SAN FRANCISCO, CA – There were some records set and some history made at City College of San Francisco’s George M. Rush Field on Saturday afternoon in the state CIF Division 7-AA Bowl Game championship, and Lincoln running back Luis Contreras had a lot to do with it.
All the 5-9, 160-pound senior did was rush for a career high 349 yards on 56 carries with three touchdowns in a thrilling 35-26 victory over Gardena. The 56 carries breaks his previous San Francisco Section record of 51 carries set earlier this season in a win over Balboa. Not only is the 56 carries a section record but according to the Cal-Hi Sports Record Book it is the third highest total in state history.
“It isn’t child abuse because the ball ain’t heavy,” said a beaming Lincoln Coach Phil Ferrigno. “He could handle it.”
Ferrigno called Contreras’ number for the first 12 plays on the first Lincoln possession, but a fumble allowed Gardena to strike first on a 13-yard pass from Daquan Paul to Andre Lawson to give them a 6-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Lincoln (12-1) answered back with a 13-play, 76-yard culminating in a 1-yard plunge by Tyree cross. Lincoln had outgained Gardena 163 yards to 63 yards but after the PAT was blocked it only amounted to a 6-6 tie at halftime.
The third quarter was all Contreras. He took the second half kick-off back 50 yards, and four plays later he ran it in from 18 yards out and also ran for a 2-point conversion to give Lincoln a 14-6 lead.
After an 18-yard TD pass from Jonas Francovich to Cross gave Lincoln a 21-14 lead, carry No. 40 by Contreras upped it 28-14 on a 1-yard plunge. Rush No. 50 gave the Mustangs a 35-14 lead with 7:37 left but Gardena would not fold.
On fourth-and-21 Paul was forced out of the pocket and scrambled for a 30-yard TD to close to 35-20. Gardena (11-5) then recovered an onside kick and four plays later Paul ran for 11 yards and then fumbled but the ball rolled eight yards into the end zone where Kwanta Pugh recovered it for a TD with 4:13 left but that would close out the scoring.
Contreras finishes the season with 2,672 yards on 355 carries with 30 touchdowns. He came into the game as the No. 2 rusher in Lincoln history but with his career performance he passes the 2,404 yard school record set by the legendary David Henderson in 2004
“Yea, I’m really tired, playing defense too,” Contreras said. “But winning this game was really big, back to back is huge because no one really thought we would go back to state again so it’s a really big accomplishment.”
For Lincoln it’s a second consecutive CIF Bowl Game championship after the Mustangs captured the 6-A title last year. The victory also makes it three straight CIF Bowl Game victories for the San Francisco City Section after Galileo won the 6-A title in 2016. Lincoln is also the first team from the section with two state championships.
“It’s a dream, and I’m still dreaming from last year,” Ferrigno said. “If they want to have a 7-AA championship we’re in.”
