Piedmont Hills’ playoff run ends as Balboa cruises to NorCal 7-A title

SAN FRANCISCO — The quest for a state title came up short for the Piedmont Hills football team Saturday in a 38-10 loss to Balboa in the NorCal regional 7-A championship game.

The Pirates had an eight-game winning streak come to an end as they finished 10-4 in Kelly King Jr.’s first year as head coach, winning the school’s first Central Coast Section title in 15 years.

Piedmont Hills had a whole lot of trouble tackling Balboa’s 6-foot-2, 220-pound running back Mekai Smith, who scored three touchdowns (and had two more called back on penalties), bringing his season total to 49.

“He was real physical,” King said. “I’ve seen a lot of good running backs like Lincoln’s Kyan Phillips when I was at Leland, and when I was at Milpitas, Antioch’s Najee Harris. He’s in the same mold, big and physical.”

Smith returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, but it was called back. Nevertheless, Balboa (11-2), which is averaging 45 points per game on the season, scored on its first play from scrimmage to go up 6-0.

On the first play for Piedmont Hills, senior running back Alijah Torres broke off a 70-yard run to the Balboa 2. But that turned out to be the only touch for Torres, who suffered a hamstring injury on the play and did not return.

The possession concluded on a 30-yard field goal for Cash Martinez to make the score 6-3.

The Buccaneers extended their lead to 20-3 on an interception return for a touchdown and Smith’s 19-yard run.

Piedmont Hills responded with a 61-yard touchdown pass from John Palomo to Diego Arias to make it 20-10 at halftime.

But the second half was all Balboa, despite being penalized, unofficially, 19 times for 202 yards.

Palomo left with a head injury after taking hard hits on sacks and was replaced by wide receiver Travis Linane.

Josiah Oliver made a couple nice plays on defense for the Pirates with a sack and a tackle for loss. Diego Casanova also had a sack.

“They took it to us up front,” King said. “We didn’t get it done. We’ll get in the weight room and try to duplicate our success next year.”