Sac-Joaquin Issue 169, Aug. 18, 2019

SAC-JOAQUIN SPECIAL EDITION VOL. 10 ISSUE 169

Good In The Game

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elcome to the main event. Football season is here and we are juiced to get you ready for another season of Northern California football.

When our team sat down in early July to plan this issue, it didn’t take long to arrive on the topic of our primary feature of this issue. We’ve called it “Strong Side: Inside Football’s Good Fight,” and it begins on Page 8.

Our team of writers have a combined 90 years or more of covering high school football. And while we can all appreciate covering the many other sports that we do, covering football is just different. It doesn’t matter what city, suburb or town.

Night or day. Regular season or playoff game. A competitive high school football game has a special kind of vibe.

However, with as much love as we have for covering the sport, we’re not deaf to the risks it poses to those who play it. As sportswriters, how could we be? And as participation numbers drop, freshman programs dissolve, and more laws are passed to limit contact, we thought it was time to ask those still playing and coaching a simple question: Why? Not surprisingly, the answers vary. But boy were the players and coaches excited at the opportunity to give them. The game still incites a passion in many people, and it symbolizes different things to different individuals.

There are plenty of good reasons for football, and we’re going to spend a season telling them.

Ben Enos’ story, which highlights the story of the Maronic family from Bear River-Grass Valley, serves as our introductory piece. Over the course of the year, we’re going to continue the Strong Side Series as we look to tell unique stories as to why certain players and coaches continue to play the game as others begin to stray.

Please, let us be clear, this is not us ignoring the science of the highly publicized risks of playing. Those parents, kids and families who choose to leave football, or avoid it altogether, we get it.

This is just our chance to look at players, families and coaches who have faced that decision, and choose to hold on.

In addition to the story, we hope you’ll go to SportStarsMag.com and check out our accompanying video, along with the long list of responses from people we talked to and simply asked “Why?” Our website will also have numerous expanded Football Preview content leading up to Week Zero’s kickoff on Aug. 23. There will be additional features and previews as well as expanded team rankings and more players to watch throughout the six NorCal sections.

Football is back. Let’s go! ✪

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›› FRESH TAKE: Fresh Ison, Moreau Catholic Seek NCS Return ›› SMOOTH LIKE BUTTERFIELD: All Eyes On Liberty-Brentwood’s 4-Star QB ›› RIVER RUN: Bear River-Grass Valley Carries Div. V Title Hopes ›› RETURN TO PARADISE: A School & Program Start Anew ›› PLUS: Expanded Top 30 Rankings & EVEN MORE Players To Watch From NCS, SJS, CCS and Northern Section.

YOUR TICKET TO CALIFORNIA SPORTS ADMIT ONE; RAIN OR SHINE This Vol. #10, Aug. 18, 2019 Whole No. 169 is published by Caliente!

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marcus bagley SHELDON-SACRAMENTO BASKETBALL - SENIOR The reigning SportStars’ Magazine NorCal Boys Basketball Player of the Year made his college choice official on July 29. The younger brother of the Sacramento Kings’ Marvin Bagley III, gave his oral commitment to Arizona State.

He chose the Sun Devils over several other suitors, including Arizona, Cal, Florida State and Pittsburgh. Bagley averaged 20 points and 8 rebounds in leading the Huskies to a 24-11 record, a Sac-Joaquin Section Div. I title and a CIF Open Div. regional championship. Sheldon is expected to start the 2019-20 season among NorCal’s top-three ranked programs.

Got Send your nominations to: Next? Editor@SportStarsMag.com or tweet us using #SSOTW

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Tre Maronic

T

re Maronic has every reason not to play football.

In June of 2016, Maronic sat by his brother Toran’s side as the latter laid in a medically induced coma. A freak accident during a non-contact football camp left Toran with a traumatic brain injury so severe that doctors gave him a 10 percent chance of regaining consciousness.

Eventually, Toran awoke, and the road to recovery has been nothing short of miraculous.

Not only was he able to resume his lacrosse career as a senior at Bear River in Grass Valley, he is now pursuing his personal training license and has started T3 Charities to provide advice and assistance to athletes suffering from traumatic brain injuries.

But, as Tre sat by his brother’s side and even though the story had a happy ending, he had his own choice to make. The game he loved so much brought the world to full stop for both he and his family. While they hoped and prayed for Toran to pull through, the natural question arose.

“I remember sitting in the hospital while he was in a coma and the doctor came in and said he’s never going to play sports again,” Tre Maronic said. “My parents and I looked at each other and that’s when it all kind of hit us. When the doctor left, they asked me what I thought about playing football. I told them there’s no way they were going to stop me from playing football, even if they didn’t want me to, just because of my love for the game.”

High school students find football for a variety of reasons. For some, the game offers a way out, a path to a college scholarship and a career in the NFL. For others, the bond created by the tough, physical nature of the game forges a lasting brotherhood. And for many, high school football provides a sense of belonging for kids who might not otherwise have a place to feel welcome.

In every corner of California, those reasons continue to intersect on high school football fields in inner cities, rural towns and suburban subdivisions alike. Travel east down Interstate 80 through Sacramento on a Friday night and the lights of Grant High School illuminate Del Paso Heights. Drive down Interstate 880 through San Leandro at the same time and the lights of Burrell Field are unmistakable.

