CA/Sac FB Preview 08.25.2011

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The first tee of contra costa wraps up norcal crown. PAge 45 First Pitch................................................................6 Locker Room.........................................................8 AAA SportStar of the Week............................ 11 Wally’s World...................................................... 18 Tee2Green........................................................... 45 Training Time....................................................... 47 Health Watch...................................................... 48 Impulse................................................................. 49 Camps + Clinics................................................. 50 Behind the Clipboard........................................ 51

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FOOTBALL

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it all!

Page 12

James K. Leash

Shaq Thompson

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When it comes to NorCal’s best high school football preview

We aren’t messing around I

t’s over.

The epic endeavor that was Football Preview 2011 is finally in your hands. And I couldn’t be more excited about that.

I believe that we’ve continued to evolve and improve as we’ve grown as a magazine over this past year, but I have no hesitation when it comes to pronouncing this issue as our crown1. De La Salle-Concord (14-0) ing achievement (so far). It sets many 2. Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove (13-1) SportStars records, including largest 3. Grant-Sacramento (13-1) page count (56), total pages produced 4. Bellarmine-San Jose (9-3) (75, when taking alternate editions 5. Buhach Colony-Atwater (12-1) into account), and most covers (3).

6. Folsom (14-1) That’s right, three regional covers.

For one issue we got to feel like Sports 7. Valley Christian-San Jose (11-2) Illustrated, or Street & Smith’s. We’re 8. Palo Alto (14-0) not gonna lie, it was kind of awesome.

9. Granite Bay (9-4) You can check out each cover in the 10. California-San Ramon (12-2) graphic at the bottom of this column.

11. Del Oro-Loomis (10-4) Our editorial and design team set 12. St. Mary’s-Stockton (11-2) out to create a high school football pre13. Pittsburg (5-6) view that encompassed all of Northern California, but still carried a local feel 14. Monterey Trail-Elk Grove (10-4) to the various regions where SportStars 15. Oak Grove-San Jose (10-2) regularly distributes.

16. Monte Vista-Danville (8-4) I think we did it.

17. Lincoln-Stockton (8-4) Reading through the Football 18. Palma-Salinas (10-1-1) Preview section on our deadline day, 19. Foothill-Palo Cedro (11-2) I came away pleased with all that we 20. Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa (10-3) were able to pack into it. Not only happy as an editor, but as a high school football fan as well.

There is one thing we didn’t cram into the football content stretching from pages 1241 — the debut of the SportStars NorCal 20. These are our high school football rankings which will run each issue during the football season.

We figured we’d get that little item right up near the front. Right here in fact. So there it is, our preseason NorCal 20 featuring the 2010 records for each team. Expect to read a lot about some of those teams as you get deeper into preview.

Hopefully you have just as much fun reading it as we did putting it together. ✪

PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 Editorial Editor@SportStarsOnline.com Editor Chace Bryson. Ext. 104 • Chace@SportStarsOnline.com Contributors Bill Kolb, Erik Stordahl, Mike Wolcott, Mitch Stephens, Doug Gardner, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Jim McCue, Eric Gilmore, Dave Kiefer, Liz Elliott, Tim Rudd Photography Butch Noble, Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, Darryl Henick, Norbert von der Groeben Interns Jenna Calamusa, Julius Rea, Gerardo Recinos, Jonathan Hawthorne, Emily Van Buskirk

SportStars NorCal 20

CALIFORNIA EDITION

east bay EDITION

Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco. Ext. 103 • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa. Ext. 106 • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com Advertising & Calendar/Classified Sales Sales@SportStarsOnline.com Account Executives Mike Wolcott Ext. 109 • MikeW@SportStarsOnline.com; Erik Stordahl • ErikS@Sport StarsOnline.com (Special Sections, Calendar, Marketplace sales)

FIRST PITCH Chace Bryson Editor

Chace@ SportStarsOnline.com (925) 566-8503

Reader Resources/Administration Ad Traffic, Subscription, Calendar & Classified Listings info@SportStarsOnline.com • Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 • Distribution/Delivery Mags@SportStarsOnline.com Distribution Manager Butch Noble. Ext. 107 • Butch@SportStarsOnline.com Information technology John Bonilla CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsOnline.com Office Manager/Credit Services Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 • Deb@SportStarsOnline.com Board of Directors Dennis Erokan, CEO, Placemaking Group Roland Roos, CPA, Roland Roos & Co Susan Bonilla, State Assembly Drew Lawler, Managing Director, AJ Lawler Partners Brad Briegleb, Attorney At Law community SportStars™ Magazine A division of Caliente! Communications, LLC 5356 Clayton Rd., Ste. 222 • Concord, CA • 94521 info@SportStarsOnline.com www.SportStarsOnline.com

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your ticket to bay area sports admit one; rain or shine This Vol. #2, August 2011 Whole No. 30 is published by Caliente! Communications, LLC, 5356 Clayton Rd, Ste. 222, Concord, CA 94521. SportStars™© 2010 by Caliente! Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Subscription rates: 24 issues, U.S. 3rd class $42 (allow 3 weeks for delivery).

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Number of hours it takes to drive from SportStars HQ to St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. De La Salle, ranked No 3 in the MaxPreps XCellent25, will be making the trek (we assume by flight) for its Sept. 23 matchup with No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas.

4 9 he said what?!?

“With 13 players selected over three teams, that’s 25 percent, so we’re obviously very excited about that. ...

Not a bad inaugural year.”

Jason Sekany, right, co-founder of Pleasanton’s The Pitching Center, who presided over the East Bay SportStars baseball teams.Three squads (13U, 15U and 17U) competed in separate NorCal Prospect Series’ where standouts were then selected for an all-star team to compete at the Team USA baseball complex in North Carolina.Thirteen East Bay players were selected across the three age groups (including 7 from the 17U team).

Butch Noble

The best of football terminology It’s the football preview. What, did you think we were going to have a top five based on interpretive dance? Here are our top five favorite football words.

1. De-cleated. If you start a play wearing both shoes, and end it wearing just one, well, chances are you’re flat on your back wondering if anyone got the license plate of that linebacker.

2. Earholed. Nuff said. You got hit in the earhole of your helmet. You weren’t paying attention and somebody took advantage. Go count the tweeting birds.

3. Paydirt. We have our reasons (mostly involving high-scoring games and a sportswriter’s natural inclination to not want to type “touchdown” eight times in one story). Plus, it’s just the coolest way to say ‘score.’

4. Gridiron. It just SOUNDS like a football word, dunnit? Like John Facenda* should be saying it over some inspirational background music.

5. Slobberknocked. Seriously. You manage to separate a guy from his slobber, and you know you hit him right. *NOTE: If you are reading this, claim to be a football fan, and don’t know who John Facenda is, shame on you. Google. Now. — Bill Kolb

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who’s got next?

nominations: Editor@SportStarsonline.com

of the week

adam hinshaw

cal-berkeley . swimming . freshman

Norbert von der Groeben

SportStars Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

Show up to Junior Nationals at Stanford (only one of the biggest swim meets in the country). Win a couple races. Vacation in Lake Tahoe. Not a bad week by any stretch and, for recent Saratoga High grad Adam Hinshaw, one that he wouldn’t mind repeating. The Golden Bear-to-be captured the 400 IM (4:18.95) and the 400 Free (3:56.27) at the prestigious swim meet on Aug. 8-12.

SportStars: Since you live so close to Stanford, did it feel like you had home-pool advantage at Junior Nationals?

Adam Hinshaw: There were some benefits and advantages. It’s harder to get in swim meet mode, when you stay at home. I get to sleep in my own bed. You have to get in the right mindset about it.

SportStars: Which record are you most proud of?

AH: I consider myself a better freestyler but my 400 IM was a lot better time. I dropped the most time in the 400 IM. That one was a lot more unexpected.

SportStars: What made you choose Cal? AH: I talked to a lot of schools. Cal has great academics. Their swimming is phenomenal as well; they won NCAA last year and my brother goes there. I think the coaches (David Durden and Greg Meeham) are the main thing.

ADAM’S QUICK HITS Favorite swimmer: Larsen Jensen Favorite pig-out food: Marinated chicken Best movie you’ve seen this summer: “Cowboys and Aliens”

honorable able ment mention ion honor

braden bishop The St. FrancisMountain View senior center fielder and pitcher cracked the All-Area Code games roster.

celina li The Foothill swimmer won the 400 meter IM with a time of 4:46.96 at Junior Nationals held at Stanford on Aug. 8-12.

chris flexen Pitching for the East Bay SportStars baseball team, the Newark Memorial pitcher threw four innings of shutout ball yielding only one hit at the Nor Cal Prospect Games on Aug. 19-20. He also went 1-for-2 with an RBI.

July 28, 2011

August 25, 2011

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Can two-way standout Shaq Thompson lead Grant-Sacramento back to glory? Pg. 14 12

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Pages 20-23

page 24

battle of the bay Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

By David Kiefer

By Mitch Stephens

Pages 26-29

By Chace Bryson

page 32

By Bill Kolb

Pages 34-37

By Jim McCue

Pages 40-41

By Chace Bryson

Page 30

wally's world August 25, 2011

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Shaq Thompson isn’t shy on aspirations — or the talent to achieve them

A

By jim mccue | Contributor

fter the Grant High football team recently concluded an afternoon practice under a blazing Sacramento sun, most of the Pacers were shuttled into the locker room to conclude another day of conditioning and preparation for the 2011 season.

However, a small group of players remained at midfield. They were huddled around senior standout Shaq Thompson.

After a brief discussion, a handful of receivers line up wide to run routes and catch passes from quarterback Terry Shine. Thompson, who sees most of his action at running back and safety for the Pacers, quietly ran routes with the receivers and provided encouragement to the group.

“That’s desire,” Grant athletic director and defensive coordinator Reginald Lewis said of the Pacers’ star player working after practice with his teammates. “You can’t teach that. It is great to have an athlete such as him who works so hard, because it helps us coaches instill the instruction we are trying to provide. They see him staying late and working hard and they fall into place with him.

“Because he works hard in the system, the kids all believe in the system.”

The irony of Thompson’s after-practice work is not that he is a defensive back/ running back working on passing routes with his quarterback and receivers, but that the region’s best individual talent has the natural ability to excel on the football field without the extra work.

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“My goals for this year are to be the National Player of the Year and keep it in California after Dano (Folsom QB Dano Graves won the U.S. Air Force National Player of the Year presented by MaxPreps in 2010) won it last year. As a team, we want to beat Folsom, beat Long Beach Poly, win league, win section, and then win state.”

Shaq Thompson

James K. Leash

Shaq Thompson, far right, hams it up with some of his teammates following a mid-August workout at Grant High. Thompson can typically be found staying late to put in extra work with teammates.

Thompson knows his individual talent alone cannot garner the Pacers their first Sac Joaquin Section title since 2008 — the same year Grant went on to upset Long Beach Poly in the inaugural CIF Open Division Bowl Championship game to become the darlings of California high school football.

Thompson was not a member of the 2008 State Championship team, but made the trip to Southern California to watch his school impress its mark on the state football scene. Perhaps because the Pacers have not won even a section crown since 2008, Thompson has a clear vision of the mark that he wants to make for himself and his team in 2011.

“My goals for this year are to be the National Player of the Year and keep it in California after Dano (Folsom QB Dano Graves won the U.S. Air Force National Player of the Year presented by MaxPreps in 2010) won it last year,” Shaq said.

“As a team, we want to beat Folsom, beat Long Beach Poly, win league, win section, and then win state.”

The plan sounds simple enough when the 6-foot-1, 218-pound star announces it like a shopping list, but the road to a state title for Grant is a far cry from a trip to the local grocery store.

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The Pacers open the season on August 27 with a rematch of last year’s section title game against a reloaded Folsom team before traveling to face Long Beach Poly in a daunting road contest. Add nonleague games against Burbank-Sacramento, Lincoln-Stockton and Merced, and it’s easy to see that Grant has its work cut out.

Pacers coach Mike Alberghini believes that if anyone is ready to take on the challenge, it is his versatile team leader.

“Each year, he has gotten better at preparing both his body and mind for the season,” the coach said. “He puts in the time to be a better football player and he has a desire to be the best. He has all of the intangibles to be a bona fide star.”

Thompson’s star began shining brightly last year when, as a junior, he rushed for 1,882 yards and 25 touchdowns while adding another 345 receiving yards and three scores. In addition to emerging as the next great Grant scoring machine, Thompson attracted the attention of college scouts with his superior defensive skills at the safety position.

But Shaq is quick to deflect the spotlight and seems almost embarrassed by all of the attention that gets focused on him rather than the team.

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“I’m a team player and a leader in school and outside of school,” Thompson quickly replied when asked what people should know about him beyond the football field. “My teammates are my family on the field and are always there for me, just like my family at home is always there for me.”

Shaq is clearly the big brother of the Pacers’ 2011 family as the lone returning captain from a veteran team. But his leadership style is not that of a vocal big brother rallying his siblings.

“Shaq’s not a rah-rah type of guy,” Alberghini said. “Some guys let others know how they feel and are very vocal with their teammates, but that’s just not Shaq. He’s not comfortable telling others what to do.

Instead, he shows his teammates what to do by leading by example.”

Thompson’s quiet nature should certainly not be mistaken for a lack of fire or toughness. He earned all of the attention and racked up the big numbers last year while he was less than 100 percent physically. Nicked up in early games last year, he suffered a severely sprained ankle on the third play of the Pacers’ SJS Division II semifinal win over St. Mary’s-Stockton. Through it all, he never missed a game.

To address the weekly grind of a senior season where the spotlight will shine even brighter on him, Thompson showed up after the offseason in top shape with nearly 20 extra pounds on his frame. A bigger, stronger, and hungrier Thompson is sure to spell trouble for opposing coaches.

“My hope would be that the extra size slows him down, but I doubt it will,” Folsom head coach Kris Richardson said. “He plays like a beast out there and is a dominant football player.”

That reputation — which is held by many more coaches than Richardson — will clearly lead to Thompson being the focus of most teams’ game plans. Shaq expects the attention and has unselfish ideas about how to make opponents pay for concentrating on stopping him alone.

“I know that I am going to get a lot of attention from opposing defenses, so I can help out the team by being a decoy and making the other team leave guys open,” Shaq said. “If I can open up the field for the other players, it helps us as a team because I have guys around me that can make plays.”

