Senior running back Dre Hill stiff arms a Gunn High School defender in Paly’s 45-14 victory over the Titans on September 23, 2011.

– Matt Ersted

The Palo Alto High School Vikings (10-2) beat the St. Francis Lancers (6-6) tonight at San Jose City College in the Central Coast Section Open Division football semifinals.

Paly advances to play Bellarmine College Preparatory for the CCS title next week. Here are the live updates from the game.

Final score: Palo Alto 39, St. Francis 23

9:17 p.m. – We’re done! It’s final: Paly 39, St. Francis 23.

9:14 p.m. – Crooks scores on a 54-yard run and St. Francis cuts it to 39-23 with 3 seconds to go.

9:10 p.m. – Vikings turn the ball over on downs at the Lancer 28 with 1:00 remaining in the game.

9:05 p.m. – Palo Alto sacks St. Francis three times, forcing a punt. Vikings take over at their own 39.

8:57 p.m. – Paly scores on a Morris Gates-Mouton touchdown reception on fourth and goal from the 6 and leads 39-16 after blocked PAT.

8:50 p.m. – St. Francis misses on fourth down and Vikings take over from their own 39.

8:47 p.m. – Lancers return Viking free kick to the Paly 36.

8:45 p.m. – Paly is forced to punt but the snap sails over Chryst’s head and out of the end zone for a St. Francis safety. Paly leads 33-16 now with a minute to go in the third.

8:39 p.m. – Durell Crooks scores for the second time tonight, this time on a 54-yard run. St Francis 14, Paly 33 with 3:40 remaining in the third.

8:34 p.m. – B.J. Boyd catches a 50-yard touchdown pass from Keller Chryst and Paly leads 33-7 with 5:18 left in the third quarter.

8:31 p.m. – St. Francis punts and Paly gets the ball at its own 26.

8:25 p.m. – Tory Prati kicks off and St. Francis returns it to their own 20 to start the second half.

8:04 p.m. – Chryst throws a 5-yard touchdown pass as time runs out in the half and the Vikings take a 27-7 lead into halftime.

8:02 p.m. – Vikings try can’t convert a fake field goal but St. Francis commits a face mask penalty and PALY takes over at the 5.

7:59 p.m. – Chryst completes a 25-yard pass to Austin Braff and the Vikings have it at the Lancer 25.

7:55 p.m. – St. Francis forced to punt and Paly gains possession at its own 35 with 1:18 left in the first half.

7:51 p.m. – Morris Gates-Mouton scores on a 2 yard run and Paly takes a 20-7 lead with 1:59 left in the half.

7:49 p.m. – Vikings convert on fourth and 6 from the 15 and get to the 2-yard-line.

7:41 p.m. – Palo Alto takes over at the St. Francis 47 yard line following a punt.

7:35 p.m. – Chryst sneaks into the end zone on fourth and goal from the 1 and Paly takes a 13-7 lead with 6:40 to go in the second.R

7:32 p.m. – Chryst connects again with Williams on 3rd down and 6 and Williams takes it down to the 1.

7:30 p.m. – Chryst completes a pass to De’Antay Williams to convert on 3rd and 15 and gets all the way to the Lancer 24.

7:27 p.m. – St. Francis punts and Palo Alto gets the ball at its own 38.

7:23 p.m. – The first quarter ends with St. Francis up 7-6

7:18 p.m. – Keller Chryst connects on an eight yard touchdown pass to Jayshawn Gates-Mouton but Justin Grey’s PAT is blocked. 7-6 Lancers with 1:23 left in the first.

7:08 p.m. – Durell Crooks scores from the Viking 1-yard line and St. Francis takes a 7-0 lead with 7:19 to go in the first quarter.

7:05 p.m. – St. Francis recovers a Paly fumble on the second play from scrimmage and takes over in Paly territory.

7:02 p.m. – The Vikings receive the kickoff at San Jose City College.

Follow The Paly Voice on Twitter for updates on the go: @ThePalyVoice.