FIELD REPORT

Carpinteria was feeling pretty good about itself going into today’s Division XI semifinal against defending champion St. Bonaventure, until tailback Rudy Aldana and two-way lineman Noah Bryant were injured.

“We felt before the injuries like we had a great chance in this game,” Coach Coley Candaele said. “It’s kind of tough to replace a lineman like Noah. He was one of our kids that could battle [St. Bonaventure’s] big guys.”

The Warriors (6-5-1), who lost, 35-3, to St. Bonaventure (12-0) to close the regular season, will start six sophomores on defense and five sophomores on offense, including running backs Luis Soto (5-10, 160) and George Gonzalez (5-11, 205).

“We have the opportunity to play some younger kids who are going to get some great experience against tough competition,” Candaele said. “I’m not worried about next year . . . I’m just concentrating on [tonight].”