GOLD MINE THOUGHTS: CAMARILLO, CHOWCHILLA KEEP DREAM SEASONS ALIVE

Camarillo wide receiver Frankie Tostado leaps for the one-handed catch during the Scorpions' 63-49 shootout win over La Habra on Dec. 12. Camarillo will face Del Oro-Loomis for the state title on Friday, Dec. 18 (photo credit Joseph A. Garcia/Ventura County Star). 

One after another, Jake Constantine and Eric Barriere exchanged fireworks on a Dec. 12 evening that saw the scoreboard light up once again at Camarillo’s Carl Thompson Field.

When Constantine lobbed a touchdown pass, Barriere countered with another. Once Constantine evaded rushers and flung a ridiculous touchdown throw, Barriere showed off his elusiveness and fired a responding touchdown pass. The two quarterbacks combined for an astronomical 816 passing yards and 11 touchdowns through the air.

But in the end, Constantine’s Scorpions made the most plays and advanced on to the state title game, knocking off La Habra 63-49.

Constantine, who is yet to land his first NCAA scholarship offer, finished with 354 yards and seven scoring lobs including three in the first half.

Barriere, who is the recipient of three football scholarship pledges including one from Eastern Washington, ended his night with 462 yards and four touchdowns.

More important for Camarillo (15-0), the Scorpions will advance on to the Division II-AA state championship game next week at Sacramento State’s Hornet Stadium.  

Awaiting them will be a red hot Del Oro-Loomis team that stunned Liberty-Bakersfield 28-24 on Dec. 12.

"The miracle season keeps going," Constantine told the Ventura County Star. "There's been a lot of practice time, a lot of energy, and we wanted to do whatever it takes.

"I know, for me, it's a special feeling. This was the last game I'm ever going to play in this stadium and I wanted to get everything I had to get out of here with a victory."

SMALL CHOWCHILLA CAPTURING CITY’S IMAGINATION

Chowchilla High – once known for producing former NFL safety Cameron Worrell – is now one victory away from bringing home a state title to the city of over 17,000.

Facing a feisty and talkative Fairfax-Los Angeles team, the Redskins used their vaunted Shotgun Double Wing-T to power past the Lions 28-16 on Dec. 12 at home.

Chowchilla wore down Fairfax with 360 rushing yards, 134 of them coming from lead rusher Alex Guttierrez.

Chowchilla is now one of three Central Section teams still alive in its pursuit of the state title, with Immanuel-Reedley and Hanford High being the others. The Redskins will return home to take on Sierra-Manteca, which beat Sutter 17-13 in the Northern California Division-IV A regional.

HIGHLY ANTICIPATED REMATCH COMING TO HORNET STADIUM

Last year, De La Salle-Concord turned a 21-14 first half deficit into a 63-42 trouncing of Centennial-Corona.

The Huskies, the state’s No. 1 team in the state all year long, now get their shot at redemption against the Spartans, as they’ll tangle with the team that ended their season at 8 p.m. at Sacramento State on Saturday, Dec. 19.

So many future college football players will be sprouted on the Hornet Stadium turf. De La Salle features big tight end Devin Asiasi and electrifying running back Antoine Custer. Centennial will counter with its workhorse back and Arizona commit J.J. Taylor, top wide receiving target Javon McKinley, plus a stacked secondary that features PAC-12 commits Cam Bynum (Cal) and Chacho Ulloa (Stanford).