These are community events more than displays of athletic spectacle. The field doesn’t need to feature 11 recruits on offense and 11 recruits on defense to play a part in the fabric of a neighborhood. In almost every respect, individual laurels are immaterial when it comes to high school football’s true value in the high school experience.

Participation in the sport continues to decline, bringing into question the long-term health of high school football. The risks are more well known now than ever. Stories on concussions

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dominate the sport’s headlines, and with advances in technology and more data available, those stories occupy a well-deserved spot in the narrative of an inherently violent sport.

But even with the risks associated, the intangibles that come along with the game of football continue to serve a purpose for thousands of California high schoolers.

Kevin Macy can talk all day about the intangibles that make the sport worthwhile. He has 40 years of practice selling his program to students and parents. First as a coach in Oakland and now as head coach of one of the state’s most consistent winners at Campolindo-Moraga, Macy has long had to play the role of marketer to fill out his roster.

“We tell the parents that it’s the first time they’re going to see that their boys believe something is important to them,” Macy said. “It’s a little bit different from other sports. There’s an importance that goes with this sport just because of the nature of the game and the way it’s played. There are no casual observers in this sport, whether it’s parents or the student body.”

Macy’s pitch to parents might be different now than it was when he coached in Oakland, but the reason for making that speech is largely the same. In his estimation, football still provides a measure of discipline and direction that provides high school kids with benefits that will last long past graduation.

And, he understands the safety concerns that confront the game today, but can still point to Campolindo’s continued success as a product of a consistency in coaching that is becoming far less common in high schools across the state.

“There’s no short answers to anything, but I would say the community has to see that the kids can compete and stay safe,” Macy said. “The intangibles can go on forever but nobody’s going to believe those until they believe their kids can be safe playing football. That’s going to come through stability in coaching.”

As a high school standout at Berkeley High School, All-Big 12 performer at the University of Colorado and nine-year NFL veteran, Hannibal Navies also sees the big picture when it comes to football’s value.

These days, Navies works for The Trust, a program that runs in concert with the NFL Players Association to help NFL players transition to life after football. He also runs 360 Football Academy to provide students with information

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and resources given to new members of the NFL. As an Oakland native who found his way to Boulder, Colorado, Navies has seen firsthand football’s ability to act as a social melting pot. The education he received away from the field has provided skills that benefit him professionally and personally today.

“Being able to deal with all kinds of ethnicities and ethnic demographics, different people, and personalities really molded me as a man and allowed me to be able to relate to anybody,” Navies said. “Playing football with all kinds of different people and backgrounds, that’s what life is. Life is not one set of people. Life is not all white, life is not all black, life is a mixture of everybody and different cultures. That’s something that football gave me.”

Navies is also able to see football as a means to an end rather than the end itself, which provides a purpose to the game that has little to do with touchdowns or interceptions.

“It’s understanding that football is a vehicle and a tool to get you to whatever that next thing is. It’s not a finite thing. If you become a Hall of Famer, it still ends,” Navies said. “Wherever football drops you off, you have to be willing and ready to understand and deal with that. Let me understand the tools I am gaining from football and all the other things I can take away that will make me successful, not just on the field but in general.”

And then there is Tre Maronic, whose love for the game has remained constant through a turbulent past few years. He will go on to play in college after finishing his senior season at Bear River. He points to the community support that brings packed grandstands every Friday night as something he will always remember and appreciate.

For all the Maronic family has been through, what won’t ever change is a deep affinity for a game that nearly took everything away.

“I think it’s really important for not just me but other people to play high school football. I don’t know where I’d be without football,” Maronic said.

“You’re required to have the grades you need, you’re required to stay out of trouble. If I wasn’t playing football, I could be going down the wrong path.

Same with anybody.

“It makes people mature and disciplined and I think that’s a big part of it.” ✪

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“Football is the ultimate team game. Football is challenging. It’s challenging in ways that not all sports are. It challenges you physically, mentally and emotionally, and if forces a team to truly come together in order to be good at it. And I think that part is awesome. You have to build a community.”

— Justin Alumbaugh, De La Salle-Concord head coach.

View several more responses from players, coaches and administrators throughout Northern California by visiting SportStarsMag.com/ Why-We-Play/

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The Quest For Safety T

he numbers don’t lie — fewer high school students in California are playing high school football.

According to the latest report issued by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), 91,305 students played football in 2018. That number represents a 3.1 percent drop over the previous year and marks a 20-year low for participation in the state.

For all the positives still associated with football and its impact in communities throughout the state, increased scrutiny around the long-term health of the sport is also at an all-time high.

Administrators at both the state and local levels find themselves tasked with a seemingly impossible charge — how to make an inherently violent sport safe.

Concord High School principal Rianne Pfaltzgraff enters the 2019-20 school year as president of the North Coast Section Board of Managers, and through her involvement at the section level in recent years, she has seen changes already enacted as well as those still being discussed.

Recent rule adjustments that shorten contact time at practices and establish common concussion protocols have demonstrated the section’s willingness to adapt. The next step could come in structural changes to section playoff brackets that would attempt to mitigate unfair matchups that increase risk.

“We can implement these rules about reduced contact time and concussion protocol,” Pfaltzgraff said. “But if we’re still going to put kids in situations that are unsafe because of a bracket we’ve set up and used for how many years, those rules can kind of become irrelevant because you’ve got this David and Goliath matchup.”

