2016 Campolindo Cougars football team

The 2016 Campolindo Cougars football team represented Campolindo High School of Moraga, California in the 2016 NFHS Football Season. They were led by 21-year head coach Kevin Macy and played their home games at Bob Wilson Stadium. They were a member of the Diablo Athletic League-Valley Conference. They finished the regular season 7-3, 4-1 in DAL-Valley play to finish in 2nd place. They won the CIF North Coast Section Division 2 Championship after defeating the Redwood Giants, Ukiah Wildcats, and Windsor Jaguars. The Cougars then went on to win the CIF State Division 4AA Championship by beating the Bakersfield Christian Eagles 31-7.

Season Opener
August 26, 2016 at Valley Christian Warriors

General
Nickname: Cougars

Colors: Navy/Red/White

Coach: Kevin Macy

League: Diablo Valley (moving from Diablo Foothill)

Section: North Coast

Playoff Division: 2

Playoff Division Rank: #2

Ratings
2015 Final Power Rating: 35.8

2015 National Rank:  #1207

2015 State Rank: #99

General Personnel (Back/Lost) Rating Adjustment: -6.5

D1 Talent (Back/Lost) Rating Adjustment: -2.6

Reg Season Schedule Strength Downward Rating Adjustment: -1.1

2016 Starting Power Rating: 25.6

2016 National Rank: #2175

2016 State Rank: #161

Dynasty Rating (avg. rating 2003-2015): 25.2

Dynasty National Rank: #1470

2016 Rating vs. Dynasty Rating: better by 1.5

Dynasty Record: 125-39 (71-21 in league)

Team Strengths
Skill Positions

Team Weaknesses
Line Depth

Strength of Schedule
2016 Regular Season Schedule Strength:  22.4

2015 Regular Season Schedule Strength: 12.4 (17.4 overall)

2016 vs. 2015 Schedule Strength Comparison: +10

2016 Regular Season Schedule Strength State Rank: #137

2016 Regular Season Schedule Strength National Rank: #990

2016 Projected Regular Season Record: 6-4

2016 Projected League Finish: 3rd

2016 Undefeated Regular Season Probability: less than 1%

Returning Players
Offensive Starters: 3

Defensive Starters: 3

2015 JV Record: 8-2

Starting Quarterback Returning: yes

Top Running Back Returning: no

Top Receiver Returning: no 

Top OL Returning: no

Top Defender Returning: no

Top Players

 * 1) Joey Berzins Senior TE/DE
 * 2) Lev Garcia Senior S
 * 3) Jacob Westphal Senior QB

College Prospects Lost to Graduation

 * 1) Sterling Strother 6'5" 260 Senior OL
 * 2) Matt Blair 6'1" 195 Senior K

Previous Season
2015 Overall Record: 14-2

2015 League Record/Finish: 6-0 (1st)

2015 Points For Average: 35.4

2015 Points Against Average: 18.2

2015 Differential: +17.2

Winning Streak
none

Last Year Wins
#1326: Milpitas (27-24)

#2317: Analy (Sebastopol) (38-28)

#2582: Miramonte (Orinda) (37-0)

#3478: St. Ignatius (San Francisco) (24-14)

#4481: Deer Valley (Antioch) (42-29)

#4498: Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) (25-13)

#4891: Dublin (14-10)

#5721: Alhambra (Martinez) (47-20)

#6109: Acalanes (Lafayette) (42-7)

#6109: Acalanes (Lafayette) (49-19)

#7508: Dougherty Valley (San Ramon) (41-0)

#7698: Hayward (34-14)

#9239: Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) (59-21)

#11403: Ygnacio Valley (Concord) (70-44)

Last Year Losses
#193: La Mirada (27-3)

#654: Napa (21-14)

Toughest Opponents
Clayton Valley (Concord) (56)

Valley Christian (San Jose) (43)

Oakdale (40.8)

Easiest Opponents
Hayward (-3.8)

Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) (-0.7)

Acalanes (Lafayette) (6)

State Championships

 * 1) 2015 (NCS III)
 * 2) 2014 (CIF III)
 * 3) 2014 (NCS III)
 * 4) 2011 (NCS III)

League Championships

 * 1) 2015 (Diablo Foothill)
 * 2) 2014 (Diablo Foothill)
 * 3) 2013 (Diablo Foothill)
 * 4) 2012 (Diablo Foothill)
 * 5) 2011 (Diablo Foothill)
 * 6) 2008 (Diablo Foothill)
 * 7) 2004 (Diablo Foothill)

Other League Teams
Miramonte (Orinda, CA)

Concord (CA)

Acalanes (Lafayette, CA)

Las Lomas (Walnut Creek, CA)

Campolindo (Moraga, CA)

Clayton Valley Charter (Concord, CA)

@ Valley Christian Warriors
Date: Friday, August 26, 2016

Game Time: 7:00PM

Game weather: Temperature; 77'F, Wind: WNW 8.1mph, Weather: Clear

Scoring Info
Valley Christian High School's running game and defense shined as the Warriors opened the season with a 21-7 victory over Campolindo on Friday.

Senior running backs Javon Sturns and Trent Laubach delivered a strong one-two punch for the Warriors (1-0) as they both consistently moved the chains to sustain long, methodical drives for Valley Christian.

"That was planned," Valley Christian coach Mike Machado said. "We want to run the ball. We have one of the better quarterbacks in the section and if we can run the ball and give him the opportunity for play-action it's going to be tough to stop us."

The power running from Sturns was on display in the first drive of the game as he led the charge and got the Warriors into the red zone. Quarterback Miles Kendrick capped the drive off as he connected on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Flores for the 7-0 lead.

Campolindo (0-1) came up with a big turnover as it recovered a fumble inside Valley Christian territory. Senior quarterback Jacob Westphal led a nice drive that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown run from Noah Loeliger to even the score.

The Valley Christian turnover was one of several mistakes Machado was displeased with throughout the game.

"We allowed them to stay in the game and that's not good" Machado said. "We let them hang around too long."

Sturns made his coach pull some hairs out late in the second half. With the Warriors leading a drive of nearly 80 yards, he fumbled at the goal line. The ball was recovered by Campolindo and the two teams went into the half tied 7-7 despite Valley Christian dominating with 230 yards compared to just 70 from Campolindo.

After a touchdown run from Laubach put the Warriors back on top 13-7, the Cougars completely shifted the momentum to their side. Michael Hooper picked off a bad pass from Kendrick and almost took it to the house before getting tackled by Conner Edgar at the 2-yard line. Edgar's tackle would prove to be huge.

