Gilroy
Christopher wanted a challenge and Carmel delivered.
Despite leading at halftime, the Cougars fell 48-21 to the visiting Padres in a nonleague contest Friday in their home opener.
Christopher (2-1) looked to take a 15-7 lead into halftime after a Rayshon Mills interception allow the team to kick a field goal with 23 seconds left. But Carmel answered with a huge 60-yard punt return that brought the team to Christopher’s 10-yard-line. Two plays later, Padres quarterback dangerous Connor Marden found himself in the endzone on a 6-yard rush to bring Carmel (3-0) within one — 15-14 — at the half.
Turnovers were the thorn the Cougars’ paw, generating six of them in the game — four of which game in the second half, giving Carmel the upperhand.
“We were in the game in the second half, we were up coming into the second half,” Cougars coach Tim Pierleoni said. “We needed to keep playing hard right there. They just did a really good job. They did a really good job and we turned the ball over — we can’t do that.”
As always, junior linebacker Jacob Moen was a defensive standout. Moen came up with 11 tackles in the game in addition to blocked punt in the second half that kept the Cougars close, trailing Carmel 20-15.
A little more cohesion between his teammates and things could’ve just as well gone the other way, Moen said.
“My mentality was just work together. We needed to work together and try to beat these guys,” Moen said. “They are a good team, but I felt that we could’ve beat them.
“They’re probably one of the better teams we’ll face this year, if not the best. I thought we were hungry for the challenge and I really though we could’ve played a lot better.”
Marden gave the Cougars trouble both on the ground and in the air. A few key throws from the Carmel QB got his team into the redzone where the run game would take over. He finished 9 for 17 for 228 yards aerially, but also led his team in rushing. Marden kept the ball 20 times for two touchdowns and 131 yards.
Marden was complemented by running back Holden Smith who had 19 carries for 127 yards and three touchdowns against Christopher.
Pierleoni stayed positive following the game, welcoming the challenge from teams of Carmel’s caliber.
“I think it’s good for us — the better teams we play, the better we’ll be,” the Cougars coach said. “If we play a bunch of teams like that, we’ll be much better. It’s just part of the nonleague schedule. It’s a tough nonleague schedule and we wanted a tough nonleague schedule.”
Offensively, Mills led the team in rushing 14 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown. Mills also had four receptions for 56 yards.
Cougars quarterback Sterling Montgomery had mixed results in the game, finishing 10 for 31 for 164 yards and two TDs, while also throwing three interceptions.
The Cougars will have more than week to correct their mistakes. Christopher will have a bye week and will be back in action at 2 p.m. Oct. 5 to host San Mateo.
Pierleoni said his team will use the time wisely and be ready to play.
“We can’t turn the ball over, we’ve got to practice a little bit harder,” he said. “I think sometimes our kids get a little lackadaisical and that’s something we can’t have. We’ve got to be in games, be ready to play and show up every chance we have. That’s what we’ll work on, we’ll get better.”
They (Carmel) did a really good job and we turned the ball over — we can’t do that.”
