Lamorinda Weekly – full article
By – Karl Buscheck
Undefeated since the middle of September, Campolindo is playing its best football of the fall as the league season reaches its final week. Head coach Kevin Macy pointed to the team’s fourth-quarter comeback against Miramonte on Oct. 14 as the turning point for the Cougars, who have navigated a flood of injuries.
“We could have just imploded right there,” Macy admitted, as he recalled the 37-25 win. “With the weight that we’ve been carrying all year long, that was one of the points in the season where it would just make sense if we finally felt the weight of the year and just sort of crumbled under it.”
“So, for us to be able to pull off a victory under those conditions, I think it may have been one of the bigger Miramonte victories we’ve had,” Macy added.
After topping Acalanes 42-7 at home on Oct. 28, Campolindo (7-2 overall, 4-0 in league) has won seven of eight games, as just one DAL matchup remains when the team visits Clayton Valley on Nov. 4.
For the Cougars, senior quarterback Jacob Westphal has been the steadying force, airing out touchdowns to a stable of pass catchers. Senior Vince Mossotti leads the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns, but Westphal has also relied heavily on junior John Torchio and senior Kannah Cruickshank. Then there’s senior Matthew Rinquist.
“He’s the smallest kid on the team,” Macy said. “But he just seems to be one of those reliable kids that’s just going to make the play that you need (and) spark the team.”
While the Cougars have been bumped into the NCS Division II bracket – a result of the team’s success in recent postseasons – Miramonte will be taking part in Division III playoffs. Both divisions begin the opening rounds of play on Nov. 11 and 12.