Raging indeed: Twelve Bridges avenges last year’s heartbreak with rout of Casa Roble
It was unbridled joy on one side and painstaking heartbreak on the other.
Both Casa Roble and Twelve Bridges football teams remember it well, an instant classic at Hughes Stadium on the Sacramento City College campus for the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship last November. A tight contest led by the Raging Rhinos of Lincoln for most of the game turned into a 1-point victory for the Rams as quarterback Connor Campbell took an 8-yard run to the house and connected with Ethan Horner for the go-ahead 2-point conversion in the closing moments.
The blue banner went home with the Rams in Orangevale, while the Rhinos left empty handed. It was a stark reminder for Twelve Bridges of where it wants to be. So, the Rhinos of Lincoln had to look at last year’s title game as ancient history.
“Since that night, we knew we wanted to come back and play them on their home field and get the W,” said Twelve Bridges senior Isaiah Rodriguez.
At long last, the Rhinos made it to Friday and reversed roles in Orangevale, storming to a 30-point lead by halftime and never looking back with a 51-7 win.
Rodriguez caught seven passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns and also returned a 51-yard punt for a score to lead Twelve Bridges.
“It all starts with that guy, No. 8,” said Twelve Bridges coach Chris Bean after the game.
It wasn’t just Rodriguez, though. Linebacker Chase Wyhlidko had a pair of interceptions and ran for a score. Gavin Rappa had an outstanding defensive game and had a 14-yard receiving TD from Connor Flaherty, who went 13-of-18 with 219 yards and three TDs.
“Nothing will be worse than last year’s game,” Rodriguez said. “But this makes up for it a little bit, for sure.”
On the Rhinos’ opening drive, Flaherty hit Rodriguez for a 56-yard touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead. Casa responded less than the minutes later when Aiden Lopez found Ethan Horner for a 7-yard score that tied the score at seven apiece.
Wyhlidko ran in a short score to reclaim a 15-7 lead after a two-point conversion for the Rhinos. Flaherty connected on two more scoring passes with Rodriguez for 30 yards and Rappa for 14, before Rodriguez broke for a 51-yard punt return TD that gave Twelve Bridges a 37-7 halftime advantage.
Braeden Ward had a short rushing score, and Connor Frontiera hit Will Gant for a 29-yarder for the Rhinos in the third to cap the scoring.
Last year’s game “has definitely been in the back of the heads of everybody,” said Rams head coach Chris Horner via text message. “I think Twelve Bridges has had a countdown for this game since last November.”
Both teams have byes next week and will open league play Sept. 27. Twelve Bridges (4-0) will host River Valley for its Foothill Valley League opener, and Casa Roble (1-3) will begin Golden Empire League play at Woodland.
Nick Pecoraro is a sports journalist and host of “Premier Preps with Nick Pecoraro,” a weekly prep show available on YouTube that recaps games and teams in the Sacramento area each week. Find it at youtube.com/@PremierPreps.
This story was originally published September 13, 2024 at 11:02 PM.