The annual Santa Clara and Wilcox rivalry football game churned out another win for the Chargers on Friday night. Wilcox took this one — a 63-7 victory. However, despite the lopsided loss, Bruins Head Coach Burt Codera said he likes the fact that the schools continue to put the game on the schedule.
“I like having it because it sets the bar,” remarked coach Codera. “It sets the bar to where our program is right now and where it could be.”
The lone Bruins touchdown was scored by senior wide receiver Richard Corona on an acrobatic catch in the end zone.
“Honestly the one thing I want all of our team to realize is passion,” responded Corona when asked what his team can take away from the loss. “Passion is something that drives these football players. It drives me, I play for my mother. I want our team to have passion. What I think this game needs to be is a wake-up call. The stage is set for next week, at Levi’s Stadium against Saratoga in our first league game after losing tonight to Wilcox. We need to have a great week of practice, now it’s real. We’re zero and zero in league and these are the games that count for the playoffs.”
As for the Chargers, they will open up their league season next week against Fremont in Sunnyvale as they look to remain undefeated overall. Against the Bruins, the Chargers got additional opportunities for their receivers to make plays. Generally a run-heavy team, Wilcox wide receivers Ryan Cooper Jr. and Jacob Dominguez each saw extra balls thrown their direction. Cooper’s long catch and run in the first quarter put the Chargers up 21-0.
“That was a great play by him,” chimed Chargers Head Coach Paul Rosa on Cooper’s first-quarter touchdown. “He deserves a touchdown, he does all the dirty work on defense. He has been one of our top players all year and he has not once complained about getting the ball, so we try to take care of him as best we can.”
“I love seeing Cooper catch all those balls,” remarked Chargers defensive lineman Isaac Passett. “It’s new for us defensive guys to see our offense pass that much, but it’s fun seeing him go up and get all those receptions.”
On the offensive side of the ball, the Chargers’ key ball handlers all put up some impressive numbers against Santa Clara. Quarterback Alex Adame threw for a season high 194 yards and three touchdowns, while tailbacks Gabe Herrera and Paul M Rosa each went over 100 yards from scrimmage with multiple touchdowns. The latter of whom reached the end zone four different times. Isaiah Flores also added an 80-yard touchdown reception.