As new rules continue to take hold, the sport continues to evolve. In the meantime, as participation continues to decline, the concern for safety remains paramount for many parents confronted with whether or not to let their kids play.

“We are changing, adapting and overcoming in high school football right now,” Bear River-Grass Valley co-coach Scott Savoie said. “The way we teach tackling and the way we teach blocking has changed. The equipment that we are giving our kids is way better than anything we have ever had. We baseline test every kid. ... We are doing everything we can to protect kids.”

For her part, Pfaltzgraff, a native Midwesterner who grew up in a community where Friday night football drew the entire town, sees football still as a core element in the high school experience. She does acknowledge something of a shift though, and wonders where that community-building element might come from if participation and interest in the sport continues to decline.

“I’m excited for this next year to see how it continues and what we end up landing on and voting on,” Pfaltzgraff said. “I hope it’s something different, because I think we have to do something drastic for the whole picture. Otherwise, nothing’s going to get better. I don’t think the pendulum will swing back; kids are going to continue to be in unsafe situations potentially, and all that will do is reduce the number of kids playing football.” ✪ — Ben Enos

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TOP: Impacttracking helmets used by Cordova High. BOTTOM: Bear River-Grass Valley coach Scott Savoie

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2. FOLSOM (14-1) FINAL 2018 NORCAL RANK: 2 OUTLOOK: A new coaching regime takes over as Paul Doherty begins his tenure after longtime coach Kris Richardson joined the Sacramento State coaching staff. While Doherty will need to break in a new QB to replace SportStars’ Offensive Player of the Year Kaiden Bennett (Boise State), there are still plenty of weapons at the new coach’s disposal. They include three-year all-purpose back Daniyel Ngata, four-star WR Elijhah Badger and three-star defensive end DeShawn Lynch. The Bulldogs are still the best of the Sac-Joaquin Section until proven otherwise.

KEY GAMES: No. 1 DE LA SALLE, 9/13; No. 5 MENLOATHERTON-ATHERTON, 9/27; No. 28 DEL ORO-LOOMIS, 11/1

3. LIBERTY-BRENTWOOD (13-1)

Dorian Hale (20) and Shamar Garrett

1. DE LA SALLE-CONCORD (11-1 IN 2018) FINAL 2018 NORCAL RANK: 1 OUTLOOK: No surprise here. The Spartans enter 2019 with 27 straight North Coast Section championships, 10 straight CIF Open Division State Bowl game appearances, and a 299-game unbeaten streak against NorCal opponents. This year’s squad returns skill players throughout the offense, including senior Shamar Garrett, a three-year starting all-purpose back and free safety. Dual-threat junior QB Dorian Hale also returns, as do his top two receiving targets, senior Grant Daley and junior Lu Magia Hearns. The secondary will be a major strength, with linebackers being the most inexperienced group.

KEY GAMES: ST. THOMAS AQUINAS-FT. LAUDERDALE (Florida), 8/23; @ No. 2 Folsom, 9/13; BUCHANAN-CLOVIS, 9/20; @ No. 11 Monte Vista-Danville, 10/4; @ No. 10 Clayton Valley Charter-Concord 11/1

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FINAL 2018 NORCAL RANK: 3 OUTLOOK: Oregon-bound four-star QB Jay Butterfield is back to lead the offense. But the defending CIF 1-A State Bowl champions will have new faces at just about every other offensive skill position. Both lines will be healthy and the defense should have playmakers. How quickly the new faces on offense become impact players will determine if the Lions are a Top 5 team in December.

KEY GAMES: @ No. 14 Oakdale, 8/30; vs. No. 10 Clayton Valley-Concord (@ James Logan HS/Honor Bowl), 9/7; No. 11 MONTE VISTA-DANVILLE, 9/13; No. 6 PITTSBURG, 10/18

4. VALLEY CHRISTIAN-SAN JOSE (11-3) FINAL 2018 NORCAL RANK: 5 OUTLOOK: QB Cory Taylor and 1,200-yard rusher Isaiah Mcelvane return, but the Warriors will be a defensive juggernaut. Which is saying something considering they allowed seven points or less in eight of their 14 games last season. Defensive standouts include LB Moon Ashby, DE JT Reed, CB Deven Vanderbilt and FS Kavir Bains.

KEY GAMES: No. 12 WILCOX-SANTA CLARA, 8/30; No. 22 PLEASANT VALLEY-CHICO, 9/6; No. 20 ST. FRANCISMOUNTAIN VIEW, 9/27; @ No. 8 Serra-San Mateo, 11/2

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2. FOLSOM

5. MENLO-ATHERTON-ATHERTON (12-2)

8. SERRA-SAN MATEO (7-5)

FINAL 2018 NORCAL RANK: 10 OUTLOOK: The head coach has changed, but the returning skill players are everywhere for the defending CIF 3-AA State Bowl champs. Troy Franklin is one of the top recruited junior wide receivers in the country, and senior Justin Anderson is a premier two-way player at RB/WR/DB. The Bears’ JV team went 9-1 last season, too.

KEY GAMES: @ No. 8 Serra-San Mateo, 9/7; @ East-Salt Lake City (Utah), 9/13; @ No. 2 Folsom, 9/27

FINAL 2018 NORCAL RANK: 21 OUTLOOK: Plenty of experience returns, including RB Nate Sanchez, RB Jackson Lataimua and WR Terence Loville. Senior QB Daylin McLemore takes over behind center after rave reviews from 7-on-7 events. DE Nusi Malani will lead the defense. Also keep an eye on RB/DB Dylan Eaton.

