Central Catholic coach Canepa talks about heartbreaking loss to Bellarmine Prep
Central Catholic football players aren’t ones to hang their heads.
After quarterback Wade Smith hit Thomas DiVittorio on a 34-yard touchdown pass with 56 seconds left in the game to give Bellarmine Prep a 28-21 lead on Friday night, the Raiders went to work.
With no timeouts, they drove down field, leaving themselves one play from the 17 yard line with three seconds left. Although quarterback Tyler Wentworth’s desperation pass was intercepted, that Central Catholic had a legitimate shot to tie it at the end goes to the mettle of this team.
And they’ll need every bit of it as the Valley Oak League season begins next week.
“We played a good football team,” Central Catholic coach Roger Canepa said after Friday’s game. “I don’t like losing, but we’re where we want to be.
“This team will respond. They are mentally and physically tough. We don’t beat three good teams and almost a fourth if we aren’t.”
Indeed. As they historically do, the Raiders scheduled a challenging non-league season and came away with victories over Merced, St. Mary’s and San Ramon Valley – all formidable programs.
After the Raiders (3-1) open the VOL next week against Weston Ranch (1-4), they will go into the teeth of the storm. In three straight games starting Oct. 1, the Raiders play at Oakdale (4-0) before hosting Kimball (4-0) and Manteca (5-0) – a combined 13-0. They all were ranked in the Top 10 of MaxPreps Section rankings heading into Friday’s games: Central Catholic No. 5, Manteca No. 6, Kimball No. 8 and Oakdale No. 10.
On Friday at a packed house at San Jose City College, the Raiders were down 14-7 at halftime. The two teams traded scores until with less than a minute left, Bellarmine (3-0) made the big play.
“We didn’t play our best first half,” Canepa said. “We came out a little flat. You have to give them credit. The played well and had a big crowd. I don’t like losing, I’m upset about that. But we’re playing good.
“We just have to go back to work and get ready for league.”
This story was originally published September 18, 2021 at 1:12 AM.
