Central Catholic coach Roger Canepa salutes team’s supporters by raising plaque after CIF Division IV state bowl game win over McClymonds. Photo: Mark Tennis.
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CIF Northern California
Division I Bowl Game
Del Oro (Loomis) 28, Serra (San Mateo) 20
Records: Del Oro 13-2, Serra 11-3.
State Rankings Coming In: Del Oro No. 13 overall, No. 5 in NorCal D1; Serra No. 7 overall, No. 3 in NorCal D1. Del Oro’s win also means the Golden Eagles can go in front of Sac-Joaquin Section D1 runner-up Oak Ridge, at least for next week.
Game Highlights: Two huge plays ended up being the difference for the Golden Eagles, a 38-yard punt return for a score in the third quarter by Trey Udoffia and a 6-yard TD pass from Michael Moore to Tyler Meteer with six seconds left before halftime. Dylan Kainrath also continued to shine with 209 rushing yards. On defense, Tanner Woods came through with four sacks. Matthew Fa’aita led Serra with 201 passing yards and a 9-yard TD run.
Historical Significance: Del Oro is attempting to complete the same path to the D1 state title that league rival Granite Bay completed last season. First, there was a win in a section title opposite the division Folsom was in. Second, win a NorCal bowl game over a West Catholic Athletic League team that had just won the CCS Open Division title. Then third, win the state bowl game over a favored SoCal opponent. Long Beach Poly (Granite Bay’s foe last year) was a strong favorite. Bakersfield (Del Oro’s foe this year) is more of a slight one. The Golden Eagles also are making their second state bowl game appearance. They lost in the 2011 D2 bowl game 35-24 to Helix of La Mesa.
Quick Look To Next Week: Bakersfield’s speed and unorthodox defensive fronts may take Del Oro some time to get used to, but this has been one of the most resilient, clutch teams that head coach Casey Taylor has ever had.
CIF Southern California
Division I Bowl Game
Bakersfield 35, Mission Hills (San Marcos) 28
Records: Bakersfield 12-2, Mission Hills 12-2.
State Rankings Coming In: Bakersfield No. 12 overall, No. 8 in SoCal D1; Mission Hills No. 9 overall, No. 4 in SoCal D2. Due to head-to-head losses, Bakersfield still probably will be behind Long Beach Poly and Mater Dei in both the overall and divisional rankings.
Game Highlights: Despite having to travel more than 200 miles and despite coughing up the ball on fumbles twice inside the Mission Hills 5-yard line, the Drillers went home delirious. Asuani Rufus scored the game-winning TD on a 1-yard run with 51 seconds left. He also went 10 for 10 passing for 224 yards, including a 51-yard bomb for a TD to Lameshio Hill. Connor Wynn, the Mission Hills QB, also had a terrific outing. He scored on touchdown runs of 31 and 44 yards in the fourth quarter to give the Grizzlies leads of 21-14 and 28-21. Wynn also hit on a 59-yard TD pass to big-time junior DeChaun Holiday.
Historical Significance: Ever since the CIF bowl games began, it’s been almost a dream to get the Drillers into the mix. Now, they will be there. With an argument from Long Beach Poly, this is the most historically significant team from California. Bakersfield won six CIF state titles from 1920 to 1927, which is still more than any other school. De La Salle of Concord could win its sixth next week (not assuming anything from its game Saturday night vs. Folsom) but the Drillers might have won their seventh the night before.
Quick Look To Next Week: If anybody thinks the Del Oro team they saw down in San Diego that lost to Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks is anything like the Golden Eagles are now, they’d be making a huge mistake. The Del Oro QB in particular, Michael Moore, has been sensational in recent weeks.
CIF Northern California
Division IV Bowl Game
Central Catholic (Modesto) 17, McClymonds (Oakland) 14
Records: Central Catholic 14-1, McClymonds 10-3.
