 | | | Photos Tod Fierner
| | | | | | For a Campolindo Cougars team that was picked to finish last in its own division at the beginning of the year, the season was undoubtedly a huge success.
"There was something magical this year, about these kids, these fans, and the school," said Cougars' head coach Kevin Macy.
Campolindo (13-1) lost to Washington Union-Fresno (14-0) in the state championship 21-16, last Saturday, but the Cougars' crowning achievement was the week prior against Marin Catholic in the North Coast Section Division III championship game on December 10.
Christian Antezana kicked a 21-yard field goal as time expired to give the Cougars an upset 20-18 win. With the kick, the Campolindo faithful on hand at O.co Coliseum were sent into a frenzy.
"To think about all we've gone through the whole year and what we've done, it just feels amazing," said Antezana moments after the winning kick. "It was perfect."
Just after Marin (13-1) took its first lead of the game on a field goal with 2:18 remaining in the fourth, Cougars quarterback Brett Stephens pushed for a 64-yard scoring drive. Stephens found junior wide receiver Mason Windatt on a 44-yard pass which paved the way for Antezana's last-second kick.
"You dream of situations like that, and we took advantage of it," said Stephens, who finished 17 of 27 for 246 yards.
"We had one more drive just to show them what we could do," said sophomore wide receiver Griffin Piatt, who had eight catches, 109 yards, and a touchdown on the day. "We knew we could do it. We've had so much heart all year."
The game was a culmination of a Cinderella playoff run for the Cougars. Campo defeated Hercules 58-21 in the first round. In the second round they defeated Bishop O'Dowd, 34-17. In the semi-finals they upset #2 Cardinal Newman 35-24 and avenged last season's loss.
"Cinderella doesn't hang around this late in the football season," Macy said. "We had to go through three loaded private schools. There's something special about this group of kids."
"This is the closest knit team I've ever been a part of," said Stephens. "Everyone loves each other."
The team also remained undefeated throughout the course of the regular season, one that included blowout wins over local rivals Acalanes, 42-7 and Miramonte 42-6.
"You really can't put it into words," said Piatt. "No one thought we were going anywhere in the preseason, and every game we had something to prove, played as a team, and we just went out there and gave it our all."
Macy acknowledged the sheer immensity of the game, held at the 63,026-seat O.co Coliseum, home of the Raiders. He spoke of how it resonated with his players and how they will forever cherish the moment.
"You can see how special this night was, the best spirit, the electricity. It's just a big celebration for our community and this is once in a lifetime."
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA