With league titles being decided and teams jockeying for playoff position, this last week in the North Coast Section also reminded us that nothing can be taken for granted on a weekly basis, and that a few teams might just still have a surprise or two remaining to be seen.
Berkeley Shocks Co-Division Leader Tennyson For First Win
Despite losing its first eight games, Berkeley head coach James Barnes kept reminding his team that better days were on the horizon; its youth and difficult schedule would serve the team well as the season progressed. His words rang true as the Yellowjackets rallied for a 38-35 over Tennyson, notching their first victory of the season.
Even though his team trailed 27-10 at halftime, Barnes stuck with his run-first philosophy in the second half, led by option quarterback Isaac Tapia. Tapia and the Berkeley offense responded by rushing for 256 yards, and scoring 21 unanswered points after falling behind 35-17 in the fourth quarter.
“We just really focused on sticking with one thing this week,” said Barnes. “(Tapia) played for me at Arroyo, so he knew how I wanted the offense to be run. We figured we would just keep it simple, run the ball, and go with it.”
Tapia ran for 91 yards and two touchdowns, while also completing 7-of-9 passes for 148 yards and a score. Marlon Fountain added 60 more yards on the ground, while Daytwon Hands had 109 yards from scrimmage, and a touchdown each rushing and receiving. The Jackets also broke a 13-game losing streak to Tennyson.
Berkeley’s victory came despite strong offensive performances from Tennyson’s Christian Silva and Tukai Laginikoro. Laginikoro ran for 119 yards and three scores, while Silva accounted for 229 yards and two scores offensively.
Moreau Catholic Rolling Towards Division IV Playoffs
It would have been easy to doubt the Mariners after the team started 0-3 prior to entering Mission Valley Athletic League play. Losses to Saint Mary’s and Piedmont were followed by a two-point loss to Mt. Eden, leaving head coach Andrew Cotter’s Moreau Catholic squad staring at a 0-3 hole.
“The teams we played early were a great test,” said Cotter. “But we have great senior leadership, and I feel this program is the most confident it has been heading into the postseason as a result.”
That senior leadership enabled the Mariners to turn their season around the following week, when they ran for 470 yards in a 49-32 win over American. Moreau now sits at 4-1 in the MVAL, firmly entrenched in second place behind undefeated Kennedy, facing a one-win Mission San Jose team to finish the regular season. A top eight seed and a first-round home game seems almost a certainty to open the playoffs.
The Mariners easily dispatched Irvington this past week, 53-36, a game in which they led 47-15 early in the fourth quarter. Even more impressive has been the fact that most of their success this season has come without senior standout Jason Hinton, who just returned to the field a mere eight months after tearing his ACL.
Filling the void offensively in Hinton’s absence has been sophomore Jullen Ison, an all-MVAL defensive back as a freshman in 2013. Replacing Hinton’s 2,051 rushing yards from a year ago has not been easy, but Ison has made it manageable by averaging nearly eight yards per carry, with 760 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. As a team, the Mariners have been averaging 236 yards rushing through nine games.
“He’s the real deal,” said Cotter, referring to the two-way sophomore standout. “He’s become our feature guy offensively, and he might be the hardest hitter on the team defensively. Athletically, he is a Division 1 talent.”
Where the seeding committee places Moreau is anyone’s guess at this point. With a chance to finish 5-1 in league play, its finish in the league should definitely aid its cause, especially playing against competition from higher divisions. Furthermore, its five losses have come to opponents with a combined record of 39-5-1. Whatever the outcome is this weekend, though, the Mariners will be ready for anyone in their path.
“We can’t control who we play after this week,” said Cotter. “We just have to prepare and get better each week, and treat each game like it could be our last.”
Pittsburg Claims Back-To-Back League Crowns
The Pirates found themselves staring at a halftime deficit for the second straight week, but once again turned to a dominant defense. The end result was a 24-13 win over visiting Freedom that clinched Pittsburg’s fourth Bay Valley Athletic League title in the last five years, and its 11th BVAL title overall.
The Pirates trailed 13-7 after two quarters, despite three trips into the Falcons’ red zone. Two drives ended in interceptions, including one in the end zone. After each turnover, Freedom drove down the field and took advantage with a touchdown, accounting for its lead after two quarters. Pittsburg found consistency with its run game in the second half, however, as both Jaylyn Morgan and Nick Moore finished the game with over 100 yards apiece.
“We’re really improving on the offensive line,” said Pittsburg head coach Vic Galli. “We haven’t started the same combination on the line at all this season, but we’re starting to figure out all the positions and getting some valuable experience.”
Morgan’s two-yard touchdown run capped a 15-play drive to open the third quarter that featured just a single play-action pass, and swung the momentum firmly in the Pirates’ favor. Isaiah Lopez then delivered the crushing blow on Freedom’s ensuing drive, sacking Falcons’ quarterback Joe Sweeney, forcing a fumble on the play, and scooping up the loose ball for a 33-yard touchdown.
Maria Carrillo Stuns Windsor With Fourth-Quarter Comeback
One week after watching Rancho Cotate erase its 16-0 halftime lead, Windsor once again found itself leading by double digits in the third quarter. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, it was a familiar script, as the Pumas scored 20 unanswered points in the final 15 minutes for a thrilling 41-35 victory, capped by Alex Netherda’s one-yard touchdown run on the final play of the game.
Trailing 35-21 with 3:13 remaining in the third quarter, Carrillo cut the deficit in half with an 86-yard touchdown pass from Walker Rotherham to Netherda. The Pumas then tied the game on another big play, this time courtesy of a 54-yard touchdown run by Josh Groesbeck with 4:41 left in the game.
Netherda’s scores were not his only heroics in this game, as he also came up with two huge interceptions on defense. The win puts Carrillo in solid position to host a playoff game in the Division II bracket after finishing the regular season with Ukiah. Windsor, meanwhile, must try to bounce back from consecutive losses, closing out the regular season with Cardinal Newman.
Qualifying For The Show – Division I
Monte Vista clinched eligibility with a 38-13 win over Livermore, and can boost its position with a rivalry game against San Ramon Valley this week. Antioch and San Leandro denied Heritage and Castro Valley, respectively, the opportunity to become eligible last week with blowout victories in each game. Heritage and Deer Valley play this week with the winner becoming eligible, and the loser watching its season end. The same scenario applies to Castro Valley’s game with Bishop O’Dowd.
Qualifying For The Show – Division II
Maria Carrillo, Casa Grande, Eureka, and College Park all became playoff eligible with wins last week. Redwood can become eligible this week with a win against Justin-Siena, while Hayward needs to beat San Lorenzo after dismantling Alameda this past Friday. With its loss to Hayward, Alameda now needs to beat Piedmont in order to become eligible. Miramonte and Dublin play with eligibility hanging in the balance for both teams, as do Washington and Newark Memorial. With more than 16 teams having qualified, however, mere eligibility in Division II will not automatically merit inclusion.
Qualifying For The Show – Division III
No additional teams qualified this past week in Division III. Sonoma Valley can become eligible this week with a victory over winless Elsie Allen, while Albany and DeAnza play with the loser getting eliminated. Bishop O’Dowd must beat Castro Valley in order to apply for the postseason.
