Justice Shelton-Mosley was the top player for Capital Christian’s 13-1 team in 2014. Photos: Mark Tennis & Paul Muyskens.
School in Sacramento that has been in a CIF state final in boys hoops also has high aspirations in football. It’s a program that began slowly, originally played in the CIF Northern Section and is now a playoff regular in the Sac-Joaquin.
Up next in this series: Whittier. The Cardinals have a history that stretches more than 100 years and once had a sports commissioner who later became President of the United States.nFor more on the Cal-Hi Sports football archives project through the index card collection by legendary sports researcher Bruce McIntosh and how we can help your school, CLICK HERE. Note: One doesn’t have to be the football coach or AD to order this work.
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS FREE STORY ON CALHISPORTS.COM. REGULAR WEEKLY FOOTBALL POSTS THAT WILL BE FOR GOLD CLUB MEMBERS ONLY WILL INCLUDE STATE TOP 25 TEAM RANKINGS AND BREAKDOWNS PLUS STATE RECORD UPDATES. HELP US OUT BY SIGNING UP NOW. YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT FOR JUST $9.99 FOR THREE MONTHS. FOR DETAILS, CLICK HERE.
With a 43-6 record from 2012 to 2015, you’d think that the Capital Christian of Sacramento football program would easily have a winning all-time record, especially since the Cougars have only been playing since 1980.
For most of the school’s football history, however, it hasn’t been nearly as successful.
Other than a handful of seasons, Capital Christian never seemed to find the CIF Northern Section as much of a home in the years it was in that section.
Then when the Cougars finally did join the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section at the start of the 2002-03 school year, it took them a few years to get rolling.
Capital Christian’s Nifae Lealao is now a starting defensive lineman at Vanderbilt. Photo: Mark Tennis.
The years were especially difficult in the 1990s when Capital Christian was only 30-69. The school didn’t actually get over the .500 mark until just last season.
After 10-2 and 9-2 seasons in 2012 and 2013, Capital Christian had its best team so far in 2014. After winning the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V title and improving to 13-0, the Cougars played in the NorCal Division IV bowl game and lost 35-14 to eventual D4 state champ Central Catholic of Modesto.
The Cougars were led in 2014 by the versatile Justice Shelton-Mosley, who later would be named the Cal-Hi Sports Grid-Hoop State Player of the Year. Shelton-Mosley, who headed to Harvard University after his graduation from Capital Christian, rushed for 1,051 yards and 21 TDs while also catching 23 passes for another 447 yards anf four scores. He also had 70 tackles and six interceptions on defense.
Last season, the Cougars also only lost one game, but it came earlier in the playoffs when they were knocked off 31-21 by Bear River (Lake of the Pines) in the SJS D5 semifinals. They did post a 41-13 win earlier in the season against Aptos.
Jacob Norville, who had 22 TD passes as a sophomore in 2014 and then 22 again last season, has passed for 1,988 yards and 19 TDs as a senior so far this season. Capital Christian (9-2) is playing Sonora (11-0) in this week’s SJS D5 semifinals.
Previous head coach Phil Grams is now coaching running backs at Lawrence University in Wisconsin (also where former Merced coach Mark Speckman is now offensive coordinator), but current head coach Ron Gerringer is keeping the program at a high level.
One of the top players on this year’s team is sophomore running back D’Marcus Ross, who rushed for 825 yards and 13 TDs as a freshman.
Another of the elite players from Capital Christian is Class of 2014 grad Nifae Lealao. The 6-foot-5, 312-pound defensive lineman is now at Vanderbilt and is one of the top sophomore defensive linemen in the Southeastern Conference.
WIN-LOSS RECORDS FOR EACH DECADE
1980s: 37-32-3
1990s: 30-69-0 (not including one win by forfeit, one win by default)
2000s: 54-53-0
2010s: 52-17-0
REPORTED ALL-TIME RECORD HEADING INTO 2016 SEASON:
173 WINS, 171 LOSSES, 3 TIES*
50.3 ALL-TIME WINNING PERCENTAGE
(Based on half-win, half-loss for tie)
*Note: On-the-field totals only. With forfeits and defaults counted, adjusted records would be 32-69-0 for 1990s and all-time record also would adjust to 175-171-3.
Best Records For Single Season
13-1 – 2014
11-1 – 2015
7-1 – 1989
7-1-1 – 1984
10-2 – 2012
Worst Records For Single Season
0-10 – 2004
0-5 – 1980
1-9 – 1992
1-9 – 1993
Records Against Notable Opponents*
8-6 VS. Marysville
6-10 VS. Golden Sierra (Garden Valley)
9-14 VS. Delta (Clarksburg)
5-12 VS. Modesto Christian
*Notes: Since Capital Christian used to be in the CIF Northern Section and switched to the Sac-Joaquin for the 2002-03 school year, there are not many schools that have been played for that many years. The most natural rival in the section is Modesto Christian, but the two schools are not in the same league.
Most Points Scored (Single Game)
76 VS. Encina Prep (Sacramento) 2008
76 VS. Brookside Christian (Stockton) 2014
70 VS. Lindhurst (Olivehurst) 2014
69 VS. Vacaville Christian (Vacaville) 2014
69 VS. Lindhurst (Olivehurst) 2015
68 VS. West Campus (Sacramento) 2015
64 VS. Natomas (Sacramento) 2014
62 VS. Bachmann Hills (Boonville) 1983
62 VS. Lindhurst (Olivehurst) 2012
62 VS. Mesa Verde (Citrus Heights) 2015
60 VS. West Campus (Sacramento) 2010
59 VS. Encina Prep (Sacramento) 2007
57 VS. Elliot Christian (Lodi) 2007
Most Lopsided Wins
76-0 VS. Brookside Christian (Stockton) 2014
76-6 VS. Encina Prep (Sacramento) 2008
70-0 VS. Lindhurst (Olivehurst) 2014
69-0 VS. Vacaville Christian (Vacaville) 2014
69-0 VS. Lindhurst (Olivehurst) 2015
68-0 VS. West Campus (Sacramento) 2015
62-0 VS. Lindhurst (Olivehurst) 2012
60-0 VS. West Campus (Sacramento) 2010
62-3 VS. Mesa Verde (Citrus Heights) 2015
56-0 VS. West Campus (Sacramento) 2012
55-0 VS. Highlands (North Highlands) 2008
55-0 VS. San Juan (Citrus Heights) 2009
55-0 VS. West Campus (Sacramento) 2014
Most Points Allowed (Single Game)
71 VS. Marysville 2004
70 VS. East Nicolaus (Nicolaus)
67 VS. Escalon 2004
65 VS. Delta (Clarksburg) 1985
65 VS. Modesto Christian 2004
62 VS. Modesto Christian 1980
61 VS. Delta (Clarksburg) 1997
61 VS. Delta (Clarksburg) 1998
61 VS. Lindhurst (Olivehurst) 2004
61 VS. Calaveras (San Andreas) 2010
Most Lopsided Losses
65-0 VS. Delta (Clarksburg) 1985
61-0 VS. Delta (Clarksburg) 1998
56-6 VS. Modesto Christian 1980
55-0 VS. Winters 1990
54-0 VS. Marello Prep (Santa Cruz) 1983
54-7 VS. Lindhurst (Olivehurst) 2004
54-0 VS. Golden Sierra (Garden Valley) 2004
54-0 VS. Pioneer (Woodland) 2005
Longest Winning Streaks
13 – 2014 (went 13-0, then lost)
11 – 2015 (went 11-0, then lost)
Longest Losing Streaks
0-14 – 2004-2005 (had winless season, then lost first four following season)
0-9 – 1992-1993 (lost last five, then lost first four)
Stockton office assistant editor Paul Muyskens also contributed to this post and thanks of course to Bruce McIntosh. Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
