FB: Central Catholic bests Mack

Central Catholic (Modesto) 38, McClymonds (Oakland) 24
In a rematch of last years Northern Regional Division IV championship, visiting McClymonds gave the hosts all they could handle before falling to the defending Division IV state champions.

Matt Ringer did most of the damage for NorCal Division IV top-ranked Central Catholic (2-1). The senior running back bulled his way for 274 yards rushing on 40 carries with four touchdowns, including three after McClymonds took an 18-14 lead with 10 minutes left in the third quarter.

Ringer’s performance wiped out a huge effort by Lavance Warren. The shifty, elusive junior running back ran for 201 yards on 24 carries with three TDs, including a 61-yard run that gave McClymonds (2-1) their short-lived lead.

Another player that stood out was NorCal D4 No. 3 ranked McClymonds’ Washington-committed senior WR/DB Lavon Washington. He had a 49-yard reception for a touchdown, an interception he returned 71-yards for a TD that was nullified by a penalty, and a 93-yard kickoff return that led to Warren’s and the Warriors’ final touchdown, but by then the hosts had run off 24 unanswered points.

“I knew it was going to be a rough game, but those guys were scary,” said Central Catholic head coach Roger Canepa as he passed me on the sidelines with the clock running down.

“We’re going to keep playing these guys until we get it,” said McClymonds first-year head coach and longtime assistant Michael Peters.

With the exception of some penalties that were costly to McClymonds, they played well enough to win. If each continues to play this well, it looks like there’s good chance these teams could meet again to see who goes to Carson.