Gauchos hit NCS roadblock at Granada

Casa Grande got off to a bad start and couldn’t recover in a 56-28 loss to Granada in the second round of the NCS Division 2 playoffs.|

Casa Grande High School’s amazing run to the end of the football season hit an immovable object last week when the Gauchos were stopped by Granada’s Matadors, 56-28, in the second round of the North Coast Section Division 2 playoffs.

The loss ended an amazing finish to the season for the Gauchos, who lost their first six games before rebounding to not only win three straight games to reach the playoffs but adding on a playoff win against Montgomery for extra satisfaction.

The streak ended early in Livermore against Granada when the Matadors scored 24 points in the first quarter and held on from there.

“We came out flat and couldn’t get our offense going,” said Casa Grande coach Denis Brunk. “It was like we weren’t focused, and Granada came out to play.”

Casa Grande’s troubles were compounded by a lost fumble and an interception in that opening quarter.

Casa Grande bounced back to cut the margin to 28-14 in the second period, but could never get any closer.

By half, Granada led, 42-14.

Casa Grande played the Matadors even in the second half, scoring 14 final-quarter points to offset Granada’s single touchdowns in the third and fourth periods.

The run-oriented Matadors were able to tack on extra scores as the game headed toward a one-sided conclusion.

A bright spot for Casa Grande was the continued development of its passing game.

Unable to generate a ground game, as the Matadors crunched off the middle and protected the wings, the Gauchos went overhead with quarterback Jadon Bosarge compleing nine of 17 passes for a season-high 196 yards and two touchdowns. He had an impressive 108.9 quarterback rating.

Halfback Kenneth Fitzgerald completed 2-of-2 throws for 46 yards, giving the Gauchos 242 passing yards for the game.

Isaiah Cappelen had a big game receiving, grabbing five passes for 141 yards and a 63-yard touchdown.

“It was nice to have some success throwing the football,” said Brunk. “Jadon did a very good job. As a coach, it is nice to see us show a passing attack.”

However, Casa was only able to net 48 yards rushing, with Fitzgerald held to 53 yards on 19 carries.

Fitzgerald and Jack Leonetti each had a rushing touchdown for the Gauchos and Fitzgerald added a receiving touchdown from Bosarge.

Leonetti had a huge game on defense with 15 tackles, including nine solo. Adam Lopez, with eight tackles, and Jordan Gramajo, with seven, were also prominent on defense.

Brunk, while disappointed in the final result, was pleased with the Gauchos’ season, despite their tough season’s start.

“I am extremely proud of our team,” he said. “They went through a lot of adversity this season, and they just kept getting better week after week. They really showed a lot of character.

“I preached to the players every week that they should enjoy the process and get better every week,” the coach said.

“It was about week five when they began to turn the corner. They figured out that football was more than just Friday night.”

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