 | | | Ryan O'Neil's touchdown run from 12 yards out. | | | | | | Last Friday, Campolindo played Miramonte in their last regular season game that brought a lot of factors into play. Said Campolindo head coach Kevin Macy: "This game has all the elements. It's a rivalry game. We have the same record coming in and there is also the issue of where we both will get seeded for the playoffs."
In a hard-fought game, Campolindo (8-2) simply outplayed Miramonte (7-3) in every area coming out on top 30-14.
The Cougars utilized a very balanced offense, gaining 413 yards, passing for 226 yards and running for 187 yards.
Campolindo took the opening kickoff and marched down the field to go ahead 7-0. The drive was highlighted by a 42-yard pass from Grant Harper to Max Schoenberger down to the Miramonte 17-yard line. After running back Ryan O'Neil converted on 4th and 2, he finished the drive, scoring from five yards out.
Macy's game plan was to contain Miramonte quarterback Matt Meredith, acknowledging how much respect he had for their passing game. Campolindo kept Meredith under a lot of pressure all game, led by defensive lineman Mason Mastrov (two sacks). Still Meredith was able to utilize both his arm and his legs to some success. In the second quarter, Meredith ran 47 yards down to the Campolindo 10 yard line and two plays later scrambled around until he found receiver Tanner Swahlin open in the end zone from four yards out, tying the score 7-7. Meredith would finish the game with 169 yards passing and running for 57 yards on 13 carries.
Macy's plan for the offense was to establish their running game: "We wanted to run the ball and be more physical than them." Harper's scrambling and running back Kaleo Nelson's running led to O'Neil's second touchdown from 12 yards out. Nelson finished the game with 115 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown and O'Neal gained 48 yards on 10 carries, scoring twice.
Following an interception by linebacker Charlie Craig late in the second quarter, Riley Bruel closed out the scoring in the first half with an 18-yard field goal to put Campolindo ahead 17-7
The second half was a repeat of the first half highlighted by Grant's 48-yard pass to Lucas Allen leading to Nelson's touchdown run and finally a 68-yard touchdown pass to Schoenberger to make the score 30-7.
After a 40-yard pass to Reed Callister, Miramonte closed out the scoring when Meredith threw another touchdown pass to Swahlin from 23 yards out.
Harper said how well the team was prepared for the game: "We expected them to blitz a lot which led to a lot of hot reads. We wanted to establish our running game to open up our passing game. Our offensive line was great, giving me good pass protection and opening up big holes for Nelson and O'Neil to run." Harper completed 14 of 19 passes for 226 yards with Schoenberger catching five of the passes for 148 yards and Lucas Allen finishing with four receptions for 54 yards.
After the victory, Macy praised the team for how they all pulled together. Charlie Craig, who had a second interception in the second half, then called his mother up and had the team serenade her with a chorus of happy birthday to put the icing on the proverbial cake as both Campolindo and Miramonte now head into the playoffs. On Friday, Nov. 2, Campolindo hosts Redwood and Miramonte plays at Alameda High School.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA