Big plays help Bearcats to win

Both teams were moved up from the Ocean Division after last season and both are trying to find a way into the playoffs, so there was a lot riding on Friday night’s game.

But in the end, San Mateo was simply too much to contain as the Bearcats came away with a 35-21 decision.

“Offensively, we had a better game than we had last week,” said San Mateo head coach Jeff Scheller, referencing a 28-14 loss to King’s Academy Oct. 16.

“Defensively, we have stuff to clean up.”

A week after being held to a season-low rushing of 181 yards, San Mateo (2-1 PAL De Anza, 5-3 overall) erupted for a season high against Carlmont (1-2, 2-6), grinding out 408 yards, led by quarterback Lukas Fitzgerald, who finished with 117 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries.

“It’s what the defense gives us,” Scheller said of his quarterback shouldering a bulk of the running load this season.

But Fitzgerald was hardly alone. Older brother Yianni Fitzgerald, a senior to Lukas’ junior status, added 84 yards on six carries, also scoring twice. Gio Hernandez Cruz rounded out the scoring for the Bearcats, as he rushed for 46 yards on nine carries.

That trio combined for 247 yards, but the Bearcats are at their most potent when they can get their toss game going and start pressuring the edges of defenses. They showed off that capability Friday as Tyce Copus rushed for 87 yards on just three carries, finding acres of open space.

When he got dinged up, Cameron Barry came on and added 40 yards on three carries from the slot position.

“That’s what we want — the big explosive plays,” Scheller said.

Additionally, Copus came up with a pair of interceptions from his defensive back position, including one near the end zone to thwart a potential Carlmont rally late in the fourth quarter.

“He’s a stud,” Scheller said. “This year he’s gone to the next level.”

There were big, explosive plays for both teams, really. Carlmont’s Austin Sotto took the opening kickoff 60 yards to the San Mateo 30 and the Scots needed just three plays to find the end zone, with quarterback Brody Zirelli finding Dylan Sorensen for a quick-strike, 31-yard score for a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.

But San Mateo answered with big plays all night. Of the Bearcats’ five touchdown drives, all of them featured a run of 25 yards or more.

The Bearcats turned the ball over on down on their first possession, but got the ball right back when Zirelli threw to Sorensen in double coverage with Copus coming down with the interception.

Three plays later, the game was tied at 7-all. After a 6-yard Yianni Fitzgerald run, he took the handoff again he rumbled 55 yards down to the 8-yard line. Hernandez Cruz, who dropped a pass on fourth down on the first possession, atoned for the mistake by bulling into the end zone from eight yards out to tie the game.

Carlmont started driving on its ensuing possession before turning the ball over downs at the Bearcats’ 37. Again, San Mateo popped a big gain to set up the go-ahead score. After a pair of 12-yards gains from Lukas Fitzgerald and Hernandez Cruz, Copus broke off a 26-yard scamper to the 13-yard line and Lukas Fitzgerald capped it with a 1-yard plunge for a 14-7 lead with 6:50 left in the half.

The Bearcats avoided disaster when they fumbled away a Carlmont punt, but the defense forced the Scots to turn the ball over downs.

That set up the Bearcats’ third score of the half. Copus galloped 50 yards up the right sideline and Yianni Fitzgerald punched it in from two yards out to give San Mateo a 21-7 lead at halftime.

But the Carlmont offense got in a rhythm on its final drive of the second quarter and carried that momentum into the second half as the Bearcats struggled to contain the Scots’ passing attack. Zirelli finished the game 17 for 34 for 220 yards and a pair of scores. Sorensen caught six passes for 108 yards and a pair of scores.

But before Carlmont could to work, San Mateo extended its lead to 28-7, scoring on the first drive of the second half. This time it was a busted play that turned into a 29-yard TJ Johnson scamper down to the Scots’ 22. Yianni Fitzgerald, again, capped the drive with a 1-yard power run and the Bearcats were up 28-7.

But the Scots didn’t fold. They picked up a first down on their first drive of the third quarter before converting on fourth down with Zirelli hitting Kaisei Trotter for a 24-yard gain. Zirelli capped the drive with a 13-yard pass to Sorensen at the front of the end zone to cut the lead to 28-14.

San Mateo answered back, needing four plays to go 58 yards, the big play being a Barry 32-yard gain on a toss down to the 1. Which then turned into a Lukas Fitzgerald plunge to go up 35-14.

But Trotter, who finished with 75 yards rushing on 11 carries, gave Carlmont a chance when he ripped off a 39-yard scoring run to close to 35-21 and when the Scots’ defense forced San Mateo’s first punt of the night, they were back in business.

They drove from their own 18 down to the Bearcats’ 13, where their hopes died in the hands of Copus, who came up with his second pick of the night.

“When (the Scots) lay efficient, they’re tough,” Scheller said. “They’re a good team. Defensively, they were tough, too.”