The El Capitan Gauchos ended their season on a high note, winning their first ever bowl game in front of a charged crowd at Merced College’s Stadium 76. In what was also the final game El Capitan will play at Stadium 76 before its new stadium opens, the Gauchos defeated the Livingston Wolves with a strong performance.
The night belonged to senior running back Lorenzo Peters, who led the way with three touchdowns and helped close out a great finish to the season. It did not take long for Peters to stand apart from the opposition. On the Gauchos’ second possession of the game, he led the way with a 14-yard rush, 15-yard rush and 2-yard touchdown run. He capped the drive off with a 2-point conversion run, tying the game at 8-8. The crowd erupted as the Gauchos scored, a much needed spark for a team that had lost five of their last six.
As the second quarter continued, both teams’ defenses settled in. Livingston forced two punts from El Capitan and the Gauchos forced a turnover on downs and an interception by Elias Hernandez. By halftime, the game was still tied 8-8.
The second half began with Livingston receiving the kickoff. They drove down the field to El Capitan’s 30 yard line but were unable to convert on fourth down. El Capitan couldn’t move the ball after receiving possession and ended up punting it back to the wolves. With their second possession of the half, Livingston took to the air to try and find a spark. The Gauchos defense responded with an interception by Lorenzo Peters, who took the interception 45 yards to the endzone, giving the Gauchos their first lead of the night: 15-8.
Livingston made it back into Gauchos territory on their next possession by completing a 39-yard pass from quarterback Roman Gonzalez to wide receiver Roberto Rivera. However, the offense was unable to put points on the board and surrendered the ball back to the Gauchos after they failed to convert on fourth down.
Early in the fourth quarter, Peters delivered his third touchdown of the night, powering through defenders near the goal line to push the lead to 22-8. The game changing touchdown sent the sidelines into celebration.
Once Livingston fell behind by two possessions, they were forced to throw the ball more than usual. This led to two fourth quarter interceptions for the Gauchos defense. They finished with four interceptions on the night. El Capitan High won by a final score of 22-8 to win their first bowl game.
After the victory, Peters reflected on what the win meant to him and his teammates. After going just 1-4 in the CCC, the Gauchos entered this game determined to finish strong. Peters said the team had lost motivation for a while but saw this final opportunity as a blessing. “We pushed through it, and hearing that we had one last game was a good opportunity for us to end on a high note,” he said.
Peters’ mindset was simple: getting redemption. “Honestly, last game I did terrible, so it motivated me to score and get as many yards as I could for my last game,” he said. Peters finished with 126 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and one interception returned for a touchdown.
When the clock ran out, players embraced one another, knowing they had made history in the team’s first bowl appearance and the final contest El Capitan will play at Stadium 76. “It’s history and the foundation,” Peters said. “I’m glad to be the first of this.”
When asked what made the offense click, Peters pointed to the team’s unity and mindset. “We just took it personal,” he said. “It was the last game, and we came out hard today.” He also emphasized the importance of chemistry. “Without chemistry, you can have the best players ever, but you will never be able to pull it through.”
Before kickoff, the team’s coaches had one key message: opportunity. “My coach said his key word before this game was opportunity,” Peters shared. “Having that opportunity to play another game and end on a win is a great feeling.”
Reflecting on the season, Peters hopes people remember the team’s perseverance. “No matter how many games we lose in a row, we will always come back and try our hardest.” The Gauchos walked off the field with pride, ending their season and their time at Stadium 76 as winners while leaving behind a lasting moment in the program’s history.
