Bishop Diego running back Abel Gonzalez rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-0 playoff win over North Torrance. (Presidio Sports File Photo)
TORRANCE ? Bishop Diego?s football team made a statement in the first round of the CIF Northwest Division playoffs Friday night.
The Cardinals, a semifinalist the past two years, put on a dominating performance and thumped North Torrance, 34-0. They lost at North in last year?s semifinals.
Abel Gonzalez rushed for 142 yards on 10 carries and scored twice and Anthony Carter tore through the Saxons? defense for 110 yards on eight carries and scored two touchdowns, as the Cardinals dominated the line of scrimmage.
Bishop will travel again for the second round, playing at Duarte, a 27-17 winner over Maranatha.
Carter busted through the line and raced 38 yards for a touchdown to give Bishop Diego a 7-0 lead at 1:54 mark of first quarter.
Then it was Gonzalez? turn. He broke tackles and dashed 46 yards to put the Cardinals ahead 14-0 lead with 1:59 left in the first half.
Carter made is presence on defense, too. He intercepted a pass on North?s first possession of the second half, which led to the third touchdown, a 28-yard run by Gonzalez.
The Bishop defense stopped the Saxons again and the offense delivered with another rushing touchdown. Carter turned on the afterburners and beat the last two defenders for a 52-yard score. The PAT was missed, leaving the Cardinals ahead 27-0.
Running back Aidan Williams got into the act with a 9-yard touchdown to make it 34-0.
Carter secured the shutout with his second interception of the game. The Cardinals picked off the Saxons quarterback four times.
Bishop entered the game as the No. 3 seed in the division, but the Cardinals had to travel for the first round because they finished third in the rugged Tri-Valley League and made the playoffs as an at-large team.
They made it clear Friday that they?re a team on a mission to play for a CIF title.
