UPDATE: In a nail-biting finish, Bishop O’Dowd clinched the CIF 5-AA NorCal Championship with a 23-20 victory over Chico on Friday night. The Dragons’ defense made a critical fourth-down sack in the final 90 seconds, sealing their triumph and ensuring a shot at the state title next week.
O’Dowd, traveling nearly three hours to reach the game, faced a fierce challenge against Chico. The victory marks O’Dowd’s return to regional glory, echoing their last championship win in 2016. Now, the Dragons (10-4) will face Christian-El Cajon in Southern California, aiming for their second state championship.
Junior running back Lamar Ellis was instrumental in the victory, scoring two touchdowns. Ellis opened the scoring with a 17-yard run, giving O’Dowd an early lead. After a blocked PAT, Chico responded with a touchdown pass to Jake Detmer, briefly taking the lead at 7-6.
O’Dowd regained momentum when fullback OC Lehner powered in from the 1-yard line, but a timeout before the snap disrupted the play. The Dragons’ special teams then showcased their prowess, blocking a 28-yard field-goal attempt that kept the score 7-6 at halftime. A 24-yard field goal from Zach Brien as time expired gave O’Dowd a narrow 9-7 lead.
Chico surged back in the second half, with quarterback John Bernardez scoring on a 10-yard run to make it 14-9. However, O’Dowd quickly answered with a spectacular 95-yard kickoff return touchdown by Trevor Erickson, reclaiming the lead at 16-14.
As the fourth quarter unfolded, Ellis delivered a jaw-dropping run, weaving through defenders to extend O’Dowd’s lead to 23-14. Despite Chico’s late push, culminating in Bernardez’s 7-yard touchdown run that brought them within three points, they could not overcome O’Dowd’s relentless defense.
With just over two minutes left, O’Dowd’s defense stepped up, halting Chico’s drive with a crucial fourth-down sack, allowing the Dragons to celebrate their hard-fought victory. The intensity of the match, marked by strategic plays and standout performances, has set the stage for an exciting state championship showdown next week.
As O’Dowd prepares for the challenge ahead, fans are eager to see if the Dragons can repeat their past success and bring home the state title.
