SAN JOSE — All Gators are big. But some Gators are bigger than most.
Sacred Heart Prep led Burlingame 7-3 in the CCS Division IV championship game at San Jose City College and was threatening to open up a bigger lead. Sensing an opportunity, Burlingame elected to go for a fourth-and-1 at its own 38-yard line.
But fate intervened in the form of Aseli Fangupo. After Burlingame bobbled the snap, the Gators’ 5-foot-10, 275-pound defensive tackle scooped up the ball and rumbled 29 yards for a touchdown, escorted down the field by his ecstatic teammates.
As he slid down into the end zone in style, Fangupo had changed the game for good. His momentum-flipping play gave SHP a 14-3 lead, and the Gators never trailed afterward en route to a 21-10 title game win.
Sacred Heart Prep lineman Aseli Fangupo #68 picks up a Burlingame fumble and runs 36-yards for a touchdown in the CCS Division IV championship game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, at San Jose City College. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
“Aseli, everything he gets is so great,” said SHP coach Mark Grieb. “You couldn’t ask for a better human in terms of a leader, a guy who cares and loves his teammates and works his butt off every single day. At times, he is our team, but he’ll never say it. He’s a humble guy, and just works hard. So I’m so happy for him.”
SHP (7-6) was granted an opportunity after an up-and-down regular season with the No. 3 seed in the D-IV bracket. The Gators took full advantage of it with double-digit wins over The King’s Academy, Branham and Burlingame to win their first section title since 2021.
In that year’s championship game, a win over Homestead, Fangupo forced a fumble and rumbled down the field, but he didn’t find the end zone. In his senior year, he ensured that his career would end with a touchdown next to his name.
“This time, when I saw the ball, I was able to waddle down there into the end zone,” Fangupo said. “When that gap opens, my eyes get bright, but I know my teammates are right behind me, and thanks to them, I’m able to make plays like that.”
Sacred Heart Prep lineman Aseli Fangupo #68 picks up a Burlingame fumble and runs 36-yards for a touchdown in the CCS Division IV championship game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, at San Jose City College. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Sacred Heart Prep scored first early in the game. The Gators forced a punt on Burlingame’s first drive and parlayed good field position into a 7-yard TD run by Maxime Morelle.
Burlingame (8-5) countered with a 10-minute drive that reached SHP’s 1-yard line. But a false start penalty backed the Panthers up, and they ultimately had to settle for a field goal.
“It was a good football game,” said Burlingame coach John Philipopoulos. “The reality is two or three plays really dictated the outcome of the game, and unfortunately, Sacred Heart Prep was on the positive end of those …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