Alberghini understands Thompson’s desire to create opportunities for teammates, but the coach also realizes that Shaq’s rare talents need to be utilized.

“If he has any fault, it might be that he is too unselfish at times,” Alberghini said. “He is the full package of size, speed, and athleticism, and he brings with it a great attitude and work ethic.

“He may not be the best player I have ever had, but he is definitely in a handful at the top of the list of players I have coached.”

Thompson is almost certain to become the latest of a long line of college football scholarship recipients to come through the program during Alberghini’s tenure as the Pacers’ head coach (2011 will be his 22nd year at Grant). Shaq verbally committed to Cal last year and appeared to be following numerous Grant alumni to take their football talents from the Del Paso Heights school to the Berkeley campus, including his brother Syd’Quan Thompson. But then he decommitted to have an opportunity to make all of his official college visits before deciding on the best fit both athletically and academically.

Thompson plans to log some miles with potential trips to UCLA, Oregon, Notre Dame, Washington, and possibly Florida, to find out where he will pursue his NFL dreams and a degree in physical therapy.

Before he ventures away from home, Shaq is eager to put in the extra work needed to help the Pacers realize their dreams of adding to the school’s six section championships and a shot at another State Bowl berth.

“I know that he is a great football player and a great kid,” Alberghini said. “I just want him to remain healthy so that he can do the things we know he can do and have the year that he is capable of having.”

That might be all it takes for each dream to come to fruition. ✪ 16

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“I’m a team player and a leader in school and outside of school. My teammates are my family on the field and are always there for me, just like my family at home is always there for me.”

Shaq Thompson

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High school football embraces everything good about sports (Especially when Corning wins)

L

et’s get this right out in the open.

There’s a reason 12 pages separate me from that guy in the Red Bluff High jersey on Page 6.

Come this time of year, the alumni of these schools don’t always get along, and if we had Corning Cardinal red-and-white on a page facing Spartan green, it might get … messy.

Things are friendly enough around the office between editor Chace Bryson and myself 51 weeks out of the year, but come the week of Sept. 16, we’ll have our game faces on. That’s the week of the annual “Tehama County Shootout,” when our respective alma maters square off in the 29th installment of a rivalry that resumed in 1983.

It’s a night when I’ll swap dozens of texts with people at Cardinal Field. Depending on the outcome, we’ll complain about the officiating, demand the return of Gary Burton as coach or (in all likelihood) toast the Cardinals for once again whipping the bigger school from the north.

All around Northern California, fans can relate. Whether it’s San Ramon Valley against Monte Vista in Danville, Encinal vs. Alameda on the island, Antioch and Pittsburg in the “Little Big Game” — which gets played on a Friday night under the lights in 2011 for the first time in many years — or even Taft vs. Bakersfield (remember “The Best of Times?”

Reno Hightower and the White Shoes?), your No. 1 high school football rivalry is something that stays with you for the rest of your life.

Even if you never wore the colors.

The picture represents the first and only time I’ve donned the Cardinals football jersey. (I figured out at a very young age I was much better suited to packing a clipboard than breaking up a wedge.)

Thus the chest-puffing. Some might call it a big gut. It’s a puffed-out chest. Honest.

As is the case with any great rivalry, I think a bet is in order. If Corning wins, Chace needs to wear the Cardinal jersey.

If Red Bluff wins — well, no way I’d fit into his jersey, so I guess I’d just have to hang the Spartans jersey on the back of my chair, where it would probably end up on the floor. So, for me, it’s win-win.

Anyway — here’s the point, and thank you for reaching it — there’s never been a better time to stop and appreciate just what our area offers in high school football.

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WALLY’S WORLD Mike Wolcott MikeW@ SportStarsOnline.com (925) 566-8500 Ext. 109

The Bay Area, and all of Northern California, represents the best of the best of the game. The record book proves it (thank you, De La Salle-Concord, Escalon, Bellarmine Prep-San Jose and Folsom — all state champions a year ago), the legends prove it and, especially, the atmosphere proves it.

Whether you’re enjoying the fans (and the food) at Pittsburg, or marveling at the unmatched efficiency on the field at De La Salle, or (if I can get away with one more hometown plug) visiting with the hundreds of alumni who proudly return to Corning for Homecoming every year — yes, in Corning, the “H” is always upper-case — high school football offers the best, and safest, fan experience on the planet right now.

Is it really even up for debate? In terms of quality of play, or entertainment value, or price, or (especially) safety?

Not when you compare it with what’s happening with pro football in the Bay Area. At a meaningless exhibition game between the 49ers and Raiders (two teams that, between them, haven’t won an important game in the past decade), two people were shot in the parking lot, another was badly beaten in a restroom and there were dozens of fights.

Sound like a nice way to spend an evening with your family, especially with a price tag resembling a good-sized mortgage payment?

There is a better option, and chances are it’s right down the street from your home.

High school football — played by faster, more-athletic and game-savvy players that at any time in the game’s history — has never been more entertaining. And the atmosphere is still unlike anything else in sports.

This is true in Sacramento, and Pleasanton, and Fremont, and Berkeley, and everywhere else SportStars Magazine is distributed.

In an age where more and more people are turned off to the ugly side of professional sports, we are proud to help remind people why they fell in love with the game in the first place.

The game’s the thing. And the players.

Here, we will continue to celebrate the positive achievements of high school athletics, in the best place in the land to do it.

Unless you see me walking around with my gut squeezed into an undersized Red Bluff High jersey later next month. That would just be wrong. ✪

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Palo Alto hopes to sidestep state title hangover

Norbert von der Groeben

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B.J. Boyd

In five years of California Interscholastic Federation state bowls, covering 21 football games over five divisions, only one Central Coast Section public school has ever won.

What a victory it was — a muddy, sloppy mess full of drama, big plays, late-game heroics, and ultimately a shocking 15-13 upset victory for Palo Alto High over Southern California power Centennial-Corona. Back at century-old Hod Ray Field on the Palo Alto campus, the memory of that night last December in Carson is as strong as ever. The Vikings are the reigning Div. I state bowl champions. These clearly are heady times.

“We’ll be everyone’s main target,” senior OG/DE Tory Plati said. “Everyone’s trying to get the state champs. We have to be working extra hard every day in practice to make sure that we’re giving our best effort, because they’re giving theirs. “ But reality has set in as well.

“We have a lot of young guys who don’t know how to practice yet,” longtime coach Earl Hansen said. “They really haven’t been there before. But are they capable? Yes.” The Vikings went 14-0, winning their second CCS Open Division title in five years. They did so on the arm of an unflappable quarterback with NFL pedigree (Christoph Bono, the son of former 49er QB Steve Bono), a star lineman Kevin Anderson (now at Stanford), and a collection of players who stepped forward at critical times.

As great as those memories are for Palo Alto, an attempt to repeat even a Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division championship might have seemed remote if not for a gift from the heavens … or, rather, North Carolina.

Jim Harbaugh, a Palo Alto quarterback under Hansen and now a first-year coach of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, still has influence on his old campus. That’s because his new quarterbacks coach, Geep Chryst, has a son.

When 6-foot-3 Keller Chryst stepped foot on campus last spring, the returning Vikings realized that replacing Bono might not be as difficult as feared. The Vikings return only five starters each from offense and defense, but are buoyed by the promise of the sophomore transfer, who finished his freshman season as the varsity backup at Weddington High in suburban Charlotte, a team that finished 9-4.

“From what we know about Keller so far, he’s a big, athletic guy,” said Plati, a team captain. “He’s learning real fast, he’s comfortable with the offense, and he works hard. He’s got a real good shot to be great.”

Palo Alto’s strength will be its running attack, with the return of Dre Hill (947 yards, 11 TDs) and B.J. Boyd (772), and its line. However, the once-feared passing game is thin. Kash Flaherty (2 catches) is the only returning receiver who caught a pass in 2010, but Gabe Landa has shown promise. For the defending state champion, nothing should come easy. After an intrasquad scrimmage, Hansen’s assessment was: “A lot of flaws.”

“Hopefully, we’ll see them get better each week,” he said. “The biggest question is when will they start getting better.” ✪

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TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Bellarmine PrepSan Jose (9-3), Valley Christian-San Jose (11-2), Oak GroveSan Jose (8-3), Palo Alto (14-0), Serra-San Mateo (6-4-1).

EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Byron Marshall (Valley Christian) EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Cleveland Wallace (Oak Grove) SURPRISE CONTENDER: Palma-Salinas BREAKDOWN: The challenge for any West Catholic Athletic League team is winning two major titles — the rugged league title and the Open Division against mostly the same teams. The WCAL has won only two of the past five Open titles despite the strength of the league and having at least four teams in each tournament. Another stat: No WCAL team other than the league champion has won an Open title. A possible conclusion? The WCAL takes a lot out of a team and only a special champion is capable of pulling off a WCAL-CCS double. With apparently no dominant public school this year, Bellarmine, with eight starters back on both offense and defense, seems the obvious choice.

Linebackers Alex Manigo and Joseph Gigantino lead a strong defense, and quarterback Travis McHugh leads a solid offense.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Bellarmine over Valley Christian

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Milpitas (6-4-1), Piedmont Hills-San Jose (11-2), Homestead-Cupertino (8-5), Salinas (7-4-1), Independence-San Jose (9-3) EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Fernando Villanueva, OT, Independence EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Vita Vea, DL, Milpitas SURPRISE CONTENDER: Homestead BREAKDOWN: Vita Vea is the newer version of former Milpitas star and current Cal linebacker Steven Fanua — a tackling machine. In another ode to the Trojans’ past, this year’s 2011 Division I title could again come down to a Milpitas-Piedmont Hills final, as it did in 2006 in Fanua’s sophomore year.

The Trojans added another championship in 2009 and should be a favorite to win a third Div. I crown — they have 16 returning starters. However, if Milpitas wins the De Anza Division title, the Trojans most likely would play in the Open Division. Piedmont Hills is the defending Div. I champion, beating Homestead in the final, 33-24, to capture its first section crown.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Milpitas over Piedmont Hills

Our pick for the best CCS-related game each week

◆ 9/2, Bellarmine Prep-San Jose @ De La Salle-Concord ◆ 9/10, Monte Vista-Danville @ Serra-San Mateo ◆ 9/16, Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa @ Valley

Christian-San Jose

◆ 9/24, San Jose @ Lincoln-San Jose

◆ 9/30, Willow Glen-San Jose @ Oak Grove-San Jose ◆ 10/7, Valley Christian-San Jose vs. Bellarmine Prep-

San Jose (San Jose City College)

◆ 10/14, Palo Alto @ Los Gatos

◆ 10/21, Willow Glen-S. Jose @ Piedmont Hills-S. Jose ◆ 10/29, Aptos @ San Lorenzo Valley-Felton ◆ 11/4, Gilroy @ San Benito-Hollister ◆ 11/11, Carmel @ Pacific Grove

◆ BLOSSOM VALLEY MOUNT HAMILTON: Oak

Grove-San Jose; Eagles too strong for promoted WilTOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Los Gatos (6-4-1), Leland-San Jose (8-4), Wilcox-Santa Clara (8-4), SequoiaRedwood City (11-1-1), Santa Clara (6-4) EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Garret Zeitner, RB, Los Gatos EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Chris Santini, LB, Leland SURPRISE CONTENDER: Sequoia BREAKDOWN: This division showcases the depth of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, as well as some of the top individual talent in the CCS. The SCVAL could conceivably win three section titles — Los Gatos or Wilcox in Div. II, Milpitas in Div. I, and Palo Alto in the Open. As for talent, how about a championship matchup between the section’s top returning rusher, Los Gatos’ Garret Zeitner, and Leland’s Boise Statebound three-star OLB Chris Santini? Also, in this division: Los Gatos MLB Shane Smith and Gunn-Palo Alto OT Keenan Venuti (6-6, 270). Another great story could be Sequoia. The moribund Cherokees had never won a CCS playoff game until advancing to the CCS Div. II championship last season. QB James Beekley returns to lead another Sequoia run.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Los Gatos over Leland

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Willow Glen-San Jose (11-2), Terra Nova-Pacifica (9-4), North Monterey CountyCastroville (10-2), Jefferson-Daly City (9-3), Monterey (11-2) EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Mitch Ravizza, QB, Willow Glen EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Shaunne Katoa, LB, Monterey SURPRISE CONTENDER: North Monterey County BREAKDOWN: Willow Glen emerged from the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s Santa Teresa Division to win the Division II title. But some graduation losses at skill positions could leave QB Mitch Ravizza on an island. No matter, Ravizza is too talented and the Rams too confident to backslide, even after a promotion to the higher Mt. Hamilton Division. The championship could feature two of the most exciting QBs in the section, with Ravizza (3,357 passing yards) and Terra Nova’s Chris Forbes (2,554), who led the Tigers to last year’s Div. III crown.

North Monterey County was among the Monterey Bay’s best programs in the 1980s. Now, the Condors, led by versatile Mike Lopez, are contenders once again, as is rising Jefferson, a program turned around by coach Ako Poti.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Willow Glen over Terra Nova

low Glen. ◆ BLOSSOM VALLEY SANTA TERESA: Sobrato-

Morgan Hill; First Santa Teresa title within reach. ◆ BLOSSOM VALLEY WEST VALLEY: Silver Creek-

San Jose; Raiders seek first playoff berth since ‘03. ◆ MISSION TRAIL: Carmel; Padres haven’t lost in

league since ’07. ◆ MONTEREY BAY: North Monterey County-Castro-

ville; RB/DB Lopez leads Condors back to prominence. ◆ PENINSULA BAY: Terra Nova-Pacifica; Forbes to

Vargas, best CCS passing combination. ◆ PENINSULA OCEAN: Sequoia-Redwood City; From

1-9 to 11-1-1 in two years. ◆ PENINSULA LAKE: Carlmont-Belmont; Scots

haven’t won league since 1990. ◆ SANTA CLARA VALLEY DE ANZA: Palo Alto; State

champs in wide-open division race. ◆ SANTA CLARA VALLEY EL CAMINO: Gunn-Palo

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton (11-2), Carmel (11-2), San Lorenzo Valley-Felton (9-2), Menlo School-Atherton (8-4), Monte Vista ChristianWatsonville (7-3) EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Devin Pearson, QB, Carmel EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Leo Kolamatangi, DT, Sacred Heart Prep SURPRISE CONTENDER: Monte Vista Christian BREAKDOWN: Sacred Heart Prep rallied from an 18-0 deficit to beat Carmel 39-32 in a wild 2010 Division IV championship.

