All the rage: Twelve Bridges trounces Patterson for first section title

In just its third varsity season, the Twelve Bridges High School football team is a Sac-Joaquin Section champion. It's been an unprecedented run for the Raging Rhinos, who entered Friday's Division IV championship game at Hughes Stadium with a 12-0 record for the second year in a row. After suffering a heartbreaking loss in the final minute in last year's final, No. 1 Twelve Bridges righted the wrong with a 55-7 triumph over No. 2 Patterson. Twelve Bridges coach Chris Bean said the ghosts of last season's loss to Casa Roble in the D-V final haunted him, adding it felt great to get over the hump, though he still hadn't processed the feeling of winning his first blue banner. "I gotta be honest with you, my emotions are kind of kept in check right now. I just didn't want to let myself believe because I was wounded last year when we lost that game," Bean said. "I didn't want to sleep, I didn't want to eat, I didn't want to do much. I had a little moment with me and the good Lord above and just thanked him for this honor of being in this situation and giving the town something like this and giving our families and our kids something like this." The Rhinos had just four starters return this season, including senior Isaiah Rodriguez, who said the victory felt like the Rhinos righted a wrong from last season and he had no doubt this team would be back in the section championship. "We wanted it bad. Right after that loss, we knew we were going to be back. We knew we were the team to be here. We knew we deserved to be here," Rodriguez said. "We don't win this game without those juniors and sophomores. I wish we could have done it with last year's seniors, but we got it done this year and I know they're proud of us no matter what. So being able to switch the story from last year means a lot to us." A four-touchdown performance by Braeden Ward spearheaded the Rhinos' offense. He rambled for 107 yards in the first half and finished with 213 yards on 21 carries. Bean said Ward is one of the most special players he has coached, and he hasn't seen a kid with the motor and drive the senior running back possesses. "He is special. I haven't seen too many kids where whatever you need, he's gonna get you that yard or two extra. I mean, we needed seven yards, and he pushed and the pile went to eight yards on a play," Bean said. "That's just him. I mean, talk about a kid that just has a motor and an engine and a drive to want to be just freaking so good." The Rhinos began to pour it on in the second quarter and outscored the Tigers 21-0 on Connor Flaherty's 25-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Amos and two short scoring runs by Ward to build a 34-7 halftime cushion. It was more of the same in the third, as Twelve Bridges put the game out of reach with three more touchdowns, runs of 28 yards by Ward and 13 yards by Gavin Rappa, and a 42-yard touchdown pass from Flaherty to Will Gant. Flaherty completed 10 of 13 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns. Flaherty also rushed for 38 yards on three keepers. The Rhinos rushed for 338 of their 501 total yards. The Twelve Bridges defense forced four turnovers, including two interceptions by Amos, a pick by Rappa and a fumble recovery by Devon King. The Rhinos also sacked agile Patterson quarterback Max Medina four times. Medina went into the game with a 72-percent completion percentage, 33 touchdown passes and nine interceptions; he was 8 for 24 with three picks against the Rhinos. The Tigers totaled 274 yards. Amos was pulled up to varsity for the playoffs and has made the most of his opportunity, cementing himself as one of the top defensive backs on the roster. He said he has felt welcomed by the varsity squad, making his transition smooth. "It's my new family. This feeling with my team after the game was amazing," Amos said. "I knew I would make a difference when I came up and I tried my hardest." The Raging Rhinos (13-0) will learn their opponent for the CIF NorCal Regional Bowls on Sunday. Said Bean, "It's all about this section championship, because you never know what kind of crazy draw they're gonna give you. We're just thankful that we're gonna get this one and we'll worry about that next one some other time." TWELVE BRIDGES 55, PATTERSON 7 Patterson &emsp;7 0 0 0 – 7 Twelve Bridges 13 21 21 0 – 55 TB – Braeden Ward 29 run (Connor Frontiera kick) Patterson – Jeremiah Lugo 1 run (Cordae Johnson kick) TB – Matthew Marquez 15 pass from Connor Flaherty (kick wide) TB – Dylan Amos 25 pass from Flaherty (Frontiera kick) TB – Ward 4 run (Frontiera kick) TB – Ward 2 run (Frontiera kick) TB – Ward 28 run (Frontiera kick) TB – Gavin Rappa 13 run (Frontiera kick) TB – Will Gant 42 pass from Flaherty (Frontiera kick) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING – Patterson, Jeremiah Lugo 11-67, Max Medina 5-54, Coby Joseph 5-14, Nehemiah Va'a 2-11. Twelve Bridges, Braeden Ward 21-213, Gavin Rappa 4-40, Connor Flaherty 3-38, Bradley Kirby 2-24, Logan Muma 1-13, Chase Wyhlidko 1-10. PASSING – Patterson, Medina 12-31-3, 149. Twelve Bridges, Flaherty 10-13-0, 171; Frontiera 1-1-0, 5. RECEIVING – Patterson. Noah Cozart 4-54, Jace Johnson 3-42, Romeo Manu 3-30, Lugo 1-12, Xavier Tinoco 1-11. Twelve Bridges, Dylan Amos 3-35, Matthew Marquez 2-20, Gavin Rappa 2-7, Logan Muma 1-54, Will Gant 1-42, Isaiah Rodriguez 1-21, Ward 1-minus 3.