Cabrillo High School football coach Dave Fleming considers where this team had been and where it’s heading.

Before his arrival, the Conquistadors finished with just three wins from 2017 to 2022.

Now, despite a heartbreaking 22-19 CIF-Central playoff loss to Bishop Union on Friday, he has turned the program around.

Cabrillo came off back-to-back playoff appearances and was just a few plays from reaching the CIF-Central Division 5 semifinals before quarterback Emory Dondero spoiled the party.

“The little things matter,” Fleming said. “They can bite you in the biggest moments.”

The Conquistadors came up with a big fumble recovery by outside linebacker Felix Hernandez, which led to a go-ahead touchdown score with less than three minutes left in the game.

Cabrilllo even pinned Dondero aga

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