But on the first play of the 2nd, Thien-Jones looks deep and is intercepted by Diego Arias. PH Pirate Football will start at their own 3. Ethan Kassel

Pick-6 for Balboa High School Football. Jasiah Jackson picks off Palomo on 3rd down and returns it untouched. Jackson then gets the ball for the 2-point attempt and completes the octopus 🐙 Balboa leads 14–3 with 8:49 to halftime, and might have a new fan in Mitch Goldich 🐙. Ethan Kassel

Another Balboa High School Football interception. This one's by Bobby Ray Wysinger, and it gives the Buccaneers the ball on their own 33 with 6:49 left in the 2nd. Ethan Kassel

Balboa has a Mekai Smith touchdown erased by an illegal shift, but a subsequent unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by Piedmont Hills results in a net gain of 10 yards. Mekai Smith then gains 22 on the next play anyway ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Ethan Kassel

.Mekai Smith gets around the right edge and takes in a 19-yard Balboa High School Football touchdown. Another fake PAT attempt is no good, so the Buccaneers lead 20–3. 3:36 left before halftime. Ethan Kassel

Out of a PH Pirate Football timeout, John Palomo finds Diego Arias down the middle for a 61-yard touchdown. Cash Martinez hits the XP. With 1:07 left in the 2nd, Balboa High School Football leads 20–10. Ethan Kassel

Halftime: Balboa High School Football 20, PH Pirate Football 10 Mekai Smith was entrusted to run out the final 7.7 seconds on 4th down deep in his own territory, and he did so. Mekai with 78 yards and a touchdown on 9 carries, plus the 71-yard return that opened the ballgame. Ethan Kassel

Palomo is sacked by David Lee Jr to force a 3-and-out. However, Travis Linane's best punt of the day (49 yards) pushes Balboa High School Football back to their own 32.A hold pushes the Buccaneers back another 10 right away. Ethan Kassel

And then another holding penalty erases a would-be Joseph Smith touchdown. Balboa getting in their own way like they did last week. Ethan Kassel

.Mekai Smith does it again, getting to the right edge, breaking tackles, and scoring from 34 yards out. It's his 48th touchdown of the year, tying Jahvid Best for the Bay Area record. XP no good, so Balboa High School Football leads 26–10 with 7:57 left in the 3rd. Ethan Kassel

A Naioa Tinoifili Shul Cassidy sack on 1st down, plus unsportsmanlike conduct on Piedmont Hills, leads to another Balboa High School Football 3-and-out. Buccaneers begin at their own 20, up 26–10 with 6:16 left in the 3rd. Ethan Kassel

Touch pass from Rylen (Jibril) Thien-Jones to Joseph smith goes for 28 yards and another Balboa High School Football touchdown. Took just 6 plays to go 80 yards. 2-point attempt no good. Balboa leads 32–10, with 1:27 left in the 3rd. Ethan Kassel

.David Lee Jr gets to Palomo for another Balboa High School Football sack. Palomo is shaken up after the play. Ethan Kassel

End of the 3rd quarter: Balboa High School Football 32, PH Pirate Football 10 Both Mekai Smith and Joseph smith ripped off big touchdowns, and David Lee Jr got 2 of Balboa's 3 sacks in the term. Ethan Kassel

IF PH Pirate Football are going to make a move, it needs to start now. They just forced a 3-and-out and got 15 more yards from an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the punt return. With 9:13 left, Piedmont Hills starts at their own 42, down 32–10 and with all 3 timeouts. Ethan Kassel

.Travis Linane is in at quarterback for PH Pirate Football, and his first pass attept draws an interference penalty. Ethan Kassel

.Syrus “Syy” Siga intercepts Linane's 4th-down pass in the end zone. Balboa High School Football holds. 6:57 to go, Balboa starts at their own 20 after the touchback. Ethan Kassel

Next play, Mekai Smith breaks tackles and crosses the field for an 80-yard rushing touchdown — his 49th of the year, breaking JAH's Bay Area record from 2006. 2-point attempt no good. Balboa High School Football leads 38–10 with 6:40 left, and the celebration is on. Ethan Kassel

.Smith Joseph intercepts Linane, and Balboa High School Football has the ball again. Penalties wiped out a touchdown on the return, but that hardly diminishes the home side's spirits. Ethan Kassel

Final: Balboa High School Football 38, PH Pirate Football 10 A record-breaking day for Mekai Smith, with big contributions from Joseph smith as well. The Buccaneers are your CIF State 7-A NorCal champions and will travel to Orange County to defend their state title from 2024. Ethan Kassel