Central Catholic is back in the state playoffs after its 2007 Division III appearance.
Photo by Mark Bahrenfuss
One school has been here before, while the other is the first of its kind.
Central Catholic (Modesto) and
McClymonds (Oakland) will meet in the Division IV Regional Championship Bowl Game Friday, and it will be the first time a team from the tiny Oakland Section will play in the state playoffs. Meanwhile, Central Catholic is back after its 35-21 loss to St. Bonaventure (Ventura) in the 2007 Division III game.
Central Catholic won its 16th Sac-Joaquin Section championship last week, however, the title was the first for coach Roger Canepa, who previously coached at Calaveras and Central before taking over at Central Catholic five years ago.
Ray Vega, Central Catholic
Photo by Mark Bahrenfuss
"I'm so proud of them," he told the Modesto Bee following a 52-10 win over Escalon for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship. "What a great effort. We played four quarters and we're a very good football team when we do that."
Central Catholic lost early in the season to Placer (Auburn), 48-30, and Downey (Modesto), 45-42, but never scored less than 34 points the rest of the season and had four games where it scored more than 60.
The Raiders are led by quarterback
Garrett Ardis and running backs
Rey Vega and
Ray Lomas IV. Ardis has thrown for 1,500 yards (94 of 165) with 18 touchdowns while Lomas has gained 1,765 yards on 206 carries with 28 touchdowns and Vega has run for 1,200 yards on 95 carries with 22 touchdowns.
Ardis has a big target in
Johnny Mundt, a 6-foot-5 tight end who has committed to Oregon. Mundt has 30 catches for 527 yards and seven touchdowns. Mundt also leads the defense with 15.5 sacks.
Nathan Loya, an All-League choice on defense last year, leads the team with 32 catches for 610 yards and eight touchdowns.
McClymonds (9-3) opened the season losing three of its first four games to Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), 33-26, West Valley (Cottonwood), 20-18, and Oak Grove (San Jose), 27-20. However, McClymonds won its final eight games, including a 38-13 win over Oakland Tech in the Silver Bowl. The Warriors outscored Oakland Athletic League opponents 242-21 and posted five shutouts in their final eight games.
The Central Catholic defense stuff Escalonlast week.
Photo by Mark Bahrenfuss
The Warriors are led by quarterback
Keith Williams, who was named the OAL's Most Valuable Player. He's joined on the offense by other first team All-League picks
Jalen Thompson at wide receiver, and
Kevin Vaughn and
Dajon Ford on the offensive line.
On defense, McClymonds had three All-League picks in linebacker
Antonio Cummings and defensive backs
Yusef Sterling Lowe and
Lavane Warren.
McClymonds qualified for the Division II bowl game in 2010 when it went 12-0, but was not selected. Following this season's 38-13 win over Oakland Tech in the Silver Bowl, Warrior coach Curtis McCauley felt his team was worthy of selection for the regionals.
"It would mean the world to us," McCauley told the Contra Costa Times. "We worked so hard to get here. Two years ago, we came up a little short. But our goals have always been to get back here."
The teams will play Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Lincoln High School in Stockton. The location may give the Raiders a bit of an advantage since it is just 30 miles from Modesto and it is a Sac-Joaquin Section location. McClymonds will travel 70 miles to the game.
In the Freeman Rankings, Central Catholic is ranked No. 49 in the state and McClymonds is No. 272.
