Look: Bryson Donelson, Brent Kroeze lead Central Valley Christian past Los Gatos in State Championship thriller – Highlights, photos
PASADENA, Calif. - Central Valley Christian rode a 17-0 start and 24-7 halftime lead on Saturday to a 45-42 win over Los Gatos at Pasadena City College.
The prize? A CIF 2-A State Championship.
The Cavaliers were led by Brent Kroeze and Fresno State commit Bryson Donelson, who proved to comprise one of the state's top quarterback/running back tandems as seniors. Donelson ran for three touchdowns and caught a 62-yard strike, totaling nearly 300 yards of offense on the night and finishing first in California in both rushing yards (3,290) and touchdowns (58). Kroeze also found Ryan Lewis and Gunnar Piepgrass for a touchdown apiece.
MORE: INTERVIEW WITH BRYSON DONELSON
While Los Gatos came up just short, cemented at the end by back-to-back onside kicks recovered by Central Valley Christian, it was a second half – and season – to be proud of for the CIFCCS Division 1 champion. A.J. Minyard threw touchdown passes to Max Thomas, Owen Panu, and Jaylen Thomas, and ran for a touchdown as well against CVC. In addition to taking Minyard's pass 62 yards for a touchdown, Thomas scored Los Gatos' only first-half points from 36 yards out on an inside reverse. Boxer Kopcsak-Yeung scored on an inside reverse as well from 27 yards.
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– Lance Smith | lance@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveca
