Concord 42, Las Lomas 16
The Star: Olito Thompson, for the second straight week broke the Concord single game rushing record. In this game, he shattered his own mark of 370 yards, set last week against Newark Memorial, with 457 yards and four touchdowns. Thompson scored on runs of 91, 80, 77 and 47 yards.
The Turning Point: Concord scored on the second play of the game with a 77-yard touchdown run from Thompson and, after a botched two-point conversion, led 6-0 over Las Lomas. The Knights quickly answered with a 38-yard field goal, which was partially blocked, but managed to squeak over the crossbar. Thompson answered back with a 47-yard scoring scamper and the Minutemen led 12-3. Las Lomas again answered the call with 28 seconds remaining in the first quarter, scoring on a beautiful 24-yard throw from Adam Wood to Robby Ow to pull within three. But on the very first play after the kickoff, Thompson broke free again, for a 91-yard scoring scamper. The Minutemen went on to outscore the Knights 22-6 and run away with the playoff victory.
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What's Next? No. 7 seeded Concord will play the winner of Casa Grande vs. Rancho Cotate game next Friday at 7.
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Find out what's happening in Walnut Creekfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
There was absolutely no way Concord High’s Olito Thompson could top his record setting performance of 370 yards and three touchdowns in the Minutemen’s first round victory over Newark Memorial.
Right? Wrong!
Thompson and the Concord offensive line put together an even better record breaking performance, physically dominating Las Lomas with 554 total rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
“I just run hard and follow my line,” said Thompson who racked up 457 yards and four touchdowns. “The chemistry I have with my o-line is so great. They tell me to run behind them and I just trust in them. It’s a family thing. You cannot advance in life without trust.”
The Minutemen put together a complete performance on offense and defense bouncing Las Lomas from the second round of the NCS Division II playoffs, 42-16, Friday night in Walnut Creek.
Concord, entered the game as the seven seed, but they played with the confidence and poise of the defending NCS champs.
“It’s an evolution. The last two weeks we have done it on the ground, but we have had success in different formations, sets and game plans,” said Concord coach Brian Hamilton. “This team has done an amazing job of taking (and executing) whatever the coaching staff throws at them. “
The chess match on the sidelines between two of the area’s top football coaches and best friends, Las Lomas’ Doug Longero versus Hamilton, tipped heavily in Concord’s favor. However, even with a lopsided result, in the coaches’ post-game interviews the pairs' mutual respect for one another was obvious.
“I am really humbled. I have learned so much from Doug,” said Hamilton. “Last year when we made our run he would call me and say, ‘watch out for this’ or ‘this team is going to do this.' When we are at the Coliseum in the NCS championship, Doug told me to make sure we warmed up in the locker room. He is more than a friend. It is kind of ironic because without his influence we would not be ready to play games like this.”
Las Lomas caps a nine-win campaign with an earlier than expected exit from the post season, but they will take solace in the fact they are only losing nine seniors and have many underclassmen starting and excelling.
One of those younger stars, receiver Robby Ow, a junior, finished the season on a tear. He thrashed Acalanes in the season finale, before dismantling Washington with touchdown scores in the teams’ NCS opener. Against Concord, for the first three quarters, the connection between quarterback Adam Wood and Ow, accounted for most of the Knights offensive success.
Ow’s future appears bright as he caught 11 passes for 111 yards against Concord.
“We got punched in the mouth tonight. Physically they did a great job,” said Longero. “They are a good team and Olito Thompson is a great football player. They have a chance to do some damage the rest of the way through.
“I am proud of our kids and the way they fought all season. It’s just a hard way to go out, losing on the last game of the season.”
The Concord pass rush and run defense was tenacious. The Minutemen got sacks from Trent Mahler, Willie Thompson and James Morales. They also got an interception from Alex Bates on a Hail Mary attempt from Las Lomas to end the half.
Concord’s red zone back, Uaisele Manoa, again bust up the gut for two more rushing touchdowns.
Jake Villa was held to 97 yards and a late fourth quarter touchdown by the punishing Concord front.
“I see us making it far,” added Thompson. “If we keep working hard, I see us back in the championship game.”
If Rancho Cotate manages to get past Casa Grande, it will set up a rematch of the epic NCS finals last season between the Minutemen and Cougars. The game was a barnburner, decided on a last-second touchdown throw from Concord quarterback Ricky Lloyd to Sitani Malupo.
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Concord 42, Las Lomas 16
Concord 20 8 0 14 — 42
Las Lomas 10 0 0 6 — 16
Scoring summary
11:42, 1st: C — Thompson 77 run (two-point conversion failed)
8:23, 1st: LL — Howard 38 field goal
4:03, 1st: C — Thompson 47 run (two-point conversion failed)
.28, 1st: LL — Ow 24 pass Wood (Howard kick)
.16, 1st: C — Thompson 80 run (two-point conversion Morrow to Smith)
4:49, 2nd: C — Manoa 10 run (two-point conversion Morrow to Smith)
11:30, 4th, C — Thompson 91 run (two-point conversion failed)
9:16, 4th: C — Manoa 1 run (two-point conversion Morrow to Smith)
.25, 4th: LL — Villa 34 run (two-point conversion failed)
Records: Concord 9-3. Las Lomas 9-3.