Most likely, the two will meet again. SHP will attempt once again to corral playmaking QB Devin Pearson, and the Padres will try again to slow down the Gators’ relentless veer attack. RB Tyler McCool (811 rushing yards in ’10) returns to lead a team that averaged 295 yards rushing. Carmel, the 2009 Division IV champ, has reached the past two finals. Monte Vista Christian, which has never won a title, offers an intriguing option if touted QB Taylor Cohan can pull the Mustangs’ to a postseason upset or two.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Sacred Heart Prep over Carmel

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Alto; Longtime Mountain View coach Navarro guides Titans. ◆ SANTA CRUZ COAST: San Lorenzo Valley-Felton;

Cougars to edge Aptos in SCCAL showdown. ◆ TRI-COUNTY: Palma-Salinas; Chieftains a lock for

fourth straight crown. ◆ WEST CATHOLIC: Bellarmine Prep-San Jose; Bells

return 16 starters from 9-3 team.

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QB — Mitch Ravizza, Willow Glen-San Jose, 6-0, 170, Sr. Dual threat passed for 3,357, ran for 527 for CCS Division II champs RB — Byron Marshall, Valley Christian-San Jose, 5-10, 195, Sr. Section’s top prospect eyes 2,000-yard season RB — Garret Zeitner, Los Gatos, 5-10, 190, Sr. Top returning rusher in CCS with 1,581 yards and 16 TDs last season WR — Elias Vargas, Terra Nova-Pacifica, 5-9, 160, Sr. Tiger caught 66 passes for 1,103 yards and 10 TDs last season OL — Dominick Jackson, Homestead-Cupertino, 6-6, 290, Sr. Two-way standout makes Mustangs a threat in wide-open De Anza League OL — Fine Latu, Monterey, 6-5, 265, Sr. Stalwart in the trenches for defending Monterey Bay League champs OL — Tory Prati, Palo Alto, 6-2, 230, Sr. OG/DE has state-championship experience OL — Fernando Villanueva, Independence-San Jose, 6-8, 280, Sr. Three-star prospect paved way for 258 yards/game rushing attack OL — Keenan Venuti, Gunn-Palo Alto, 6-6, 260, Sr. Gets opportunity to excel under new coach Dan Navarro

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UT — Devin Pearson, Carmel, 5-9, 170, Sr.

RB — Marcus Jones, Mountain View, 5-8, 180, Jr.

WR — Braden Bishop, St. FrancisMountain View, 6-1, 180, Sr.

Multi-purpose star threw for 2,673 yards, ran for an additional 1,093 in 2010

Rushed for 1,401 yards, 22 TDs, as a sophomore in 2010

Baseball standout may have a choice to make for college

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August 25, 2011

Norbert von der Groeben

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DL — Eugene Taylor, Oak Grove-San Jose, 6-4, 215, Sr. Logged a four-sack game as part of his 10-sack season

DL — Vita Vea, Milpitas, 6-4, 260, Jr. Averaged 11.5 tackles per game as a sophomore in 2010

DL — Daniel Jackson, Valley Christian-San Jose, 6-0, 220, Sr. Earned the WCAL’s Most Valuable Defensive Lineman honor DL — Jack Powers, Palma-Salinas, 6-5, 215, Jr. TCAL’s Sophomore of the Year has major-college potential

LB — Joe Gigantino, Bellarmine Prep-San Jose, 6-1, 210, Sr. Hard-hitter looking for return to state bowl game LB — Shaunne Katoa, Monterey, 6-1, 210, Jr. Won Monterey Bay League’s Defensive Player of Year DB — Michael Lopez, North Monterey County-Castroville, 5-11, 180, Sr. Intercepted four passes for the Condors, looking for more

DB — Cleveland Wallace, Oak Grove-San Jose, 5-11, 170, Sr. Headed for Oregon State after six interceptions, 48 tackles last year

DB — Kenny Portera, Leland-San Jose, 5-9, 165, Jr.

LB — Shane Smith, Los Gatos, 6-2, 225, Sr. Norbert von der Groeben

Flies to the ball and is technically sound.

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LB — Chris Santini, Leland-San Jose, 6-1, 215, Sr. Nonstop passion and effort from three-star OLB headed to Boise State.

Size didn’t matter for 2010’s top sophomore in Santa Clara County

K/P — Sam Falkenhagen, Menlo-Atherton-Atherton, 6-1, 175, Sr. His 57-yard FG vs. Sacred Heart Prep may be a CCS record

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Washington hopes for a Mabrey encore Think Tom Brady in the 2001 Super Bowl against the Rams. Bob Beamon in the 1968 Olympics. Closer to home, Cody Ross in the 2010 National League Championship Series.

Some athletes have risen from obscurity on the biggest stage.

On the San Francisco prep gridiron, that kid was Washington High School running back Lajarie Mabrey, and coach Karl Finley said it couldn’t happen to a better kid.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound then junior running back exploded onto the San Francisco Section/Academic Athletic Association scene with a breakout 11-carry, 181-yard, one-touchdown performance in last season’s 87th Turkey Day Game, a 36-6 Washington win over Balboa at Kezar Stadium.

Mabrey, a jovial, always-smiling fun-loving kid, had transferred in earlier in the school year.

And though talented, he was somewhat lost within a fleet and deep running back corp.

But when it counted most, he scored on a 2-yard run and set up other scores with runs of 65, 46 and 37 yards, lifting the Eagles to their ninth City championship but first since 2003. It also helped the Eagles (9-2) finish on a six-game win streak following a 16-13 midseason loss to regular-season champ Mission.

“That loss woke us up,” Mabrey said after the game.

“We really focused and worked much harder.”

Following his breakout performance, Mabrey could have basked in the glory, but Finley said that’s not Mabrey’s nature. In fact, he’s worked even harder to live up to his now lofty City stature.

“I think that game had a real positive impact,” Finley said. “He’s been very responsible. He doesn’t miss practice. He runs hard in every drill and during conditioning. He wants to set an example for the other kids. He’s also lifted weights for the first time and he’s much stronger.”

Not blessed with sprinter speed, Mabrey does explodes into the line faster than any kid Finley has ever coached. “He blows through arm tackles,” the coach said. “Honestly, he’s hitting the hole even faster this season.”

He’s got an experienced quarterback, returning starter Aram Gevandian, handing him the ball and a pair of standout linemen, third-year starting center Josh Kidd (5-10, 230) and junior Sergio Alvarado (510, 227) paving the way.

With the return of talented Jamie McHenry back from a shoulder injury that limited him to two full games last year, the Eagles have another big weapon so teams can’t load up on Mabrey. McHenry scored four touchdowns in a 55-13 win over Galileo last season.

“The best thing about Lajarie is his nature,” Finley said, noting that Mabrey could play at the next level. “He’s very low key. Never brings attention to himself. Always has a smile on his face. He’s not cocky at all. Just real pleasant to be around.”

Ben Lee Unless you’re trying to tackle him. ✪

Lajarie Mabrey

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“Balboa should be very good.

Mission lost some but they went undefeated last year in league. Galileo won it in 2009 and just had a lot of key injuries last year. Lincoln will probably bounce back big time. We’ll probably be in the middle of the pack.”

Washington coach Karl Finley on the league race.

He was smiling during the last comment.

Top 5 Games

How they’ll finish (2010 record)

Our pick of the top five SFS-related regular season games ◆ 9/10, Oakland Tech @ Balboa ◆ 10/7, Lincoln @ Galileo ◆ 10/14, Washington @ Lincoln ◆ 10/28, Mission @ Washington ◆ 11/11, Balboa @ Washington

1. Washington (10-2) 2. Mission (7-4) 3. Galileo (6-6) 4. Lowell (1-8) 5. Balboa (5-8) 6. Burton (4-6) 7. Lincoln (0-11) 8. Marshall (2-8)

Best of the City ◆ TOP LEAGUE MVP CANDIDATE: Davon Hargraves, QB-

DB-RB, Mission.

◆ TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Lajarie Mabrey, RB, Washington ◆ TOP DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Many Fale, DT, Mission;

Devon White, DE, Washington.

◆ TOP NEWCOMER: Kyle Nelson, QB, Galileo ◆ BEST IN THE TRENCHES: Darius Grays, DT/OG, Mission ◆ TOP LINEBACKER: Algeron Malbrough, Mission. ◆ TOP TWO-WAY JUNIORS: Hiromi Fujita, OL/DL, Lowell;

Douglas Snoddy, T/DL, Lincoln

◆ TOP TWO-WAY SOPHOMORE: Ronzel Fox, FB-LB, Galileo ◆ BIGGEST BREAKOUT POTENTIAL: Jamie McHenry, Washington, RB/CB

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August 25, 2011

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25

Encinal prepares to stand against Redwood Empire once more If the cheese stands alone, then Encinal High of Alameda is one solid block of cheddar.

In the five years since the North Coast Section overhauled its postseason divisions and got rid of separate tournaments for the East Bay and Redwood Empire regions, Division III has been decidedly one-sided in favor of the northern half of the section.

With the exception of Encinal.

The Jets have the East Bay’s only title during that stretch, yielded during a perfect 13-0 season in 2008, and reached the final in each of the past two seasons — only to suffer fairly lopsided defeats. Everything sets up for a similar looking playoff bracket in 2011. Defending champion Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa is considered a favorite to repeat, and 2009 champion Marin Catholic-Kentfield looks strong again as well.

And then there’s Encinal. While some might expect a program which has gone 37-4 over the past three seasons to eventually suffer a rebuilding year, the Jets are having none of that.

Coach Joe Tenorio returns 13 starters (six on defense; seven on offense) and cautiously admits that this year’s squad has the potential to be better than its immediate predecessor.

“The key will be how they deal with adversity and what’s gonna happen when things go wrong,” said Tenorio, who has a 48-15 record in his five seasons at Encinal. “I think they could be pretty good, and it’s just up to what’s going to happen when things don’t go the way we planned. Our biggest question last year was leadership, and I think we’re addressing it a little more with this team.”

One of the Jets’ leaders will be returning quarterback Andrew Ve’e who threw for 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns against just five interceptions during his junior year.

Ve’e didn’t waste any time in pointing out a difference in attitude between the 2010 team and the one he’s quarterbacking this season.

“Our strength is that everybody is teachable this year,” said Ve’e, who also rushed for 265 yards and three scores a year ago. “Last year we had a couple egos, and this year everyone is willing to listen and everybody is willing to work hard.”

Ve’e should have some weapons to play with, too. Running back Jon Trodder returns after averaging more than 10 yards a carry and scoring 12 rushing touchdowns last season. For a downfield target, Ve’e should have Bo Banks — an athletic speedster who caught four TDs on offense and had six interceptions on defense.

The biggest concern for the Jets will be their offensive and defensive lines, each of which contain youth and inexperience.

Beyond the youth up front, though, there’s a lot to like about the defense, which will be anchored by Trodder and Banks, among others.

“I like our defense,” Tenorio said. “It should be pretty solid. We’ve got some good looking players there and I like where we’re at.”

And don’t think this group isn’t aware that the Redwood Empire programs are eyeing another crown. It knows and it’s prepared to represent the East Bay once again.

“We’re more than hungry,” Trodder said. ✪ Butch Noble

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TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): De La Salle-Concord (14-0), California-San Ramon (12-2), Monte Vista-Danville (8-4), James Logan-Union City (8-3), San Ramon Valley-Danville (7-6), Pittsburg (5-6).

EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Jeff Lockie, QB, Monte Vista EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Michael Barton, LB, De La Salle SURPRISE CONTENDER: Freedom-Oakley BREAKDOWN: There’s no reason to think defending-state champ De La Salle won’t notch its 20th straight NCS title this season, so let’s talk about the teams they will likely need to vanquish en route to the honor. It starts in their own league. If Monte Vista finds a running threat to keep the pass defenses honest against Lockie, it could be the top challenger. The same could be said for San Ramon Valley-Danville, who boasts Elite 11 QB Zach Kline.

Pittsburg will always be a threat, and should have a well-rounded attack behind QB Malik Watson and RB Fe’ao Vunipola. James Logan returns 15 starters from an 8-win team, and California’s consistency over the past four seasons can not be ignored.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: De La Salle over Pittsburg

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Cardinal NewmanSanta Rosa (11-3), Encinal-Alameda (12-2), Marin Catholic-Kentfield (12-1), Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (10-2), Miramonte (11-2).

EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Stephen Tomasin, RB, Cardinal Newman EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Hardy Nickerson Jr., LB, Bishop O’Dowd SURPRISE CONTENDER: Acalanes-Lafayette BREAKDOWN: Cardinal Newman, a two-time CIF state bowl participant (2006, 2008), might be set up for trip No. 3 in 2011. At the very least the Cardinals are heavy favorites to repeat as Div. III champion.

Those projections are fueled in large part by the return of Tomasin at RB, and Matt Sullivan at QB. Teams which should also be in the picture are Marin Catholic-Kentfield (also a CIF Bowl alum, 2009) and Encinal, which has been in the NCS Div. III final each of the past three years (winning in 2008, the only East Bay team to do so in the past five seasons). Bishop O’Dowd is set for a big run with leaders back on both sides, and Miramonte will go as far as dual-threat QB Ross Anderson can take them.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Cardinal Newman over Marin Catholic

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Concord (13-1), Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park (12-2), Casa Grande-Petaluma (11-2), Pinole Valley-Pinole (11-1-1), Windsor (7-4), Las Lomas (5-6).

EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: James Lewis, RB, Pinole Valley EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Trent Mahler, DE, Concord SURPRISE CONTENDER: College Park-Pleasant Hill BREAKDOWN: Concord was unquestionably the darling of Div. II last year, winning its first section title behind one of the most prolific offenses in state history. While it’s safe to say they won’t put up the same kind of offensive numbers after the graduation of QB Ricky Lloyd (who set a NorCal record for TD passes in a season), there is still talent in place — especially on defense with Trent Mahler and Willy Thompson. The Minutemen should certainly be able to hang in a division that appears wide open. Rancho Cotate, the runner-up to Concord a year ago, finds itself in a similar boat — replacing some offense, but boasting some defense. Two teams that shouldn’t have issues scoring points are Pinole Valley and Las Lomas. Look for the latter to be very physical up front.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Rancho Cotate over Las Lomas

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Salesian-Richmond (11-2), Ferndale (9-3), Middletown (12-2), Kelseyville (7-4), Healdsburg (8-4) EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Freddie Tagaloa, OL, Salesian EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Adam Hendrickson, LB, Healdsburg SURPRISE CONTENDER: Berean Christian-Walnut Creek BREAKDOWN: Here’s what we know: Salesian is the defending Div. IV champion and it has a game-changer in 6-foot-8, 300-pound lineman Freddie Tagaloa. As one of the top OL recruits in the nation, Tagaloa would be a game-changer for any school, but in small school competition he’s just that much more valuable. Marcial Malic should have the same wide open running lanes that Aaron Prier did a year ago. A handful of other usual suspects should be chasing after the Pride, including Middletown — which lost the 2010 Div. IV final to Salesian in OT (28-27). Ferndale has proven to be perennially tough, and Healdsburg (a semifinalist in 2010) returns some strong talent as well. Keep an eye on Berean Christian, which returns RB Logan Lisle, who finished second in the East Bay in scoring (165 points) a year ago.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Salesian over Healdsburg

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Hoopa Valley-Hoopa (11-1), Tomales (10-3), California School for the Deaf-Fremont (6-5), St. Bernard-Eureka (5-7).

EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Michael Guerrero, RB, Tomales EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Justin Brady, LB, Tomales SURPRISE CONTENDER: Point Arena BREAKDOWN: Hoopa Valley seemed to come from nowhere to win its first crown a year ago. We’d like one prognosticator to prove he had them on his radar at this time last season. Can they repeat last year’s success? It could be tough seeing as how they turn over more than half of their roster. The team they beat 28-6 in the 2010 final, Tomales, looks like the early favorite on paper. The Braves bring back talent on both sides of the ball, and have a small school championship tradition similar to Ferndale. Possibly two dark horse contenders would be Point Arena, which brings back 1,000-yard back Dylan Johnson, and CSD, which returns the QB-RB duo of Carlo Lopez and Brian Freeman.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Tomales over Point Arena

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Our pick for the best NCS-related game each week ◆ 9/2, Concord @ Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa ◆ 9/10, Vacaville @ Marin Catholic-Kentfield ◆ 9/16, Folsom @ Deer Valley-Antioch ◆ 9/23, De La Salle-Concord @ St. Thomas Aquinas-Ft. Lauderdale (FL) ◆ 9/30, Granite Bay @ Pittsburg ◆ 10/7, California-San Ramon @ Monte Vista-Danville ◆ 10/14, Las Lomas-Walnut Creek @ Miramonte-Orinda ◆ 10/21, Eureka @ Del Norte-Crescent City ◆ 10/28, Pinole Valley-Pinole @ Berkeley ◆ 11/4, Windsor @ Casa Grande-Petaluma ◆ 11/11, California-San Ramon @ De La Salle-Concord

◆ ALAMEDA CONTRA COSTA: Berkeley; Yellowjackets should have the most depth of any team, and RB Rudolpho James will star. ◆ BAY FOOTBALL: Salesian-Richmond; The Pride always manage to reload, and this year should be no different. ◆ BAY SHORE: Encinal-Alameda; This year’s Jets could actually be more well-rounded than last year’s NCS Div. III runners-up. ◆ BAY VALLEY: Pittsburg, Last year was a down year for the Pirates — and they still took home a BVAL banner. This SHOULD NOT be a down year. ◆ DIABLO FOOTHILL: Las Lomas-Walnut Creek; Big, physical line will pay huge dividends on both sides of the ball. ◆ DIABLO VALLEY: Concord; No more Ricky Lloyd at QB, but Minutemen defense should be more than formidable. ◆ EAST BAY: De La Salle-Concord; You really didn’t expect us to pick someone else here, did you? ◆ HAYWARD AREA: Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland, QB Dominic Miroglio threw for 22 TD and just 6 interceptions as a sophomore last year. ◆ HUMBOLDT-DEL NOTRE BIG 5: Del Norte-Crescent City, With 16 returning starters, everything appears to be set up for the Warriors — if they can beat Eureka. ◆ HUMBOLDT-DEL NOTRE LITTLE 4: Ferndale, There are some certainties in life, and the Wildcats ruling small school football in Humboldt Co. is one of them. ◆ MARIN COUNTY: Marin Catholic-Kentfield, Wildcats should return at least two-thirds of their roster from last year’s NCS Div. III semifinalist squad. ◆ MISSION VALLEY: James Logan-Union City; Colts return RB duo of Miles Long and Damon Beasley, which combined to rush for 2,250 yards and 25 TDs in 2010. ◆ NORTH BAY: Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa, Cardinals should be the class of the Redwood Empire region. ◆ NORTH CENTRAL I: Kelseyville, Knights graduated just 12 from last year’s 7-4 playoff squad. ◆ NORTH CENTRAL II: Tomales, Braves need to replace their QB, but return 1,000-yard rusher and leading scorer (120 points), Michael Guerrero. ◆ NORTH CENTRAL III: Point Arena, RBs Dylan Johnson (1,104 yds, 9 TDs) & Harlan Bailey (662 yds, 8 TDs) return. ◆ SONOMA COUNTY: Windsor, With notable returning players on both offense and defense — and Casa GrandePetaluma reloading — this is the Jaguars’ window.

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QB — Bart Houston, De La Salle-Concord, 6-4, 215, Sr Spartans’ QB is 25-0 as a starter and committed to Wisconsin after a 20 TD/4 INT. junior year RB — Miles Long, James Logan-Union City, 6-0, 190, Jr Ran away with MVAL rushing title with 1,500 yards & 14 TDs as sophomore RB — Stephen Tomasin, Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa, 5-11, 185, Sr. Biggest weapon for potentially the best team in the Redwood Empire region; Had 15 TDs in four playoff games in 2010 RB — james Lewis, Pinole Valley-Pinole, 5-8, 175, Sr. Led the ACCAL in rushing with 1,248 yards while averaging more than 11 yards per carry WR — Anthony Williams, De La Salle-Concord, 6-0, 187, Sr. Brother of NFL wideout Demetrius Williams is poised for a big year as he replaces Lucas Shapiro as Houston’s go-to guy WR — Tyler Amick, Granada-Livermore, 6-3, 180, Sr. Has a chance to improve upon 54-catch, 745-yard season as Matadors could go to the air more with senior QB Jeremy Mata OL — Kyree Oliver, Heritage-Brentwood, 6-5, 285, Sr. A key to the Patriots’ punishing run game, Oliver already has an offer from Colorado in pocket OL — Tavita Taito, Deer Valley-Antioch, 6-2, 300, Sr. Preparing for his third year as a starter for the Wolverines, Taito has offers from half the Pac-12 OL — Nick Reynolds, Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park, 6-3, 240, Jr. Was named the North Bay League’s Lineman of the Year as a sophomore OL — Thomas Kupelian, Casa Grande-Petaluma, 6-3, 295, Sr. Will anchor an experienced line that should prove a major strength for the 2011 Gauchos UTIL — Chris Tewhill, Marin Catholic-Kentfield, 5-10, 175, Sr. Last year’s dual-threat QB for the Wildcats could spend more time at RB in 2011.

He’ll also line up in the secondary on defense

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OL — Freddie Tagaloa, Salesian-Richmond, 6-8, 300, Sr. There’s no bigger (pun intended) recruit in the Bay Area than Tagaloa, who has been fielding offers for more than two years Bob Larson

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DL — Motekiai Maile, Pittsburg, 6-4, 240, Jr. Coach Vic Galli mentioned former NFL star Regan Upshaw (PHS grad ’91) when describing potential of this transfer from Texas DL — Trent Mahler, Concord, 6-1, 195, Sr. Dominant junior year included 140 tackles, nine sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception LB — Hardy Nickerson Jr., Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland, 6-0, 215, Sr. Led the Dragons with 116 tackles in 2010; Has committed to Cal, where his dad starred before a distinguished NFL career LB — Darian Roman, Windsor, 5-10, 200, Sr. Part of a nucleus that could make the Jags a suprise team in Div. II; Had 82 tackles and five sacks a year ago LB — Fe’ao Vunipola, Pittsburg, 6-0, 215, Sr. It just wouldn’t be a Pittsburg defense if there wasn’t an extremely athletic linebacker flying to the ball DB — Bo Banks, Encinal-Alameda, 5-11, 170, Sr. Posted 66 tackles and six interceptions for a Jets team which reached the Div. III final for the third straight year DB — Demariay Drew, Livermore, 5-11, 190, Sr. Outstanding athlete led Cowboys with 91 tackles last season and was also the team’s leading ruhser (931 yds, 10 TDs) DB — Jordan Fogal, Arroyo-San Lorenzo, 5-11, 170, Sr. Ball-hawk had six interceptions to go with 41 tackles in 2010. He’s also expected to play QB DL — Justin Walker, De La Salle-Concord, 5-11, 215, Sr.

DL — Derrick Stom, Las Lomas-Walnut Creek, 6-1, 255, Jr.

LB — Michael Barton, De La Salle-Concord, 6-0, 210, Sr.

K — Samuel Boyden, Berkeley, 5-11/165, Jr.

Experienced two-way lineman will live in opponents’ backfields in 2011

Poised for breakout on what should be a very physical Knights defense

Cal-bound Barton led the 2010 state champs in tackles

Had five field goals a year ago and should prove to be nice weapon

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August 25, 2011

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SportStars is excited to be partnering with Diablo Valley College to help deliver the first Battle In The Bay football event on Sept. 3.

Not only will it feature two very intriguing matchups, one of which features a defending CIF Bowl champion, but it will also have a number of things to offer off the field. Several of our sponsoring partners will be there, including Sports Basement which is putting on a giant tent sale. There will be an array of great food, as well as entertaining demonstrations featuring stunt bikes, martial arts and much more.

But seeing as how this is the Football Preview, the games are what we’re talking about most.

Here’s a look at both matchups with a breakdown and season outlook for each team.

— Chace Bryson, Editor

Acalanes-Lafayette vs.

Ygnacio Valley-Concord, 5 p.m.

Ygnacio Valley COACH: Todd Bauleke, 2nd season 2010 RECORD: 6-5 PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: QB, Jamari Pope, Jr.; RB/DB, Anthony Barnett, Sr.; OL/DL, Kelepi Folau, Sr.; OL/DL Coleman Boelker, Sr.; OL/LB David Davydov, Sr. KEY LOSSES: WR Grant Jones; DB J’rod Erby; OL/DL Jesus Rios; OL/LB Edgar Contreras; RB/DB Emmanuel Reyes.

2011 OUTLOOK: The Warriors were hit heavy by graduation, losing 27 seniors in what coach Todd Bauleke called “a mass exodus.” However, a few key figures are still in place — first and foremost, QB Jamari Pope, who predictably took his lumps as a sophomore a season ago. But despite some early struggles, he still finished his first year with more TD passes than interceptions, and now with a year under his belt, he returns much more polished. Returning RB Anthony Barnett will combine with newcomers Garland Parker and Victor Gurule to fill out the Warriors ground attack. Also, one can expect the 6-3, 290-pound Kelepi Folau to be a force on both lines. Like most young teams, its chance at contending will depend on how quickly it matures.

ACALANES COACH: Mike Ivankovich, 3rd season 2010 RECORD: 5-6 PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: QB/LB Spencer Henderson, Sr.; LB Drew Gaylord, Sr.; LB Thomas Hall, Sr.; TE/LB Scott Clendening, Sr. CB Carson Gardner, Sr.; CB/WR Austin deBack, Sr. OL/DL Michael Brady, Sr.; OL Phillip Rowley, Sr.; OL Kyle Gee, Sr.; OL Carter Fernandes, Sr.; RB Aaron Edwards, Jr.; RB/ WR Joe Dreyer, Sr.; DE Gabe Newman, Jr. KEY LOSSES: WR/DB Trent Baker; LB/WR Lucas Levine; LB Sumner Cortessis 2011 SEASON OUTLOOK: The Dons find themselves in stark contrast to their opponent, with expectations high as they return a slew of starters from a year ago. Perhaps the team’s biggest strength to open the season will be on the defensive side of the ball where coach Mike Ivankovich is giddy over his corps of returning linebackers, headlined by the senior quartet of Spencer Henderson (also the starting QB), Drew Gaylord, Thomas Hall and Scott Clendening. Skill guys on offense, Acalanes has those, too. Keep a close watch on WR Austin deBack, and RB’s Peter Mitchell, Aaron Edwards and Joe Dreyer.

And while expectations are high, Ivankovich said the concern will be learning how to win and maintaining it.

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San Ramon Valley-Danville vs. Folsom, 8 p.m.

Butch Noble

Ygnacio Valley’s Jamari Pope

Folsom football

Coach Kris Richardson

San Ramon Valley COACH: Mark Kessler, 3rd season 2010 RECORD: 7-6 PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: QB Zach Kline, Sr.; RB/LB Jordan Weiss, Sr.; WR/DB Michael Tagliaferri, Sr.; OL/DL Jake Simonich, Sr.; TE Sean Miller, Sr. KEY LOSSES: LB Kyle Egan; OL/DL Ben Teichman; RB/DB Michael Summers; RB/LB Nick Eckel; WR/DB Trent Peterson; WR/DB Kaulin Blair; TE/LB Zach Faber.

2011 SEASON OUTLOOK: There’s little question that the Wolves are going to go as far as the arm of Cal-bound Zach Kline can take them this season. With the exception of Tagliaferri, he’s going to have brand new targets to throw to in 2011.

On the bright side, he will have a familiar face in the backfield with the return of Jordan Weiss — the team’s leading rusher a year ago with 700 yards and 5 TDs. It’s the defense where the Wolves will be filling the most holes, and the biggest hole to fill will be that of Kyle Egan, who posted an unreal total of 165 tackles in 2010. If San Ramon Valley can find a way to stay in games, Kline should be able to get them points.

