Football Game Preview: SHP (7-1, 2-1 PAL) vs. Terra Nova (7-1, 2-1 PAL)

This is a battle for second place in the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division. Both teams are 7-1 overall and 2-1 in league. The only loss either team has incurred this season was to first place Menlo-Atherton.

Terra Nova lost to M-A 30-8 on Oct. 5, but has bounced back rather nicely, having scored a combined 116 points the last two weeks in wins over Aragon and Menlo School.

Sacred Heart Prep was 7-0 going into its home game last Saturday with the Bears before losing 30-0.

"Our guys played hard, gave a great effort,'' SHP coach Mark Grieb said. "I'm proud of the way they competed. M-A is a good football team. I told the guys you don't have to hang your heads, there's nothing wrong with losing to a good team. We've got to learn from it the things we could've done better. A good team learns from its losses.''

Terra Nova, with its high-powered spread offense, is averaging over 43 points per game. Quarterback Jared Julian has accounted for 33 touchdowns, throwing 17 touchdown passes and rushing for 16. He has 1,507 yards passing and 839 yards rushing.

"We need to be able to rush the passer, make him uncomfortable and play good coverage,'' Grieb said.

Coming off a game in which it was held scoreless, the Gators will need to step it up on offense. And while Terra Nova is known more for its offense, the team's defense can also cause problems.

"They're physical and fly around on defense,'' Grieb said. "We need to be able to handle their stunting and blitzing.''

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