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Brandon Smith scores 5 touchdowns, lifts Central past St. Ignatius in NorCal D1-A final: Live score updates recap

Versatile running back, cornerback rushes for 3 touchdowns, adds receiving TD and scoop and score as host Grizzlies finally put away determined Wildcats.
Mitch Stephens|
Fresno Central junior Brandon Smith added his name to the possible California Player of the Year Watch by scoring five touchdowns three different ways leading the Grizzlies to a 33-23 win over St. Ignatius for the CIF Northern California Division 1-A championship in Fresno Saturday night.
Fresno Central junior Brandon Smith added his name to the possible California Player of the Year Watch by scoring five touchdowns three different ways leading the Grizzlies to a 33-23 win over St. Ignatius for the CIF Northern California Division 1-A championship in Fresno Saturday night. | Photo: Richard Posada

Good things happen for teams who wait.

St. Ignatius and Central of Fresno, which meets Saturday for the CIF Northern California Regional Division 1-A championship, both had a week off after winning section championships the week before.

The Wildcats won the Central Coast Section Open title Nov. 22 with 10-7 win over St. Francis. St. Ignatius is led by senior running back Jarious Hogan (1,061 yards rushing, 21 touchdowns) and QB Soren Hummel on offense, but its the defense which carries the Wildcats thanks to senior LBs Sui Gallegos-Hunkin and Daniel Leupold.

GAME PREVIEW: St. Ignatius (10-2) at Central, Fresno (11-2) 

Central was a surprise D1 champion out of the Central Section behind a throng of underclass athletes including sophomore QB Jelani Dippel (3,070 yards passing, 38 TDs) and one of the top junior athletes in the state Brandon Smith (1,638 yards rushing, 22 TDs, 59 tackles). 

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St. Ignatius at Fresno Central California High School Football NorCal Regional final: Live score updates

FIRST QUARTER

CENTRAL TOUCHDOWN! The Grizzlies strike first after three possessions. Brandon Smith 1-yard TD. Central 6, St. Ignatius 0. 1:00 1Q.

CENTRAL, SMITH AGAIN! Brandon Smith has been regarded as one of the most versatile and outstanding juniors in the country. He just proved it again, picking up a fumble and rambling 51 yards for a touchdown. Central 13, St. Ignatius 0. :35 1Q.

2ND QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN CENTRAL: Brandon Smith again! His 23-yard run gives Central commanding lead early in the third quarter. Smith's third touchdown of the game. Central 20, St. Ignatius 0. 10:15 2Q.

TOUCHDOWN ST. IGNATIUS! Jarious Hogan finishes off nice drive with 7-yard touchdown run. Midway. Central 26, St. Ignatius 7. 6:15 2Q.

SMITH, CENTRAL AGAIN! Making a case for Smith as state POY with fourth touchdown. A 3-yard run, gives Central a 26-7 lead 1:00 2Q.

FIELD GOAL ST. IGNATIUS! On last play of the first half, Odhran Kenny boots 22-yard field goal. Big lift for Wildcats heading into halftime. Central 26, St. Ignatius 10

HALFTIME: Central 26, St. Ignatius 10

3RD QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN ST. IGNATIUS: Wildcats not done yet. Soren Hummel 1-yard touchdown. 2-point try fails. Central 26, St. Ignatius 16. 7:15 3Q.

DEFENSES STIFFEN: Both defenses keep offenses out of end zone.

4TH QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN ST. IGNATIUS: Hummel 3-yard TD pass to Tyran Hicks. Wildcats close to within FG, 26-23. 11:15 4Q.

CENTRAL ANSWERS, SMITH AGAIN! Brandon Smith does it again, scores fifth touchdown, this one on a reception of 7-yards from sophomore quarterback Jelani Dippel. Huge response. Central 33, St. Ignatius 23. 7:22 4Q.

CENTRAL INTERCEPTION! St. Ignatius gets to Central 24, but Gerald Perry Jr. intercepts Hummel in end zone, carries it out to the 10. That should do it. 4:11 4Q.

CENTRAL RUNS IT OUT! Grizzlies record three first downs to run out the clock.

FINAL: Central Grizzlies 33, St. Ignatius Wildcats 23

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Mitch Stephens
MITCH STEPHENS

Mitch Stephens is a senior editor at SBLive Sports for California, a state he's covered high school sports since 1984. He won multiple CNPA and CPSWA writing awards with the Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Chronicle and MaxPreps.com before joining the SBLive staff in 2022. He's covered the beat nationally since 2007, profiling such athletes as Derrick Henry, Paige Bueckers, Patrick Mahomes, Sabrina Ionescu, Jayson Tatum, Chiney Ogwumike, Jeremy Lin and Najee Harris as preps. You can reach him at mitch@scorebooklive.com.

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