GAZETTE PHOTO KIM KEYES SENIOR STANDOUT CODY CHRISTOPHER (NO. 33) GAINS YARDAGE AGAINST CAPITAL CHRISTIAN IN LAST WEEK’S SEMI-FINAL SECTION PLAYOFF CONTEST IN SACRAMENTO. JUNIOR TACKLE BRUCE CONTRERAS (NO. 74) LAYS A BLOCK, AND JUNIOR QUARTERBACK JARRETT LEONARD (NO. 10) WATCHES THE PLAY UNFOLD. Although it was expected to be an offensive shootout last Friday night in Sacramento, it was far from it. Capital Christian’s Cougars ended the Grizzlies’ title aspirations, 14-0, in their semi-final clash of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V gridiron playoffs.

“If we had had any type of a passing game, we would have won this game,”said second-year head coach Bob Kelly. “We just shot ourselves in the foot. We had lots of scoring opportunities, but we just couldn’t convert.”

In their last four games, the Grizzlies averaged 60 points per contest, including a 34-0 win over Lindhurst in the first round of the playoffs. Capital Christian had a 37.6 points per game average for the season, so everyone expected the scoreboard to get a workout.

The Cougars scored twice in the second quarter, once on a short run by Dylan Mullins, and the second on a 93-yard aerial strike from quarterback James Lee to wideout David Oates, which would be his only catch of the game. Missed tackles allowed Oates to score from long distance, and give Capital Christian a two touchdown advantage.

“We left so many points out there it was just amazing,” Kelly said. “We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities. If we could have thrown the ball, we could have loosened up their defense, which was the best we’ve seen since Le Grand (a 24-14 Grizzly loss), but they just stacked 8 or 9 in the box. We could move the ball, but not when we needed to. We were in the red zone at least four times, but couldn’t punch it in.”

Neither team punted in the entire second half, nor would either offense cross the goal line.

“Our defense, especially up front, played great,” Kelly said. “Cody (Peterson), Brandon (Kinalele), Reichhold (James), Brandon (McCutchen), and Wichmann (Cody) we really solid. Coaches Stitt and Oliphant did a great job getting us ready for their offense.”

Mariposa’s standout senior running back Cody Christopher still rambled for 101 yards for the game. “Cody and our offensive line left it all on the field. Cody moved the ball by sheer effort, and it was our offensive line that brought us this far,” Kelly said.

The Grizzlies finished the season at 6-6 after a tough preseason that left them 1-4 going into Southern Athletic League play. Mariposa was 4-1 in the SAL, good enough for second place and a slot in the playoffs.

“I’m very proud of how our guys stuck with the program and continued to improve week after week. A lot of teams would have folded after the kind of preseason we had, but our kids never gave up and they just kept working harder and harder, and it finally paid off, although I still don’t think this team ever played its best game. Probably our best effort was against Lindhurst, but we could have played better,” Kelly said.

With the win, Capital Christian advanced to the sectionchampionship game against the Grizzlies’ arch-rival, Le Grand. The contest will be played at a neutral site, Oakmont High School in Roseville. The Bulldogs earned the trip after downing Highlands High School, 28-6, in their second-round playoff battle after a first round bye via their SAL title. Calpreps has picked Capital Christian as a 26-21 favorite going into Friday night’s championship game.