Central Catholic’s Hunter Petlansky becomes the hunted in Holy Bowl

Whether it’s 140 characters in a virtual world or a thousand more in the flesh, Hunter Petlansky has become a polarizing figure in one of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s signature rivalries.

The Central Catholic quarterback is accustomed to playing in the crosshairs of the enemy, but the fire always feels less friendly when it’s St. Mary’s.

The two parochial powers collide Friday in an early battle between Top-25 programs at Sanguinetti Field in Stockton. Central Catholic (1-0) is ranked 15th in MaxPreps’ Northern California poll, one spot ahead of the Rams (1-0), who eked out a 35-34 victory at Cardinal Newman last week.

“It gives you a feel at where you’re at at this time of the year,” Raiders coach Roger Canepa said. “I tell the kids we want to play great all the time, but this isn’t our season right here. It’s a gauge, but we’ve got one more at Beyer and then the (Valley Oak League). It’s a good second-week game – as good as it gets.”

The battle lines for this meeting were drawn long ago. Petlansky returns to a campus he left in 2012 after just one year. Yes, on Friday evening, Hunter becomes the hunted.

“For the most part, I’m not the most liked person on that campus,” Petlansky said. “I’m excited to go back there and I hope it’s a great game. It should be. I’m just excited to play them again.”

He knows what waits for him beyond the pass rush and coverage schemes designed by Rams coach Tony Franks and his staff. There will be boos in his direction. He’ll be roasted on Twitter. Last year, a St. Mary’s fan raced onto the field to taunt Petlansky, who said the crowd also chanted the names of his family members and ex-girlfriend.

For four years, he’s been cast as the hero and villain by both sides because he’s been an integral part of both huddles.

Petlansky spent his freshman year at St. Mary’s, guiding the Rams’ sophomore squad to a 52-20 victory over Central Catholic. But his time in Stockton was short-lived. He transferred to Central Catholic because the commute to Modesto was easier on his parents, who were also taking care of his ailing grandfather at the time.

“Kids are kids and fans are fans. When you leave one school and go to the next, that’s just common,” Canepa said. “He doesn’t let anything bother him.”

Still, the results have only given his critics more ammunition. Central Catholic is 2-5 against St. Mary’s under Canepa and 0-2 since Petlansky arrived on the South Carpenter Road campus, including an 18-13 decision last fall at David Patton Memorial Field. (He was ineligible for the 2013 game because of the section’s transfer rule.)

Petlansky scored both of Central Catholic’s touchdowns, but the Rams escaped with the victory when quarterback Noah Righetti scored on a bootleg with 29 seconds left.

Four of the last five meetings have been decided by seven points or less. Petlansky said the Raiders can’t afford mistakes against a team of the Rams’ caliber. Often times, he said, one mistake can be the difference. He finds fault in his own performance. The Columbia-bound senior air-mailed a fourth-down pass from the St. Mary’s 10-yard line in the third quarter last season.

“When you play in big games, it’s that inch where maybe you could have tipped the ball but didn’t. It’s that tackle you could have made, but the guy gets loose down the sideline. Every play is important in a big game,” Canepa said.

Central Catholic and St. Mary’s have made five CIF State Bowl appearances. The Raiders have won the last three Division IV championships and lost in the D-III game in 2007.

The Rams reached the D-II state final in 2008, but their path back has been impeded by Sacramento giant Grant, Del Oro of Loomis and Vacaville, to name a few.

The Raiders have dominated the Division IV ranks, capturing the last three section banners. Their quest for a four-peat at the section and state level will take them down a new path this fall, should they qualify for the postseason. Central Catholic must compete at the Division III level because of the section’s “Continued Success” rule.

This game, though early, provides the ultimate gauge.

“I’ve had a few people ask how far do we think we’ll go this year. I say, ‘Ask me after the St. Mary’s game,’” Petlansky said. “Iron sharpens iron, and this is definitely a good game to see where we are. I’m excited to see where it goes.”

The Raiders worked out the kinks last week in their debut, a 49-0 pasting of Atwater. Canepa said his team was bored during its Week Zero bye and started slowly in the rout.

Petlansky shook off an interception, accounting for 219 yards and four touchdowns. Montell Bland rushed for two touchdowns and fellow running back Justin Rice had 102 yards and a score. The win was Canepa’s 200th of his coaching career.

This week, Petlansky chases a milestone of his own – beating his former team and silencing his critics.

“You want to win every game, obviously, but this game does carry special importance because I did go there one year. Last year’s game, there was a lot of disrespect coming from their sideline toward me,” Petlansky said. “I wouldn’t say this is a revenge game, but this one carries special weight for me.”

This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Central Catholic’s Hunter Petlansky becomes the hunted in Holy Bowl."