Folsom COACH: Kris Richardson, 7th season 2010 RECORD: 14-1 PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR: QB Tanner Trosin, Sr.; WR/ DB Carson McMurtry, Sr.; WR/DB J’Juan Muldrow, Sr.; OL/DL Travis Walker, Sr.; OL/DL Jordan Alleva, Sr.; WR/DB Rodney Ellison, So. KEY LOSSES: QB Dano Graves; WR/DB Jordan Richards; WR/DB Tyler Trosin; WR/DB Kori Babineaux; OL/LB Sam Leuken; LB Dan Curry.

2011 SEASON OUTLOOK: There’s no question that 2010 was a dream season for the Bulldogs. After losing to Grant-Sacramento on national TV, Folsom ran off 14 straight wins which included beating Grant in the Sac Joaquin Section final before winning a rain-soaked California Interscholastic Federation Div. II State Bowl game in Carson. It was indeed a magical run that just happened to be guided by the U.S. Air Force/MaxPreps National Player of the Year, QB Dano Graves. But a new era arrives with the graduation of Graves, and the ascension of Tanner Trosin, who assumes the vacated QB position. He saw some time under center a year ago, and has the utmost confidence of his coaches and teammates. One of his big weapons will be Carson McMurtry. Defensively, look for linebackers Alex Wood, Mark Meyer and Tevinn Lewis to make impacts, as well as sophomore defensive back, Rodney Ellison.

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MINING SILVER

Fremont aims for its turn at the top As football leagues go, the Oakland Athletic is about as topsy-turvy as they come. Teams routinely go from the outhouse to the penthouse and back in the course of two or three seasons.

Looking for a consistent contender, a regular one or two teams at the top? Look elsewhere.

While McClymonds has enjoyed a fairly outrageous run of success of late, hoisting the Silver Bowl in 2005, ’06, ’07 and again to cap last season’s magnificent 12-0 run, it looks like it might be time for the Warriors to give way to another dominant squad.

Fremont, which has shown well in recent years with appearances in the section title game the past three seasons (and a win over Castlemont in 2009), appears loaded for bear entering the 2011 season.

McClymonds lost 14 seniors from a 22-man 2010 roster. Conversely, the Tigers return eight seniors from last year’s 6-6 squad, and add two senior transfers who are likely to make an impact. When you’re fielding a squad of only 22-24 guys, for half of them to be experienced seniors might be considered something of an advantage.

“It’s really a tight group with a lot of senior leadership,” Fremont coach Isamu Falevai said.

“They’ve been through a lot together. They were freshman together when they played in their first Silver Bowl, and they’ve won one of three. They’re hungry.”

The obvious leader of a group full of leaders is Silliveinusi Tomasi, Falevai’s Mr. Everything.

“He’s very mobile, very versatile and he gives us great leadership,” Falevai said of Tomasi, a two-way lineman who clocks in at 6-1½ and 260 pounds. “If we get some other guys ready, I would move him back to fullback and linebacker.

That’s what he played in our passing league. He’s mobile and agile. He has the best hands. He does it all.”

With Tomasi clearing the way, either at offensive tackle or fullback, senior running back Sione Moli figures to have plenty of space with which to work. Add three-year starting lineman Lavaka Maile (6-4, 260), senior transfer Salevi Evi (6-4, 350) and junior Pen Puafisi (6-4, 315) and the Tigers seem to have the beef up front and the running game to take some heat off of sophomore QB Azel Grasty — who Falevai says is already a polished pocket passer.

And if they do have to wing it around a little, Gratsy has senior targets like Marcus Robinson (6-2, 190) and Tyler Newell (5-11, 180) to make his life easier.

“Everybody knows we run the ball a lot — probably 80 or 90 percent of the time,” Falevai said. “But we’re going to be able to balance it out a little this year.”

Not all of the Tiger talent is on the offensive side, either. Seniors like linebacker Majerle Taugavau (6-1, 240) and cornerback Marquis McFadden (5-10, 180), and talented juniors Bishope Apodaca (safety, 5-11, 190) and Sydnee Logan (cornerback, 5-11, 190) figure to make things as tough on opposing offenses as Moli and Co. will on opposing defenses.

All of that adds up to trouble for the rest of the Butch Noble league. ✪ Sione Moli

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Here are the Silver Bowl (OAL championship) appearances and victories since the event began in 1980. There was no champion named in 1998 when the game was stopped due to fighting and never concluded.

Team................................................................................. Appearances-Victories Skyline ............................................................................................................ 23-16 Oakland........................................................................................................... 13-5 McClymonds.................................................................................................... 12-6 Fremont........................................................................................................... 7-1 Oakland Tech................................................................................................... 4-1 Castlemont...................................................................................................... 2-1

We CALL IT

Top 5 Games

1. Fremont (6-6)

Our pick of the top five OAL-related games on the regular season schedule ◆ 9/3, McClymonds @ Ferndale ◆ 9/16, Fremont @ Miramonte-Orinda ◆ 9/30, Salesian-Richmond @ McClymonds ◆ 10/14, McClymonds vs. Fremont (Curt Flood Field) ◆ 10/21, Skyline @ McClymonds

2. McClymonds (12-0) 3. Oakland Tech (4-6) 4. Skyline (3-8)

5. Castlemont (1-8) 6. Oakland (1-9)

THE BEST OF THE OAL THE GUNSLINGER: Skyline quarterback Jamal Mayo (5-11, 175) was probably the best of the bunch in the OAL last year as a junior, so you know he’s got the skills. Question is, will he have anyone to throw to?

LEADER OF THE MACK: Warriors’ signal caller Eddie Heard (6-3, 210) is widely acclaimed as a solid quarterback, and even moreso as a team leader.

RUNNING WILD: Look for Fremont’s Sione Moli (5-10, 230) to have a breakout year behind a massive offensive line. The speedy Moli figures to have more room to work, too, thanks to a more balanced attack from the Tigers.

MISTER MISSILE: Oakland Tech’s Luc Fleury (6-1, 225) takes a step back from the defensive line where he was an all-city honorable mention last season, and looks to make an even bigger impact at linebacker.

IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL: The Bulldogs also boast a couple of standout two-way linemen, C/DT Simione Havea (5-10, 250) and OT/DT Alem Amores (6-3, 270) who will figure prominently for Tech.

GO-AND-GET-IT GUYS: Senior WR’s with size and speed are hard to come by. So you can imagine how much easier the season will be for Fremont sophomore QB Azel Grasty thanks to the presence of Marcus Robinson (6-2, 190) and Tyler Newell (5-11, 180).

IN THE TRENCHES: Oakland High returns a pair of two-way honorablemention all-city linemen in Patrick Williams (6-2, 300) and Emanuel Baxter (6-0, 280). Look for these guys to shine even if the Wildcats struggle.

WHERE’S THE BEEF: Fremont figures to push a lot of defenses around with a cadre of giants on the offensive front led by seniors Salevi Evi (6-4, 350) and Lavaka Maile (6-4, 260) and junior Pten Puafisi (6-4, 315) DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS: Castlemont struggled to score points in 2010.

The Knights might do so again in 2010. But look for a defense, anchored by returning all league selections David Moa (junior, defensive line) and Deion Miller (senior, linebacker).

BEEF, PART II: Leading the way on Fremont’s offensive line is all-everything Silliveinusi Tomasi who, at 6-11/2 and 260 pounds, isn’t even close to the biggest of the bunch. Though it still could end up making him the scariest leadblocking, pass-catching fullback ever.

GRATUITOUS NAME DROPPING: Some more guys to keep an eye on, in no particular order, are Majerle Taugavau (Fremont DB/RB), Kevin Vaughn (McClymonds, OL) Bishope Apodaca (Fremont RB/DB), Austin Chao (Skyline, LB), Sydnee Logan (Fremont, CB), Dewayne Ewing (Skyline, RB), Keith Lewis (OT, WR), Dajon Ford (McClymonds, OL), Aaron Haywood (Skyline, DL), Derrick Fuller (Castlemont, DB).

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Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove braces for primetime Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove head coach Joe Cattolico knows that his Eagles team is considered the area’s top team. The defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division I champions earned top 25 national rankings from numerous prep football sources and some prognosticators have them ticketed for a trip to a CIF State Bowl games. But Cattolico has no vision of hoisting a state championship trophy at The Home Depot Center in Carson. At least not yet.

“Our focus is really on winning the (Delta River) league title,” Cattolico said. “That is our goal heading into the season every year. Last year was the first time in four years that we did not at least have a share of the league title, so that is where we start our team goals.”

That’s not to say Cattolico and his Pleasant Grove team don’t believe that all 10 teams on their 2011 schedule are aiming to knock off the team at the top of the section hierarchy. They all know it, because the coaches and players have had discussions about it since late summer.

“We definitely know that we have a large target on our backs,” said Arik Armstead, a senior team captain and highly-recruited lineman. “The program has grown and come a long way in its six years, but we feel that we have always had a target on our backs because of the success that we have had.”

That success will be tested early and often during the 2011 season as the Eagles face four 2010 playoff teams over five preseason games before it reaches league play and will try to knock off defending DRL and State Division II champion Folsom. The first two opponents for Pleasant Grove (Monterey Trail-Elk Grove and Lincoln-Stockton) are teams that the Eagles defeated twice in 2010 en route to the Division I crown.

The battle for section bragging rights with Monterey Trail is always a big game in Elk Grove, but this year’s season opener will attract broader attention as the Aug. 27 game will be televised by ESPN2. Last year, the Sac-Joaquin Section drew ESPN’s spotlight as nationally-ranked Grant-Sacramento travelled to Folsom and handed the Bulldogs a sound beating in front of a national audience. This year, Pleasant Grove hopes to play the role of the nationally-ranked team beating a section rival on the road. But they know that it won’t be easy.

“It’s going to be a very important game because we are two rivals who know each other real well,” Armstead said of the local showdown. “Our schedule is real tough, but it’s more fun playing the best teams in the area.”

“It’s going to be a challenge to see how we deal with what comes with playing on ESPN,” Cattolico said.

“Combating distractions is always difficult, but we will just try to keep focused on our preparation and assignments for the game.”

Because it will take 10 games before the Eagles see if they reach their goal of a league title and earn a chance to soar in the playoffs again. ✪ James K. Leash

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TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove (13-1), Granite Bay (9-4), Monterey Trail-Elk Grove (10-4), Napa (10-2), Lincoln-Stockton (8-4).

EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Mark Jenkins, RB, Pleasant Grove EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Maile Fainu, DL, Burbank-Sacramento SURPRISE CONTENDER: Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills BREAKDOWN: Defending champ Pleasant Grove returns the bulk of its explosive offense, including four offensive linemen, QB Cody Demps, and RB Mark Jenkins (the Section’s top rusher a year ago). But, coach Joe Cattolico isn’t just going to rely on a ground attack. He expects to be very balanced. Monterey Trail-Elk Grove, which lost to Pleasant Grove twice in 2010 including in the section title game, will get an immediate chance at redemption in the teams’ season-opener. Granite Bay coach Ernie Cooper’s Grizzlies have been perennial contenders since 2000. If the Grizzlies have enough left after a very challenging nonleague slate and Sierra Foothill League schedule, they could make a serious run at the title. Napa returns only four starters from last year’s team, but senior RB/CB Zach Scheinholz makes them a threat.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Monterey Trail over Granite Bay

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Del Oro-Loomis (104), Patterson (11-2), Manteca (9-2), Placer-Auburn (9-3), WhitneyRocklin (7-5).

EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Jake Rodrigues, QB, Whitney EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Alex Bertrando, LB, Del Oro SURPRISE CONTENDER: Nevada Union-Grass Valley BREAKDOWN: Del Oro may not have the opportunity to defend its 2010 title (school enrollment numbers and team records may shuffle a number of teams into different divisions come playoff time), but the Golden Eagles are the early favorites here if they stay in Diiv. III. They ride an eight-game winning streak into the season.

Last year’s top seed Manteca is a usual suspect when it comes to Div. III contenders, but a 2011 playoff run will depend how the young Buffaloes can shake off a first-round playoff upset a year ago. Patterson fell to Del Oro in a semifinal matchup last year, but has plenty of returning firepower, including standout DE and USCsignee Pio Vatuvei. The top contenders from the greater Sacramento area are Placer-Auburn and Casa Roble-Orangevale.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Patterson over Placer

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Grant-Sacramento (13-1), Folsom (14-1), Buhach Colony (12-1), Vacaville (10-2), St. Mary’s-Stockton (11-2).

EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Shaq Thompson, RB, Grant EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Aziz Shittu, DL, Buhach Colony SURPRISE CONTENDER: Inderkum-Sacramento BREAKDOWN: This may be the most wide open division in the section. Defending CIF Div. II state bowl champion Folsom saw six seniors sign letters of intent to play Division I football, including National Player of the Year, Dano Graves. Head coach Kris Richardson is confident that the young talent he has will benefit from large chunks of playing time last year, including this year’s QB Tanner Trosin. If Grant is not bumped up to Div. I, the Pacers are the favorite behind RB/DB Shaq Thompson. Buhach Colony needs to replace some players at the skill positions, but experienced line play will make them formidable. St. Mary’s-Stockton, who lost a semifinal to Grant a year ago, should also be in the mix. Vacaville could be a dark horse.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Grant over Buhach Colony

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Escalon (14-1), Colfax (10-3), Calaveras (11-3), Union Mine-El Dorado (10-2).

EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Josh Miguel, RB, Escalon EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Jimmy Bamburg, LB, Bear River SURPRISE CONTENDER: Bear River-Grass Valley BREAKDOWN: Fifteen starters return from Escalon’s CIF Div. III state bowl championship team, making the Cougars a clear favorite in Div. IV. The team’s top offensive weapons (QB Gino Franceschetti and RB Josh Miguel) are back after accounting for nearly 3,500 yards of offense and 49 TDs. Foothill powerhouse Colfax (10-3) can never be overlooked and returns the pass-and-catch combination of QB Austin Young and WR Shawn Rawlins. Calaveras made Escalon work hard in the SJS final last year, losing by just two points (22-20). The Redskins lost a wealth of talent and production at their skill positions and will rely on a young defense.

