MORAGA — Campolindo kicker Zach Tabibian made his way to the field with just 1:32 remaining. The senior set up at the 27-yard line, took a deep breath while the formation settled. When it was snapped, he erased all doubt the moment his foot connected with the ball.
His booming 37-yard kick proved to be the game-winner Friday night as the host Cougars beat the visiting Vanden 16-13 to improve to 3-0.
“I just try to make my mind as blank as I can,” Tabibian said. “Just thinking I’m kicking the ball by myself during our practice. Just doing it for my boys.”
It was a do-it-all type of game for Tabibian, who was responsible for 10 of the Cougars’ points. In addition to going 3-for-3 on field goals and handling kicking duties for the Cougars, he was forced into running back duties. Starting running back Micah Parker, battling injury, didn’t carry his usual load on Friday. So Tabibian collected 12 carries for 49 yards on the evening.
Campolindo running back Zach Tabibian (6) follows the flight of his game-winning field goal against Vanden during the fourth quarter of a high school football game, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Moraga, Calif. The holder was Ryan Erickson (3). (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Early on, it was a defensive dogfight. Campolindo, which scored 42 points in each of its first two games, knew it would have to dig deep to find another way to stay undefeated.
“Their size and athletes made it tough, they were just draped all over our receivers,” head coach Kevin Macy said. “It was tough to find windows in the first half. Our receivers just had to get a bit tougher. We just had to fight, but there wasn’t really a lot of big openings. Everything was squeezed down.”
Vanden broke the scoreless tie with a touchdown just before halftime, taking a 6-0 lead with 2:08 left. Campolindo responded with a long drive, marching down the field into the red zone. The Cougars benefited from two third-down penalties to extend the drive and a clutch catch by senior receiver Everett Zellmer, who finished with seven catches for 133 yards. On third-and-15, Campolindo quarterback Reid Habas found Zellmer for an 18-yard completion.
The drive stalled at the 13-yard line. Tabibian put the Cougars on the board with a 31-yard field goal. The hosts trailed 6-3 at the half.
Unable to find a receiver, Campolindo quarterback Reid Habas (10) scrambles for yardage on the ground against Vanden during the fourth quarter of a high school football game, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Moraga, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
The Campolindo defense opened the second half by forcing a three-and-out. The Cougars then got a monster play on a 60-yard catch-and-run by Zellmer. That set up a four-yard TD run by Parker. Campolindo led 10-6.
Vanden responded with a touchdown drive to retake the lead, 13-10. That was the score entering the fourth quarter. The Cougars were 12 minutes from their first loss of the season.
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But Tabibian was just getting warm. His 35-yard field goal tied the game at 13 with 8:21 left. That put the ball in the hands of the defense.
The Cougars got the stop they needed. Henry Franklin opened the drive with a tackle for a loss. Then Campolindo benefited from two dropped passes by Vanden receivers on second-and-third down. After forcing a three-and-out, the Cougars got the ball back with 7:09 left.
Campolindo bled the clock with a long, methodical drive, setting up Tabibian’s go-ahead field goal. The ball was then in the hands of the defense again for one final stop.
On the first play of Vanden’s next possession, the Cougars kept the undefeated season alive when junior defensive back Ryan Erickson’s interception sealed the game.
Vanden quarterback Xavier Zambrano (7) drops to pass against Campolindo during the first quarter of a high school football game, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Moraga, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Vanden cornerback Josiah Chavez (23) breaks up a pass intended for Campolindo tight end Cole Fischer (9) during the second quarter of a high school football game, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Moraga, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
Campolindo quarterback Reid Habas (10) tries to escape pressure from two Vanden defenders during the first quarter of a high school football game, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Moraga, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)
