With all action for Week 1 in the books, it’s time for a quick look at the weekend that was around the North Coast Section.
- We don’t usually start keeping an eye on winless teams until at least mid-way through the year, to recognize that first win. This week was different, as Elsie Allen turned back St. Vincent, 26-9, ending a 36-game losing streak in the process. The Lobos, under second-year coach Derek Hester, now look to make it two in a row as they take on Millennium-Tracy, who lost 42-0 to Ripon Christian on Friday.
- Our California neighbors to the East were not kind in the first week of competition, as Reno-area teams Reed and Damonte Ranch each put forth convincing victories facing Clayton Valley and Northgate, respectively. Reed led 38-8 at one point in its surprisingly one-sided win over the Eagles, while Damonte Ranch racked up nearly 600 yards of offense in its win over the Broncos.
- A number of new head coaches were feeling pretty good after the first week, as Analy’s James Foster, El Cerrito’s Jacob Rincon, Ferndale’s Jeremy Griffith, Monte Vista’s Matt Russi, Rancho Cotate’s Gehrig Hotaling, and Livermore’s Terry Butler all won their first games at the helm of a high school program.
- Everyone expected Rancho Cotate to put up big points this year, and it’s no secret that Saint Mary’s-Albany is a bit down, but seeing the Cougars shut out the Panthers, 62-0, has to make some North Bay teams feel a bit more edgy than before.
- Many people around the Bay Valley Athletic League were wondering how Antioch would fare after the graduation of Najee Harris. Panthers coach John Lucido warned that his defense could be special, and they lived up to that on Friday night, blanking a usually explosive Lincoln-Stockton team, 24-0.
- Adding to the impressive performance for Antioch were a few other defensive performances which have to make people pay attention. At the top of that list is St. Pat’s shutting out Moreau Catholic, while Kennedy-Richmond, Ferndale, Del Norte, and Eureka also posted dominating performances.
- It was a rough start for the Diablo Athletic League’s Valley Division, which saw just one of its six teams earn a victory. That one team, College Park, rallied late to beat Pinole Valley, but seeing Berean Christian lose to Cloverdale and Alhambra get throttled by Acalanes are not good signs for the division.
- Novato nearly dropped varsity football prior to the season, but after recovering its top level, many were wondering how the Hornets would fare in the season opener against a Newark Memorial team coming off a one-win campaign last year. The result was not a good one for Novato, as the Cougars rolled to the 38-0 win, the most points scored by Newark Memorial during Brad Tubbs’ tenure as head coach, which is now in its third year.
- Big winners during the first week have to include Marin Catholic and St. Patrick-St. Vincent, who each posted wins which should mean a lot come time for playoff seeding. MC raced past defending Division II champion Campolindo, while the Bruins’ shutout win came over a Moreau Catholic team expected to contend for the MVAL and Division IV titles.
- Erasing the sting: three teams who likely could not wait to get back on the field after late, heart-breaking playoff losses last season were Miramonte, San Leandro, and Kennedy-Richmond. Each posted strong wins over quality opponents, with the Matadors beating Vanden, 25-7, and San Leandro controlling the ground for a 35-26 win over Foothill. Kennedy, meanwhile, overwhelmed Bethel-Vallejo, 46-0.
