Northgate football finishes successful season
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — The 2022 Northgate Football season was a success, not just because they had a winning record, played through adversity, and made it to the NCS semifinal playoff game, but, most importantly, according to many players, fans, and alumni, because they beat Las Lomas High School for the first time in seven years!
The cross-town rivalry with Las Lomas has always been known as The Battle of the Creek. The current team had never won against Las Lomas in the annual regular season meeting; the same was true of this year. But after a hard-fought season at 7-5 when many of the team’s starters battled though injuries, Northgate earned a position in the post season. Their first opponent would be Las Lomas. It would be the first time Northgate and Las Lomas played each other in the post season.
The team was led by three senior captains: John Pelletier, Emilio Pucci and James Bondad. By the second quarter the score was 7-21 Las Lomas, but Northgate was not giving up. Right before the end of the half Pelletier threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to his long-time friend Pucci to bring the game within reach at 14-21. Then in the 3rd quarter Northgate scored again, tying the game at 21.
In the 4th quarter Pucci returned a punt for 40 yards, setting up an eventual field goal by Lucas LeSieur with about three minutes left. Northgate recovered an onside kick, but eventually Las Lomas came within striking distance for a field goal, which missed by inches. With only six seconds left on the clock. Las Lomas once again had a chance to score. Emmanuel Karnley, a Div. I recruit who plays for Las Lomas, ran down the field. Pelletier tackled him, forcing him out of bounds and the game ended with a Northgate win 24-21. “It was probably the highlight of my high school career,” said Pelletier.
Northgate advanced to the semifinals to play El Cerrito. It was Northgate’s first time in the semifinals in seven years.
Pucci suffered a high ankle sprain only four minutes into the game. Pelletier was injured right before halftime. Unfortunately, El Cerrito just had more weapons. Pelletier added, “All we [he and Pucci] could do was cheer on our teammates. We lived out our last minutes from the side lines.” The two young men have been playing football together since 3rd grade, and even though that last game was disappointing, they have great memories of their final season together, and luckily both have recovered from their injuries.
Coach Ben Ballard added, “The season is a long grind. The players put in a lot of hard work starting in the summer. They really grew together as a team. It was cool to see these guys succeed.”
Pucci, who won All-League 1st team honors, has offers from several West Coast Division 3 colleges and some interest from Division 1 schools. Next season he plans to play football and study business or kinesiology. Pelletier, who was named All-League 2nd team, is still debating his plans for next year, either attending Junior College to continue playing football or attending a university to begin his studies in mechanical engineering.
Northgate also had two other players who received All-League honors: Emanuel Webster, a senior running back, All-League 1st team, and Liam Walsh, a junior defensive end, All-League 2nd team. Congratulations to the all the players and coaches for a great season!
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