Fast start lifts Central Catholic past Modesto Christian

MODESTO -- If any playoff jitters existed on the Central Catholic sidelines Friday night, they disappeared when Nate Loya caught the opening kickoff.

Loya, a junior, made a running catch, found room to his left, sprinted past the Raiders' bench and finished off an electric 89-yard touchdown rip toward Carpenter Road.

For the first reference on how CC dismantled Modesto Christian 57-8 in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 4 playoffs, look up the game's first 11 seconds.

There were no turning points on this cold but dry night. A small crowd witnessed a one-trender — the Raiders (9-2) dictating all terms until a running clock burned most of the fourth quarter.

Even on MC's kickoff return after Loya's exclamation point start, the Raiders' Darien Edwards pasted Zack O'Leary with a blow that could be heard throughout Patton Field. It was the desired start for a CC team anxiously awaiting its trip to Argonaut next week.

"We have better team chemistry this year," CC coach Roger Canepa said. "I haven't had a group of running backs like this."

Canepa referred to seniors Craig Jones (12 carries, 102 yards), Edwards and Sterling Shaw, and juniors Ray Lomas and Blake Escobar. Together, with help from senior quarterback Chris Sauls, they strafed MC (5-6) for 347 rushing yards. The only blemish was an early-game ankle injury to Shaw.

"A lot of people have underestimated us this year," Sauls said. "Our hope is to keep it going. I'm a senior. I want to be remembered."

Nate Sudfeld no doubt will be remembered at Modesto Christian, though he wished for a better farewell. Instead, the 6-foot-5 quarterback who soon will take snaps for Arizona ended his prep career with a bag of ice taped to his left knee.

Sudfeld was driven to the turf after lobbing an option pitch late in the first half. Already hobbling, he stayed for one more play but was forced to make a tackle after he tossed an interception to Nate Loya.

MC, already trailing 34-8, wisely chose discretion though Sudfeld hoped to continue. He ended with more than 2,200 passing yards and 28 touchdowns and, of all things, a tackle.

"Maybe down the road, I'll thank them (for not putting him back in the game)," said Sudfeld, who smiled through the pain afterward.

Any revenge from Modesto Christian's playoff win over CC two years was a non-factor. Edwards and Jones were the only remaining members from that team.

More important to the Raiders is staking new ground.