PRE-GAME INTRO:??Bishop Diego?(7-0) takes on a potent Oak Park (7-1) in a clash between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the CIF Northwest Division on Saturday night at SBCC?s La Playa Stadium.
?Obviously, they are a very talented and experienced team as evident by their record,? Bishop Diego coach Tom Crawford said of Oak Park. The Eagles? only loss was a 41-35 shootout with Agoura of the Marmonte League in the season opener.
Oak Park is led by quarterback Chandler Whitbord, a 6-3, 195-pounder senior, who can bust defenses with his arm and legs.?Whitbord has completed 99 of 157 passes for 1,682 and an impressive 26 touchdowns. He?s rushed for 816 yards on 77 carries and scored six TDs.
But he is not the only weapon for Oak Park. Running back Brandon Coppel has gained 1,019 yards and scored 7 touchdowns.
The Bishop Diego defense has been stellar this season. It?s allowed only 25 points in seven games.?Bishop?s high-powered offense (287 points) will be up against an Oak Park defense that held Nordhoff to three points last week.
Oak Park attained the No. 2 ranking this week after its impressive win over previous No. 2 Nordhoff.
FOURTH QUARTER
GAME OVER – Be sure to check back later for our post-game recap that includes stats, video highlights, and interviews with players and coaches. No. 2 Oak ?Park 42, Bishop Diego 28?
1:21 – Oak Park fullback punches in a touchdown from the 1-yard line, and the successful 2-point conversion makes it a 14-point game. Oak Park has scored more points tonight than Bishop Diego had allowed all season in seven games. Oak Park 42, Bishop Diego 28
1:49 – Eric Corsello picks off a Bishop Diego pass and returns it to the Cardinals’ 10-yard line. The turnover just about clinches the victory for Oak Park, which is on the verge of knocking off its second straight undefeated opponent.
3:33 – Who else? Brandon Coppel makes another play, this time a great open-field tackle on Murillo to stop the Cardinals on third down. But then on 4th down, Bishop Diego gets an offsides call and a first down.
3:40 – Two handoffs later, Brandon Coppel weaves through the Bishop Diego defense for 37 yards to put Oak Park back on top. The extra point is foiled by Bishop Diego, however, giving the Eagles only a six-point lead. Oak Park 34, Bishop Diego 28
4:19 – Big Play Alert!!! On a 3rd-down-and-5, Brandon Coppel intercepts a pass intended for Bishop Diego’s Thomas Lash that is underthrown. Oak Park takes over at the 50-yard line.
6:03 – Unfazed, Whitbord goes back to Byers with a better result. Byers goes over a defender to haul in a 28-yard touchdown pass that knots the game back up again. Whitbord now has three TD passes, two to Byers. Kick is good. Oak Park 28, Bishop Diego 28.
6:44 – The away crowd growns as Whitbord overthrows a wide-open Byers for what would have been a sure-thing touchdown. A first-down on the next play has Oak Park still driving.
7:40 – Oak Park not looking as sharp as they were in the first half. The Eagles’ first play nearly intercepted for a pick-6. But the Eagles just completed their next three passes, followed by a 14-yard run by Coppel, and now the Eagles are in Cardinal territory.
8:55 – Another catch by Murillo, this one from Anthony Carter, give Bishop Diego a 1st-and-goal on the 9-yard line. With Molina back under center, the Cardinals pitch it to Abel Gonzalez on their next snap, and Gonzalez runs to the end zone and dives the last two yards. Kick is good. Bishop Diego 28, Oak Park 21.
12:00 – Gabe Molina converts a 3rd-and-3 on a completion to Murillo to start the final quarter. Bishop Diego has a first down on Oak Park’s 38-yard line.
THIRD QUARTER
0:38 – This interception will stand. BJ Murillo takes possession away from Oak Park on a leaping interception on a pass play close to the Oak Park sideline. Bishop Diego takes over on its own 46. It’s Murillo’s second interception of the season.
2:55 – The Eagles force the Cardinals to punt. Eric Corsello intercepted Anthony Carter’s pass on third down but the referees nixed the potential game-changing play by ruling Carter down. After the punt, Oak Park starts on its own 30 instead of in Cardinal territory.
5:56 – Oak Park moves into Bishop Diego territory before stalling out. A punt backs up Bishop Diego on its own 15-yard line.
9:13 – Bishop Diego starts the second half poised and effective, marching 56 yards on six plays. Cardinals quarterback Gabe Molina finds Thomas Lash for a nine-yard TD. Oak Park 21, Bishop Diego 21.
12:00 – Bishop Diego returns to the field first following halftime, looking to avoid its first loss of the season. The 21-points allowed to Oak Park in the first half is already a season-high, as only one opponent had managed to reach double figures against the Cardinals until tonight. Oak Park will kick to Bishop Diego to start the second half.
SECOND QUARTER
HALFTIME – No. 1 Bishop Diego, which has outscored its opponents 287-25 in seven games this season, is trailing at halftime for the first time this year as the second-ranked Eagles of Oak Park have been able to move the ball on offense, especially through the air. OAK PARK 21, BISHOP DIEGO 14
0:37 – Oak Park regains the lead before the halftime break. Whitbord connects with Trent Dolabson for a 31-yard score. Dolabson made the catch over the middle and ran the final 10 yards to end zone. Oak Park 21, Bishop Diego 14
1:40 – That was quick. In a huge turn of events, Bishop Diego’s BJ Murillo takes a short pass, breaks a tackle into open field, and scampers 77 yards for a Bishop Diego touchdown. It was the Cardinals’ snap after stopping the Eagles on 4th down. Kick is good. Bishop Diego 14, Oak Park 14.
1:55 – Coppel had his number called again and falls forward near the marker. After measuring it though, the Eagles have come up short and the ball is turned over to Bishop Diego at the Cardinals’ 23-yard line.
2:00 – Oak Park elected to run on 3rd-and-6, and Brandon Coppel picked up four yards to set up a 4th-and-2. Oak Park lined up as if going for it, then called timeout to talk it over.
2:55 – The Eagles are driving again. Having started at their own 20-yard line, the Eagles have moved the chains four times, including a third down conversion on 3rd-and-14 when Whitbord found Byers for an 18-yard gain. Oak Park has another third down right now on Bishop Diego’s 29-yard line.
6:25 – A 37-yard field goal attempt by Bishop is no good, giving the ball back to Oak Park at their own 20-yard line. The Rangers have scored on their past two possessions after falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter.
9:32 – Oak Park takes its first lead of the game on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Chandler Whitbord to Matt Byer. Two-point conversion works as the Eagles get back on track. Oak Park 14, Bishop Diego 7
FIRST QUARTER
END OF QUARTER – Oak Park has possession after stopping the Cardinals without a first down on their last possession. The Eagles will have 1st-and-10 on their own 43 to start the second quarter after Matt Byer picked up 23 yards on a rushing play to end the first quarter.
2:35 – Oak Park answers on its next possession, as running back Brandon Coppel scores his eight touchdown of the season on a 2-yard run that completes a 84-yard drive. The Eagles covered ground in large chunks thanks to long receptions by Eric Corsello from quarterback Chandler Whitbord. But Joe Salcedo breaks through the line on the extra point attempt and smothers the kick to keep Bishop Diego in the lead. Bishop Diego 7, Oak Park 6.
7:30 -?Bishop Diego strikes first on a 4-yard run up the middle by Abel Gonzalez. The Cardinals started with great field position following Oak Park’s opening possession. Bishop Diego went 34 yards. Bishop Diego 7, Oak Park 0
Kickoff – Set for 7 p.m. at Santa Barbara City College’s La Playa Stadium
