A Fitting Fadelli Finale
Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can do what others can’t.
Jerry Rice
The Campolindo High School football field is located only a couple of Hail Mary’s from my house. Yet despite its close proximity, rare has been the fall Friday night when I’ve felt compelled to buy a ticket to sit in the bleachers and watch the teenage gladiators known as the Campolindo Cougars. I love football, in all its shape and sizes. But I also love my sofa.
Many a night I’ve gone to bed while a game was in progress only to be awakened by the roar of the crowd. That being said, I’ve never heard a salvo as loud as the thunderous explosion unleashed this last Friday. I later learned that I could blame the breaking of the Geiger noise statute on Campolindo’s Nick Fadelli, who ran back a second quarter kickoff return 90 yards for a touchdown, one of five first half scores he would rack up in a 62-46 shootout with Sebastopol’s Analy High School in a North Coast Section (NCS) Division III semi-final game.
It wasn’t the first time the Fadelli family had disturbed my sleep.
Back when disco was cool, Ron Fadelli roamed the Campolindo hallways as the school’s designated BMOC (i.e., big man on campus). Stories of his legendry prowess on the Cougar football field still resonate among Moraga’s AARP set. Ron and his wife Teri would eventually settle in Moraga and raise four children, three rambunctious sons and one beautiful daughter. Luckily for the boys they inherited their mother’s pleasant disposition. And their father’s square jaw.
Oldest son Anthony was the first Fadelli sprout to strap on a helmet. In 2008, the athletic senior would earn first team all-league honors as a defensive back. He also brought the Campolindo crowd to its feet that season with a scintillating 102-yard interception return and a 99-yard kickoff return. And he was even more impressive on the baseball diamond. The 2008 Cougars made it to the NCS Division II semifinals, losing 38-28 to Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa, CA.
Next up was Daniel, a block of granite who played three years of varsity football and earned first team all-league honors as a senior defensive back. Daniel was a member of a thieving secondary that propelled Campo to the 2011 Division III State Championship game, a berth they earned thanks to a thrilling last second field goal to beat Kenfield’s Marin Catholic 20-18 in the NCS title game at O.Co Coliseum. Hardly anyone in Moraga ever talks about that game. Sort of.
Last but certainly not least is Nick. Listed in the program as 5’11”, 190 pounds, this rugged senior will live forever in my mind as a precocious five-year old standing up to the relentless pounding issued by his older brothers. According to Maxpreps.com, Nick, a first-team all league running back, has gained 1,643 yards on 152 carries and scored 35 touchdowns. That’s a lot.
A fitting Fadelli Finale will take place this Saturday night at Diablo Valley College, where Campolindo (13-0) will square off once again against its playoff nemesis Marin Catholic (9-3) for the NCS Division III title. Then again, should Campo triumph, there’s a good chance the Cougars will be selected to play in the state D-III championship game.
The next time I see Ron I’m going to thank him for ruining my sleep.