As quickly as the Warriors lost momentum they gained it back after a hit on Westphal at the 2-yard line knocked the ball loose and was recovered by Valley Christian. Machado said that probably the play of the game.

"That was huge," Machado said. "They were on the doorstep of going in for the touchdown and we shut them down."

Sturns would redeem himself in the fourth quarter with a touchdown run that essentially put the game away at 21-7 as the Valley Christian defense continued to shut down Campolindo's offense for the remainder of the game. Despite the victory, Machado still sees areas that need improvement.

"We made too many mistakes but we'll clean that up in practice," Machado said. 

@ St. Ignatius Wildcats
Date: Saturday, September 3, 2016

Game Time: 1:00PM

Game weather: Temperature: 64'F, Wind: W 16.1mph, Weather: Cloudy

Scoring Info
SAN FRANCISCO – Senior running back Noah Loeliger led the Campolindo attack on Saturday afternoon, as the Cougars defeated St. Ignatius, 35-14 at JB Murphy Field.

Loeliger carried the offense from the beginning. The first play from scrimmage saw Loeliger break a few tackles and run 76 yards for a very early Campolindo touchdown.

“The line was just blocking for me,” Loeliger said. “I just had more motivation this week to get the ball forward.”

Loeliger continued to dominate throughout the game, rushing for 194 yards and three touchdowns.

“Obviously, if we don’t have [Loeliger] – that game was closer than whatever the score says – and if we didn’t have him, we would’ve been struggling completely,” Campolindo coach Kevin Macy said. “He became the difference today offensively for us.”

Loeliger’s second rushing touchdown came early in the second quarter. His short four-yard score extended the Cougars’ lead to 21-7. Late in the third quarter, Loeliger ran 17 yards for his third touchdown – and Campolindo’s final touchdown – to put his team up 35-14.

Campolindo’s other two scores came on a 64-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jacob Westphal to junior wide receiver Kevin Mossotti and a two-yard touchdown rush from senior Branden Bocobo.

“We’re an inexperienced group of kids,” Macy said. “We don’t have a lot of returners. So, I think for us just to keep finding a way to get better as we play, I think that was what was nice.”

As for St. Ignatius, the Wildcats responded nicely to Loeliger’s opening touchdown, completing a 70-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown rush from senior quarterback Patrick Brosnan. Early in the second quarter, junior running back Henry Vatinel broke free for an 80-yard touchdown run to bring SI closer, 21-14.

But the Wildcats’ offense was silent in the second half, as the Campolindo defense held them scoreless.

“I thought we did a good job up front throughout the game,” SI coach John Regalia said. “I thought we were able to drive the ball throughout the game. And we did that in the second half. We turned the ball over a little bit. We got into a situation where we had to hurry up a little bit because we got down by a couple scores, so that kind of changed the approach.”

St. Ignatius (1-1) travels to Marin Catholic (1-1) to play the Wildcats on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Campolindo (1-1) plays Deer Valley (1-1) on the road on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.

Noah Loeliger rushed for 194 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries to help lead visiting Campolindo-Moraga to a 35-14 win over St. Ignatius on Saturday afternoon.

Quarterback Jacob Westphal completed 12 of 19 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown against one interception for the Cougars (1-1).

The Wildcats (1-1) were led by running back Henri Vatinel, who rushed for 200 yards and a touchdown in 17 carries.

Loeliger announced his presence with authority on the game’s first play from scrimmage. He took a handoff through the line and then broke into the clear for a 76-yard touchdown.

“I followed my fullback,” Loeliger said. “I knew I had a hole because I saw a cutback lane. I cut back and just followed where my eye was going. I thought the line was the biggest improvement this week.”

However, Vatinel had an answer on St. Ignatius’ third offensive play when he broke loose around the left side for a 47-yard run. That eventually led to quarterback Patrick Brosnan scoring on a 1-yard sneak.

The game didn’t remain tied for long. Westphal connected on a 64-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Mossotti on the next series. Campolindo upped the lead to 21-7 on a 3-yard touchdown run by Loeliger early in the second quarter.

Once again, Vatinel had an answer, busting loose for an 80-yard touchdown run on the first play following the kickoff.

“I just saw a big hole and I just cut and I went 100 percent through it,” Vatinel said. “My fullback Burke Wynne and Gabe McCaffrey were really blocking out there, and the linemen did really well today, too.”

Branden Bocobo scored on a 2-yard run for the Cougars just before halftime to make it 28-14.

Brosnan had to leave the game in the second quarter when he cut his chin on a quarterback draw play. He returned briefly, but the cut opened again and he sat out the entire second half. 

@ Deer Valley Wolverines
Date: Friday, September 9, 2016

Game Time: 7:00PM

Game weather: Temperature: 80'F, Wind: NW 5.1mph, Weather: Clear

vs. Oakdale Mustangs
Date: Friday, September 16, 2016

Game Time: 7:00PM

Game weather: Temperature: 76'F, Wind: WNW 1mph, Weather: Clear

Scoring Info
It was simply too much Will Semone for Campolindo to handle, despite quarterback Jacob Westphal and the Cougars’ final gritty effort.

Semone ran for 234 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner with 1:44 left in the game, as visiting Oakdale rallied from two different first-half deficits to win, 28-21, in a game between section heavyweights.

Oakdale’s game-winning drive came immediately after Campolindo had tied the game on Jacob Westphal’s 10-yard strike in the front left corner to John Torchio, the second scoring connection between those two in the game. The Mustangs, however, responded by taking nearly eight minutes off the clock on the ensuing 62-yard scoring drive.

From almost the start, the game played out as a battle between two very different opposing forces. Campolindo had its way through the air offensively, as Westphal threw for 334 yards on 21-of-32 passing. In the first half, it appeared Oakdale had no answer for Vincent Mossotti, who had three first-half receptions of 37 yards or longer, including a 38-yard score in the first quarter. He would finish the game with five catches for 144 yards.

As the game wore on, however, the Mustangs’ offensive line and the powerful running of Semone took its toll on the undersized Cougars’ defensive front.

“This was a great team win tonight,” Semone said. “My line did amazing, and our defense did a great job of keeping us in good field position tonight.”

Oakdale’s two second half scoring drives were a thing of beauty – if you like a slow, methodical, punishing style of football. In addition to Semone’s big night, Bronson Harmon ran for a six-yard score near the end of the third quarter to give the Mustangs their first lead of the night, 21-14. He finished the game with nine carries for 64 yards, with 47 of those yards coming in the second half.

The Mustangs defense also came up big in two critical moments. The first moment occurred midway through the third quarter, when Campolindo had driven inside the Oakdale 25-yard line. Westphal’s next pass was tipped, however, and Sean Gingerich came up with a huge interception on the Mustangs’ 15-yard line.

The second stop came on the Cougars’ final possession of the game. Westphal guided Campolindo down to the Oakdale 18-yard line, with a minute remaining, but passes on both third and fourth down fell incomplete, and the Mustangs needed just one first down run from Semone to kill the clock. 

vs. Hayward Farmers
Date: Friday, September 23, 2016

Game Time: 7:00PM

Game weather: Temperature: 68.1'F, Wind: WNW 0 mph, Weather: Clear

vs. Las Lomas Knights
Date: Friday, October 7, 2016

Game Time: 7:00PM

Game weather: Temperature: 69.6'F, Wind: NNE 0mph, Weather: Clear

Scoring Info
Senior running back Matt Ringquist scored three times in the first quarter, as the Cougars (4-2, 1-0) raced past Las Lomas (0-6, 0-1) in the DAL-Valley Conference opener for both schools.

Jacob Westphal threw for two touchdowns – one each to Ringquist and Vincent Mossotti – and Noah Loeliger added two more scoring runs, as the Cougars led 35-0 at halftime in the one-sided game. Brett Smith added a second-half scoring run. Las Lomas’ points came on a short field goal from Devyn Fisher. 

@ Miramonte Matadors (Rivalry Game)
Date: Friday, October 14, 2016

Game Time: 7:00PM

Game weather: Temperature:, Wind:, Weather The Campolindo Class of 1966 attended this game as part of their 50th Reunion festivities.

Scoring Info
Trailing by one point midway through the fourth quarter, from its own 13-yard line, Campolindo (5-2, 2-0 DAL Valley) went on an 87-yard scoring drive to turn back host Miramonte (5-2, 0-2), eventually securing the 37-25 victory.

A pair of Noah Loeliger runs ate up 46 yards on the drive, and quarterback Jacob Westphal connected with Kannah Cruickshank for a key 24-yard completion along the left sideline, setting up Matt Ringquist’s seven-yard scoring run with 3:48 left in the game, preserving Campolindo’s 32-game win streak in league play.

“I have to credit Kannah (Cruickshank) for having the best catch of his career in a game against the kids he grew up with,” Westphal said. “We knew we had plenty of time to march down the field and score. Thanks to our brutal non-league schedule, we had some experience playing from behind and putting together drives late in the game.”

Earlier in the game, it did not appear any late heroics would be needed. The visiting Cougars built a 14-6 lead after one quarter, thanks to a pair of Loeliger touchdown runs. The powerful back finished the game with 187 yards on 20 carries.

But Miramonte stayed within striking distance, thanks to the pass-and-catch tandem of quarterback Tim Tague and receiver Nick Foster. The pair hooked up on an eight-yard touchdown in the first quarter, when Tague threaded the needle on a goal-line slant, and again in the second quarter, when Foster outjumped two Campolindo defenders on a fade down the right sideline to cut the Cougars’ lead to 14-12.

Campolindo took advantage of a short punt late in the first half, and after taking over at the Miramonte 48-yard line, finished the second quarter with a 23-yard Eglin Grady field goal to take a 17-12 lead into halftime.

Five minutes into the third quarter, the Cougars had extended their lead to 24-12 on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Westphal to Vincent Mossotti, following a Ryan McNally interception. But like the first half, the Matadors struck back, and this time kept the momentum going.

Miramonte responded with a balanced drive of run and pass, going 74 yards and culminating with an 11-yard touchdown run by Tague, who had 28 yards rushing on the drive. Less than two minutes later, after the defense forced a punt, Tague hooked with Foster for the third time, hitting his main target on a simple go route down the right sideline for a 75-yard touchdown and a 25-24 lead, nine seconds into the fourth quarter.

Campolindo responded by driving into Matadors’ territory, but Miramonte linebacker Ryan Walker made a huge stop of Loeliger in the right flat on fourth down. This time, though, the Cougars defense responded by forcing a punt and setting up the go-ahead drive for the offense. Campo added one late score, on a one-yard run by Branden Bocobo with less than two minutes remaining, after Miramonte was forced to attempt a fourth down from deep in its own territory.

Tague finished the game with 219 yards passing and three touchdowns, but only was able to complete one of his final eight passes after the Cougars took the late lead. Foster had six catches for 144 yards and all three scores.

Westphal had 167 yards through the air to pace Campolindo’s passing attack, while Mossotti had two catches for 80 yards and the lone receiving touchdown. Cruickshank added four catches for 47 yards. 

vs. Concord Minutemen (Homecoming Game)
Date: Friday, October 21, 2016

Game Time: 7:00PM

Game weather: Temperature: 64'F, Wind: WNW 0mph, Weather: Clear The Campolindo Class of 1981 attended this game as part of their 35th Reunion festivities

Scoring Info
After having not been shut out in its previous 133 games, Concord has now suffered back-to-back shutout losses in DAL-Valley play, as the Cougars built a 24-point halftime advantage and cruised from there.

Senior Matt Ringquist provided the only points of the first quarter, with his 21-yard scoring run, but Campolindo extended its advantage in the second quarter on a one-yard run by Justin Ehrenberger and a 25-yard pass from Jacob Westphal to John Torchio. Seppi Ortman’s 33-yard field goal with five seconds left in the first half provided the 24-0 margin at the break.

Shun Ishida added to the lead early in the fourth quarter with his eight-yard scoring run.

Campolindo and Clayton Valley are both unbeaten atop the DAL-Valley Conference. The teams meet in the regular season finale. 

vs. Acalanes Dons
Date: Friday, October 28, 2016

Game Time: 7:00PM

Game weather: Temperature: 60.7'F, Wind: W 0mph, Weather: Clear The Senior players and cheerleaders celebrated their Senior Night.

@ Clayton Valley Charter Ugly Eagles (Foothill-Valley Bowl)
Date: Friday, November 4, 2016

Game Time: 7:00PM

Game weather: Temperature:, Wind:, Weather

Scoring Info
CONCORD — When Clayton Valley Charter and Campolindo found themselves in the same league after the Diablo Foothill Athletic League and Diablo Valley Athletic League disbanded over the summer, it set up the potential for a neck-and-neck race for league supremacy.

