It was not the ending the Shasta was hoping for.

The Wolves fell to Bishop Diego 41-6 in the CIF Division 3-AA state title game Saturday night at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. 

Shasta was playing in its first-ever state title game.

The Wolves opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Ian Garcia to Kenyon Riley. The extra point was off the mark, but Shasta led early 6-0.

Bishop Diego would come right back. Led by big bruising running back John Harris, the Cardinals scored three times before halftime to take a 21-6 lead into the break. Harris accounted for more than 100 yards rushing and three touchdowns, two on the ground. He came into the game having run for more than 2,100 yards on the season and is said to be getting interest from several schools at the next level.

On the contrary, Shasta, who led the state in rushing yards per game this season with 418.1, could not get much going on the ground. 

However, the Wolves were playing without star running back Seth Park who missed the game with an injured rib. Bishop Diego did a good job of slowing down Vinny Smith and Detrius Kelsall, Shasta's other stud running backs.

Despite the tough loss, Shasta can hang their heads high. The Wolves (12-2) captured their first Northern Section title since 1988 and won their first Northern California championship before seeing the magical season come to an end in the state final.