KEY GAMES: No. 6 PITTSBURG, 8/31; No. 5 MENLO-ATHERTON-ATHERTON, 9/7; @ No. 20 St. Francis-Mountain View, 10/18; No. 4 VALLEY CHRISTIAN-SAN JOSE, 11/2

6. PITTSBURG (7-4)

9. CENTRAL CATHOLIC-MODESTO (11-2)

FINAL 2018 NORCAL RANK: 8 OUTLOOK: It says something when the preseason No. 6 team is considered under the radar to start a season. Expect plenty of new faces, but no shortage of athletes. RB Avant Muldrow is among the few offensive returners. He’ll benefit from an offensive line led by Div. I recruits Ryan Lange and Samiuela Fonongaloa. Transfer RB Brian Pierce will also boost the run game.

KEY GAMES: @ No. 7 St. Mary’s-Stockton, 8/23; @ No. 8 Serra-San Mateo, 8/31; No. 15 BISHOP O’DOWD-OAKLAND, 9/13; No. 12 WILCOX-SANTA CLARA, 9/20; @ No. 3 LibertyBrentwood, 10/18

FINAL 2018 NORCAL RANK: 14 OUTLOOK: An argument could easily be made that the Raiders are the No. 2 team in the Sac-Joaquin Section to begin 2019. Expect big seasons from RB Minaya Olivo and QB Dalton Durossette. WR Sithri Price and TE Nick Sani will be key passing targets. The learning curve of the defense will determine how dominant this group can be.

KEY GAMES: No. 1 DE LA SALLE-CONCORD, 8/30; @ No. 7 St. Mary’s-Stockton, 9/6; @ No. 29 Manteca, 9/20; No. 14 OAKDALE, 11/1

7. ST. MARY’S-STOCKTON (7-5) FINAL 2018 NORCAL RANK: 18 OUTLOOK: The Rams had a fairly young nucleus a year ago and will benefit from a handful of key returners, including QB Noah May, RB Tyrei Washington, WR Jared Gipson, WR/LB Elijah Wood and LB Nick Huggins. Watch junior LB Izaiah Aponte for a potential breakout year as well.

KEY GAMES: No. 6 PITTSBURG, 8/23; No. 9 CENTRAL CATHOLIC-MODESTO, 9/6; No. 8 SERRA-SAN MATEO, 9/13; @ No. 1 DE LA SALLE-CONCORD, 9/27; @ No. 17 Tracy, 10/18

10. CLAYTON VALLEY-CONCORD (9-2) FINAL 2018 NORCAL RANK: 9 OUTLOOK: The newest member of the East Bay Athletic League should fit in just fine. While 1,500-rusher Makhi Gervais may not return, according to Bay Area News Group, the Ugly Eagles will still have plenty of firepower. Impact guys will include RB/DB Carson Sumter, WR/DB Rayshawn Jackson and sophomore RB Rashaan Woodland II. KEY GAMES: vs. No. 2 Liberty-Brentwood (@ James Logan HS/Honor Bowl), 9/7; @ No. 25 California-San Ramon, 10/4; No. 11 MONTE VISTA-DANVILLE, 10/25; @ No. 1 De La SalleConcord, 11/1

THE NEXT 10 11. MONTE VISTA-DANVILLE (7-4, 2018 Final Rank: NR) 12. WILCOX-SANTA CLARA (14-1, 2018 FR: 11) 13. CARDINAL NEWMAN-SANTA ROSA (11-1, 2018 FR: 12) 14. OAKDALE (9-4, 2018 FR: NR) 15. BISHOP O’DOWD-OAKLAND (12-2, 2018 FR: 20)

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16. INDERKUM-SACRAMENTO (11-1, 2018 FR: 16) 17. TRACY (8-4, 2018 FR: NR) 18. MCCLYMONDS-OAKLAND (12-2, 2018 FR: 19) 19. MARIN CATHOLIC-KENTFIELD (10-4, 2018 FR: 24) 20. ST. FRANCIS-MOUNTAIN VIEW (11-3, 2018 FR: 6) ✪

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QB JAY BUTTERFIELD (LIBERTY-BRENTWOOD) SR. | 6-6, 200 Oregon-bound, four-star talent will be “The Man” on offense full of fresh faces.

QB CARL RICHARDSON (SALINAS) SR. | 6-4, 210 He completed 73 percent of his passes for more than 3,600 yards as a junior; Pac-12 taking interest QB JACKSON PAVITT (CARDINAL NEWMAN-SANTA ROSA) SR. | 6-2, 190 The Cardinals’ dual-threat leader accounted for 41 TD through air and ground in 2018 RB DANIYEL NGATA (FOLSOM) SR. | 5-9, 180 Four-star recruit returns for his senior year after scoring 20 TDs as a junior.

RB CAM SKATTEBO (RIO LINDA) SR. | 5-10, 200 A record number of yards (3,550) and touchdowns (42) wasn’t enough for Skattebo as he returns for more.

RB RALEEK BROWN (EDISON-STOCKTON) SO. | 5-9, 165 Young, but explosive, Brown is ready to improve on a dynamic 28-TD freshman season.

