Sacred Heart Prep erased a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit and rallied for a 31-28 victory over Menlo School in the annual Valparaiso Bowl on Friday night at Woodside High. SHP scored twice with less than 5 1/2 minutes to play.

The Gators improved to 9-1 after the nonleague win while the Knights dropped to 8-2. Menlo came into the game leading the CCS in scoring with 52 points a game while the Gators topped the section in defense, allowing just six points per contest.

Both teams are expected to compete in the Central Coast Section Division IV playoffs, with SHP a likely No. 1 or 2 seed.

Sacred Heart Prep trailed by 28-16 after Menlo's Jack Heneghan hooked up with Max Parker for an 11-yard touchdown. The Gators made it a 28-21 game when Andrew Segre scored on a three-yard run. After Patrick Stinson recovered a fumble for SHP deep in Menlo territory, sophomore Ben Burr-Kirven finished off the short drive with a three-yard run for the winning points.

Heneghan threw for three touchdowns and ran in for a fourth to pace the Knights. Burr-Kirven scored on a seven-yard run and Derek Hunter returned an interception 35 yards to put SHP on top, 16-14, before the Knights pulled ahead behind Heneghan and appeared to be in good shape before the Gators rallied in the fourth quarter.

Heneghan completed 19-of-37 passes but also tossed two interceptions.

Palo Alto Online Sports.

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