Galileo defeats Lincoln 35-0

SAN FRANCISCO — A double portion of Nelsons was more than Lincoln High could stomach as Galileo pitched a 35-0 shutout in Thursday’s Turkey Bowl, the annual San Francisco Section football championship played at Kezar Stadium. The victory gave Galileo its 16th section championship, the most all-time after breaking a tie with Polytechnic High School.

Each of the Nelsons surpassed the century mark on the ground.  Senior quarterback Dylan, no relation to junior running back Quincy, gained 126 yards on 16 carries.   Quincy ran the ball 17 times for 106 yards.

Dylan Nelson clutched that game ball tightly as he walked off the field, ending his high school career a champion. 

“It’s unbelievable.  I don’t have words to describe it,” he said. “Everything we worked for has paid off.”

Dylan Nelson led a sparse, yet effective aerial attack, completing 4-of-5 first-half passes, including two picture-perfect touchdown strikes of 29 yards and 16 yards to wide out Randy Peterson.

Galileo pounced on Dylan Nelson’s onside kick to begin the second half.  The Lions drove 47 yards and scored when Quincy Nelson went off-tackle for 22 yards to make it 21-0. Quincy’s backfield partner Patisela Ale contributed touchdown runs in the third and fourth quarters to complete the scoring. 

Ale, also a standout linebacker, played exclusively on offense as he was ailing from shoulder and elbow injuries.  Playing through the pain, Ale pounded out 96 yards on 17 carries.

A goal line interception by Lions defensive back William Kay with less than a minute to play sealed Lincoln’s fate. Running back Eric Beverly led the Mustangs’ ground-oriented offense with 82 yards on 21 carries.  Devon Marman, lining up at times as running back and others behind center, carried the ball 12 times for 59 yards.

But the day belonged to Galileo as Lincoln’s Turkey Bowl steak was snapped at four.

The trophy was Galileo’s first since 2001 as the team experienced a turnaround under first-year coach Mark Huynh.

After presenting the game ball to his quarterback, Huynh was effusive when asked about the contribution of the Nelsons.

“As players go, they’ve done everything and more that I could ask of them,” Huynh said.  “They’ve been proactive in getting people to show up, encouraging people so that the coaches didn’t have to do everything.”

Lincoln head coach Phil Ferrigno told his dejected players that they had “nothing to be ashamed of …”

He was gracious in defeat and proud of his team.

“We worked our butts off. I’m really proud of them,” Ferrigno said.  “I just wish they’d played better today.  My hat’s off to Galileo.”