“No-Name” Squad Claims CIF Title

Varsity football defeated Bakersfield Christian 31-7 on December 17 to claim the Division IV-AA State Championship. This is the Cougars’ 2nd State Championship title, having previously won a CIF bowl game in 2014.

In the final moments of the opening quarter, senior quarterback Jacob Westphal was hurried by a charging defensive line as he threw, but junior Vince Mossotti caught the ball for a big 3rd down conversion.

Senior Kannah Cruickshank ended the drive with a touchdown reception to put the Cougars up 7-0 at the end of the 1st quarter.

During 2nd quarter, Bakersfield Christian fought back, scoring their own touchdown.

On the ensuing Campolindo possession, senior running back Matt Rinquist kept the chains moving down the field with several critical 1st downs, eventually setting up junior Seppi Ortman’s 1st field goal of the game. The Cougar defense held Bakersfield Christian scoreless for the remainder of the 1st half.

The Eagles fumbled the 2nd half kickoff, essentially sealing their fate as the Cougars responded with 3 unanswered scores.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s awesome. It’s once in a lifetime,” junior John Torchio told The Mercury News.

Head coach Kevin Macy told The Mercury News that he wanted to put pressure on BCHS quarterback Braden Wingle; a “defensive end crew led by Joey Berzins” managed to sack Windle three times. Macy also mentioned that Jonathan Cirelli and Justin Ehrenberger were key pass rushers.

“We’re sort of an unknown story all year,” Macy said about the team’s win. “We sort of liked it that way. This was a team that just didn’t have marquee names. If you look at us, we’re small linemen, just kind of a small team. Joey Berzins stands out, but other than that we’re just kind of anonymous. We just compete, we fight.”