Campolindo was a unanimous choice for the top seed in the North Coast Section Division 2 playoff bracket this season, after moving up from Division 3 under the still-new competitive equity bylaws. But the two-time defending section champion and CIF finalist Cougars will face what appears to be the one team in this bracket capable of challenging Campolindo this Friday night, when they face second-seed Windsor for the section championship at Diablo Valley College.
Campo’s offense is led by senior signal-caller Jacob Westphal, a two-year starter who has guided the Cougars through a challenging schedule in 2016, and yet emerged stronger in the post-season.
“Our schedule prepared us mentally for success in the playoffs,” Westphal said. “Valley Christian, Oakdale, and Clayton Valley were huge physical challenges for us, while Concord and Miramonte provided a different type of challenge, to our secondary and receivers.”
Of those five games mentioned by Westphal, Valley Christian just won a CCS section championship, Oakdale is playing for one this weekend, and Clayton Valley played in the NCS Open Division. Miramonte narrowly missed out making the semifinals in a loaded Division 3 bracket, while Concord reached the Division 2 quarterfinals.
A big difference with the Cougars this season has been the lack of any set formula for success, something alluded to earlier this season by coach Kevin Macy. Westphal confirmed that approach, looking ahead to the game this Friday.
“We’re a team that is going to take what the opposing defense gives us,” Westphal said. “I know that any of my receivers can make plays on a given night, and we’ve gotten some great play in the backfield from guys like Matt (Ringquist) and Branden (Bocobo).”
Westphal and Macy has also both referred to the fact that the Cougars’ starting offensive line has been under-looked for much of the season, especially considering the same five have started together each game, with no back-ups to give them a breather at any time. Those five ironmen include Tomas Vega, Cole Berzins, Bobby Poole, Alex Capurro, and Logan MacDonald.
Another big factor for the Cougars’ success has been their ability to take care of the ball. Westphal leads the way with 2,831 yards passing to go with 20 touchdowns, and just four interceptions in 12 games. Junior Shun Ishida has also emerged in the backfield, as Ishida, Ringquist, and Bocobo have combined for 22 scores on the ground.
Part of the reason Westphal can efficiently gain yardage and protect the ball at the same time is the number of playmakers he has at his disposal offensively. The team captain referenced the importance of not forcing the ball to any one receiver, and the stats for the season support that claim.
Junior Vincent Mossotti has emerged as the Cougars’ big-play weapon, with 37 catches for 992 yards and eight touchdowns, but he has had plenty of help. Kannah Cruickshank, John Torchio, Lev Garcia, and Ringquist are all over 300 yards receiving, and tight end Ray Berzins is close behind the top five pass-catchers.
None of that, however, means Campo will find easy sledding against the Windsor defense, a unit which, other than a mid-season loss to Rancho Cotate and a thrilling overtime win over Santa Rosa, has been stingy all year. The Jaguars opened the season by holding Petaluma, Northgate, and Hayward to a combined seven points, and last week shut down Granada’s Wing-T attack.
Junior defensive linemen Bas Osborn won’t intimidate anyone with his 5-11, 160-pound frame, but the dual-sport athlete (lacrosse) is quick off the ball and disruptive, evidenced by his 21 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss this year. Middle linebacker Joey Pignataro also figures to play a large role for the Windsor defense, along with free safety Jackson Baughman, who will impact the game on both sides of the ball. Junior Jairo Mejia will also be providing pressure on Westphal.
Baughman also leads a Windsor secondary which will need to play well against the Cougars’ passing attack. Senior cornerback Marcell Sands leads the team with five interceptions, while Baughman has three this year. Junior Jorgen Sarganis has been another impact player in the secondary.
The big key for Windsor, though, could be its ability to control the ball, the clock, and the tempo of the game with its run-oriented offense. That’s not to say the Jaguars can’t strike through the air, evidenced by Kobe Roman’s three passing touchdowns last week in the win over Granada.
But the common theme for every team in recent years which has given Campolindo trouble has been the ability to control the line and the ball. Napa illustrated that last season, and all three losses this year have been to teams with similar skill sets. In the loss to Oakdale, the Cougars led for a significant portion of the game, but failed to control the line of scrimmage, and eventually wore down in the final two quarters.
Baughman eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on the ground in last week’s win over Granada, while Roman and David Escarcega have combined for over 1,400 yards this season. That trio will need to run the ball well in order to keep Campolindo’s offense away from the field.
This will be the first meeting between these two programs, with Windsor seeking its first section title since 2011, when the Jaguars went a perfect 15-0. The game is this Friday night, 7 pm at Diablo Valley College, with the winner advancing to the CIF NorCal regional playoffs.
“We want to live up to the legacy handed down to us,” Westphal said. “It’s been an incredible two years of varsity football with this senior class, and our goal all season has been to go out on top again.”
