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By Andrew Preimesberger
Palo Alto Online Sports

After blowing out their first-round opponents by a combined score of 90-29, the Menlo School and Sacred Heart Prep football teams will face more difficult tasks in the semifinals of the Central Coast Section Division IV playoffs.

Fourth-seeded Menlo (9-2) will have its hands full with top-seeded Seaside (11-0) on Friday night (7 p.m.) in Monterey County. Second-seed Sacred Heart Prep (10-1) will match running games with No. 6 Soquel (9-2) on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The four winning teams from last weekend averaged a combined 48 points a game while advancing to the semifinals.

The Menlo-Seaside game has offensive explosion written all over it. The Knights are averaging 49 points a game and Seaside is averaging 33.9.

Menlo features quarterback Jack Heneghan, who threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns last week in a 42-14 win over No. 5 Monte Vista Christian. Seaside also has a dual-threat quarterback in Michael Turner, who threw for 289 and ran for 129 more on just nine carries in a 56-21 blowout over No. 8 Capuchino of the PAL Lake Division.

Both teams faced two common opponents this season, with very telling scores. Menlo beat Jefferson, 56-14, and defeated Monte Vista Christian. Seaside defeated Jefferson, 47-0, but got by MV Christian, 12-7.

Menlo is relying a lot on Heneghan these days and the junior has responded. He has thrown for 2,458 yards, completing 65.4 percent, and 29 touchdowns and has run for another 371 with nine more scores.
Turner is nearly identical to Heneghan, having thrown for 2,459 yards and 25 touchdowns while running for 438 yards and six scores.

Menlo, obviously, needs to control Turner while Seaside needs to put the clamps on Heneghan. If neither team can do that, look for a very high-scoring game that either team can win.

Seaside's defense has been much better than Menlo's this season, allowing just 96 points. The Knights, meanwhile, have given up 210.

On Saturday, it will be a battle of the run games in Atherton. Soquel's offense revolves around senior running back Fabiano Hale, who rushed for 375 yards and six touchdowns in a 49-42 first-round win over No. 3 Carmel. The teams also met during the regular season and Soquel won that, 48-20.

While Sacred Heart Prep also is run-oriented on offense, its the Gators' defense that likely holds the key to success on Saturday. SHP is allowing just 9.5 points a game, best in the CCS this season. The Gators have given up 20 or more points just twice.

The Knights of Soquel are averaging 43 points a game and giving up 18.4.

"They (Soquel) have a really good running back," said SHP coach Pete Lavorato. "They also might be a little bit more stout on defense, so we'll have to mix it up a bit and throw a little more."

2012 CCS FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
OPEN DIVISION
First round
St. Ignatius 49, Palma 14
Mitty 24, Oak Grove 0
Serra 52, Palo Alto 35
Bellarmine 33, Terra Nova 14

Semifinals
At Independence High, 7 p.m.
Friday's game
No. 5 Serra (9-2) vs. No. 1 Bellarmine College Prep (10-1)
Saturday's game
No. 6 St. Ignatius (8-3) vs. No. 7 Archbishop Mitty (8-3)


DIVISION I
First round
San Benito 28, Alisal 0
Salinas 35, Fremont 0
Sequoia 27, Menlo-Atherton 7
Milpitas 56, Silver Creek 7

Semifinals
Friday's games, 7 p.m.
No. 6 San Benito (6-5) at No. 2 Salinas (7-4)
No. 5 Sequoia (9-2) at No. 1 Milpitas (8-3)


DIVISION II
First round
Wilcox 38, South San Francisco 14
Los Gatos 38, Pioneer 12
Aragon 35, Leland 21
St. Francis 42, Overfelt 0

Semifinals
Friday's games, 7 p.m.
No. 3 Wilcox (8-3) at No. 2 Los Gatos (7-4)
No. 5 Aragon (8-3) at No. 1 St. Francis (6-5)


DIVISION III
First round
Aptos 28, Saratoga 24
Monterey 41, Soledad 0
Valley Christian 56, Burlingame 14
Sobrato 40, Riordan 17

Semifinals
Friday's game, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Aptos (9-2) vs. No. 1 Monterey (9-2) at Monterey Peninsula
Saturday's game, 7 p.m.
No. 3 Valley Christian (5-6) vs. No. 2 Sobrato (8-3) at Live Oak, 7 p.m.


DIVISION IV
First round
Soquel 49, Carmel 42
Menlo School 42, Monte Vista Christian 14
Seaside 55, Capuchino 21
Sacred Heart Prep 48, Pacific Grove 15

Semifinals
Friday's game, 7 p.m.
No. 4 Menlo School (9-2) at No. 1 Seaside (11-0)
Saturday's game, 1 p.m.
No. 6 Soquel (9-2) at No. 2 Sacred Heart Prep (10-1)

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