That’s how events managed to shake out. Thomas Alatini ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns, and James Teofilo had 66 yards and two more scores as Clayton Valley beat Campolindo 50-15 on Friday night in Concord to claim the inaugural Diablo Athletic League football.

“It was great,” Ugly Eagles coach Tim Murphy said. “Kids played really hard, offense came alive, defense played really well against a really good offense, so we’re just ready to go to the playoffs and we’re fired up.”

The Ugly Eagles extended their win streak in league games to 27 and they’ve won their league title five years in a row.

Jacob Westphal went 16-for-34 with 237 yards and two touchdowns for Campolindo.

The Cougars (7-3 overall, 4-1 DVAL) and Clayton Valley (9-1, 5-0) had never played each other before Friday night, and by the end of the night, the two teams weren’t very chummy.

Up big with just minutes remaining, Murphy elected to keep his starters in, much to the dismay of Campolindo coach Kevin Macy.

“They were out there to send some type of message that was not healthy, and so we didn’t want to be part of it,” Macy said.

The Eagles finished off their display by converting a two-point conversion as time expired.

Both Campolindo and Clayton Valley will hear their names called when the North Coast Section brackets are released this Sunday.

The teams combined for a 16-4 record this season – 9-1 in league play – and will look to continue rolling once the playoffs start next weekend. 

vs. Redwood Giants (CIF NCS Division 2 Quarterfinal Game)
Date: Friday, November 18, 2016

Game Time: 7:00PM

Game weather: Temperature: 45.9'F, Wind: W 0mph, Weather: Clear

Scoring Info
Top-seeded Campolindo scored 31 unanswered points from the final minute of the second quarter through the end of the third en route to beating No. 9 Redwood 59-28 on Friday night in the North Coast Section Division II quarterfinals.

The teams traded touchdowns in the first half, with the Giants (9-3) pulling within seven points late in the second quarter. The Cougars (8-3) scored with 29 seconds remaining to take a 28-21 advantage into the break, then outscored Redwood 24-0 in the third quarter to turn a tight game into a blowout, extending the lead to 59-21 entering the fourth.

Trevor Foehr tossed touchdown passes to Alex Wilson and Hayden Blum in the first half, and Nick Calzaretta scored on a 28-yard rush. Kyle Fulton scored from 14 yards out with seven minutes to go in the game, trimming the deficit to 59-28. 

Redwood, which went 5-2 in MCAL play, beat No. 8 Casa Grande in the first round before getting eliminated.

vs. Ukiah Wildcats (CIF NCS Division 2 Semifinal Game)
Date: Friday, November, 25, 2016

Game Time: 7:00PM

Game weather: Temperature: 44'F, Wind: SSW 0mph, Weather: Partly Cloudy

Scoring Info
Ukiah took an early 7-0 lead on host Campolindo Friday night, scoring with less than four minutes remaining in the opening quarter, but the Cougars roared back with 48 unanswered points to reach their third straight section title game.

Campo tied the game on a five-yard scoring run by Shun Ishida, just over a minute later, starting the string of points for the Cougars, who now await the winner of the Granada at Windsor game on Saturday night.

Short-yardage fullback Branden Bocobo gave Campolindo its first lead of the game with his two-yard scoring run late in the second quarter, and Jacob Westphal gave the Cougars some breathing room heading into halftime, when he hit Kannah Cruickshank for the 19-yard touchdown with eight seconds left in the second quarter.

A 24-point third quarter effectively ended any hope for a Ukiah comeback, as Bocobo added his second rushing score of the night, Matty Ringquist scored on the ground, and Paul Gannett recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown. Seppi Ortman added a 42-yard field goal before the end of third quarter to ensure a running clock for the final 12 minutes.

The final points of the game were scored on a 31-yard field goal by Ortman. Westphal finished the game with 218 yards on 15-of-24 passing, with the one touchdown to Cruickshank. 

MORAGA — Campolindo High School reached its fourth section championship game in six years when it routed Ukiah 48-7 in a North Coast Section Division II contest on a chilly Friday night.

Senior quarterback Jacob Westphal paced the Cougars (9-3) with 218 yards on 15-of-24 passing and one touchdown. Matty Ringquist added 68 yards rushing and one score for  Cougars.

Ukiah scored on its first drive on a one-yard quarterback keeper by Brett Hofstetter, but that was it for the visitors.

“I credit them (Ukiah)” said Campolindo head coach Kevin Macy, who’s in his 21st year in Moraga. “But I think as soon as we got a couple stops in the second half and we scored right away, we just broke their back there. But it was a much closer game than the score really indicates.”

Campolindo soon had a 21-7 lead after Ukiah’s touchdowns drive, capped by a 19-yard pass from Westphal to Kannah Cruikshank with eight seconds left until halftime.

“That touchdown by Kannah at the end of the half was a huge play,” Westphal said. “It really set the momentum going into the half and we just exploded from there.”

The Cougars last appeared in the Div. II bracket in 2008. Sine then they have won three section titles and one state crown.

“To be able to be back in the section championship, it’s an awesome feeling,” Westphal said. 

vs. Windsor Jaguars (CIF NCS Division 2 Championship Game)
Date: Friday, December 2, 2016

Game Time: 7:00PM

Game weather: Temperature:, Wind:, Weather

Campo’s offense is led by senior signal-caller Jacob Westphal, a two-year starter who has guided the Cougars through a challenging schedule in 2016, and yet emerged stronger in the post-season.

“Our schedule prepared us mentally for success in the playoffs,” Westphal said. “Valley Christian, Oakdale, and Clayton Valley were huge physical challenges for us, while Concord and Miramonte provided a different type of challenge, to our secondary and receivers.”

Of those five games mentioned by Westphal, Valley Christian just won a CCS section championship, Oakdale is playing for one this weekend, and Clayton Valley played in the NCS Open Division. Miramonte narrowly missed out making the semifinals in a loaded Division 3 bracket, while Concord reached the Division 2 quarterfinals.

A big difference with the Cougars this season has been the lack of any set formula for success, something alluded to earlier this season by coach Kevin Macy. Westphal confirmed that approach, looking ahead to the game this Friday.

“We’re a team that is going to take what the opposing defense gives us,” Westphal said. “I know that any of my receivers can make plays on a given night, and we’ve gotten some great play in the backfield from guys like Matt (Ringquist) and Branden (Bocobo).”

