Bulldogs end ’10 with 42-35 victory over Westmont
CAMPBELL
Looking at the way his Bulldogs rose up to beat Westmont 42-35 in their season finale, Sobrato coach Nick Borello couldn’t help but call this season a success, postseason or not.
The Bulldogs played with conscious effort, knowing their chance of making the Central Coast Section playoffs was slim to none. They ended up missing out by one point — one win, rather.
The final team that advanced had 20 points. Sobrato (6-4 overall, 4-3 league) finished with 19 and a third winning season.
“We didn’t do all the things we wanted, but it definitely was a good year,” Borello said. “This season prepared us to move forward next year and be a good program in the future.”
In a battle between backfields, the Bulldogs defense limited Westmont’s star ball-carrier Alex Kamara as best it could with inspired play by tackle Simon Schmidt, linebackers Jacob Molina and Kurtis Juarez and defensive backs Marek Zhang and Daniel Puna.
Safety Conor Havstad almost had an interception, but Kamara ripped the ball out of his hands and sprinted away for a 75-yard touchdown reception.
“Kamara’s unreal, just an unbelievable athlete,” Borello said of the 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior who rushed for 121 yards. “We felt like we had him hemmed in, and he still had a big game.”
Sobrato moved the ball as efficiently as it has all season, using short runs up the middle by Obi Mbonu to set up big gains outside for tailback Drew Glines and quarterback Jerry Jacob.
Glines rushed for more than 100 yards and cruised into the end zone from 3 yards out for the go-ahead score with 15 seconds remaining. The sophomore also had a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
“They didn’t stop our sweep all game. I think Drew had 10 yards a carry,” Borello said. “There was no doubt we were going with that play for the win.”
Just as Sobrato keyed on Kamara, the Warriors (5-5, 3-4) had their sights squarely on Mbonu, the Bulldogs’ 5-foot-8 195-pound premiere back. Mbonu had a 2-yard touchdown run to go with 83 rushing yards.
“That’s an ‘off day’ for him,” Borello said. “Obi really helped open things up for Jerry and Drew.”
Jacob rushed for almost 100 yards, including scores of 10 and 30 yards, and also threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Steven Villarreal, who had nine catches.
Sobrato placed fourth in league behind a three-way tie for first and will have back as many as 26 varsity veterans in 2011.
“We’re definitely building for the future,” said Borello, who wrapped his third year as head coach. “We got the kind of challenges it takes to play at the elite level. That’s what we’re aiming for here.”
