Trojans advance as siblings subdue Cougars

Given its recent postseason history, the Milpitas High football team believed it was due.

And few Trojans felt that more than their celebrated sibling tandem of Tariq and Tyree Bracy — two seniors who have been around for losses in three Central Coast Section championships and two CIF Northern Regional bowl games.

On Saturday night, they made their last shot count.

Tariq rushes 36 times for 311 yards and four touchdowns, and Tyree threw for 257 yards and two scores as Milpitas defeated host CampolindoMoraga 52-38 in the 4-A regional playoff.

“You always got to stay confident, that’s the thing,” Tariq Bracy said. “No matter how many times you lose the big one, you can’t come in like, ‘Oh, it's the big one’ and get all intimidated.

“We had to come in like we want this.” That they did. Tariq rushed for 53 yards on five carries during the game’s opening drive. He capped the drive with a 21-yard touchdown run for a 6-0 lead after a failed PAT attempt.

Campolindo answered with an 80-yard drive and grabbed a 7-6 lead on John Torchio’s 19yard pass to Shun Ishida. And that’s how things would go for the entire first half, each team answering the orher’s scores until Milpitas took a 30-28 lead into the intermission with a 27-yard field goal by Mariano Robles as time expired.

Milpitas (13-1) would go up 37-28 on an 11-yard run by Tariq Bracy.

“That’s all credit to my lineman, there’s nothing else to say,” Tariq Bracy said. “They did a great job opening the lanes. I had multiple holes to choose from. And that’s it. That’s the recipe.”

Milpitas advances to the 4-A state bowl to be hosted by Southwest EC-El Centro at 6 p.m. on Dec. 16. Southwest (14-0) came from 14 points down to defeat San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno 31-28 on Saturday.

Campolindo (10-5), the defending 4-AA State Bowl champions, got huge efforts from quarterback Torchio and receiver Parker Windatt, but could never get closer than seven points.

Torchio completed 25 of 37 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 111 yards and another score. Windatt caught 15 passes for 224 yards and three TDs.

Milpitas senior wide receiver Tuni Faletau-Fifita caught seven passes for 164 yards and a touchdown.