December 8th 2024.
When strolling through the town of Atherton, it's not often that you come across a bear, let alone an entire pack of them. But that's exactly what happened on Saturday afternoon at Sacred Heart Prep's home field. The Bears from Summerville made the 140-mile journey from Tuolumne, a small town near Yosemite National Park, to compete in the CIF NorCal 6-A championship game. And boy, did they make their presence known.
Coach Sean Leveroos had a clear game plan for his team - to bring their trademark toughness from Tuolumne to Atherton. And that's exactly what they did. The Bears were physical, well-balanced, and executed plays with precision all over the field. From the very beginning, it was clear that they were a force to be reckoned with.
But the first team to strike was actually Sacred Heart Prep. After a defensive stop on their first possession, the Gators wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. A 46-yard run by Sasha Bamdad on a jet sweep set them up in the red zone, and Maxime Morelle finished off the drive with an 18-yard touchdown run. Things were looking good for the Gators, but unfortunately, it didn't last long.
Summerville quickly responded with a touchdown of their own, as quarterback Bryce Leveroos ran in a 1-yard score. And from there, it was all downhill for the Gators. Leveroos continued to dominate, tossing a 13-yard touchdown pass to Luke Larson and running in another 5-yard score before halftime. The Bears went into the break with a comfortable 21-7 lead.
But the Gators weren't about to give up that easily. They came out swinging in the second half, but Summerville's defense proved to be too much. The Bears got the ball back and Leveroos scored his fourth touchdown of the game on a 3-yard run. He was unstoppable and his team was thriving off of his energy and leadership.
Despite the Gators' relentless efforts, Summerville just couldn't be stopped. Leveroos ran in his fifth touchdown of the game on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, solidifying his title as the man of the hour. But Sacred Heart Prep refused to go down without a fight. A creative play call by coach Mark Grieb resulted in a 63-yard touchdown throw from Nico Pollioni to Jack Barton, and later a 58-yard passing touchdown to McKinley Palmer. But it just wasn't enough.
Summerville sealed the deal with a 24-yard field goal by Bryson Benites, making it a three-score game with just over four minutes remaining. Despite a valiant effort by the Gators, they couldn't close the gap and the Bears emerged victorious with a final score of 45-28.
But it wasn't just about the game for Grieb and his team. He took a moment to acknowledge the hard work and preparation put in by Summerville's coaches and players. And although the game got a bit out of hand at times, Grieb still had nothing but respect for the Bears and their performance.
Despite the tough loss, Sacred Heart Prep had an incredible season. After a shaky start, they turned things around and earned themselves a CCS Division IV championship last Saturday in San Jose. Their resilience and team unity were evident throughout the season, and they should be proud of all they accomplished.
In the end, it was a well-fought battle between two skilled and determined teams. And even though there may have been some tension and physicality on the field, there's no denying that both teams gave it their all. It was a game to remember and a season to be proud of.
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