ATHERTON — A moment 15 months in the making came to fruition on Saturday night at Menlo-Atherton High.

El Cerrito, which just over a year ago was banned from the North Coast Section playoffs for playing ineligible players, beat M-A 20-16 in the NorCal 4-A championship game.

The dramatic fourth-quarter victory sent the Gauchos through to the 4-A state title matchup next week in Southern California, marking the first time in school history El Cerrito will play for a state championship.

“It means a lot,” said sophomore wide receiver/cornerback Cannon Jenkins, who scored the game-winning touchdown and snatched a fourth-quarter interception. “We worked hard over the offseason. We had ups and downs over this season. But we worked hard, came through practices every day. And why not EC?”

El Ce

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