Westphal and Macy has also both referred to the fact that the Cougars’ starting offensive line has been under-looked for much of the season, especially considering the same five have started together each game, with no back-ups to give them a breather at any time. Those five ironmen include Tomas Vega, Cole Berzins, Bobby Poole, Alex Capurro, and Logan MacDonald.

Another big factor for the Cougars’ success has been their ability to take care of the ball. Westphal leads the way with 2,831 yards passing to go with 20 touchdowns, and just four interceptions in 12 games. Junior Shun Ishida has also emerged in the backfield, as Ishida, Ringquist, and Bocobo have combined for 22 scores on the ground.

Part of the reason Westphal can efficiently gain yardage and protect the ball at the same time is the number of playmakers he has at his disposal offensively. The team captain referenced the importance of not forcing the ball to any one receiver, and the stats for the season support that claim.

Junior Vincent Mossotti has emerged as the Cougars’ big-play weapon, with 37 catches for 992 yards and eight touchdowns, but he has had plenty of help. Kannah Cruickshank, John Torchio, Lev Garcia, and Ringquist are all over 300 yards receiving, and tight end Ray Berzins is close behind the top five pass-catchers.

None of that, however, means Campo will find easy sledding against the Windsor defense, a unit which, other than a mid-season loss to Rancho Cotate and a thrilling overtime win over Santa Rosa, has been stingy all year. The Jaguars opened the season by holding Petaluma, Northgate, and Hayward to a combined seven points, and last week shut down Granada’s Wing-T attack.

Junior defensive linemen Bas Osborn won’t intimidate anyone with his 5-11, 160-pound frame, but the dual-sport athlete (lacrosse) is quick off the ball and disruptive, evidenced by his 21 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss this year. Middle linebacker Joey Pignataro also figures to play a large role for the Windsor defense, along with free safety Jackson Baughman, who will impact the game on both sides of the ball. Junior Jairo Mejia will also be providing pressure on Westphal.

Baughman also leads a Windsor secondary which will need to play well against the Cougars’ passing attack. Senior cornerback Marcell Sands leads the team with five interceptions, while Baughman has three this year. Junior Jorgen Sarganis has been another impact player in the secondary.

The big key for Windsor, though, could be its ability to control the ball, the clock, and the tempo of the game with its run-oriented offense. That’s not to say the Jaguars can’t strike through the air, evidenced by Kobe Roman’s three passing touchdowns last week in the win over Granada.

But the common theme for every team in recent years which has given Campolindo trouble has been the ability to control the line and the ball. Napa illustrated that last season, and all three losses this year have been to teams with similar skill sets. In the loss to Oakdale, the Cougars led for a significant portion of the game, but failed to control the line of scrimmage, and eventually wore down in the final two quarters.

Baughman eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on the ground in last week’s win over Granada, while Roman and David Escarcega have combined for over 1,400 yards this season. That trio will need to run the ball well in order to keep Campolindo’s offense away from the field.

This will be the first meeting between these two programs, with Windsor seeking its first section title since 2011, when the Jaguars went a perfect 15-0. The game is this Friday night, 7 pm at Diablo Valley College, with the winner advancing to the CIF NorCal regional playoffs.

“We want to live up to the legacy handed down to us,” Westphal said. “It’s been an incredible two years of varsity football with this senior class, and our goal all season has been to go out on top again.”

Scoring Info
PLEASANT HILL — Jacob Westphal threw for 284 yards and four touchdowns as Campolindo High School won its third straight North Coast Section football title, beating Windsor 40-20 in the Division II championship at Diablo Valley College.

The Cougars (10-3) won Division III the previous two years before moving up to stiffer competition. The Cougars will now await word on whom they will play in the California Interscholastic Federation North Regional playoffs. The announcement is Sunday.

“When we lost some games early on in the season against some top-notch teams, some were doubting we can win it all again,” Westphal said. “We used those losses as a stepping stone down the stretch.”

Westphal connected on scoring strikes of seven yards to John Torchio and eight yards to Vincent Mossotti to erase a 13-6 deficit and take a seven-point lead.

The second half was all Cougars as they scored two touchdowns in a span of two minutes to take a commanding 34-13 lead. Westphal marched the Cougars 78 yards in 10 plays and found Raymond Berzins for a six-yard scoring play in the back of the end zone on their first possession of the second half.

Windsor then turned the ball over on a fumble on its next possession and Campolindo used a trick play to score quickly.

Westphal threw a backwards pass to Torchio in the right flat, and Torchio found a wide-open Lev Garcia for a 53-yard touchdown that extended the Cougars lead in the third. When Torchio wasn’t throwing passes, he hauled in seven receptions for 85 yards.

The Jaguars (9-4) tried to get back into it when Kobe Roman connected with Jorgen Sarganis for a 11-yard scoring play with seven seconds left in the third.

Campolindo responded when the Westphal-to-Torchio connection made its move again, this time from 19 yards out. The Cougars cruised the rest of the way.

“We had some jitters early one but we calmed down and made the plays when we had to,” Torchio said.

Garcia caught four balls for 118 yards and Mossotti added five receptions for 101 yards. Roman finished with 213 yards and two scores on 11 for 18 passing. 

PLEASANT HILL, CA – Top seeded Campolindo didn’t panic trailing midway through the second quarter of the North Coast Section Division 2 championship game, scoring 28 straight points en route to a 40-20 victory over Windsor, the program’s third straight section title. The Cougars are the first school other than De La Salle to win three straight section titles since Novato accomplished the feat from 2005-2007.

Trailing 13-6 in the second quarter, senior quarterback Jacob Westphal connected with junior receiver John Torchio from seven yards out to tie the game. The game-tying drive was extended after a roughing-the-kicker penalty against the Jaguars gave the Cougars a first-and-goal. Prior to that, it appeared that Campolindo may be settling for a third straight field goal, after Seppi Ortman drilled two earlier opportunities. The penalty, however, allowed the Cougars to tie the game, and they never looked back.

Windsor did counter with a 79-yard drive, but the Cougars’ defense held, and a missed field goal kept the Jaguars from re-taking the lead. Campolindo got the ball back with just over two minutes left in the first half, and Westphal wound up connecting with junior receiver Vincent Mossotti for an eight-yard score, giving Campolindo a 20-13 lead at halftime.

“When we were down, it was just because we weren’t executing,” Westphal said. “The only adjustment was to put our heads together and start to execute.”

