Overtime thriller: Capuchino edges San Mateo, improves to 7-0
San Mateo rallies from three-touchdown deficit in second half to force overtime. But Capuchino finds a way to stay undefeated.
On Friday night in San Bruno, a wild game ended with Capuchino stopping San Mateo near the goal line in overtime to win 42-35.
The Mustangs improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the Ocean Division of the Peninsula Athletic League.
San Mateo’s record is 3-4, 1-2.
Cap had taken the lead on the first possession of overtime when Brandon Arceo threw a 10-yard screen pass to Issa Keishk for a touchdown.
“Obviously, you don’t want to lose, but, man, what a great high school game, what a great high school environment,” said San Mateo coach Jeff Scheller on Saturday morning.
The finish derailed San Mateo’s comeback from a 28-14 halftime deficit and a 35-14 deficit in the third quarter.
To begin the second half, Sebastian Conclara’s long kickoff return for a touchdown gave Cap a three-score lead.
But that was only the beginning of San Mateo’s comeback.
In the third quarter, Emmanuel Fitzgerald’s 2-yard run pulled the visitors to within 35-21.
San Mateo then recovered an onside kick and scored again, this time on a 40-yard touchdown reception by Felipe Sorbara.
Gabe Buenrostro’s third rushing touchdown of the game, from 35 yards out with about four minutes remaining, tied the game at 35-35. He gained 160 yards on 10 carries.
Cap received the ball to begin overtime at the San Mateo 10 and scored right away.
San Mateo got as close as the 2 but couldn’t convert the equalizer on fourth down.
“We just told the kids this morning we were proud of them,” Scheller went on to say. “They worked extremely hard. On to the next one. It’s Milpitas.”
San Mateo got off to a fast start, scoring two touchdowns — both from 67 yards out, by Buenrostro — to take a 14-7 lead.
But Cap, which came back to beat Milpitas last week, scored the next four touchdowns to take what appeared to be a commanding lead.
