Campolindo overcomes Sutter in Division III Northern California Regional Bowl

LAFAYETTE, Calif. — The walking wounded from Campolindo (Moraga, Calif.) looked cooked.

Plagued by injury, worn by a long season and fighting illness, the Cougars trailed a fast and rested Sutter (Calif.) squad by two touchdowns in the Northern California Division III Regional Bowl at Acalanes High in Lafayette.

But senior quarterback Jack Stephens caught fire, the defense stiffened and Campolindo earned its second state bowl game appearance in four years after a 35-14 victory Saturday night.

Stephens completed 15 of 25 passes for 301 yards and three scores — the TDs all in span of five minutes of the second quarter. Nick Fadelli and Conner McNally also rushed for touchdowns in the second half as the Cougars improved to 15-0, beating a team that had allowed only 62 points all season.

Campolindo will face El Capitan (Lakeside) in the CIF Division III State Championship Bowl Game on Saturday, Dec. 20 at noon. El Capitan shut out Paso Robles 41-0.

"We keep finding a way to redefine ourselves," Campolindo coach Kevin Macy said. "We keep finding a way to get it done. These guys just don't want to finish short."

Sutter, coming off a long rest period, came out on fire, taking a 14-0 first quarter lead while utilizing superb speed and a Wing-T attack.

The Huskies took the opening kickoff and traveled 65 yards on nine plays capped by a 1-yard TD plunge from Jacob Gildea. A 23-yard scamper by Tyler Chambers keyed the scoring drive.

After two Campolindo drives netted one first down, Tyjuan Prince gave Sutter a 14-0 lead with a 19-yard run around left end. He dove onto the pylon and with 48.8 seconds left in the first quarter, Campolindo had to make up a two-touchdown deficit.

But it took Stephens just 5:04 to throw three touchdowns and give the Cougars a 21-14 lead.

"My number one goal as a quarterback is to keep the team calm and we did a good job of that," Stephens said. "We've been down before and we always find a way."

A 46-yard pass over the middle to Max Flower (six catches, 153 yards), a Cal baseball commit who was doubtful with a shoulder injury, set up a 1-yard TD pass to the right corner to Adam Remotto, making it 14-7 just 56 seconds into the second quarter.

"It's just time to suck it up," said Flower, who came out more than once because of his bad shoulder. "We're one win away from winning a state title. We just all need to keep fighting."

A short punt set up a Stephens 18-yard TD pass over the middle to Remotto, tying the game with 7:52 left in the half. Remotto and another receiver and two Sutter defenders were bunched together at the goal line, but Stephens zipped the ball into a small window.

On Campolindo's first play of its next possession, Stephens lofted a beautiful 50-yard spiral downfield that speedy Caleb Whalen (three catches, 100 yards) hauled in-stride and sprinted the final 35 yards untouched to complete a 76-yard touchdown.

"That's our favorite play," Whalen said. "Jack and I have been throwing that route since the summer. Jack put it right there. I just had to catch it and run."

Just like that, Campolindo led 21-14 midway through the second and held it until halftime. Stephens had 212 yards passing after two quarters and Campolindo held a 245-190 edge in yards.

When the Cougars took the second half kickoff and traveled 68 yards in 11 plays, capped by a Fadelli 4-yard TD run, Campolindo was in control.

On its next possession, almost exclusively on the rush, McNally rushed in for a 6-yard TD and the Cougars were on their way. The Cougars' secondary was exceptional, especially senior Tiger Garcia, who intercepted two passes and knocked many more away.