HMB High School Cougars to play for CCS title

Half Moon Bay High School defeated Monterey 24-12 to earn a slot in the Central Coast Section title game.  This is the first time the Cougars have played for the title, according to the County Times.

But in Saturday’s Small School Division playoff semifinal at Foothill College, fourth-seeded Half Moon Bay surprised everyone with a new wrinkle — the short passing game. Senior quarterback Nick Trautman threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns — including 94 yards and a score to Ricky Simms — as the Cougars beat Monterey 24-12 to earn a berth in the CCS title game for the first time in school history.

Half Moon Bay will play No.2 Seaside (10-2) on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Foothill College.  Both teams are 10-2. From the Chronicle:

Half Moon Bay High football coach Matt Ballard uses many words to describe his team—tough, hard-nosed and ornery, among others—but after Saturday’s game, he gave his players the ultimate compliment.

"They’re undersized, they look slow, but you can’t put a price on their competitiveness," Ballard said.