BREAKING NEWS: Bishop O’Dowd has clinched the CIF 5-AA NorCal championship with a dramatic 23-20 victory over Chico on Friday night. This thrilling win marks a significant moment for the Dragons, who had to fight tooth and nail during the intense match held nearly three hours away from home.
With less than 90 seconds remaining, O’Dowd’s defense made a game-changing play, sacking Chico quarterback John Bernardez on fourth down, sealing the victory and igniting celebrations among players and fans alike.
The Dragons showcased their prowess with standout performances from junior running back Lamar Ellis, who scored two crucial touchdowns, including a jaw-dropping run that extended O’Dowd’s lead. Additionally, the special-teams unit was pivotal, delivering two crucial blocks – one on a field goal and another on an extra point – alongside a kickoff return that turned the tide in favor of the Dragons.
This win mirrors the achievement of O’Dowd’s 2016 team, which also captured the same classification title. Now, with a record of 10-4, O’Dowd is gearing up for the state championship showdown against Christian-El Cajon next week in Southern California.
Ellis opened the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown run, giving O’Dowd a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. A deep pass from Christian Cermenelli-Johnson to Jess Brown set up the score, but the extra point attempt was blocked. Chico quickly responded with a touchdown, taking a brief lead.
After a blocked field goal kept the score at 7-6 in favor of Chico at halftime, O’Dowd regained momentum with a 24-yard field goal just as the half ended, bringing the score to 9-7.
Chico struck first in the second half, pushing ahead to 14-9 after a touchdown run by Bernardez. However, O’Dowd responded almost immediately with a thrilling 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Trevor Erickson, flipping the score to 16-14.
In a nail-biting finish, Ellis delivered a spectacular run for his second touchdown, extending the lead to 23-14. Although Chico narrowed the gap with a touchdown of their own, the Dragons’ defense held strong in the closing moments, assuring their trip to the state finals.
As O’Dowd prepares to face Christian-El Cajon, fans are eager to see if history can repeat itself with another state championship victory. Stay tuned for updates as this exciting journey continues!
