The semifinalists for the Northern California Boys multi-school division are set as Granite Bay, Hayward, and Peninsula Green all won Saturday.

Those three join Danville, who had a bye, into the Sunday’s semifinals.

Granite Bay defeated North Bay 57-33. GB was able to rest a few players for Sunday and still ran in an impressive number of tries. Wesley Chock put in a player-of-the-game performance for Granite Bay.

Hayward defeated Davis 58-17, with scrumhalf Naima Fualaau having a superb game, scoring three tries and setting up virtually every other score. The dynamic halfback was working behind a solid front eight, with two flankers relatively new to the sport having a good day - Eric Tafeamalii and Vili Paea. Hooker Ben Gomez Giron was active all over the field, while flyhalf Tevita Mailau had one of his best days kicking for points.

“We were really good in ball retention and the guys ave been working hard to improve,” said Hayward coach Jim Gurule.

And Peninsula Green produced an almost-expected upset. What wasn’t expected was the magnitude of the upset, as PG won 48-19 over the #3 team from the Sacramento conference.

“We had a good day today,” said Peninsula Green Coach Robert Benson. “We were able to starve them of possession and go from side to side and stretch their defense. We’ve been working hard to improve since our early losses.”

Former scrumhalf Erik Cortinas has been moved to fullback or wing and this has allowed him to get some space in which to run. His ability to gain yards was key for Pen Green, and flyhalf Line Latu kept the ball moving through the hands. Josh Warnock is a big body in the pack and he challenges the Sierra Foothills defense, as did Vanikolo Veimau, of whom Benson said “he’s a back in a prop’s body.”

Vaimau made some tough yards but showed soft hands in making the right offloads to his support.

On Sunday, Granite Bay faces Hayward in a game that will be a massive physical contest. Pen Green faces #1-ranked Danville.

“We respect Danville a lot,” said Benson, “but we have no fear of them.”