Campolindo shocks Marin Catholic on game's final play

OAKLAND, Calif. - The ugly duckling officially turned into the swan night at the O.co Coliseum late Saturday night.

Campolindo (Moraga, Calif.) High School, a team picked to finish last in its league before the season, defeated prohibitive favorite Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.) 20-18 in the North Coast Section Division III championship game.

A 21-yard field goal by sophomore Cristian Antezana on the final play of the game finished off this unlikely win and improbable title for Campolindo in a game that pitted 13-0 teams.

The difference here was that Marin Catholic (13-1) was all but penciled in this championship game following a pair of nonleague wins over larger opponents in September.

Few saw Campolindo (14-0), without a clear Division I player on its roster, ever in this position. Now the Cougars will likely be selected to represent Northern California in the State Bowl Championships next week.

The bowl teams will be selected today in Carson (Los Angeles County). The Cougars will likely play unbeaten Lompoc (14-0).

"We're a blessed team right now," Campolindo coach Kevin Macy said. "I don't know what's left in us for next week. All I know is this is great for our school. Our kids are playing with great emotion and heart."

When Marin Catholic took its first lead of the game 18-17 on a 25-yard field goal by Chris Hill with 2:18 remaining, the favorites looked like they would survive despite numerous penalties and dropped passes – two in the end zone.

But junior quarterback Brett Stephens (17 of 25, 246 yards) engineered a 64-yard scoring drive keyed by a 46-yard bomb to Mason Windatt after escaping a heavy rush.

That put the ball at the 20 and after another first down and a couple runs up the middle, Macy called timeout and Antezana drilled the game-winning field goal.

"Sure I was nervous," Antezana said. "But I just tried to clear my mind. I had to put it through for my team."

Making the title run more magically is it came on the 25th anniversary of Campolindo's last title, also won at the Coliseum in 1986.

The game was marred by penalties but filled with big plays.

Stephens hit Griffin Piatt (8 catches, 109 yards) on a 6-yard touchdown and Jaime Vega scored on a 3-yard run to put Campolindo up 14-2 early in the second quarter.

Marin Catholic got back in the game on a couple big plays, a 98-yard kickoff return by Celis Andrew and a 54-yard touchdown pass from Goff Jared (11 of 22, 138 yards) to Farney Ryan to close to 17-15.

Marin Catholic converted a big fourth-down play to key its 49-yard drive to go ahead on Hill's field goal.