CAMPOLINDO 47, ST. IGNATIUS 28 QB passes his 2nd test; Cougars roll
One week after a rocky first varsity start at quarterback, CampolindoMoraga senior John Torchio delivered a stellar performance to lead the host Cougars to a 47-28 nonleague win over St. Ignatius on Friday night.
Torchio threw for 268 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 108 yards and three scores. Campolindo (1-1) led by 16 after the first half and St. Ignatius (1-1) never got closer than 10 after that.
St. Ignatius scored first as Charlie Katz connected with David Woodruff for a 64-yard touchdown pass on the team’s first play from scrimmage.
Campolindo recovered and took a 30-14 lead into halftime after a big second quarter broke open a 14-14 tie. The Cougars scored 16 points off three Wildcats turnovers and a recovered pooch kick over the last six minutes of the half.
Ian Concepcion had the first of his team’s three second-quarter interceptions, picking off a long pass by Katz in the corner of the end zone. Campolindo then drove 80 yards on eight plays and took a 21-14 lead on a 1-yard run by fullback Kyle Leuteneker.
The Cougars recovered the ensuing kickoff, and Torchio found Vince Mossotti for a 21-yard touchdown pass two plays later.
Ryan Regan had an interception with 1:45 left in the half, but Campolindo couldn’t capitalize due to a lost fumble. Torchio would get the third interception at the Cougars’ 35-yard line with 15 seconds left in the half. He then hit Lucas Allen over the middle for a 40-yard pass that set up a 42-yard field goal by Seppi Ortman.
Torchio’s season-opening struggles came in a 42-14 loss to Marin Catholic-Kentfield. He completed 16 of 29 attempts for 216 yards with three interceptions and just one touchdown. Sophomore Greg Harper replaced him in the second half to throw for 147 yards and two scores.
Campolindo entered the game having not lost back-to-back games in the same season since 2010, a year in which the Cougars finished 5-6. Campolindo did drop its final game of 2015 (a CIF State Bowl final at La Mirada) and its first game of 2016 at Valley Christian.
This was the third meeting in three years for Campolindo and St. Ignatius. Campolindo won 24-14 in 2015 and 35-14 last season. SportStars magazine editor Chace Bryson covers high school sports for The Chronicle.