Union Mine may be the biggest threat to Escalon as RB Sean Tow (2,261 yards, 25 TD) is one of nine returning offensive starters.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Escalon over Union Mine

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): LeGrand (10-2), Highlands-North Highlands (9-4), Waterford (8-3).

EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Zach Moreno, WR, LeGrand EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Ray Edwards, LB, Highlands SURPRISE CONTENDER: Golden Sierra-Garden Valley BREAKDOWN: LeGrand ran away with the Div. V title in 2010, outscoring opponents 117-14 in a pair of playoff victories. The bad news for the rest of the division is the Bulldogs return a solid core of players, including seniors at all three skill positions on offense (QB Alex Bucio, RB Daniel Guizar and WR Zach Moreno). Highlandswill play a challenging schedule to attempt to reverse a 61-7 loss to LeGrand in last year’s final. The speedy Scots return eight offensive players including QB Kurtis Stamm, RB Aaron Abalos, and WR Ray Edwards. Waterford has the opportunity to face LeGrand in Southern League action before a potential postseason shot at their league rivals.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: LeGrand over Golden Sierra

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Our pick of the best SJS-related game each week ◆ 8/27, Folsom at Grant-Sacramento ◆ 9/2, Buhach Colony-Atwater vs. Enochs-Modesto ◆ 9/9, Rocklin at Whitney-Rocklin ◆ 9/16, Granite Bay at Vacaville ◆ 9/23, St. Mary’s-Stockton at Lincoln-Stockton ◆ 9/30, Inderkum-Sac. at Monterey Trail-Elk Grove ◆ 10/7, Napa at Vacaville 10/14, Monterey Trail-Elk Grove at Grant-Sacramento ◆ 10/21, Granite Bay at Del Oro-Loomis ◆ 10/28, Folsom vs. Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove ◆ 11/4, Union Mine-El Dorado at River City-W. Sacramento

◆ DELTA RIVER: Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove; RB Mark Jenkins runs Eagles past competition. ◆ SIERRA FOOTHILL: Granite Bay; Fly offense run expertly by QB Brendan Keeney. ◆ CAPITAL: Whitney-Rocklin; QB Jake Rodrigues a playmaker with his arm and feet. ◆ CAPITAL VALLEY: Casa Roble-Orangevale; QB Mitch Samson headlines potent offense. ◆ CENTRAL CALIFORNIA: Buhach Colony-Atwater; Aziz ◆ CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AA: Brookside ChristianStockton; QB Tony Rodriguez back for another run. ◆ DELTA VALLEY: Grant-Sacramento; RB/DB Shaq Thompson leads on both sides of the ball. ◆ GOLDEN EMPIRE: Marysville; Indians’ defense strong. ◆ METROPOLITAN: Burbank-Sacramento; Coach John Heffernan looks for defense to lead the way. ◆ MODESTO METRO: Enochs-Modesto; LB Josiah Okamoto top returning tackler for stout defense. ◆ MONTICELLO EMPIRE: Vacaville; RB Melvin Mason returns to carry Bulldogs to third straight league title. ◆ MOTHER LODE: Calaveras; OL is the key ◆ PIONEER VALLEY: Placer-Auburn; Spangler, Robinson, and Mangino a tough RB trio for Hilmen. ◆ SACRAMENTO METRO: Delta-Clarksburg; Saints have experience and depth at skill positions. ◆ SAN JOAQUIN AA: Lincoln-Stockton; Eight starters return on offense that averaged over 33 ppg last year. ◆ SIERRA DELTA: Bradshaw Christian-Sacramento; Pride has size, strength to dominate the line of scrimmage. ◆ SIERRA VALLEY: Union Mine-El Dorado; RB Sean Tow and his 2,226 rushing yards return for Diamondbacks. ◆ SOLANO COUNTY: Rodriguez-Fairfield; Tough nonleague schedule yields reward for Mustangs. ◆ SOUTHERN: Le Grand; Experienced Bulldogs have not last a Southern League contest since 2008. ◆ TRANS VALLEY: Escalon; Div. III state champ Cougars return 15 starters, RB Josh Miguel (1,840 yds, 27 TD). ◆ TRI-CITY: St. Mary’s-Stockton; Rams hope experienced defense can bring fifth straight league crown. ◆ TRI-COUNTY: Inderkum-Sacramento; WR D.J. Myart a game-changer for Tigers. ◆ VALLEY OAK: Oakdale; 1,000-yard rusher Marcus Hernandez back to lead Mustangs’ offense. ◆ WESTERN: Patterson; DL Pio Vatuvei among state’s best.

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QB — Jake Rodrigues, Whitney-Rocklin, 6-3, 205, Sr. Oregon-bound signal-caller accounted for 43 TDs and more than 3,300 yards of offense in 2010.

RB — Mark Jenkins, Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove, 5-9, 175, Sr. Looks to improve on 2011 performance (2,739 yards; 41 TDs) for Div. I-favorite Eagles RB — Josh Miguel, Escalon, 5-9, 175, Sr. Rushed for 1,840 yards and 27 TDs to lead Cougars to SJS and CIF Div. III titles WR — Dylan Collie, Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills, 5-11, 180, Sr. Trojans’ top receiver is following older brother, Austin (of the Indianapolis Colts), to prep stardom and then BYU WR — Zachary Moreno, LeGrand, 6-3, 190, Sr. Led all juniors in SJS with 1,055 receiving yds.

(25 yards/catch) for Div. V champion Bulldogs TE — Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick, Whitney-Rocklin, 6-5, 250, Sr. Prototypical TE has great size and hands; 7 of 24 catches as a junior went for TDs OL — Gavin Andrews, Granite Bay, 6-6, 330, Sr. Among top recruits in state, hulking lineman committed to Oregon State OL — Leonard Wood, Monterey Trail-Elk Grove, 6-2, 295, Sr. In run-oriented offense, Wood is key piece for Mustangs OL — Matt Cochran, Buhach Colony-Atwater, 6-4, 330, Sr. Powerful lineman has attracted attention of schools from both the Pac-12 and SEC Util. — Shaq Thompson, Grant-Sacramento, 6-2, 210, Sr. Thompson can do just about anything he wants for the Pacers. He can play RB, WR, CB, S, even QB, if needed

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OL — Steven Moore, Elk Grove, 6-7, 265, Sr. Committed to Arizona, Moore will be charged with opening holes for RB Deon Ransom

OL — Arik Armstead, Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove, 6-7, 280, Sr. Opened huge holes for Jenkins; dominant tackle headed to USC

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DL – Maile Fainu, Burbank-Sacramento, 6-4, 240, Sr. Averaged 2 sacks and 9 tackles per game as a junior

DL – Aziz Shittu, Buhach Colony-Atwater, 6-4, 275, Sr. Quick-footed tackle had 76 tackles and 6.5 sacks as a junior for Thunder

DL – Charles Howard, Lincoln-Stockton, 6-5, 305, Sr. Inside presence recorded 67 tackles, played a large role in holding Pleasant Grove’s highpowered offense to 10 points in D-1 playoffs

DL – Ewing Simmons, St. Mary’s-Stockton, 6-3, 210, Sr. Speedy end had 67 tackles and 9.5 sacks for Rams team that advanced to D-II semifinal

DB – Deon Ransom, Elk Grove, 5-9, 175, Sr. Cornerback had 62 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 INT; led team with 1,137 yards rushing on offense

DB – Jaquari People, Merced, 5-9, 170, Sr. Second on team with 81 tackles; added 1 sack and 1 INT

DB – Joey Armstrong, Lodi, 6-0, 180, Sr. Versatile cornerback picked off 7 passes; accounted for 2,148 yards of offense and 30 TDs as Flames’ QB DB – Ryan Wood, Stagg-Stockton, 6-1, 175, Sr. LB – Cameron Buell, Casa RobleOrangevale, 6-2, 220, Sr. Led all juniors in section with 182 tackles (14 per game) and added 5 interceptions for the Rams

LB – Colton Davenport, Placer-Auburn, 5-10, 210, Sr. Second in Pioneer Valley League with 121 tackles as a junior; added 4.5 sacks and one interception

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Third in section with 8 INTs; scored 3 TDs on defense/special teams & 5 as WR for Delta Kings LB – Alex Bertrando, Del Oro-Loomis, 6-3, 205, Sr. All-Sierra Foothill League defender doubled as offensive threat at tight end for Golden Eagles

K – Charlie Vue, Grant-Sacramento, 5-8, 170, Sr. Was a perfect 7-for-7 on field goals and added 88 PATs to finish third on team with 109 points

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PERFECT SEASON

Got firepower? Foothill-Palo Cedro has plenty to spare Bryon Hamilton has to know he’s holding a full house.

And the coach of Foothill-Palo Cedro may have a countenance that could hang at the World Series of Poker, but the rest of the Northern Section’s Division-I football community knows he has a full house, too.

“That team is loaded,” said one athletic director.

The Cougars are loaded. There’s no getting around it.

It all starts with Tevin Slaton — a slashing running back who racked up more than 1,300 yards on the ground in 2010, rushing for 15 TDs and scoring 19 all together.

Then there’s starting wide receivers John Choate (46 catches, 960 yards, 10 TDs) and Cooper Janusevskis (10 catches, as a sophomore, in last year’s Northern Section final) Another threat to run the ball is Addison Gilliam (7 rushing TDs last year), who will also be the team’s starting middle linebacker.

Ah yes, they do have to replace QB Zack Ray — but this is where Hamilton made his house on the river card. He already had an accomplished quarterback on the roster — he just started at free safety a year ago, and led the section with the seven interceptions. Tucker Wilson, clearly an athlete, has been behind center at every level before varsity.

And, as Slaton is quick to point out, he’s the perfect type of quarterback for the Cougars’ spread offense.

“He can bring us a way better running game,” the tailback said. “He’s going to be able to keep the offense guessing. Our strength is being a running team, and having a running QB is go-

Division I TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Foothill-Palo Cedro (10-2), Paradise (11-1), West Valley-Cottonwood (7-5), Shasta-Redding (8-4), Chico (4-7).

EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Tevin Slaton, RB, Foothill EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Austin Lobsinger, LB, West Valley SURPRISE CONTENDER: Enterprise-Redding BREAKDOWN: Both Foothill and West Valley appear to return the most talent on each side of the ball. There are plenty of teams who can play spoiler, however, and West Valley will be adjusting to a bump up from Div. II. Shasta might be the team most under the radar, as some expect the Wolves to struggle as they replace key contributors on offense. However, LB Chris Collins (who will also play QB) leads a very underrated defense.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Foothill over West Valley

Division II TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Sutter (7-5), Lassen-Susanville (10-2), Wheatland (10-2), Corning (8-3).

EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Cameron Medico, RB, Lassen.

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ing to make it that much harder for defenses to contain us.”

Paradise did contain a majority of Foothill’s roster in last season’s Div. I final, topping Foothill 29-7 on a muddied field. A result that lit a fuse under the Cougars very early in 2011.

“We’ve been (in the final) every year since 2008,” Hamilton said. “We felt like we had the best team last year.

We had a great shot at winning the section. And that always leaves you hungry.”

Slaton took it one step further.

“We’ve been ready to get this season started since January,” said Slaton, who added 10 pounds of muscle during the offseason. “We’ve been working hard. We lost our o-line and strength coach. But we got a new one and he worked us ten times harder.”

Foothill should have its share of contenders, including Paradise and a Shasta-Redding team which is blocks away from the Cougars’ campus. The coaching staff at West Valley-Cottonwood is trying to put its own poker face on, too.

But when it comes to firepower at skill Ed Fisher/ MaxPreps positions across the board, Foothill has it.

Tevin Slaton And can’t wait to use it.

EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Phillip Robledo, LB, Sutter SURPRISE CONTENDER: Central Valley-Shasta Lake BREAKDOWN: Sutter is the talk of the division, as it boasts a load of returning talent. The Huskies got a taste of playoff success last year (a first-round win over Anderson), and that will be key for them. Wheatland, the Div. II runner-up to Lassen, was dealt a pretty big blow by graduation. And speaking of the defending champs, there’s no reason to think the Grizzlies are going anywhere. Keep an eye on Corning, which has a talented returning roster and should benefit from moving down from Div. I. CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Lassen over Sutter

Division III TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Durham (10-2), Live Oak (10-2), Trinity-Weaverville (7-4), Williams (7-4) EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Luke Curran, RB, Trinity EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Toby Auer, DE, Durham SURPRISE CONTENDER: Willows BREAKDOWN: Defense wins championships. It did so for Durham in 2010, and it should do it again for the Trojans this season. Auer (15 sacks), Erick Shanks (88 tackles) and Mike

Our pick for the best NS-related game on each week of the regular season schedule.

8/26, Merced @ Paradise 9/3, Foothill-Palo Cedro vs. Deer Valley-Antioch (at Paradise HS) 9/9 Hamilton-Hamilton City @ Kelseyville 9/16, Nevada Union-Grass Valley @ Chico 9/23, Sutter @ West Valley-Cottonwood 9/30, Quincy @ East Nicholas 10/7, Corning @ West Valley-Cottonwood 10/14, Foothill-Palo Cedro @ Shasta-Redding 10/21, Durham @ Live Oak 10/28, Wheatland @ Sutter 11/4, Pleasant Valley-Chico @ Foothill-Palo Cedro

WE CALL IT BUTTE VIEW: Sutter; Huskies won’t be sneaking up on anyone this year — several see them as the Div. II favorites.

EASTERN-NORTH: Foothill-Palo Cedro; You name it, the Cougars have it. Speed, strength, experience, firepower.

EASTERN-SOUTH: Paradise; It’s a coin flip between the Bobcats and the league’s other section champ (Lassen-Susanville, Div. II) MID-VALLEY: Quincy, Trojans graduated just six seniors from a 2010 team which fell just eight points shy of an NS Div. IV title.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY: Maxwell; RB/DB Brett Cabral should run wild in this league yet again.

NORTHERN: West Valley-Cottonwood; RB Josh Bocker should prove to be the differencemaker for the Eagles.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY: Durham; Live Oak will continue to push the them, but the Trojans have too much returning on defense.

SHASTA CASCADE: Modoc; Graduation hit the Braves hard, but they should still have enough returning talent for another league banner.

