Prep2Prep will be covering the CIF state bowl games this weekend at the StubHub Center in Carson. Today we take a look at the championship games and offer predictions.
Division III
Campolindo-Moraga (15-0) versus El Capitan-Lakeside (14-0) – Saturday at Noon
The Cal-Hi Sports No. 21-ranked Matadors have played some solid opponents but head coach Kevin Macy and his Miramonte boys will be in for their toughest opponent in facing the boys from east San Diego County near El Cajon.
The No. 16 ranked Vaqueros served notice in week one when they defeated previous D3 Bowl champion Madison-San Diego, 35-7 on the road. Their biggest win came in a 24-14 Grossmont Hills League win over current Cal-Hi Sports No. 22 Helix-La Mesa.
Like most of the top teams in the CIF San Diego Section, El Capitan can move it either in the air or on the ground, and the Vaqueros showed it all season, including the SoCal Division III Bowl game 41-0 victory over a banged up Paso Robles.
In the Paso Robles win, leading rusher DJ Smith got into the act on defense with a 77-yard interception return for a score.
Speaking of defense, the Vaqueros have outscored opponents by an average of 38-13 this season.
Campolindo has been a team this season that has mostly depended on the rushing game led by Nick Fadelli and an equally balanced passing attack. Fadelli, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior has gained 1,814 yards with 32 touchdowns.
When quarterback Jack Stephens wants to pass, his favorite targets have been Max Flower and Tyler Petite. Flower has caught 51 passes for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound tight end Petite has 30 catches for 867 yards and nine scores.
Campolindo has no quit but El Capitan would appear to have a slightly better resume and cast.
Prediction: El Capitan 34, Campolindo 28
Division IV
Central Catholic-Modesto (11-3) versus St. Margaret’s-San Juan Capistrano (15-0) – Friday at 4:00 p.m.
The 2008 Division IV Bowl game champion St. Margaret’s will try to go 2-0 in Carson, but despite coming in undefeated, will be an underdog to a Central Catholic team looking for a D4 three-peat and a chance to go 3-1 in Bowl game competition. The Raiders have won two straight against Santa Fe Christian-Solana Beach and Bakersfield Christian-Bakersfield, and lost the 2008 Division III Bowl Game to St. Bonaventure-Ventura.
Central Catholic will want to control things with its running game. The bulk of the work goes to Justin Rice. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound bruising runner has rushed for 2,096 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Dual-threat signal-caller Hunter Petlansky will try to become the first quarterback to lead his team to more than one Bowl game victory in his career. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior has passed for 1,884 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 728 yards and 12 more scores.
Prediction: Central Catholic 42, St. Margaret’s 21
Northern California Broadcast Information
In cooperation with Time Warner Cable all five games will be broadcast live. Divisions I-IV will air live on ComcastSportsNetCalifornia and the Open Division game will air live on ComcastSportsNetPlus.
Additionally, besides the games being broadcast live in Southern California on Time Warner Cable the games will be streamed live on www.TWCcommunity.com