RB FRESH ISON (MOREAU CATHOLIC-HAYWARD), SR. | 5-11, 205 Ison used quick, but bruising style to amass more than 2,000 yards for the 2018 NCS Div. IV runner-up RB ISAIAH NEWELL (LAS LOMAS-WALNUT CREEK), SR. | 6-2, 220 A central figure in the Knights’ rebirth, the 2,000-yard rusher committed to Oregon State on Aug. 16 RB HANS GRASSMANN (PLACER-AUBURN), SR. | 6-4, 230 He’ll be the go-to back in 2019 after rushing for 1,600+ yards and 24 TD as a junior.

WR ELIJHAH BADGER (FOLSOM) SR. | 6-2, 195 Overshadowed as an underclassman, Badger is ready to prove his four-star worth as the leading receiver.

WR TROY FRANKLIN (MENLO-ATHERTON-ATHERTON) JR. | 6-2, 170 He’ll enter the season as the No. 3-ranked junior receiver in the country, by 247sports.com WR JAMIR SHEPERD (PALO ALTO) SR. | 6-2, 185 He holds at least three Pac-12 offers after catching 19 TD passes as a junior.

WR GRANT DALEY (DE LA SALLE-CONCORD) SR. | 6-2, 190 His other sport is baseball — and he’s a home run hitter in the DLS passing game (36 yds. per catch in 2018) TE BROCK BOWERS (NAPA) JR. | 6-4, 205 Several big schools are vying for this four-star prospect currently ranked among top 10 TE nationally (247sports.com).

TE KALEO BALLUNGAY (KIMBALL-TRACY) SR. | 6-5, 235 Cal has nabbed the commitment of this big target who averaged 23 yards a catch last season.

OL FRANK POSO (BRANHAM-SAN JOSE) SR. | 6-5, 320 The All-NorCal tackle committed to Nevada in late June.

OL EVERETT JOHNSON (TURLOCK) SR. | 6-8, 290 It’s the second straight year on the SportStars All-Preseason team for this Cal-committed tackle.

OL ANDRES DEWERK (LOS GATOS) SR. | 6-7, 310 Close friends with Poso, he committed on the same day — choosing USC. OL AIDAN FINNEY (PLEASANT VALLEY-CHICO) SR. | 6-7, 260 Arguably the Northern Section’s highest-rated recruit, the hulking tackle has multiple Pac-12 offers.

OL MOSE VAVAO (ST. FRANCIS-MOUNTAIN VIEW) SR. | 6-3, 290 Agile guard will anchor both lines for a rebuilding Lancers team hoping to surprise.

OL PAYTON ZDROIK (LIBERTY-BRENTWOOD) SR. | 6-1, 260 Tireless and non-stop performer on both lines for the defending state bowl champs. Holds five scholarship offers.

K RONAN DONNELLY (SACRED HEART PREP-ATHERTON) SR. | 6-1, 175 SportStars’ 2018 All-NorCal kicker connected on 12 of 17 field goals with a long of 47.

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Jay Butterfield, Liberty

DL OMARR NORMAN-LOTT (GRANT-SACRAMENTO) SR. | 6-4, 305 Among section’s best pass rushers, he had 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and two fumble recoveries in 2018.

DL DESHAWN LYNCH (FOLSOM) SR. | 6-5, 265 Harnessing rare combination of size and speed, Lynch ranks among nation’s top 40 senior defensive ends.

DL JAMAR SEKONA (MARIN CATHOLIC-KENTFIELD) SR. | 6-4, 295 A three-year starter and four-star recruit, Sekona committed to USC on July 30.

DL NUSI MALANI (SERRA-SAN MATEO) SR. | 6-6, 250 Boise State, Nebraska, Colorado and Arizona State have all offered the Padres’ talented pass rusher.

DL AKIL CALHOUN (LIBERTY-BRENTWOOD) JR. | 6-4, 230 His late fourth-quarter strip sack sealed a see-saw CIF Div. 1-A regional final at Valley ChristianS.J. DL SAMIUELA FONONGALOA (PITTSBURG) SR. | 6-1, 290 Returning three-year starter will be an anchor on both Pirates lines in 2019.

LB ELIJAH LASH (LAS LOMAS-WALNUT CREEK) SR. | 6-3, 240 This De La Salle transfer has the potential to break out as one of Bay’s top defensive talents.

LB MARCUS JONES JR. (MONTEREY TRAIL-ELK GROVE) SR. | 6-0, 190 A tackling machine, Jones Jr. racked up over 100 tackles in each of his first two varsity seasons.

LB MASON MASTROV (CAMPOLINDO-MORAGA) SR. | 6-5, 220 The recent SMU-commit will be the linchpin of a solid Cougars defense in 2019.

LB GARY ALEXANDER (MCCLYMONDS-OAKLAND) SR. | 5-10, 210 The El Cerrito transfer will make an immediate impact on both sides of the ball for the Warriors.

LB MOON ASHBY (VALLEY CHRISTIAN-SAN JOSE) SR. | 6-5, 205 Offers are starting to pile up for the versatile outside linebacker.

LB OSARO AIHIE (SAN LEANDRO) SR. | 6-1, 220 A two-way standout for the Pirates, Aihie had 76 tackes in 2018 and rushed for seven TD. LB WILL SCHWEITZER (LOS GATOS), JR. | 6-4, 210 He’s one to watch as he enters season ranked among state’s Top 100 junior recruits.

DB DEJUAN BUTLER (ANTIOCH) SR. | 6-0, 165 The Cal-commit had 48 tackles from the cornerback position a year ago.