Thompson (4 fumble recoveries, 3 blocked kicks) all return.

Live Oak, last year’s runner-up should be back in the picture, but a stiff challenge could come from Trinity behind two-way talent Curran. WIllows also played Durham very tough a year ago, losing 14-7.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Durham over Trinity

Division IV TOP TEAMS TO WATCH (2010 record): Quincy (10-3), Maxwell (12-1), Hamilton-Hamilton City (7-5), East Nicolaus (6-5) EARLY OFFENSIVE MVP: Brett Cabral, RB, Maxwell.

EARLY DEFENSIVE MVP: Steven Silveira, LB/DE, Hamilton SURPRISE CONTENDER: Portola BREAKDOWN: The most dynamic player in the division a year ago was Maxwell’s Cabral (22 TDs, 80 tackles, 5 interceptions). His return immediately puts the Panthers back in the championship picture. Quincy, which lost to Maxwell in last year’s final, has its own returning talent, including the speedy WR/DB Cal Blanton. Hamilton is set up to make a push, as is East Nicolaus.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Quincy over Maxwell

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OFFENSE QB — Tucker Wilson, Foothill-Palo Cedro, 5-10, 180, Sr. RB — Elijah Smith, Sutter, 6-1, 200, Sr. RB — Josh Bocker, West Valley-Cottonwood, 5-10, 165, Sr. RB — Cameron Medico, Lassen-Susanville, 5-7, 190, Sr. WR — John Choate, Foothill-Palo Cedro, 5-11, 170, Sr. WR — Jesse Holmes, Chico, 6-2, 180, Jr. OL — Eric Scribner, Central Valley-Shasta Lake, 5-11, 225, Sr. OL — Wyatt Webb, Anderson, 5-11, 260, Sr. OL — Roy Madrigal, Corning, 5-10, 205, Sr. OL — Chris Price, East Nicolaus, 6-5, 280, Sr. OL — Colby Rice, Paradise, 5-11, 250, Sr. UTIL — Tevin Slaton, Foothill-Palo Cedro, 5-10, 185, Sr.

Defense DL — Steven Silveira, Hamilton-Hamilton City, 5-10, 175, Sr. DL — Toby Auer, Durham, 5-11, 170, Sr. DE/LB — John Durney, Yreka, 5-11, 215, Sr. LB — Phillip Robledo, Sutter, 6-0, 205, Jr. LB — Luke Curran, Trinity-Weaverville, 6-1, 230, Sr. LB — Addison Gilliam, Foothill-Palo Cedro, 6-3, 220, Sr. LB — Austin Lobsinger, West Valley-Cottonwood, 6-1, 230, Sr. DB — Brett Cabral, Maxwell, 6-0, 180, Sr. DB — Dalton North, Lassen-Susanville, 6-2, 180, Sr. DB — Kyle Forbis, Pleasant Valley-Chico, 5-10, 185, Sr. DB — Cal Blanton, Quincy, 5-8, 145, Sr. K — Rigoberto Sanchez, Hamilton-Hamilton City, 6-2, 165, Sr.

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Elijah Smith, Sutter

Phillip Robledo, Sutter

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tee2green

The First Tee of Contra Costa claims first NorCal Tour crown In 2009, six Northern California Chapters of The First Tee came together to establish The First Tee NorCal Tour. The chapters participating in the tour are Contra Costa, Fresno, Modesto, Monterey, San Francisco, and San Jose.

Currently, the tour holds two events each summer. This year’s first event was hosted

by The First Tee of San Jose and held at Los Lagos Golf Course in San Jose, and the second event was hosted by The First Tee of Monterey and was held at Twin Creeks Golf Course in Salinas. Each team is allowed six players per event. The combined scores of each event determine the NorCal Tour Champion, and the winning chapter receives the perpetual glass trophy to hold for the year and defend the following year.

The First Tee of San Jose was the winner of the inaugural tournament with The First Tee of Modesto winning in 2010.

This year’s champion and keeper of the trophy went to The First Tee of Contra Costa.

The players who qualified to represent The First Tee of Contra Costa were: Edward Anaya (silver medal, low net in the San Jose event) Eric Angeles, Spencer Butterfield, Arden Childers (bronze medal, low net), Chris Childers (gold medal, low gross), Misa Church, Nicholas Lloren (bronze medal, low gross), Alex Louie, Liam McClary, Izzy O’Brien and Haley Salomone (gold medal, low net).

Salomone, who is only 10-years old, not only received a gold medal for the low net score, but made a hole-in-one on the 8th hole at Twin Creeks.

In addition to playing an 18-hole round of golf, each participant must answer Life Skill and Golf Knowledge questions on a 9-hole Knowledge Putting Course at the beginning of each hole. If a player answers a question incorrectly they are assessed a penalty stroke for that hole. Player score cards were made to accommodate answering the questions by circling true/false and multiple choice answers.

To The First Tee participants golf is “more than a game.” Here we take our Life Skills seriously, and a correct response can help win a tournament. Congratulations to The First Tee of Contra Costa!!! And Congratulations to all that participated in The First Tee NorCal 2011 Tour. Also, a special thank you to program director, Larry Lee, for coordinating The First Tee of Contra Costa’s team. ✪

Angela Paradise

The First Tee NorCal Tour Team (six players) scoring: Lowest four 18-hole net scores, plus the lowest four 9-hole Knowledge Putting Course scores determines a team’s overall score for each event. Individual scoring: Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are determined by adding together player’s 18hole score and 9-hole Knowledge putting score. Tour Champion is determined by combining the scores from both events.

SAN JOSE EVENT 289-Contra Costa 294-San Jose 295-Modesto 303-Fresno 306-Monterey 307-San Francisco SALINAS EVENT 312-Contra Costa 326-Modesto 330-Monterey 346-Fresno 347-San Francisco 348-San Jose FINAL TOUR STANDINGS 601-Contra Costa 621-Modesto 636-Monterey 642-San Jose 645-Fresno 654-San Francisco First Tee Files is a rotating column featuring administrators from the four Bay Area chapters of The First Tee. Angela Paradise is the executive assistant for The First Tee Contra Costa. Find out more on each chapter at: www.TheFirstTeeContraCosta.org, www.TheFirstTeeOakland.org, www.TheFirst TeeSanJose.org and www.TheFirstTeeTri Valley.org.

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Football players can develop rotational power by taking their medicine (ball) Using a medicine ball for rotational power development is probably one of the easiest and most accessible ways for young football athletes to develop rotational power.

I

n almost every single sport that your young athletes play, the more powerful athlete will win almost any battle within a competition. This couldn’t be truer with football athletes.

It’s also clear that football players clearly don’t move in a linear direction for the majority of the time in practice and games. They need to be able to change direction quickly under many different game situations whether on offense or defense.

The fact is that, many times, your football athletes are involved in a speed and agility program in which the focus is on linear development.

This means focusing mainly on Olympic lifts, throwing medicine balls forward, jumping and sprinting forward, etc.

Honestly, I really don’t take issue with this type of training for power development, just the application of it. My athletes perform all the above mentioned exercises. The problem when restricting young football athletes to typical in-the-box methods which ignore rotational power, is that it ignores the rotational power component needed by your football athletes to efficiently move in all directions on the field.

There are a many different tools and movements

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that can be used to develop rotational power in young athletes: medicine balls, ropes, chains, bands, sandbags, sledge hammers and so forth.

Using a medicine ball for rotational power development is probably one of the easiest and most accessible ways for young football athletes to develop rotational power. It’s very simple to progress from stable to less-stable, more dynamic movements. As always, progression is the key to long term development and the mastery of any skill.

So the first thing we do with our athletes is to start them in half-kneeling positions, which teaches them to use their core to create power by removing the lower body from the equation. We then progress to tall-kneeling on both knees, parallel stance, split stance, dynamic throws and then add movement.

Here is an example of how we progress our athletes at Fit-2-The-Core: Week 1-3: Half-kneeling side throws Week 4-6: Standing side throw Week 7-9: Split-stance side throw Week 10-12: Dynamic one-step side throw Week 13-16: Lateral bound dynamic side throw or shuffle with throw

Training Time Tim Rudd for IYCA

This is just one of many progressions and can be longer or shorter depending on the mastery of each progression. As you can see, there are five full progressions that your young football athletes can use before ever moving up in a weight for the medicine ball.

The key to developing rotational power that will transfer on the football field is to use proper progressions that allow for mastery of this skill.

This allows your football athletes to efficiently progress to training for rotational power, using more advanced dynamic movements with multiple stimuli and various cues — all of which are vital to increased carry-over to their sport.

By adding this component to the training of your young football athletes, it will ensure they become more powerful, leading to a dominant performance on the field of play and leaving the competition in the dust.

If you would like to see an example of the medicine ball progressions mentioned above, go to www.fasteryoungathletes.com for a video of the exact medine ball progressions above. ✪ Tim Rudd is an International Youth Conditioning Association specialist in youth conditioning (level 3), speed and agility (level 2), and nutrition specialist (level 1). For more information on anything you read in Training Time, email him at tim@fit2thecore.com.

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Female Athlete Triad: Three illnesses to know and prevent

W

atching the USA Women’s Soccer Team perform in the Women’s World Cup in Germany this summer thrilled all American sports fans and inspired many young girls to dream of playing at the national level one day.

The number of girls participating in youth sports already has been steadily increasing over the last few years. The 1972 passage of Title IX legislation, providing equal opportunities for women, was the main catalyst for the boom in girls’ sports. T

he many successes of female athletes during the last 15 years — including the creation of the WNBA in 1997, the Brandy Chastain and Mia Hamm-led 1999 World Cup champions, and this year’s team with Hope Solo and Abby Wambach — only further the ambition of young girls to play at the highest levels.

But, with the increase in participation, there has also been an increase in injuries and illnesses unique to the female athlete population. The medical condition known as the Female Athletic Triad refers to the three elements of the disease: dis-

ordered eating, osteoporosis and amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycle). When one of these conditions happens along with certain red flags, screening for the others is highly suggested.

Female Athlete Triad is often seen in activities that require a lean physical appearance, by females driven to meet a specific body image or those who are ultra-high achievers and over train their bodies.

The disordered eating disease condition is based on frequent low energy availability. This means that the amount of energy intake in the diet is usually not enough to meet the energy needs of the body. The negative energy balance can be due to excessive dieting like fasting or disordered eating diseases like anorexia and bulimia. Energy imbalance can also happen if an athlete increases his or her exercise level without eating more calories as well. If the imbalance is extreme or long-term, body functions that are important for growth, development and health begin to change.

In girls, one of the changes is disruption of the LH hormone and estrogen that contributes to the menstrual cycle.

While most teenagers have start menses by age 15, with regular cycles afterwards, strenuous sports training or low body weight can delay this onset. Once onset does occur, missing several cycles in a row is called “amenorrhea” and is the second component of the Triad. While it is more common in athletes than the general population, athletes with prolonged amenorrhea are at risk for losing bone mass due to the lack of estrogen.

Osteoporosis, the third leg of the triad, is loss of bone mineral density usually associated with elderly women during menopause. With normal nutrition, bone tissue is regularly broken down and formed in the body. The process of bone formation does not occur when estrogen levels are low. The weak skeletal structure can result in stress fractures during participation in sports. In many cases, frequent stress fracture injuries are the first sign of the Female Athlete Triad.

The best treatment is prevention by educating athletes, parents, coaches and health providers on healthy body image, proper nutrition, and exercise habits. Athletes who exhibit the signs of disordered eating or are ultra-conscious of appearance should speak to a coach, parent or another trusted adult about healthy activity. Referral to the proper health care provider and early management are very important to the ultimate health of the young, female athlete.

While Olympic gold medals are never a sure thing, healthy participation is a good first step. ✪

Health Watch Mikel Jackson

Mikel Jackson is an athletic trainer for the staff of Sports Medicine For Young Athletes, a division of Children’s Hospital Oakland with a facility also located in Walnut Creek. If you have a health-related question for the “Health Watch” column, write the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes staff at Health@ SportStarsMag.com.

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impulse Welcome to Impulse, your one-stop shop for all the latest and greatest in gadgets, gizmos and gear. Compiled by Erik Stordahl, Impulse gathers a hodgepodge of what’s currently hot on the market. This week we tour the athletic environs of The Sports Authority. With locations nationwide, they’re known for carrying almost everything imaginable for all sports. We examine essential items for football players.

ENDLESS GLOVE A must-have for any football player are gloves. Let’s face it: Gone are the days of dousing your hands in chalk or stickum handed down by Coach Lombardi and The Gipper. There are hundreds of gloves to choose from but we selected three that stand out the most: ■ Cutters C-TACK Solid Receiver.

The definition is in the title itself. Wear what the pros use so your hands turn into glue. Now you can make catches like Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald night in and night out.

■ UNDER ARMOUR Men’s Red Zone Receiver.

When you absolutely, positively gotta catch a pass.

Think of these as your go-to gloves during crunch time. Durable and super lightweight, these gloves are also packed with UA HeatGear moisture-wicking material that’ll keep your hands as cool as a cucumber down the stretch.

■ Nike Men’s Superbad. We think the name says it all.

Look, we know getting noticed by scouts is important. Put these gloves on and command the spotlight with crazy catches that just might make it on SportCenter’s Top 10.

CLEAT WEEK When it comes to cleats, it’s like picking out shoes. Too many styles and designs to count. Here are the best of the bunch: ■ Nike Men’s Speed TD. Out-maneuver, out-claw, out-run, out-everything your opponents with these cleats. Many players can get by on innate ability and gushing talent, for the rest of us there are these bad boys to rack up those huge first downs and game-changing touchdowns.

■ Under Armour Nitro III. Get an edge on the secondary and linebackers as you blaze past them or spin so quickly you break their ankles while gunning to the end zone. It’s not enough to just catch the ball or break one tackle. Your team needs you for YAC and multiple first downs to keep drives going. The Nitro III’s got your back.

■ Nike Men’s Alpha Speed. Remain battled-tested not just for four quarters, but for four months. These cleats will keep you in playoff form throughout the season. It’s super-comfy material goes a long way in preventing key injuries. Don’t be the guy who stands on the sidelines during the title game because he broke his ankle wearing bad cleats in Week 5.

