A wild game in San Bruno on Friday night ended with Capuchino stopping San Mateo near the goal line in overtime to clinch a 42-35 victory.
The Mustangs improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division.
San Mateo is 3-4, 1-2.
Cap had taken the lead on the first possession of OT when Brandon Arceo threw a screen pass to Issa Keishk from 10 yards out for a touchdown.
“Obviously, you don’t want to lose, but, man, what a great high school game, great high school environment,” San Mateo coach Jeff Scheller said on Saturday morning.
The finish spoiled San Mateo’s rally as the Bearcats charged back from a 28-14 halftime deficit and a 35-14 hole in the third quarter.
Sebastian Conclara’s long kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half gave Cap a three-score cushion.
But that only set the stage for San Mateo’s comeback.
Emmanuel Fitzgerald’s 2-yard run brought the visitors to within 35-21 in the third quarter.
San Mateo then recovered an onside kick and scored again, this time on Felipe Sorbara’s 40-yard touchdown reception.
Gabe Buenrostro’s third rushing touchdown of the game — this one from 35 yards out with about four minutes to go — evened the score 35-35. He finished with 160 yards in 10 carries.
Cap got the ball to start OT at the San Mateo 10 and scored right away.
San Mateo got as close at the 2 but could not punch in the equalizing touchdown on fourth down.
“We just told the kids this morning we were proud of them,” Scheller said. “They played really hard. On to the next. Milpitas, it is.”
San Mateo started quickly, scoring two touchdowns — both by Buenrostro, from 67 and 56 yards out — to take a 14-7 lead.
But Cap, which rallied last week to beat Milpitas, scored the next four touchdowns to grab what seemed like a commanding lead.
