Harris helps Antioch win NCS playoff opener
The nation’s No. 1 recruit carried 35 times for 289 yards and three touchdowns to lead the host Panthers to a 29-17 win in the opening round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs.
Antioch did not trail in the game, but a slew of first-half penalties against the offense cost the Panthers a chance to build up their lead early.
Antioch still only led by five points, 15-10, heading into the middle of the fourth quarter before Harris scored on a 7-yard run, and then Antione Tanner caught a 36-yard touchdown pass just two minutes later after San Ramon Valley turned the ball over on downs.
The Panthers will play the winner of Saturday’s first-round game between Foothill-Pleasanton and California-San Ramon.
In a game that featured four lead changes and two ties, third-seeded Rancho Cotate (8-3) scored last on an 8-yard pass from quarterback Jake Simmons to Logan Reese with 4:44 left and the Cougars defense closed it out an NCS Division III victory in Rohnert Park.
Five touchdown passes by Isaiah Steele, including four to Kalei Aukai, carried the No. 10-seed Panthers (6-5) to an NCS Division II playoff win over the No. 7 Broncos (8-3).
Aukai scored on receptions of 52, 25, 81 and 63 yards to finish with 233 receiving yards.
Junior running back Marshel Martin scored three times as the host Bruins took a 41-0 lead at the half and cruised from there in a NCS Division V game.
Quarterback Phillip Tran’s 1-yard dive with 29 seconds left completed a fourth-quarter comeback and lifted the Monarchs (6-5) to a CCS Open Div.
Johnson (14 carries, 50 yards; 12-of-20 passing for 238 yards) completed passes to six receivers as M-A earned a rematch against Bellarmine.
King’s Academy (7-4) was without sophomore quarterback Michael Johnson Jr., who sustained an injury in the regular-season finale.