You’re better than that!

other essentials ■ Mouth Guards. You gotta keep those baby whites intact, especially with all the cheddar your parents threw down on

braces! We say go with the Shock Doctor Adult Gel Max Mouthguard with Strap.

■ Ankle Braces. We’re assuming all football players have some form of a bum ankle so buying a brace now before it gets even worse is crucial. McDavid is a trusted source for ankles. You can go with the Ultralight Ankle Brace w/ Strap and feel 100% on the field.

■ Athletic Tape. A must-have for every team. KT is the brand of choice here. Use athletic tape on your hands, feet, knees, shins. You get the idea.

■ Knee Braces.

Bauerfeind GenuTrain knows their stuff when it comes to knee braces. A lofty investment, sure, but it’s better than the alternative of ACL/MCL surgery and being out of commission for the season.

JFF (Just For Fans) Fans! We didn’t forget about you. How could we? After all, you’re the glue that holds your team together. When your team needs you the most, you’re always there without fail.

It doesn’t matter if it’s raining cats and dogs with a wind chill factor of “If you stay out here any longer, you’re gonna catch Pneumonia. Seriously.” If you plan on making the killer threehour drive up North to the town that you keep forgetting the name of, you’re gonna need the following essentials: ■ GCI Outdoor BleacherBack Stadium Seat. Look, we know you plan on jumping up and down screaming your lungs out for every play of the game. But for timeouts and halftime, you’re gonna need valuable rest. Tote this portable La-Z-Boy to games and you’ll feel like you’re sitting in your living room.

■ Coleman Roadtrip LXE Portable Grill. For the tailgating crazies out there, you’re gonna have several hours to kill.

Bring this food-grilling lifesaver with you to every big game so you can fuel up and waste all your energy during game time.

It’s portable and easy to stow so you’ll have more room to cram diehard fans in your car.

■ Century Tool Double Head Infra Red Heater. Come playoff time, it’s gonna get mighty cold no matter where your team is playing (unless, of course, the game is for whatever reason being played in Australia where it’s summertime). Warm up by this portable fire so you don’t turn into an icicle by kickoff.

■ Nike 500 Mini Football. The ultimate item to have at any tailgating party. Pretend you’re Montana, Brady or Manning (heck, pretend you’re all three molded into one SuperQB) by throwing deep outs and slants to your friends and family while carving through the Steelers’ or Packers’ defense. Just make sure you watch out for cars! ✪

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camps + clinics BASEBALL/SOFTBALL Golden Era Baseball Based in the East Bay, we offer several instructional-based programs as well as 9U thru 18U Club Teams.

We are currently taking sign-ups for our Spring Hitting Classes. Please see our website for full details: www.GoldenEraBaseball.com The Pitching Center We develop baseball players to their full potential. The Pitching Center has grown to become the Total Player Center (TPC), a full-service baseball and softball training academy. Ageand skill-specific programs are available for students ages 8 – High School. Info: 925-416-1600, thepitchingcenter. com SportForm Based in Concord, SportForm provides individual and team instruction in baseball, softball, lacrosse.

Highly trained professionals provide accelerated and advanced skills clinics. Prepare to Perform!

Info: 925-459-2880.

BASKETBALL Bladium Triple Threat Academy Alameda’s Bladium Sports & Fitness Club hosts multiple hoops camps for ages 6-12.

Designed for players of ALL skill levels.

Registration: AlamedaSales@bladium. com, 510-814-4999; www.bladium.com.

CHEER CheerGyms.com We offer the best clinics in California!

Customize your clinic to fit your needs from basic stunting techniques or working on twist cradles out of one leg stunts, we take your team to the next level! Info: 866685-7615, www. CheerGyms.com East Bay Sports Academy Recreational, competitive athletes benefit from training with the best coaches. Our 10,000 sq. foot facility is clean and bright with the newest equipment. Info: 925 680-9999, www.EastBaySportsAcademy.com.

EQUESTRIAN Kelly Maddox Riding Academy Develop new friendships with other horse-crazy kids.

Weekly activities include learning horse colors, markings and breeds; arts and crafts; a farrier demonstration and human horse show; bareback riding and more! Info: 925-575- 4818, www.KellyMaddoxTraining.com

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Franklin Canyon Stables Based in Martinez, we provide two covered arenas and easy access to trails. Beginning riders or experienced equestrians, we have a place for you.

Instruction in horsemanship on the ground and in the saddle while having fun. Info: 925- 228-1801; http://www.kimshorsetraining.com/franklin_canyon.html Castle Rock Arabians Activities for tweens and teenagers, where we build team spirit through various team activities on horseback. Visit the ranch by appointment. Info: 925-933-3701, www. castlerockarabians. com FITNESS Aspire Pilates Dramatically increase core strength, power, flexibility, balance, focus and joint stability, while preventing injury. Aspire prides itself on helping propel athletes to the next level by addressing muscular imbalances, helping athletes increase body awareness, correct faulty body mechanics, and access untapped strength. Info: 925.680.4400, www. AspirePilatesCenter.com.

Fit 2 The Core As a Youth Conditioning, Speed/Agility and Nutrition Specialist with the IYCA, Fit- 2-The-Core Training Systems offers an innovative approach to getting young athletes back on the field postrehabilitation, and continuing the process by progressing their bodies to handle what they must endure on the field or court. Info: 925- 639-0907.

Transform FX At Transform FX Fitness, we believe that parents can take better care of their kids when they take care of their own health and fitness. This is the reason we have designed our adult fitness bootcamp workouts to fit your busy lifestyle. Each bootcamp workout is carefully designed to help you burn fat and increase your cardiovascular endurance in less time. Call us at 925-289-8042 or visit us online at www. transformfxfitness.com.

Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness We offer over 70 group classes per week.

Members also enjoy our heated pool, sauna, spa, and steamroom. Massage, skincare and chiropractic services are available. Call us today for your free week pass! Info: 925932-6400, www.wcsf.net ENRICHMENT Dianne Adair Programs We offer a wide variety of enrichment programs for your child, during the school year

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and throughout summer.

Activities include: Home work help, 4th & Up Club, art and crafts, science, sports, and games.

Summer camps include weekly field trips. Info: www. dianneadair.org.

E.Nopi and Palm Academy Palm Academy’s “Summer Camp Spectacular” offers day camps with one-week or one- day programs to provide the flexibility for your busy schedule. Abrakadoodle Art Camps inspire kids to reach beyond and create art that is unique to them. Info: Palm Academy, Fremont, (510) 979-9794 or E.Nopi, Newark, (510)79ENOPI (36674) FOOTBALL NorCal Football Camps Led by Marin Catholic High coach, Ken Peralta (San Francisco 49ers High School Coach of the Year,) Camps serve youth ages of 7- 14. We help each child reach his full potential as a football player and young person. Info: 650-245-3608 . www. norcalfootballcamps.com GOLF Dave DeLong Junior Golf Camp This camp is for advanced and beginning junior golfers. Camps are designed for golfers 7-15. Camps include a 4 to 1 ratio of students to teachers where safety is the top priority as well as player development and enjoyment.

Boundary Oak Course, Walnut Creek. Info: 925-997-3683; www. delonggolf.com Coach Rick Golf Learn to play on the course, where it matters with Coach Rick! Golfers of all ages can sign up for clinics offered by Coach Rick starting now throughout summer. Info: 510 917-6442 • www. ThePersonalGolfCoach.com The First Tee-Contra Costa The First Tee Summer Camp is a youth development program for boys and girls 7-18.

Participants learn about golf and life skills and values inherent to the game, rules and etiquette. Summer camps at Diablo Creek Golf Course in Concord. Info: www.thefirstteecontracosta. org; angela@thefirstteecontracosta.org or 925-686-6262 x0.

The First Tee-Oakland The First Tee of Oakland has delivered The First Tee Life Skills Experience to over 262 participants. Each receive a min. 12 hours of instruction over an 8-week period. Instruction is at three Oakland courses: Metropolitan Golf Links, Lake Chabot GC and Montclair GC. Info: 510352-2002; www. thefirstteeoakland.org.

The First Tee-San Jose The First Tee of San Jose develops youth through the game of golf throughout Silicon Valley. Participants learn to appreciate diversity, resolve conflicts, build confidence and set goals. We welcome participants ranging from second to twelfth grade. Scholarships available.

Info: 408-288-2973; www. thefirstteesanjose.org.

The First Tee-Tri-Valley The First Tee of the Tri-Valley offers seasonal The First Tee Life Skills Experience Classes and Summer Camps for ages 7-17, held at the Pleasanton Golf Center on the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Junior Golf Summer Camps are held weekly. Info: 925.462.7201, www.

TheFirstTeeTriValley.org LACROSSE Atherton Lacrosse Our lacrosse camps are designed for boys and girls ages 5-14, who are beginner or intermediate players. Our group of coaches and staff are leaders in the lacrosse community. Info: 888526-3330, www.AthertonLacrosse.com.

MARTIAL ARTS United States Karate Systems Adult and children’s programs, kick box fitness, mixed martial arts. Providing excellence in martial arts instruction and services for the entire family. 925-682- 9517; www. usksmartialarts.com UmiGo With camps going on throughout the summer, you’ll learn passing techniques, cornering techniques, throttle & breaking techniques, advance seat position, kart operation, kart control, real racing and improving your lap times. Racers need to be at least 10 years old and at least four feet, 10 inches tall. Two- and four-day camps are available. Info: www.umigoracing.com.

OUTDOOR SPORTS Bear Valley Mountain Bear Valley has six camps with multiple sessions including: Soccer, Archery, Tennis, Climbing, Cycling and Day Camp.

Summer Camps offer outdoor rec programs for the whole family; overnight resident skill camps and day camps, too. Age groups and activities vary by camp. Info: www.bearvalley.com SOCCER Heritage Soccer Club A Pleasant Hill/Martinez based competitive soccer club welcomes players ages 8-18.

Learn new skills and hone existing ones

from top flight coaching staff with years of experience spanning the high school and college ranks.Info: www.heritagesc.com.

SWIMMING-DIVING Walnut Creek Swim Club WCSC is a recreational team sponsored by the City of Walnut Creek celebrating its 50th anniversary. Led by the experience of coach Brad Hoy, the staff is the finest in the area. WCSC believes in finding the healthy balance between competition and family fun. Info: 925-766-5664 Sherman Swim School We are a Lafayette swimming and diving school celebrating our 50th year. Our yearround schedule allows children and adults to learn, retain, and improve their swim skills with little interruption. Info: 925-283-2100, www.

ShermanSwim.com TENNIS Summer Tennis at Valley Vista ClubSport Valley Vista has successfully hosted summer tennis camps in Walnut Creek for more than 30 years, with expert instruction. Info: 925-934-4050, www. clubsports.com VOLLEYBALL Pacific Rim Volleyball We offer several skill-based camps and clinics, including setting camp, hitting camp and an all-skills camp.

Campers will be evaluated and placed in a group that challenges their level of play. Registration for beach volleyball is going on now as well.

Info: www. pacificrimvolleyball.com U.S. Youth Volleyball League USYVL hosts series of Summer camps in several Northern and Southern California locations. We’re the leader in developing, maintaining youth volleyball leagues for boys and girls ages 7-15. With an emphasis on positive reinforcement, we seek to build confidence and self-esteem in each child. Info: 1-888-988-7985 or www.

USYVL.org.

MULTI-SPORT City of Concord Skyhawks Sports Skyhawks Sports and the City of Concord have teamed up to provide safe, fun and skill-focused sports camps this summer for ages 4-12. Camps range from soccer to lacrosse to our popular multi-sport camp where kids sample three different sports (Soccer, Basketball, and Baseball) in one camp. Info: www. concordreg.org or (925) 671-3404.

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Heavy offseason conditioning may not be as critical as one thinks I want my team as fresh as possible, in all aspects, in March, and I really don’t care if they can run forever on Oct. 15.

Basketball doesn’t start until November, but our coach wants us doing conditioning and lifting weights four days a week. She also wants us to come to open gyms – isn’t this a little much?

B.P., Oakland

B

efore I answer, it’s only fair that I point out that what I’m going to say is about 180 degrees from what most coaches will say, so keep in mind as you read this that I’m in a very small minority on this topic — but that said, I think the conditioning demands your coach is making are not only out of line, but not nearly as important as he or she thinks.

I first came to this conclusion long ago when I was an assistant on a pressing, running team that did lots of conditioning. Several of our players were on the volleyball team, which did almost no conditioning at all, but still went pretty far in NCS. That meant the volleyball girls came out to basketball late and missed all of preseason conditioning and the first two brutal weeks of basketball practice.

And after three days, you couldn’t tell which girls had done all the conditioning, and which had come from volleyball.

So from a purely practical point of view, it seemed to me, all that preseason conditioning, and those two weeks of running in practice,

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were pretty much a waste of time.

At 16, boys and girls get into shape in the blink of an eye – they are, after all, at their physical peak in many ways.

Even at 20 or 21, it’s different, which is why colleges go through a much more rigorous conditioning and stretching program.

And naturally, high school coaches want to do what college coaches do, so they instituted all the preseason work, even if they didn’t really need to.

Weight training is a different story, but the key here is that any athlete needs to put in at least 45 minutes a week during the season to maintain whatever gains he or she might have made in the offseason. Given the time demands on high school students, I try to get as much done as quickly as possible, and I’d rather spend those 45 minutes working on

Behind the Clipboard Clay Kallam

basketball skills than have half (or more) of the girls loaf through weight training during the season.

Now there is the oft-repeated statement that if you put in tons of work, it’s harder to give up on something — or, to put it another way, if you spent hours and hours from August to October working out for basketball, you will be less likely to give up on a game in February.

I don’t really buy that, and in fact, I think all that preseason time may have just the opposite effect, and actually wear kids down physically and mentally.

I want my team as fresh as possible, in all aspects, in March, and I really don’t care if they can run forever on Oct. 15.

So my answer is yes, you’re right, the conditioning requirement is over the top, and in the long run, it’s not going to have much impact at all on your ability to make a critical jumpshot in late February. But, on the other hand, the coach is the coach, and if she thinks it’s important, you better convince yourself it is too, or you’ll find yourself sitting behind some girl who just loves running sets of 200s in the September heat.

Submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email Coach Kallam at clayk@fullcourt.com

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