MORAGA, CA - Campolindo had a strong running game from senior Shun Ishida and junior Michael Brewer as the Cougars cruised to a 44-20 win over visiting Maria Carrillo in the NCS Division 2 quarterfinals on Friday night.
The Cougars came out hot to start the game as Vince Mossotti returned the opening kickoff from 95 yards out for a touchdown on the very first play. Ishida also had a 97-yard kick return for a touchdown midway through the first quarter, putting the Cougars up 21-0.
After a Maria Carrillo punt, Brewer carried the ball down to the 18-yard line, and later capped off the drive with a short dive into the end zone from the one-yard line. On the ensuing kickoff, the visiting Pumas (4-6) got their own kickoff return for a touchdown – a 97-yarder by Khameron Perkins.
“We were struggling to get our offense going,” Maria Carrillo coach Jay Higgins said. “Campolindo is a good team; they are really impressive. They had really good depth.”
The host Cougars extended their lead to 34-7 after a pair of field goals by Riley Bruel and Seppi Ortman. Maria Carrillo fought back with a 94-yard kick return by Kaih Johnson with one minute left in the first half. Campolindo responded with senior quarterback John Torchio throwing a 38-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Regan with 19 seconds remaining in the half, giving the Cougars a 41-14 lead at the break.
The visiting Pumas scored their third touchdown on their opening drive in the second half on an 11-yard carry by Quentin Cuellar to cut the lead 41-20. Ortman added a 32-yard field goal for Campolindo
Campolindo (8-4) advances to the NCS Division 2 semifinals and will face either Livermore or Windsor at home on Friday, November 24, as the Cougars continue their quest for a fourth consecutive NCS title.
“Our goal every year is to make it to Thanksgiving week, so we've achieved that goal,” said Torchio.
Scoring Summary
Campo - Mossotti 95 kick return (Bruel kick)
Campo - Ishida 33 run (Bruel kick)
Campo - Ishida 97 kick return (Ortman kick)
Campo - Brewer 1 run (Ortman kick)
MC - Perkins 87 kick return (Link kick)
Campo - Ortman 36 FG
Campo - Bruel 18 FG
MC - Johnson 94 kick return (Link kick)
Campo - Regan 38 pass from Torchio (Bruel kick)
MC - Cuellar 11 run (kick failed)
Campo - Ortman 32 FG
