All the elements seemed to be in place for Half Moon Bay High to finally get a measure of satisfaction in its long-standing rivalry with Terra Nova, but nothing is ever easy for the Cougars in the Battle for the Skull.

Terra Nova has won 11 of the past 12 meetings in the 45-year rivalry, and now make it 12 of 13, as the Tigers used a late drive to pull out a dramatic 27-26 nonleague win at Terra Nova on Friday night.

Half Moon Bay gave this one a great effort to be sure, led by running back Dominic Sena, who blistered the Tigers for 186 yards on 10 carries — including a 76-yard TD romp to end the first quarter.

Linebacker/quarterback Josh Dunne was also operating at a superhuman pace, running for 101 yards and two touchdowns and making nine tackles.

But in the end it was two turnovers and that last-ditch drive by Terra Nova that did in the Cougars.

Carl Cox plunged in from the 1 with 46 seconds remaining in the game to provide the final margin.

Cox was 25-of-31 for 255 yards and two touchdowns as Terra Nova improved to 7-3 overall.

Half Moon Bay, of the Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division, fell to 6-4 and watched its Central Coast Section playoff hopes suffer a blow.

Terra Nova's winning drive began from its own 9 with 4:37 remaining in the game, and featured a lot of Josh Cruz.

The junior running back had a 19-yard reception and five carries for 31 yards on the drive, including a 19-yard run