It was a clear but crisp Terra Nova High football stadium on Friday night. | John Murphy/Prep2Prep |
PACIFICA, CA – The Terra Nova High football team, paced by junior Nathan Gordon who threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns, defeated Willow Glen 49-7 on a brisk Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
The victory prevented Terra Nova from dropping to 0-3 after losing its opener to Sacred Heart Cathedral and forfeiting a blowout win against Novato due to an ineligible player.
Outside of an interception, Gordon was nearly flawless.
“I was just confident with my O-line – they were giving time,” said Gordon, who also ran for a touchdown. “I just had to deliver the ball and our receivers made plays.”
Gordon said the team set aside its disappointment in the Novato forfeit and focused on Willow Glen. TN inadvertently used an academically ineligible player in the game.
“In our hearts we knew we won,” Gordon said. “We had to forfeit, but we just had to move on to the next week.”
Leading 14-0 at the half, Terra Nova seemed to put the game away with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Gordon to Mario Fare just 2 ½ minutes into the second half.
But Willow Glen stunned the Tigers with 8:18 left in the third quarter with a 76-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Warren to Gilbert Pizarro.
Unfazed, Terra Nova bounced right back with a 27-yard TD pass from Gordon to Scotty Tomei, giving the Tigers a 28-7 lead with 6:26 left in the third. Terra Nova (1-2) was never challenged again, with a running clock being used for part of the fourth quarter.
“We scored 49 points – we were a little slow in the first half, but defensively all year long we’ve been lights out,” Terra Nova coach Tim Adams said. “We’re pretty good defensively. And we’re pretty young; we start seven juniors on offense.”
One of them is Gordon, the brother of Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon and son of former Terra Nova star QB and Boise State signal-caller Ryan Gordon.
“He’s a Gordon,” said Adams in reference to the strong blood lines and a QB who completed 19-of-25 passes.
A senior led the Tiger ground game as Saini Saini ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.
“You get him in space and forget about it,” Adams said of Saini.
Terra Nova’s offensive line of left tackle Anthony Trujillo, left guard Charles Rutledge, center Michael Mata’u, right guard Daniel Constantine and right tackle Bryan Shives opened holes for Saini and gave Gordon plenty of time to throw.
Richard Walls led all Terra Nova receivers with 85 yards on eight catches and Alex Pera had an interception on defense.
Willow Glen managed just 44 yards on the ground and was dumped for losses seven times. Warren did pass for 99 yards and one TD, though.
Terra Nova hosts Homestead at 7 p.m. Friday. Willow Glen (1-2) hosts Lincoln, also at 7 p.m. Friday.
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