 | | | Photo Andy Scheck
| | | | | | The Campolindo Cougars were picked to finish last in the DFAL this year but have proven early predictions wrong. They finished the regular season a perfect 10-0 to claim the league title.
Campolindo has made it a habit this year of putting a lot of points on the board, averaging 39 points per game in the regular season. Their first playoff game certainly was not unlike that.
On November 18, third seeded Campo started its postseason run with an emphatic 58-14 win against the #14 Hercules Titans.
Campolindo scored early and often, starting with a 13-yard pass from junior quarterback Brett Stephens to senior wide receiver Karl Thornton. The explosive senior receiver caught four passes for 63 yards on the night.
Just four minutes later, the Cougars found the end zone again, courtesy of a 9-yard scamper by senior running back Connor Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum finished the night with 19 carries for 114 yards.
Campolindo took a commanding 38-0 lead into the half.
The Cougars opened the third quarter with another quick touchdown. The visiting Titans suddenly found their rhythm in the third and rattled off 21 unanswered points.
The Cougars were not intimidated and finished the job, scoring two more times before the game's end. Campo went on to win it 58-21.
Over the off-season, Campolindo acquired a new assistant coach, Angelo Garza. Garza played for Campolindo coach Kevin Macy at Oakland Tech, and is proud of this team. "The Reno camp was my first chance to be on the field with the guys. I'm really impressed with the team," he said.
He also noted that their success has come from teamwork. "Even though we have a couple of guys that are superstars, the team really plays like a genuine team. There's not one guy that thinks that he's better than any other guy on the team. Everybody plays like equals and everybody plays a part. It's the epitome of what a team means."
With the win, Campolindo now moves on to the second round, where they will meet HAAL champion and sixth seeded Bishop O' Dowd. Bishop O'Dowd is fresh off a first round 41-0 thumping of Del Norte.
The Bishop O' Dowd game is Saturday, November 26 at Campolindo, with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA