One year after fateful coin flip, Cardinal Newman claims CIF title
CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos or video on a mobile device.
SANTA ROSA — There are few programs in the state of California, nevertheless the entire country, who have endured more than Cardinal Newman over the past two years. The wounds that this school, this community has sustained may never fully heal. The reality is that they seldom do.
But for one chilly mid-December night, the Santa Rosa community could congregate and immerse itself in the universal medium of sport.
They’d get to celebrate too. Cardinal Newman finally brought home its first state championship under head coach Paul Cronin, defeating El Camino, 31-14, to claim the Division 3-AA title.
In the title bouts’ final minutes, fans were instructed to not come onto the field following the conclusion of the game. On nights like this, there’s always room for a little leeway.
“From teachers, parents, students, everyone is just excited,” Pavitt said. “It means a whole lot to everybody. I couldn’t be more happy with how it went and how everyone is feeling now.
SEASON PASS DIGITAL OFFER
If you have not already, we strongly encourage you to sign up for a digital subscription, which gives you access to all content on the Mercury News and East Bay Times websites for just $1 a week. With your support, we can continue bringing these stories — and much more — to your screens. Here’s where to sign up for the season pass: Mercury News, East Bay Times.
In 2017, the California wildfires ripped through the North Bay and burned down approximately half of Cardinal Newman.
A community devastated, football became the medium through which the team, as well as the community, could begin the healing process. Cardinal Newman’s season ended in 59-56 loss to Marin Catholic in the NCS Division III title bout, but the team making it that far was a triumph of the human spirit in and of itself.
The following season, Cardinal Newman’s fate was decided not on the field, but with a coin. The poor air quality from the Camp Fire left teams in the NCS with an impossible decision: play section playoffs with no possibility for advancing to a state regional, or put the chance of a state title in the hands of a coin flip.
Cardinal Newman chose the latter. They called tails. The coin landed heads. Eureka advanced. Cardinal Newman’s season ended.
Pavitt expressed the pain of not going out on their own terms. This time, Cardinal Newman got its shot — and its title.
“I’ve never been through anything like this in my life,” Pavitt said. “It’s the most hard work I’ve ever put into one thing, and have it come out from something like this, it’s amazing. I’m at a loss for words.”