Oct
15

NCS Roundup: Campolindo Turns Back Miramonte

By Nate Smith, http://prep2prep.com

Campolindo 37 – Miramonte 25

Trailing by one point midway through the fourth quarter, from its own 13-yard line, Campolindo (5-2, 2-0 DAL Valley) went on an 87-yard scoring drive to turn back host Miramonte (5-2, 0-2), eventually securing the 37-25 victory.

A pair of Noah Loeliger runs ate up 46 yards on the drive, and quarterback Jacob Westphal connected with Kannah Cruickshank for a key 24-yard completion along the left sideline, setting up Matt Ringquist’s seven-yard scoring run with 3:48 left in the game, preserving Campolindo’s 32-game win streak in league play.

“I have to credit Kannah (Cruickshank) for having the best catch of his career in a game against the kids he grew up with,” Westphal said. “We knew we had plenty of time to march down the field and score. Thanks to our brutal non-league schedule, we had some experience playing from behind and putting together drives late in the game.”

Earlier in the game, it did not appear any late heroics would be needed. The visiting Cougars built a 14-6 lead after one quarter, thanks to a pair of Loeliger touchdown runs. The powerful back finished the game with 187 yards on 20 carries.

But Miramonte stayed within striking distance, thanks to the pass-and-catch tandem of quarterback Tim Tague and receiver Nick Foster. The pair hooked up on an eight-yard touchdown in the first quarter, when Tague threaded the needle on a goal-line slant, and again in the second quarter, when Foster outjumped two Campolindo defenders on a fade down the right sideline to cut the Cougars’ lead to 14-12.

Campolindo took advantage of a short punt late in the first half, and after taking over at the Miramonte 48-yard line, finished the second quarter with a 23-yard Eglin Grady field goal to take a 17-12 lead into halftime.

Five minutes into the third quarter, the Cougars had extended their lead to 24-12 on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Westphal to Vincent Mossotti, following a Ryan McNally interception. But like the first half, the Matadors struck back, and this time kept the momentum going.

Miramonte responded with a balanced drive of run and pass, going 74 yards and culminating with an 11-yard touchdown run by Tague, who had 28 yards rushing on the drive. Less than two minutes later, after the defense forced a punt, Tague hooked with Foster for the third time, hitting his main target on a simple go route down the right sideline for a 75-yard touchdown and a 25-24 lead, nine seconds into the fourth quarter.

Campolindo responded by driving into Matadors’ territory, but Miramonte linebacker Ryan Walker made a huge stop of Loeliger in the right flat on fourth down. This time, though, the Cougars defense responded by forcing a punt and setting up the go-ahead drive for the offense. Campo added one late score, on a one-yard run by Branden Bocobo with less than two minutes remaining, after Miramonte was forced to attempt a fourth down from deep in its own territory.

Tague finished the game with 219 yards passing and three touchdowns, but only was able to complete one of his final eight passes after the Cougars took the late lead. Foster had six catches for 144 yards and all three scores.

Westphal had 167 yards through the air to pace Campolindo’s passing attack, while Mossotti had two catches for 80 yards and the lone receiving touchdown. Cruickshank added four catches for 47 yards.