Prep football roundup: Sobrato edges Leigh, keeps league title hopes alive

Jack Stevens rushes for three touchdowns in Sacred Heart Prep’s triumph over Mountain View. Sam Shelby leads Piedmont past American.

This season, Noah Taylor has done it all for Sobrato, helping the Morgan Hill school maintain its position near the top of the Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa-Valley Division standings.

Saturday was no exception.

The senior was his usual productive self on the ground in a must-win game for his team against Leigh, rushing for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

However, it was his defense as a middle linebacker that carried the Bulldogs to a 13-6 victory on Sobrato’s senior day at Live Oak, which hosted the game due to field issues at Sobrato.

Taylor finished with 20 tackles as the Bulldogs held Leigh to 21 points less than its previous three league games.

Taylor’s 8-yard run gave Sobrato a 7-0 lead two minutes into the second quarter.

Shayan Shariat charged across the goal line from 1 yard out to pull Leigh (6-3, 3-1) within 7-6 at halftime. The extra point was useless.

Taylor’s 52-yard run with four minutes remaining in the third quarter increased the lead to 13-6. Sobrato squandered the extra point.

Taylor’s season rushing total now stands at 2,363 yards, placing him among the national leaders, according to MaxPreps.

“It’s been remarkable,” said Sobrato coach Joel Rueda. “You expect something big to happen every time he touches the ball.” When Steph Curry shoots a three-pointer, you expect it to go in every time. He’s the type of player we need.”

“I don’t want to sell any of the offensive linemen who block for him short,” Rueda added. They make it very easy for me and him to have the success we’ve had in terms of wins and stats.”

Sobrato (6-3, 3-1) is now tied for first place with Leigh and Westmont. With a win at Overfelt on Friday, the Bulldogs can clinch a share of the division title and a spot in the Central Coast Section playoffs.

Darren Sabedra’s

Mountain View 17, Sacred Heart Prep 50

SHP took the lead early in Atherton, as Ravu Savali scored on a 71-yard run and Jack Gurtner caught a two-point pass from Jack Scully to make it 8-0. Later in the quarter, Jack Stevens’ 35-yard run increased the Gators’ lead to 15-0. Savali’s 2-yard run in the second quarter made it 22-3, and Stevens’ 19-yard run late in the half made it 29-3 at halftime. Stevens gained 95 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries. As the Gators improved to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the PAL Bay Division, he recovered a fumble. Alex Pelkofer scored on a 10-yard run for Mountain View, and Lex Silver scored on an 81-yard reception from Vilami Sekona. The Spartans dropped to 3-6, 0-5. Darren Sabedra’s

Piedmont has 52 points, while American has 30.

With their win over American, the Highlanders moved into a tie for first place in the MVAL/WACC Shoreline with Kennedy-Fremont. Piedmont is 6-3 overall and has won four of five league games despite playing only four varsity games last season and having to forfeit two others. According to coach Jordan Seiden, junior wide receiver Sam Shelby led the Highlanders against American, returning a punt for a touchdown and accumulating over 150 yards of total offense. Quarterback Markos Lagios scored once on the ground and four times through the air. Those passes were given to Brandon Dicke, Dash Worthen, and Cash Elmquist. Next Friday, the Highlanders will play at Newark Memorial. After falling 13-6 to Arroyo on Saturday, N-M is a game back in the Shoreline standings. American finished the season 0-9. – Michael Lefkow