SHP's kicking game is a major bonus in winning season

It was the most lopsided win in the 16-year history of the Valpo Bowl, and of Sacred Heart Prep's prodigious scoring splurge, Ronan Donnelly had a hand -- er, foot -- in nearly all of it.

Donnelly, the most electrifying kicker on the Peninsula, booted six extra points and a 23-yard field goal -- and walloped six kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks -- as SHP beat Menlo School, 53-15, in the annual Valparaiso Ave. grudge match between Atherton private schools.

SHP senior running back John Willard gained 90 yards on only four carries with two touchdowns, Tommy Barnds had a rushing TD and one reception for 33 yards, and the Gators had a 70-yard punt return for a score by Brian Tinsley to swamp the Knights (1-4 in the PAL Bay, 4-6 overall).

The Gators (9-1, 4-1) dominated all phases of this one -- no one phase more evident than the kicking game.

"To be able to put the ball in the end zone (on kickoffs) almost every time is a real boost to us," Gators coach Mark Grieb said. "And on top of that, Ronan is a great kid. So we feel that we really have a gift."

It may seem strange to highlight the kicker in a 53-15 strangling, but Donnelly comes by his notoriety honestly. 

The junior is the fourth-ranked placekicker in the nation by Chris Sailer Kicking, and first in California, and has received attention from colleges such as Georgia, Alabama and Cal even though he's only a junior (he's keeping his options "wide open").

His father, John Donnelly, a placekicker for Boston College, earmarked his son for the position at an early age. But at first, said Ronan, he didn't feel he was any good at it.

"But I kicked for the eighth grade team at Crocker Middle School (in Hillsborough), and eventually I fell in love with it," Ronan said. "I decided to go to Sacred Heart, and by my sophomore year I was on the varsity."

Donnelly is 8-for-9 on field goals this year -- his longest a 47-yarder vs. Carlmont in the Gators' opening game. That ball went right down the middle, and it was off to the races.

"Ronan has hit 55-yarders in practice with regularity," Grieb said. "He's hit some from 60, 62, yards."

To test him in pressure situations, a couple of times a week Grieb ends practice by tasking Donnelly with a long field goal attempt -- if he makes it, the team doesn't have to do conditioning. But if he misses it, everybody has to run.

"Hey, you can't get more pressure than that," Donnelly said. "You just have to deal with it."

Menlo couldn't deal with its rivals on Friday. The Knights collected only 45 yards total offense in the first half -- junior running back Samson Axe's 12-yard scoring run their biggest gain.

Menlo didn't get a first down until late in the second quarter. The second half was played with a running clock.

The Knights were pretty banged up -- they were down to 20 players, and had lost their starting quarterback midway through the season.

Sacred Heart will host St. Ignatius this Saturday at 1PM. 

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