Pacifican, Serra Grad Adams Rallies Terra Nova

Longtime Pacifican Tim Adams, 54, had done everything right leading up to this season’s debut as the Terra Nova High football coach.

As a youngster in the late 1960s he’d played Pacifica Dolphins’ Pop Warner football. He’d starred at Serra High in San Mateo in the 1970s alongside fellow Pacificans Mike La Forge and Steve Venditti before playing at the University of Pacific.

He served time as an assistant coach at various prep and college jobs before joining the iconic coach Bill Gray at Terra Nova.

“I watched what he did including lining the field when we had grass to fertilizing in the spring and doing the equipment orders,” Adams said of the now-retired Gray. “He acted as a counselor and father figure to the kids and a mentor to me ... The kids still chant his name after every game; they love him.”

Then the 2014 season began and Adams’ Tigers did a belly flop, losing their first three games -- albeit by close scores to formidable teams. The fledgling head coach never blinked, never lost faith.

Under Adams’ steady hand, the Tigers defeated powerful Salinas and then Sequoia. Up next is defending NorCal Division III champ Sacred Heart Prep, losers to the Tigers five consecutive years (2009 to 2013) when it had Gray as coach and Adams calling plays as the offensive coordinator.

Now the man who as a kid grew up in the shadow of Terra Nova High will lead his team against visiting SHP at 7 p.m. Friday in what could be an epic showdown

“It’s really going to be a challenge, but I’m confident we can play with anybody,” he said. “We definitely respect them as players and their coaching staff is one of the best in the Bay Area ... we’re just going to come out and play football.”

Read the entire story HERE on Prep2Prep.com.