The Cougars did just that early in the third quarter, putting the game out of reach with two quick possessions. They went 78 yards in 10 plays to open the second half, capped by a six-yard throw from Westphal to tight end Ray Berzins. Windsor fumbled on its next drive, and Campo went to its bag of tricks, in a somewhat familiar way, to extend the lead.

Torchio, who is also the team’s backup quarterback, threw a key touchdown pass in last year’s CIF regional win over Milpitas, and he did it again on Friday night. This time, Torchio caught a lateral from Westphal, then connected downfield with Lev Garcia for a 53-yard touchdown and a 21-point lead.

Windsor closed the gap before the end of the third, when senior signal-caller Kobe Roman connected with Jorgen Sarganis for an 11-yard touchdown, but Westphal hit Torchio for a 19-yard score in the fourth and the Cougars cruised the rest of the way.

Westphal finished the game with 284 yards and four touchdowns through the air, leading his team back to the CIF regional playoffs for the third straight year, and fourth time in program history.

“It’s a pretty incredible feeling to do this for three years in a row,” Westphal said. “Our success really has to be accredited to our composure, and that comes from experience in tight games.”

Earlier in the season, the Cougars suffered hard-fought losses to eventual CCS section champion Valley Christian and Oakdale, who won the Sac-Joaquin Division 3 title on Friday night. That experience helped in a come-from-behind win over Miramonte during league play, and now again in the biggest game of the season.

Torchio led a trio of Cougar receivers who had a big game on Friday, with seven catches for 85 yards and two scores receiving, plus the touchdown pass. Garcia had four catches for 118 yards and a score, while Mossotti had five grabs for 101 yards.

Roman led Windsor’s offense with 223 yards and three touchdowns through the air, but the usually-potent Jaguars’ running game was held in check by the Campolindo defense. The two scores which gave Windsor the lead also came through the air, as Roman connected with Patrick Tappin for a 55-yard touchdown, and then to Marcell Sands for a 44-yard touchdown, one which gave the Jaguars their early seven-point lead.

Campolindo now awaits its placement in the CIF regional playoffs, which will be announced on Sunday. 

@ Palma Chieftains (2016 Nor-Cal Division 4-AA Regional Bowl Game)
Date: Friday, December 9, 2016

Game Time: 7:30PM

Game weather: Temperature:, Wind:, Weather If Palma’s opponent in Friday night’s 7:30 p.m. Northern California bowl game at Rabobank Stadium is able to do its thing – fill the night sky with footballs – it could be a problematic night for the Chieftains.

Campolindo (10-3), the Moraga-based school that won California’s North Coast Section Division II championship for a third straight year, will arrive with an offense that relies heavily on the strong arm of 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior quarterback Jacob Westphal, who has bombed opposing defenses for 2,831 yards, completing 175-of-290 passes, connecting for 20 touchdowns, while being intercepted just four times all year.

For the Chieftains (10-3), a victory could depend largely on how much pressure they can apply on Westphal, how closely their secondary can shadow his receivers, and – maybe most-important of all – whether they can limit the amount of time Campolindo’s offense spends on the field.

Palma has the capability to accomplish all three of those objectives, beginning with its own offensive strength, which is the record-breaking running prowess of tailback Emilio Martinez.

The breakaway speed of the spectacular senior not only provides Palma with the ability to score from anywhere on the field, but also enables the Chieftains to grind out yardage and take time off the clock while keeping Westphal and company on the sidelines.

Martinez enters the contest with 2,279 yards on 267 carries (8.5 per attempt), and 36 touchdowns – numbers that become more astonishing considering Martinez usually sat out the fourth quarter of a lopsided game.

He also has saved his best performances for the playoffs, rushing for 212 yards in Palma’s 14-10 loss to Valley Christian in the Central Coast Section Open Division III championship game, 305 (with five touchdowns) in a 40-14 semifinals win over Live Oak, and 308 (with six TDs) in a 55-27 first-round blowout of Saratoga.

When Westphal is on the field, he uses a multitude of receivers, the most-explosive of which is junior wide receiver Vince Mossotti, who has averaged 26.8 yards this season on 37 receptions. Another wideout, John Torchio, has 29 catches for 488 yards (16.8 per reception). Torchio also is the backup quarterback, and has been known to throw the football after receiving lateral passes from Westphal in the flat.

Three other receives have at least 27 catches, a problem that probably represents a busy night for Palma’s secondary, which is led by safeties Kevin Telford, Tristan Wahl, and cornerback Liam Short.

That places added responsibility on the Chieftains’ pass rushers, including Michael Zaragoza and Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division MVP Drew Dalman, who have combined for 15 sacks.

The loss to Valley Christian snapped a 10-game winning streak for Palma, which opened the season with back-to-back losses against Sutter and St. Francis.

Campolindo dropped its season opener 21-7 to Valley Christian, was beaten 28-21 by Oakdale on the fourth weekend of the year, and fell 50-15 to Clayton Valley Charter on Nov. 4. The Cougars bring a three-game winning streak to Salinas, including last week’s 40-20 conquest of Windsor in the North Coast Section Division III championship. 

Scoring Info
SALINAS — The Campolindo Cougars couldn’t get out of their own way in the first half, but that only helped make the redemption that much sweeter.

The Cougars overcame four turnovers and pulled out a 30-21 win over Palma on Friday night to win the Northern California Division 4-AA Championship. They will play at Bakersfield Christian for the 4-AA state championship Saturday night.

Coach Kevin Macy said he wanted his team to play up to its potential going into the game. A red zone fumble on the first drive quickly changed that mindset.

“We said playing up to our potential is not going to be enough. We need something special,” Macy said. “Unfortunately, we had a few steps backward in the first half.”

The fumble was immediately preceded by an 87-yard touchdown run by the Chieftains’ Emilio Martinez, putting Campolindo in a quick 7-0 hole.

Another red zone drive was thwarted by a penalty, resulting in a field goal. On the ensuing drive, John Torchio misjudged a punt that curved back on him, fumbling the ball and giving Palma possession deep in Cougars territory.

Six plays later, the Chieftains had another score and Campolindo was down 14-3, surrendering two scores on two turnovers.

“Normally, when you make a certain number of mistakes, you’re doomed,” said Macy. “Luckily we fought it off and came back.”

On its third straight drive into the red zone, Campolindo put it together. Quarterback Jacob Westphal completed six passes for 86 yards to lead a long drive that ended with a 1-yard run by Branden Bocobo for the score.

