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Sports

Football: Capuchino Loses to Christopher in Close Contest

Cap loses its first game of the season but shows promise.

Christopher 40, Capuchino 36

It looked like a blowout at first, but it ended up being a shootout.

On a sunny day at Carl Reyna Field, the Capuchino Mustangs hosted the Christopher Cougars from Gilroy in their first home game of the season and, despite a few mistakes early on, they battled all the way up to the last play.

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In the first quarter, the Mustangs, whose season was delayed a week because of the fire, looked like the 1-9 team from last year. Christopher moved the chains on the first drive and scored the game's first touchdown.

The drive lasted nearly nine minutes, tiring out a defense in which many players were later forced to play on both sides of the ball.

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After Christopher scored another touchdown, putting them in the lead 13-0, the game looked like it was going in the wrong direction for Capuchino.

Capuchino head coach Jordan Seiden said he was a little worried at this point but was confident that the team's performance was only a result of the newness of the season.

"We just got off to a slow start," Seiden said. "It's a new program and guys are still trying to figure things out."

The Mustangs finally began to turn things around by passing the ball four times and going 77 yards for a touchdown. 

Two of the passes went to wide receiver Logan Soli, who had an impressive game.

Before halftime, Cap had driven down the field once again, ending up on the goal line with two seconds left. Quarterback John Bacchi kept the ball and ran it in for a touchdown on a gutsy call.

"The defense was shooting through the gap on blitzes," Seiden said. "Sometimes you have to play with the defense and try to let them win the game for you."

Into the second half, it was clear that the game was going to be won by which team had a more successful passing game—or which team had the ball last.

Both defenses looked tired and vulnerable as the teams swapped touchdowns throughout the rest of the game. Although Christopher iced the lead when Cap's defense gave up a 33-yard pass on third-and-eight with 2:41 left on the clock, Cap had a few more highlights throughout the game.

Kick returner Justin Ewing had an outstanding return game, which set the 'Tangs up with excellent field positions on several plays.

In the fourth quarter, Bacchi completed a 33-yard pass to Soli, who carried a couple of defensive players until he was finally taken down at the 3-yard line. The drive ended when Bacchi ran the ball up the middle into the end zone.

Soli also ran a kickoff back 45 yards and caught another touchdown pass from Bacchi. 

Although they lost, Capuchino can definitely say they had a moral victory.

In the first game of the season against a tough Christopher squad, the Mustangs almost came up with a hard fought win.

"The whole team gave a good effort," said defensive lineman Xavier Collins, "but we can't win with so many mess-ups."

Seiden said the team will be looking to fix those problems now that the first game is under their belt.

"If it were the tenth game of the season I would be a little bit more upset," Seiden said. 

The next game is at 3pm Sept. 24 against Mt. Eden High at Capuchino.

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