MODESTO -- He was raised an undersized linebacker, who leveled the playing field with work ethic and bravado.
Central Catholic coach Roger Canepa's two favorite words might as well be "Bring it."
"Nobody outworked me," he said of his playing days at Chico State. "Nobody."
So with a wag of the finger, Canepa has invited many of Northern California's heavyweights to toe the line with his Raider teams.
This year alone, in as tough a four-week stretch as any in the Stanislaus District, the Raiders lost a shootout to state-ranked Placer, beat St. Mary's, went down swinging to Aaron Zwahlen and Downey, and then buttoned-up defensively against James Sams and Los Banos.
Central emerged punchdrunk at 2-2, but has won 11 straight to clinch a berth in today's CIF Division 4 State Bowl game.
"If you're going to come here, you're going to play the best teams around here," Canepa said. "I think it just makes you better. It makes us a powerhouse."
With one more victory, Central will wear a new crown: state champion.
The Raiders became the first Sac-Joaquin Section team to clinch multiple state bowl appearances with last week's 42-12 victory over McClymonds in the inaugural Division 4 Northern California championship.
Central (13-2) will play Santa Fe Christian (11-3) today at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
"To play for something the school has never achieved — a state bowl championship — it's something else," junior defensive end Matthew Ringer said. "It's something extraordinary. We're all excited to get down there and get ready."
The test this time around is stopping Hunter Vaccaro, a player that has been compared to Johnny Football — Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M's Heisman-winning quarterback.
Canepa's response?
Bring it, duh.
"Of course, they're a good football team. They have to be," he said. "I just wonder if they've seen anybody as physical as us. We got a physical football team."
The scales tip in Central Catholic's favor in this matchup of run-first teams.
Santa Fe Christian has five players with at least 400 rushing yards, with fullback Tony Miro (1,133 yards, 14 touchdowns, 7.66 average) and quarterback Hunter Vaccaro (981/16/7.11) doing most of the heavy lifting. But the Solano Beach-based Eagles aren't very big. Only four players weigh more than 200 pounds. By comparison, McClymonds suited up four 300-pounders, Canepa said.
Central has 13 players that tip the scales at 200 pounds or more, anchored by 305-pound, two-way lineman Spencer Stark.
"I love high school, so I watch different teams in different states," Santa Fe coach Nick Ruscetta said. "You have to have three things to be good — coaching, kids and schemes — and they got all three in bunches.
"Teams that get this far have to be pretty sound. There are no deficiencies. It's going to be one heck of a challenge for us. We have to play perfect."
The option, with the ball in Vaccaro's hands, may be Santa Fe's only hope at springing what many would consider an upset.
Vaccaro, listed generously at 5-foot-8, 155 pounds, turned the Southern California regional championship into his persona highlight reel.
He had 165 yards on 12 carries, with scoring runs of 18 and 55 yards. His 8-yard scramble late in the fourth quarter sealed a 30-28 victory over Arcadia Rio Hondo.
The shifty senior also returned kicks for the Eagles.
"We call him our 'Johnny Football.' He's one of those kids that has no right being as good as he is," Ruscetta said. "He's tough as nails. He's the kind of kid we make our living on."
Vaccaro's elusiveness has caught Canepa's attention.
The Raiders haven't seen much option this season, and they've looked to their lower levels for help. The junior varsity squad incorporated the option into their playbook this fall. On Tuesday, Canepa and the scout team offense struggled to recreate Santa Fe's tempo and tendencies.
"It's hard to do in a couple of days," Canepa said.
Ringer and fellow defensive end Johnny Mundt are tasked with keeping Vaccaro contained — or forcing a quick pitch.
"He's not too big of a guy but he's quick and can get out of pocket," Ringer said of Vaccaro. "Me and John have to make sure he doesn't get around us. That's our biggest thing — keep containment."
Ringer (6½ sacks) and Mundt (15½) have combined for 22 sacks in 15 games, and both were instrumental in shutting down the free-lancing QBs from Center and McClymonds.
Terrell Elder, an interior lineman, ranks second to Mundt in sacks with 12½.
"Every week we're facing a new offense, for the most part," Ringer said. "… The option isn't too big of worry. We have everyone zoned in on what they're supposed to do."
Hard work, focus, a touch of bravado — after 16 weeks, would you expect anything less from a Canepa-led team?
"We've done good job of focusing, staying down to Earth and taking it one game at a time. It's paid off. Since the playoffs started, we've had a running clock five weeks in a row. We have to keep it going," said Canepa, whose average margin of victory in the postseason is 46-15. "That was easier than then it is now, because it's the state game. There's a final to this now. Before, we had to win this week to get to next week. This is it. This should be the easiest part of the mission, to play this game."
In simpler terms: Bring it.
• DIVISION 4
Who: Santa Fe Christian of Solano Beach (11-3) vs. Central Catholic (13-2)
When: Today; kickoff at 4
Where: Home Depot Center, Carson
TV: Comcast SportsNet California
• DIVISION 2
Who: Serra of Gardena (13-2) vs. Oakdale (14-1)
When: Saturday; kickoff at 4 p.m.
Where: Home Depot Center, Carson
TV: Comcast SportsNet California
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