CIF STATE FOOTBALL BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
Division IV Bowl Game
St. Margaret’s (15-0) vs. Central Catholic of Modesto (11-3)
Where, when: StubHub Center, Carson, Friday, 4 p.m.
TV: TWC Community
On the web: TWCcommunity.com (live streaming)
Outlook: The Tartans have defeated three consecutive unbeaten teams, but Central Catholic, with three losses, looms as their most dangerous foe. The Raiders have won the past two Division IV state bowl games by a combined score of 102-30. They also “played up” during the regular season. Central Catholic, the Division IV champions in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section, lost to Sac-Joaquin Division II runner-up St. Mary’s of Stockton in a nonleague game and fell to a pair of Division III contenders during league. “They play at a pretty high level,” Mark Tennis, editor/publisher of CalHiSports.com, said of Central Catholic, which has enrollment of about 370. “They’re probably better than Garden Grove. … They might be as good as Capistrano Valley.” The Tartans reached their first state bowl since 2008 with a 48-21 victory against Christian of El Cajon in the Southern regional. Central Catholic plays a physical style led by 6-foot-2, 205-pound running back Justin Rice, who has rushed for 2,096 yards and 30 TDs. Quarterback Hunter Petlansky has passed for 1,884 yards and rushed for another 728. Rice’s brother, Jared, is a 6-5, 215-pound tight end/safety with six interceptions and several scholarship offers. “Best team we’ve played all year,” St. Margaret’s interim coach Stephen Barbee said of Central Catholic. St. Margaret’s showed its balance and depth last week against Christian. Prolific running back Oscar Gomez (2,357 yards, 37 TDs) was held to 27 yards on 10 carries, but sophomore quarterback George Krantz passed for a career-high 360 yards and four TDs. Other top weapons for St. Margaret’s are Nick Shanks (2,425 all-purpose yards) and kicker Charlie Beall (10 field goals). Middle linebacker Dalan Cragun helps anchor the defense.
DAN ALBANO