State Rankings Coming In: Central Catholic No. 1 in NorCal D4; McClymonds No. 2 in NorCal D4. This close result will not hurt the Warriors in the final rankings.
Game Highlights: RECAP HERE.
Historical Significance: The Raiders will be trying to defend the D4 state bowl game title they won last season in a 66-7 win against Santa Fe Christian. They also are making their third state bowl game appearance. They lost to St. Bonaventure of Ventura in Division III in 2007. Mike Glines was the coach of that first bowl team. Roger Canepa is now in his sixth season as the current head coach.
Quick Look To Next Week: When Bakersfield Christian won in the CIF Central Section D4 final over previously unbeaten Mission Oak of Tulare, that ensured that the CIF wasn’t likely going to have a big blowout game in D4 such as last year. If you think that Huntington Beach (probably the best team BC has played) is on the same level as St. Mary’s of Stockton (only loss for CC), then this could be a close game.
CIF Southern California
Division IV Bowl Game
Bakersfield Christian 40, View Park (Los Angeles) 8
Records: Bakersfield Christian 12-2, View Park 13-1.
State Rankings Coming In: Bakersfield Christian No. 1 in SoCal D4; View Park No. 7 in SoCal D4. To be ranked ahead of Santa Barbara Bishop Diego in the final SoCal D4 rankings, Bakersfield Christian will have to win D4 state crown. Bishop Diego wasn’t eligible for D4 South bowl game after loss to D3 team in CIF Southern Section playoffs.
Game Highlights: There was a running clock in the fourth quarter as the Eagles cruised past the Knights. Matt Smith rushed for three TDs while Brandon Jones threw three TD passes to lead the winners. View Park scored its only points with 1:55 left on a 26-yard pass from Luis Medearis to Cameron Griffin.
Historical Significance: Bakersfield Christian will be making just the second appearance in a CIF state bowl game from the Central Section (although the BHS Drillers will be coming up immediately afterward). Washington of Easton made the first in 2011 and beat Campolindo of Moraga.
Quick Look To Next Week: There aren’t too many linemen on the Bakersfield Christian roster that can match the size and power of Central Catholic. The big play abilities of QB Brandon Jones and RB Matt Smith (both juniors) will have to make up that difference.
Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @CalHiSports
7 Comments
This site constantly contradicts itself with its rankings. In one paragraph it states that Bakersfield can’t move over Oaks or LBP in the rankings because of an early season loss but in another paragraph it states that Del Oro isn’t the same team as when they played Notre Dame in week 2…. Teams obviously get better throughout the year… it’s ok to jump a team in rankings especially when one is playing for a SBG and the other hasn’t played in weeks…
Osde, you don’t represent all of Osde. You are an embellisher. For example, you said in 2012 Oceanside had 1/2 team out against Chapparal’s win, if you consider Gulley 1/2 team. You said #8 didn’t start because in past he did not do well in big games ? If that is why he didn’t start then it is not because of present reasons. Steve Carroll as well had Jeff taking load at qb also. You make shadows look like real people and try to create illusions.
oh pirate boy you clown… If you think Gulley was the only defensive starter out against chap last year you are a fool… wait I think you have already proved that… Why do you think #8 left Helix? He was told that they were going to start a soph over him… and yes Carroll and Small split time at qb their jr. seasons (2005) while Carroll was the only starter in 2006 (Small played slot)… any other illusions I need to clear up for you? btw, your post had nothing to do with my original post…
Why are we talking about stuff 7-8 years ago?
The season is over for 99% of CA Football
Too bad the bozos at CIF refused (yes, refused) to select Christian High School El Cajon even after the court ruling in favor of Christian. It would have actually been a good game. Thanks, idiots.
I stand corrected….court ruled against Christian…however still ridiculous.
Christian fought so hard to be D4 because they knew no chance for D2. Loss was to Mission Bay and Mission Bay lost to St. Augustine. How could the CIF have “refused” to pick Christian for D2?