The Cougars took the lead for good when Westphal connected with Lev Garcia on an 11-yard score to cap a nine-play drive and go up 16-14 at halftime.

“Jacob Westphal was just incredible,” Macy said. “Just unreal. Not only just completing passes, he was completing passes with so many blitzes and taking so many hits.”

In the second half, Torchio got some atonement for his earlier mistake. He sniffed out a pass in the flats from Palma’s Zach Flores and picked it off, returning it 47-yards for a 23-14 Cougars lead.

“They kept hitting the flats. I told the corner on that side ‘We got ot pick one of those,” Torchio said.

The Cougars withstood a couple more fumbles that did not lead to points. The Chieftains got within two points when the score was 23-21 early in the fourth quarter.

Westphal then led a 14-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a touchdown reception to Kannah Cruickshank, who committed the first Cougars turnover that resulted in a touchdown.

“The mental stability of our team is incredible,” said Westphal, who finished with 28 completions for 418 yards and two touchdowns. “To be able to be down and come back is incredible.”

Macy said it all came down to what his players had inside themselves.

“This is not a team with a lot of depth and size, but just so much heart and fight,” said Macy. “Just so much fight in them. I can’t believe we’re in the position we’re in right now.”

@ Bakersfield Christian (2016 CIF State Division 4-AA Championship Game)
Date: Saturday, December 17, 2016

Game Time: 6:00PM

Game weather: Temperature:, Wind:, Weather After dispatching Palma to earn its third straight trip to a CIF championship game, and fourth trip overall,  now faces a vastly different type of opponent at Bakersfield Christian, a 28-27 winner over Selma in the 4-AA South regional game.

The Eagles (13-1) may have edged past Selma to get to the championship game, but they have also scored more than 50 points on six different occasions this year, including a 53-19 win over Tulare Western in the Central Section Division 3 championship game.

“They’re like a video game offense, and it doesn’t bother them to fall behind,” said Campolindo coach Kevin Macy. “They can chuck it up and let their kids go, so everything has to be defended at an added depth. They have a tall quarterback with a strong arm, and lots of speed at receiver. They don’t care if they are covered, either, because they are great at making plays.”

Due to the explosive nature of Bakersfield Christian’s offense, Macy identified the ability to get pressure on junior quarterback Braden Wingle as a major key to the game, with athletes such as Joey Berzins and Justin Ehrenberger playing those big roles as pass-rush defenders.

That’s easier said than done against the 6-foot-5 Wingle, who has thrown for over 4,000 yards and 43 touchdowns this season. 6-foot-3 senior receiver Jerimiah Foster has been his top target, with 85 catches for 1,609 yards and 20 scores.

The Eagles have also shown the ability to thrive under pressure. In last week’s win over Selma, Stephen Figures intercepted a fake field goal attempt, returning it 77 yards for the game-winning touchdown. The score held up when the Eagles’ defense held Selma on a two-point conversion attempt with 1:02 remaining in the game.

That might be the biggest thing these two programs have in common – the ability to thrive against top competition, and in adverse situations. Campolindo (11-3) lost three players to injury in the North Coast Section Division 2 title game win over Windsor, but continued to persevere, despite thin numbers and a physical Palma team in the regional final.

“Most of our positions have not had backups all season long,” Macy commented. “Our five offensive linemen have been the miracle all year. A couple of them will take it easy this week to be able to play this weekend, but their toughness has been nothing short of amazing.”

Offensively, Campolindo will once again rely on the arm of senior quarterback Jacob Westphal, who threw for 402 yards in last week’s win over Palma. For the season, Westphal has thrown for 3,522 yards and 26 touchdowns.

“Everything has sort of fallen on Jacob. We have to find something on the ground, but a lot of it will still be on (Jacob),” Macy said. “He was incredible last week, and we need him to keep that hot hand going.”

Senior Matty Ringquist and junior Shun Ishida do provide options out of the backfield, but the receiving quartet of Vincent Mossotti, Kannah Cruickshank, Lev Garcia, and John Torchio will by far be the biggest concern of Bakersfield Christian’s defensive scheme.

Foster figures to play a large role for the Eagles on defense as well, where he has eight interceptions this year, along with Jordan Smith, who has four picks. Junior defensive lineman Jonah Rogers will be a challenge for the Cougars’ offensive line.

Regardless, these two perennial section powers should provide plenty of action through the air, and fans of a good passing game will no doubt be entertained by both offenses. Campolindo is seeking to repeat its 2014 state championship game win over El Capitan-Lakeside, while Bakersfield Christian is looking for the opposite result from its last state final appearance, a loss to Central Catholic-Modesto in the 2013 Division 4 title game. 

Division 4-AA: Campolindo vs. Bakersfield Christian

Records: Campolindo 11-3; Bakersfield Christian 13-1

Kickoff: Saturday, 6 p.m. at Bakersfield Christian

TV: http://thecube.com/event/campolindo-high-school-football-bakersfield-christ-697819

Storylines: Campolindo is back in a state championship bowl game for the third consecutive season. The Cougars won a championship in 2014 and lost in a final last year … Bakersfield Christian — Raiders QB Derek Carr’s old school — is coached by Carr’s brothers, head coach Darren and offensive coordinator David, the NFL’s No. 1 overall pick in 2002. … Bakersfield Christian opened its season with a 44-21 loss to Garces-Bakersfield and hasn’t looked back since. … Its season nearly ended last week, but BC stormed back from a 21-7 halftime deficit to win 28-27 at Selma in the SoCal 4-AA title game. … BC’s Braden Wingle has thrown for 4,238 yards and 45 touchdowns but was held to 183 yards passing, with two TDs, in the win at Selma … Campolindo has sizzled since a one-sided loss to North Coast Section power Clayton Valley Charter to close the regular season. … The Cougars cruised through three NCS Division II playoff games to win a section title and then went to Salinas last week and beat Palma 30-21 to win a NorCal title. … Jacob Westphal threw for 402 yards and two TDs in the win over Palma, pushing his season totals to 3,522 yards and 26 TDs. 

Scoring Info
In a postseason in which Bakersfield Christian seemed to find second-half magic every week, the Eagles finally stumbled on the biggest stage.

BCHS turned the ball over four times, including three in the second half, in a 31-7 loss to Moraga-Campolindo for the CIF State Division 4AA championship Saturday at Bakersfield Christian.

It is the second state title for Campolindo in three seasons and the second loss for BCHS in a state championship game in the past four years.

“That is a great football team,” BCHS head coach Darren Carr said of Campolindo. “Their first snap looks like their last snap. They went out there and took advantage of our fumbles, our interceptions, man. They didn’t shoot themselves in the foot. They kicked our butt.”

It didn’t help that BCHS (13-2) handed Campolindo (12-3) solid field position to open both halves.

After Campolindo punted on the opening drive, Brock Holloway fumbled on the first offensive play for BCHS. Joey Berzins recovered for Campolindo.

On the opening kickoff of the second half, BCHS fumbled a short kick and Campolindo pounced again.

The Cougars scored seven plays later on a fourth-down 1-yard touchdown run from Branden Bocobo, and Campolindo never looked back.

“We came into this game saying we will need something different in terms of three or four kids having standout games that would separate themselves,” Campolindo coach Kevin Macy said.

One of them was John Torchio on defense.

The junior picked off two Braden Wingle passes in the second half that stalled any chance for BCHS to make another second-half comeback, like it did in beating Selma in the Southern California regional bowl game last week 28-27 after trailing 21-7 at the half.

“We knew (BCHS) passed the ball really well and we worked on covering the pass,” Torchio said. “Coach Macy’s game-planning is ridiculous.”

There seemed to be no argument on that fact from the BCHS side after the Eagles were held to their lowest scoring output in a game since 2012.

“Campolindo is a well-coached team,” BCHS offensive coordinator David Carr said. “They do the same thing every time on defense. But you have to be crisp on your routes and disciplined with your reads. We didn’t play a perfect game and that’s what it takes when you have four turnovers. A team like that can just run the clock out.”

It actually was a BCHS drive in the third quarter that took more than seven minutes off the clock, and that too cost the Eagles because they missed a field goal and came away scoreless after Campolindo took a 17-7 lead on the previous drive.

The loss snaps a 13-game win streak for BCHS, even though Wingle surpassed former BCHS quarterback Brandon Jones for the Central Section single-season passing record. Wingle finished with 4,391 yards, besting Jones’ mark by 31 yards.

Wingle was 11-of-22 passing for 155 yards and became the record-holder on a 25-yard pass to Alex Wallace in the third quarter.

The pair also hooked up for a 28-yard touchdown pass in the first half when Wingle picked up a bouncing bad snap, eluded a defender and connected with Wallace on the run.

But Wingle was under pressure all night and never seemed to find a rhythm in a game the junior felt would be a lot easier than it was.

“When we watched (Campolindo) on film,we underestimated them,” Wingle said. “We came out thinking we were going to win this.”

For the Cougars, Jacob Westphal threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns, and Matthew Ringquist rushed for 97 yards and a score.

The loss ends the high school career for a handful of standouts for BCHS, such as Jordan Smith, Taeber Nylander (sack), Carson Balfanz (two sacks), Stephen Figures (45 rushing yards), Brock Holloway (95 rushing yards) and Jeremiah Foster.

Foster had 10 interceptions, more than 1,600 receiving yards and 20 touchdown catches, but he was held to just two catches for 36 yards on offense.

“Even when there was one second on the clock, we were still saying ‘Finish,’” Foster said. “That’s our motto. No matter what, if the odds are stacked against you, long as you have faith in God and the people standing next to you, you’re going to persevere and be successful in life. I can’t say it enough: I’m proud of my team.”

BAKERSFIELD — For a minute or two, Campolindo coach Kevin Macy tried to explain the key to his team’s state championship in his own terms.

Then he gave up and used a term more popular with the current generation.

“It’s like the kids like to say, their language, we just ‘grinded,’” Macy said after his team beat host Bakersfield Christian 31-7 on Saturday for the CIF Division 4AA state title. “They were just grinding away.”

Jacob Westphal passed for 188 yards and two touchdowns, John Torchio intercepted two passes and caught another for a touchdown and the Cougars (12-3) forced four Bakersfield Christian turnovers.

Three of those takeaways came in the second half, when Campolindo out-scored the Eagles 21-0.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s awesome. It’s once in a lifetime,” said Torchio, who was a freshman when the Cougars won the CIF Division III state title in 2014.

“That is a great football team,” said BCHS coach Darren Carr, older brother of Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. “Their first snap looks like their last snap. They went out there and took advantage of our fumbles, our interceptions, man. They didn’t shoot themselves in the foot. They kicked our butt.”

Torchio was key for a Campolindo defense that held a vaunted Bakersfield Christian passing attack in check. BCHS quarterback Braden Wingle entered with more than 4,000 passing yards but was just 11 of 22 for 155 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. His top target, 1,600-yard receiver Jeremiah Foster, was held to two catches for 36 yards.

“We knew they passed the ball really well, and we worked all week on covering the pass,” Torchio said. “Coach Macy, his game-planning is ridiculous.”

Macy’s top priority was to get pressure on Wingle, which the Cougars had noticed on film led to the quarterback dropping his eyes. To that end, a defensive end crew led by Joey Berzins forced Wingle to scramble all night and sacked him three times.

“We didn’t think we could run with them, so we knew we’d have to bring pressure on them, and the kids off the edge did enough,” said Macy, who also mentioned Jonathan Cirelli and Justin Ehrenberger as key pass rushers.

Bakersfield Christian (13-2) also helped the Cougars’ cause. The Eagles’ Brock Holloway rushed for 95 yards but also lost a fumble on the team’s first offensive play. Campolindo didn’t directly capitalize, but the turnover flipped field position and led to the game’s first touchdown on the next drive, a 4-yard pass from Westphal to Kannah Cruickshank.

BCHS also missed a field goal, ended another drive with a bad snap, fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half and threw two late interceptions.

Each time, Campolindo was there to pounce.

“We all felt this was the football gods saying it was our chance,” Berzins said. “We needed to capitalize, and we did.”

By the time Matthew Ringquist ran for a 36-yard touchdown deep into the fourth quarter, it was all over but the celebrating.

The Cougars gathered as one for a photo, fitting for a team that lost several key players from last year’s roster but still returned to a state championship — and this time emerged victorious.

“We’re sort of an unknown story all year,” Macy said. “We sort of liked it that way. This was a team that just didn’t have marquee names. If you look at us, we’re small linemen, just kind of a small team. Joey Berzins stands out, but other than that we’re just kind of anonymous. We just compete, we fight.

“This game is emblematic of what they’ve been about all year, so maybe it’s the perfect ending.”