pair of rushing touchdowns by Spain and a five-yard run by Tanner Picollotti (17 carries, 109 yards, 1 TD).
Menlo-Atherton lost quarterback Royce Branning (10-of-19, 102 yards, 1 TD) in the third quarter when he suffered a leg injury and had to be taken off the field by ambulance. Branning had thrown a 19-yard TD pass to Blake Olsen to cut the lead to 21-7, but Spain answered with a 4-yard TD pass to junior wide receiver Jaylen Jones to increase the cushion to 28-7 at halftime.
Defensive tackle Sam Auelua finished the scoring for Terra Nova with a 21-yard interception return in the fourth quarter. Menlo-Atherton, which has concluded league play and finishes the regular season next Friday against Woodside, also got a one-yard touchdown run from Zack Moore to briefly close within 28-14 in the fourth quarter.
