Bay Area football stars have key plays in Super Bowl win

WOODSIDE, Calif. (KGO) -- The heart-stopping interception that cost Seattle Super Bowl VLIX is something their head coach is still defending the day after.

Many people are questioning why he didn't give the ball to Oakland's Marshawn Lynch to run it in from the one yard line. It's hard to imagine 'Beastmode' being denied on the goal line, since the Seahawks had time for at least two more plays.

Instead, the touchdown less than two minutes before that from San Mateo's Tom Brady to Woodside's Julian Edelman, turned out to be the game winner for the Patriots - a catch that connected two Bay Area high schools located just a few miles apart.

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Brady graduated from Serra High School in 1995. Edelman graduated from Woodside in 2005.

Steve Nicolopulos coached Edelman his senior year at Woodside. He says what he saw then is what he saw again on the field in Phoenix.

"Big players make big plays in big games and Julian is that kind of individual," said Nicolopulos.

Current Woodside football players find Edelman's success inspiring.

"If he can make it, then anybody can make it," said one student.

"I was excited to see someone from Woodside get that far," said another.

Edelman's victory is shared by another Peninsula high school alum - the four time Super Bowl Champion and three time MVP - Tom Brady.

"It's just an unbelievable sense of pride for what Tom's been able to do," said Dean Ayoob, Sierra High Athletic Director.

The school recently renamed the stadium in his honor.

"He really exemplifies what we want for our graduates. He's a great man, a great family man and he gives back to his community," Jonathan Allen, the Serra High football coach.

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In 2004, Brady donated his super bowl MVP Cadillac to the Serra High raffle. It raised more than $130,000. There is no word if he will do it again.

One thing is certain. If the patriots take on the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara next year, the Serra Padres know where their loyalties lie.

Allen said, "I love the Niners, great team and all that, but we'll go with Tom on that one."