Bring on, Del Oro. Booker, CC run wild on Rocklin, host defending champ next week.

Central Catholic High running back Dauson Booker clutched a piece of chocolate cake the size of a football as he posed with family and friends.

Who said you can’t have your cake and eat it, too?

Booker rushed for more than 200 yards and scored four touchdowns, including a 93-yard kickoff return to highlight a 42-18 victory over Rocklin on Friday in the quarterfinal round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs.

With the win, the third-seeded Raiders (10-1) advance to the semifinals, where they’ll host two-time defending champion Del Oro, the tournament’s No. 7 seed, next week.

“You get moved up and people don’t know how hard it is to keep the ship afloat, especially when you get moved up to Division II,” Central Catholic coach Roger Canepa said. “I think Division II is the hardest there is.”

And yet, the Raiders have made it look easy, defeating Stagg, the San Joaquin Athletic Association champion, and Rocklin, a proud member of the Sierra Foothill League, by a combined score of 107-36.

After getting routed by Jesuit in the second round last season, Central Catholic finds itself within one game of its second D-II final in program history.

The Raiders have won a section-best 19 blue banners, but they haven’t won a D-II crown since 1982.

“This is a redemption year,” Booker said. “Last year, I think we were a better team than we showed. This year, we’ve really come together. It’s been fun to play with these guys.”

His smile said it all.

Booker spent most of the second half on the sideline with the other starters as the Raiders led by as many as 32.

Fullback Coleby Garrett also found the end zone twice. A two-way starter and captain, Garrett scored on 3-yard blast to make it 28-3 at the half, and then opened the third quarter with a 62-yard jaunt.

On his final touchdown, Garrett disappeared into the pack at the line of scrimmage and then spun into space.

“I was hit at the line, but kept my feet moving,” said Garrett, who now has six touchdowns in two playoff games.

“I spun out and no one was there.I wasn’t surprised. I’m always trying to grind out yards.”

Added Canepa: “He popped out like he was shot from a cannon. That’s what we do – we grind on people and try to make plays.”

Booker was the star, stirring up memories of some of the Raiders’ recent greats with his takeover performance.

Booker carried just 16 times, racking up 215 yards and three rushing touchdowns. He also had at least one tackle for a loss and a pass break-up.

“He’s got a little (Rey) Vega in him … a little (Justin) Rice … maybe a little (Ray) Lomas,” Canepa said, referring to some of Central Catholic’s running backs from its run of four consecutive CIF State championships. “It’s the speed and the ability to break tackles, and then…

“He’s gone.”

Booker scored on back-to-back carries in the first quarter to stake Central Catholic to a 14-0 lead. His touchdowns runs covered 74 and 59 yards, and were the product of an immediate adjustment.

The Thunder opened in a 6-2 defense, crowding the line of scrimmage. It was a new look for the Raiders, who struggled to move the ball on their opening possession.

Before his touchdowns runs, Booker had just 8 yards on four carries.

“We figured it out,” Booker said, “and just kept on pushing.”

Rocklin (7-5) got on the board with a 25-yard field goal by Richard Purvis in the second quarter, but Central Catholic answered immediately.

Booker fielded the ensuing kickoff at the 7, doubled back across the field and stepped into a jet stream along the home sideline.

“I told them if they kick the ball to me, I’m going to return it,” he told coaches on the sideline. “I’m a man of my word and a believer.”

Booker tacked on a 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, plunging the dagger into the Thunder.

By then, news of Del Oro’s 26-7 victory over No. 2 Inderkum had already circulated the sidelines.

“You get to play at home for a chance to go for a section title,” Canepa said. “We can’t ask for more.”

This story was originally published November 17, 2017 at 11:35 PM with the headline "Bring on, Del Oro. Booker, CC run wild on Rocklin, host defending champ next week.."