DB DEVEN VANDERBILT (VALLEY CHRISTIAN-SAN JOSE) SR. | 5-11, 170 Lauded as one of the CCS’ top cover corners, Vanderbilt recently earned an offer from BYU. DB JUSTIN ANDERSON (MENLO-ATHERTON-ATHERTON) SR. | 6-0, 170 Boston College, Iowa State among schools lining up for the corner who had five INTs in 2018.

DB TREY PASTER (BUHACH COLONY-ATWATER) SR. | 6-2, 190 He committed to Cal in mid-July, choosing the Bears over UCLA, Oregon, Washington and Arizona.

DB NATE RUTCHENA (MONTE VISTA-DANVILLE) SR. | 6-3, 195 Gifted two-sport athlete (hoops) had five INTs last season and averaged close to 27 yards per return.

AP SHAMAR GARRETT (DE LA SALLE-CONCORD) JR. | 5-7, 170 Spartans’ ultimate weapon is 1,000-yard rusher, top-end free safety and a dangerous returner.

AP TREVOR POPE (TRACY) SR. | 6-1, 165 The Oregon State-commit had 800+ yards both rushing and receiving, 21 TD and four INTs on defense in 2018.

AP PAUL M. ROSA (WILCOX-SANTA CLARA) SR. | 5-7, 175 He led 3-A State Bowl champs with more than 2,000 yards of offense, 44 tackles and three INTs on defense.

Trevor Pope, Tracy Stu Jossey photo

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AP JERMAINE TERRY (KENNEDY-RICHMOND) JR. | 6-4, 235 Holds offer from Alabama, considered among the top junior athlete recruits in the nation.

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NCVA Closes Out Its Beach Season With Open Championships Three months of Northern California Volleyball Association beach competition came to a crescendo at the No Dinx/NCVA Open Beach Championships on Aug. 3 in Santa Cruz.

The NCVA crowned nine champions over the course of the afternoon amidst the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.

The pairing of Katerina Matta and Audrey Han won the Under-12 Girls Division, besting runners-up Evangeline Pacheco and Lauryn Matsumoto. Elle Wang and Kathleen Suayan took gold in the U13 Girls Division with Meghan Kagehiro and Tatum Luna earning silver.

The U14 Girls Division gold went to the duo of Skye Smolinski and Logan Walter. They outlasted Emma Winter and Alexandra Martinez. In the U15 Girls Division, Tara Ozdemir and Madison White took home the title. Dyllan Sorlano and Natalie Peete placed second.

Marilu Pally and Shiley Morrison paired up to win the U16 Girls Division, topping the second-place duo of Kiley Kane and Hailee Mulic. In the oldest girls division, it was Julie and Allison Lawrence taking the U18 top spot over Haylee Opalenik and Morgan Purdy.

There were three boys divisions contested. Zachary Namimatsu and Tyler Rivas earned gold in the U14 Division ahead of Simon Hua and Kevin Tomita. Nathan Brooks and Cos Masters were the champions of the U16 field as Marcus Page and Adin Jepsky finished as runners-up.

Finally, in the U18 Boys division, it was a brother and sister entry that took gold. Jacob Van Groningen and his sister Emily won the top boys division while Rylee Carlson and Teofilo Diaz took second.

Next up on the NCVA calendar will be the Boys Power League. Qualifier tournaments will begin Sept. 14-15.

To learn more about all of the NCVA programs, make sure to visit NCVA.com. âœŞ

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B

efore he was a Northern California football legend and a Division 5-A State Bowl Champion for Rio Linda, Cameron Skattebo was a running back with a promise.

“I will score.”

It’s the pledge he made to coach Jack Garceau on 4th-and-3 from Oakdale’s 48-yard line in the third quarter of the 2018 Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals.

It took Skattebo fewer seconds (seven) to fulfill that promise than Oakdale had defenders packed into the box (eight).

His touchdown jaunt lifted the Knights to a 31-28 victory that night. Three games, 12 touchdowns and 944 rushing yards later, Skattebo and the Knights were cemented into CIF lore.

“Everything about Cameron and everything about our team changed in that moment,” Garceau said. “He called his own shot, and afterwards, he was hitting every offensive line-

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man on the head, telling them what a great job they did.

“I don’t think he understood how important for the team that would be. Everything flipped — the attitude of the team changed that night.”

It was the turning point for Rio Linda, the same team that was bounced by CenterAntelope 40-26 in the season opener, and stunned by Foothill Valley League champion Placer-Auburn, 48-23 in Rio Linda.

The Knights shellacked 11-1 Casa Roble-Orangevale 63-14 in the SJS finals before beating West Valley-Cottonwood and San Gorgonio-San Bernardino in straight weeks to close the campaign.

“It was pretty special,” Skattebo said last month after an agility workout at Game-Fit Sacramento. “To win a section and state title was just amazing.”

It’s tough to follow a season of Skattebo’s magnitude, which amassed 3,788 yards from

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scrimmage and 48 touchdowns. Lofty goals and improved athleticism are the current approach.

“I want to average 300 yards a game,” Skattebo said. “I’ve put 60 pounds on my power clean and 100 extra pounds on my squat. I also feel faster and more explosive, and have been hitting the hole a lot better.”

It’s a haunting horizon for CIF foes, considering Rio Linda returns 15 other starters from its championship squad, including two athletic quarterback/receivers and a prolific fullback.

Rio Linda also runs an undefinable multiple-set offense that features spread, option and power running packages, a cocktail of coaching styles from past and present members of the staff.

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stifled Skattebo last year. Even Placer, which held Skattebo to 73 rushing yards, surrendered 134 receiving yards and two touchdowns to the 5-foot, 10-inch, 205-pound dual threat.

“I have never been around anyone like him before,” Garceau said. “His biggest asset is that he doesn’t want to be second to anybody. It’s refreshing to see a kid that will work as hard as he does and take care of himself the way he does.”

It’s a measured science.

“Cameron is all business all the time,” Garceau said. “His focus is freakish.”

Garceau said Skattebo has thrived in a leadership role this offseason and become an unquestionable leader.

“Cameron coaches our younger kids,” He said. “It’s just very satisfying to watch him right now. It’s like lightning in a bottle and you want to capture it and don’t let it get away. I think this year is extremely important to him.”

Leadership is nurtured at Rio Linda, where every coach on staff has a historic tie to the program. Most coaches are former players, and the program thrives from the support of athletic director Michael Morris, who built the football program in 1991 and captured its only other SJS title in 2004.

After Morris departed, the perennial postseason contenders slipped to back-to-back losing seasons, but enjoyed a school-record 13 wins last year and is poised to enrich the community in athletic achievement in 2019.

“I feel like we took it from our mentor (Morris) and have turned this into something else,” Garceau said. “We have a responsibility to this community and you can’t even go down to the store without someone saying something about football now.”

Skattebo is a go-to topic, but coaches anticipate other breakout seasons.

The quarterback competition is between Abraham Banks (5-9, 180) and Kyle Deloney-Spencer (6-2, 210). Banks is a better runner, ideal for option packages, while Deloney-Spencer has the edge on throwing prowess. The athlete not behind center will likely be the other’s top downfield target.

Fullback Jamone Gates (5-11, 185) will lead a cast of dual-threat athletes who will eat up whatever yards Skattebo doesn’t acquire. Top candidates include Elian Morales (6-2, 210), Johnny Serrano (5-9, 175) and Destin Savage (5-9, 165).

It also helps that the anchor of the offensive line, Eddie Rabuku (6-4, 265), grew four inches and gained 60 pounds at tackle.

Defensively, Garceau has big hopes for a returning cast that includes Serrano (safety), Rabuku (defensive line), defensive backs Ricardo Comacho (5-9, 175) and Lashawn Collins (5-10, 165), and defensive lineman Cody Thompson (6-0, 215).

Skattebo is also a prolific tackler, but coaches will likely keep his legs fresh for those 300-yard games.

It helps that his father, Leonard Skattebo III, drives him to cryotherapy sessions after each practice. Cameron said mother Becky Skattebo, older brother Leonard Skattebo IV (who played football at Bowling Green) and sisters Danielle Skattebo and Kylee Skattebo all rally behind his efforts on the gridiron.

“They all embrace what I do and support me, no matter what,” Cameron said. “They like how I represent them and the community.”

Rio Linda opens the campaign with a shot at vengeance against Center and quarterback sensation Michael Wortham. Garceau said the Knights won’t overlook anyone in a vaunted conference that includes Lincoln and Ponderosa-Shingle Springs, but he admits that an Oct. 11 game at Placer will be highlighted on the calendar.

He may need a few more promises from his Skatt-back. ✪ 24

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Cameron Skattebo trains at Game-Fit in Sacramento.

Cameron’s older brother, Leonard, starred for the 2012-2013 Rio Linda teams.

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CJ Hutton

W

hen longtime head coach Kris Richardson left Folsom High School to join his former co-coach Troy Taylor at Sacramento State in December last year, his absence left a void for one of the most prestigious programs in California.

Winners of each of the last two Division I-AA State Bowl Games, Folsom was loaded with collegiate talent and quickly ascended the ranks of the country’s top prep programs.

The search began for someone qualified to step in and continue the program’s dominance.

Enter Paul Doherty — a coach with winning roots.

Folsom fans may recognize the name and face after Doherty served the Bulldogs as an offensive assistant coach and the team’s strength coach last year. They may have heard of his days at Whitney-Rocklin or even at Sacramento High. But only a few close to the family know that he’s one of four highly successful Doherty brothers — a family coaching tree prominently spanning throughout Northern California.

The foursome includes twins, Philippe Doherty — the man who brought elite high school boys basketball to the Napa Valley as Prolific Prep’s program director — and Kevin Doherty, who was part of his own CIF State Bowl championship on the gridiron just one day after his brother Paul helped coach Lincoln-San Francisco to a 24-13 6-A championship win over Orange Glen-Escondido.

The second-youngest brother, Mark, coached JV soccer and taught at Jesuit-Carmichael from 2006-08. He lost only once in his three years.

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All four brothers grew up in the San Francisco area and played sports at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Kevin went on to play football at UC Davis before coaching weightlifting at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Phil played basketball at Santa Clara and UC Davis. Paul began his football career at Menlo College at quarterback. But little did he know that would be his first step towars his new spot at Folsom.

“I played for coach (Doug) Cosbie at Menlo College,” Doherty explained. “So that’s how I got connected here. Coach Cosbie was the offensive coordinator at Cal-Berkeley while Troy Taylor was the quarterbacks coach back in 1999.”

