M-A, SHP has Developed into Pretty Strong Rivalry
Menlo-Atherton Plays at Sacred Heart Prep Friday at 3 p.m.
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Once SHP got its program going, a natural small-school rivalry came into being between the Gators and their neighbors, Menlo.
But then the SHP program accelerated beyond the furthest reaches of most anyone's imagination, winning two Central Coast Section Open Division championships and making two state final appearances.
Menlo-Atherton, the large public school in town, had its ups and downs. There was a CCS title won with T.C. Ostrander at quarterback and Martin Billings as head coach in 2002 and then another CCS title with a team that featured multiple running backs and multiple head coaches in 2008. Before and after there was a lot of mediocrity.
But the Bears (4-2, 2-0) are on the upswing now under second-year head coach Adhir Ravipati. They are on a four-game winning streak and in first place in the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division.
Sacred Heart Prep got off to a shocking 0-5 start this season, before notching its first win the last time out, 28-24, over Aragon.
The battle for Atherton supremacy, Part I, takes place Friday when Menlo-Atherton plays at Sacred Heart Prep in a 3 p.m. game.
SHP still plays Menlo School in week 10 as its traditional rival every year. But the game with Menlo-Atherton has gained in importance from a competitive standpoint in recent years.
"When I got here 14 years ago there was no rivalry,'' SHP coach Pete Lavorato said. "We would've gotten killed. But the last six years the games have gotten pretty close. The kids know each other which makes it more fun.''
"It will be a fun, local game,'' Ravipati said. "It's going to be a tough one. Throw the records out. Sacred Heart Prep is much better than a 1-5 team. Their schedule was as tough or even tougher than ours.''
SHP lost non-league games to San Benito, Palma, Riordan and McClymonds without running back Isoa Moimoi, the team's top returning skill position performer from last year.
Moimoi returned from his hamstring injury in a 14-7 loss to Burlingame, then rushed for 120 yards in the win over Aragon.
"It sure was nice to get a win,'' Lavorato said. "I felt like we played better, and that's really what's important. The offensive line played well. Overall the defense played quite well.''
After losing to Bellarmine and Marin Catholic to start the season, Menlo-Atherton has gotten it going with wins over four quality opponents.
"They're very good, big and strong with a tremendous defense,'' Lavorato said. "We have to control the ball, not have too many three and outs. Move the ball down the field and try to make first downs. On defense we need to try to take away the big play. Their tailback and quarterback are both very explosive, very athletic. So we have to play assignment football. We can't just fly around. If one guy doesn't do his job it's a big play.''
Back
For years rivalries between Atherton schools in football didn't amount to much. Menlo School and Menlo-Atherton were on different wavelengths. Sacred Heart Prep didn't start playing football until the late 1990s.
Once SHP got its program going, a natural small-school rivalry came into being between the Gators and their neighbors, Menlo.
But then the SHP program accelerated beyond the furthest reaches of most anyone's imagination, winning two Central Coast Section Open Division championships and making two state final appearances.
Menlo-Atherton, the large public school in town, had its ups and downs. There was a CCS title won with T.C. Ostrander at quarterback and Martin Billings as head coach in 2002 and then another CCS title with a team that featured multiple running backs and multiple head coaches in 2008. Before and after there was a lot of mediocrity.
But the Bears (4-2, 2-0) are on the upswing now under second-year head coach Adhir Ravipati. They are on a four-game winning streak and in first place in the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division.
Sacred Heart Prep got off to a shocking 0-5 start this season, before notching its first win the last time out, 28-24, over Aragon.
The battle for Atherton supremacy, Part I, takes place Friday when Menlo-Atherton plays at Sacred Heart Prep in a 3 p.m. game.
SHP still plays Menlo School in week 10 as its traditional rival every year. But the game with Menlo-Atherton has gained in importance from a competitive standpoint in recent years.
"When I got here 14 years ago there was no rivalry,'' SHP coach Pete Lavorato said. "We would've gotten killed. But the last six years the games have gotten pretty close. The kids know each other which makes it more fun.''
"It will be a fun, local game,'' Ravipati said. "It's going to be a tough one. Throw the records out. Sacred Heart Prep is much better than a 1-5 team. Their schedule was as tough or even tougher than ours.''
SHP lost non-league games to San Benito, Palma, Riordan and McClymonds without running back Isoa Moimoi, the team's top returning skill position performer from last year.
Moimoi returned from his hamstring injury in a 14-7 loss to Burlingame, then rushed for 120 yards in the win over Aragon.
"It sure was nice to get a win,'' Lavorato said. "I felt like we played better, and that's really what's important. The offensive line played well. Overall the defense played quite well.''
After losing to Bellarmine and Marin Catholic to start the season, Menlo-Atherton has gotten it going with wins over four quality opponents.
"They're very good, big and strong with a tremendous defense,'' Lavorato said. "We have to control the ball, not have too many three and outs. Move the ball down the field and try to make first downs. On defense we need to try to take away the big play. Their tailback and quarterback are both very explosive, very athletic. So we have to play assignment football. We can't just fly around. If one guy doesn't do his job it's a big play.''
Sacred Heart Schools Atherton
Founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart, SHS is a Catholic, independent, co-ed day school for students in preschool through grade 12
