New kid on the block delivers - Lincoln survives Balboa rally
Rusty Simmons, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, November 25, 2005

        Mike Paolucci was in the game only because starting defensive back Adam Au was hurt.

        He seized the opportunity.

        It took the sophomore just one series to make the play that may have saved Lincoln High's remarkable season. He blocked the potential game-tying extra point with 4:05 remaining Thursday to secure a 21-20 victory over Balboa in a widely entertaining Turkey Day Game in front of almost 3,000 fans at Kezar Stadium.

        "I've been dreaming about this ever since this season began," said Paolucci, who is also the backup quarterback. "We're happy for the seniors, because we did everything we could this year to get them the championship."

        One of those seniors was the mastermind behind the blocked kick that gave Lincoln's its first San Francisco Section title since 1979.

        Defensive back Max Mah told Paolucci, who was originally going to rush on the right side, that there would be an opening up the middle.

        "I told him where to go," Mah said, "but he got up and made a play."

        Mah made an equally important play in the first half, when he intercepted a McLeod Bethel-Thompson pass that set up a 45-yard touchdown run by Von Genieve to give Lincoln a 21-0 lead with 1:04 left in the first half.

        "I thought Bethel-Thompson was going to get sacked," Mah said. "He managed to get out of it, but he overthrew his receiver and it came right to me."

That was the story of the first half. Balboa (8-4) made mistakes, and Lincoln (7-4) capitalized.

        "Give all the credit in the world to Lincoln, but we left so many points on the field, it's disgusting," Balboa coach Keith Minor said. "In the first half, we stunk up the joint. Mack throws an interception that he never throws, Soloman (Webster) fumbles for the first time since the earth cooled and we just tried to make some plays that weren't there."

        Balboa managed just 50 rushing yards in the first half, while its defense, which gave up 13.4 points a game against Academic Athletic Association teams this season, allowed 145 rushing yards and 21 points in the first half.

        "When you're down 21 points, there are two ways you can go," Minor said. "You can just take it, or you can fight through it."

        Balboa chose to fight.

        Kary Amons reenergized the Buccaneers, returning the second-half kick 67 yards to set up a 6-yard scoring run by Terrill Vinson. Webster made up for his first-half fumble with 111 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards in the second half. And the Balboa defense allowed just four second-half first downs and held David Henderson to 86 yards on 19 carries.

        It all added up to a 1-yard touchdown dive from Bethel-Thompson to set up a chance to kick for the tie. There was a good snap, a good hold and Bethel-Thompson got the ball into the air, but Paolucci got his hands even higher.

        "It's on my shoulders," said Bethel-Thompson, who completed 10-of-22 passes for 140 yards and a score. "A missed kick, a fumble and an interception. My guys fought hard, and I've got to lead them. I couldn't do that today."

        Lincoln senior Michael Clayton recovered both of Balboa's fumbles, including one that came when Bethel-Thompson was sacked with 8:21 remaining in the game. Clayton was in on Balboa's last offensive play as well. He, along with Philipe Lewis and Brian Lee, bombarded Bethel-Thompson on a 4th-and-5 sack that gave Lincoln the ball back with two seconds left.

        "I just wanted to leave it all out on the field in my last game," Clayton said. "I just tried to step it up, because Balboa wasn't going to lay down for us."

        Clayton's senior classmates had the same notion. Genieve ran for 108 yards and a score on 17 carries, quarterback Andrew Loo managed the game with aplomb and the Mel Tiongson-led line cleared the path for 226 rushing yards.

        Of course, they accepted a little help from a sophomore reserve.


                                   Lincoln QB Andrew Loo holds the trophy after Lincoln defeated Balboa in the Turkey Bowl for the city championship.