Cosbie, a former Dallas Cowboys tight end, eventually left Menlo and followed his wife to the Sacramento area to retire. In 2006, Doherty rejoined his former coach at Sacramento High, and the two men spent four seasons together before Doherty fully assumed the lead role and amassed a 42-18 record in five years.

During that time, Doherty familiarized himself with the system at Folsom. He was just 24 when he got to Sacramento, but a quick learner. He participated in multiple passing academies with Taylor, who was earning a reputation as an offensive guru at Folsom.

In 2015, Doherty got married and decided he needed a change. He went all-in on the Whitney coaching job.

Under Doherty, the Wildcats exploded, scoring 295 points in league play — the second-most behind Antelope — and over 450 for the season. But they lost three games by three points or

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less in a highly competitive division and fell to Del Oro-Loomis in a 34-28 shootout in the SacJoaquin Section Division II playoffs.

“I’m proud of everything we did there; we were crushing it,” Doherty said.

The Wildcats put up another strong season in 2016, winning six of their first seven games before ultimately falling to 6-5 with another first-round playoff exit.

With Doherty’s new gig, comes new, higher expectations.

“It’s a totally different job than I’ve ever had,” he said. “I’ve gone into situations before where there was a lot of work needed to build the program, install systems and install a certain type of culture. So here, it’s not about changing that, but familiarizing our new guys to our program.”

Four-star recruits like Elijhah Badger and Daniyel Ngata will be counted on to teach the new players, and they’ll continue to be featured in the offense. But maybe not as much as some expect.

“I don’t need to wait on guys if they just ran a go route,” Doherty said. “Put the next guy in, and that will allow us to play faster, play with more tempo — which is along the lines of where the program was in Troy (Taylor’s) last year. It was an up-tempo offense.”

Doherty admitted the offense has slowed down in the last few years, but he cited a unique reason.

“It’s been so good, so surgical — three plays, touchdown. Two plays, touchdown,” he explained. “We’re taking our time and getting the exact right look to get guys like Daniyel Ngata touchdowns.”

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THE FOLSOM FILE 2018 Record: (14-1, 6-0 SFL) DIv. 1-AA Champions Head Coach: Paul Doherty (first year) Familiar Faces: WR/DB Elijhah Badger, Sr. RB/WR Daniyel Ngata, Sr. DE/TE DeShawn Lynch, Sr. WR/RB CJ Hutton, Sr. New Face, Same Place: Head Coach Paul Doherty QB Jake Reithmeier, Sr. LB/RB Davion Blackwell, Sr. All-New Assets: QB Ari Patu, Jr. DB/WR Cameron Broussard, Sr. DB Kaleb Higgins, Jr.

Ngata will see his share of touches out of the backfield, on fly sweeps and in the passing game. But when he needs a breather, the team will insert senior CJ Hutton, who caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the CIF Div. 1-AA Championship game last fall.

“CJ Hutton is incredible — he may be our best guy,” Doherty said. “He can play receiver, running back, anywhere. He’s just as diverse as Daniyel is, does a lot of things well. He’s just incredible.”

Speed kills, and with Doherty, Hutton said the offense will be one of the fastest in the SJS. But that means players have to know how to play in multiple positions.

“It’s definitely different,” the senior wideout said. “Coach Doherty is super focused on being up-tempo, moving the ball, going as fast as you can and scoring a ton of points.”

Hutton will be joined at wideout by Cosumnes Oaks-Elk Grove transfer Cameron Broussard, Lucas Wolf, Grant Furrey and Davion Blackwell.

“We’re really deep at the skill positions — I think we have more depth than last year to be honest,” Ngata pointed out. “And I think we have the opportunity to win a lot of games and a state championship – back-toback-to-back, which would be the first time ever for Folsom High School and would be great for our program and community.”

Another newcomer who could be a star is junior defensive back Kaleb Higgins, who just joined the team in July. The speedy DB holds offers from Texas A&M, Baylor and Boston College, and his brother Elijah plays at Stanford.

Senior Jake Reithmeier will have the challenge of taking over at quarterback. He saw time in 11 games last year and threw for 333 yards and six touchdowns in reserve time. His backup, Ari Patu, is another newcomer — a dual-threat signal caller who transferred in from the Seattle area. He will need time to learn the playbook and master the offense, but he’s already received interest from colleges and recently got an offer from San Jose State.

This offseason, Reithmeier perfected his throwing motion and sped up his release and worked with the receivers to get used to their speed and develop chemistry. He’s also been studying his playbook so he can work through his progressions faster on game day.

“Across the board, this is a very fast group of receivers,” Reithmeier said.

The receivers group will also get a boost in size, as 6-foot-4, 280-pound DeShawn Lynch will be featured as a tight end in a number of packages.

“He’s a big dude,” Reithmeier joked. “He’s a big target, so it’s pretty easy to hit him.”

Lynch will also be an integral component on defense, a unit that features a handful of stout players including Broussard, Blackwell, Lynch and Higgins. They’re ready to step up and face Folsom’s challenging schedule.

The Bulldogs open the season Aug. 30 with a home game against Jesuit.

In September, they travel to Antelope on Sept. 6, host De La Salle-Concord on Sept. 13, visit Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills on Sept. 20 and host Menlo-Atherton-Atherton on Sept. 27. ✪ 30

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Daniyel Ngata

DeShawn Lynch

Elijhah Badger Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!