Sports
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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
November 11, 2016
League champion Clayton Valley in showdown with DLS JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
North Coast Section made a big change in its football playoff setup this year introducing an Open Division of four teams. Clayton Valley Charter, which won three of the past four Division II NCS championships, earned the fourth and final coveted spot in the Open Division awarded from a six-member NCS selection committee last Sunday. And as their reward the Ugly Eagles get a matchup with Concord rivals and No. 1 seed De La Salle next Friday, Nov. 18, at Owen Owens Field. De La Salle has won 24 consecutive NCS football crowns and hasn’t lost a game to a Northern California school since 1991, a span of 279 games. Clayton Valley Charter won the inaugural Diablo Athletic League Foothill Conference
title last Friday over Campolindo of Moraga. The Ugly Eagles prevailed 50-15 to run their unbeaten league streak over 5+ years to 27 games. By beating Campo in the first-ever game between the two schools, Clayton Valley ended the Cougars 34-game league undefeated string that went back to November 2010 for their last league loss. Both teams had been to the State Bowl championship game the past two years with Campo taking a 2014 DIII state title. Because of their success in recent years coach Kevin Macy’s team was moved up to DII for this year’s playoffs and they are the top seed in that division. Justin Alumbaugh’s De La Salle cemented its top seed in NCS Open by taking care of previously-unbeaten Monte Vista 45-17. The loss dropped the Mustangs out of the top four and into Division I where
they are the No. 1 seed. Kairee Robinson exploded for 199 yards in the second half as the Spartans pulled away from Monte Vista. The junior running back scored four touchdowns and quarterback Abel Ordaz ran in two scores. Because of the new NCS playoff setup the team that wins DI cannot advance to the State playoffs while both Open Division finalists can potentially move on. Monte Vista was edged out by CVCHS based on the strength of schedule comparison between the two schools. CVCHS defeated two strong Nevada schools and its one loss was to Helix of San Diego, giving them a slightly stronger schedule based on computer ratings. The other Open Division semi-final pits undefeated Freedom of Oakley in a rematch of a Bay Valley Athletic League game at the end of October with Pittsburg. The Falcons outlasted Pitt 41-38 and they are the only 10-0 team in the semi-finals with the other three teams all coming in at 9-1. Freedom is ranked as high as seventh in California prep rankings with DLS at On. 11, perhaps the first time in decades a team is higher ranked than DLS going in NCS. CLAYTON VALLEY-DLS HISTORY
Photo by Phillip walton courtesy SportStars Magazine
DE LA SALLE WRAPPED UP A 9-1 REGULAR SEASON and the No. 1 seed for the Spartans in the new Open Division of the North Coast Section football playoffs behind junior Kairee Robinson’s (25) rushing exploits. He scored four touchdowns on 265 yards from scrimmage last Friday when DLS beat previously-undefeated Monte Vista 45-17. Robinson’s style and physique have drawn comparisons to Spartan legend Maurice Jones-Drew.
During DLS’s 25-year undefeated streak against NorCal teams the Spartans didn’t lose—-or win—when they played Clayton Valley in 2004 as the teams tied 17-17. The teams played again in 2006 with DLS winning a lopsided game. The two Concord schools last played one another in the 2013 season opener with
Jason Rogers
CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER FOOTBALL has enjoyed five consecutive undefeated league seasons. Until this year the Ugly Eagles offense was given much of the credit for that success using coach Tim Murphy’s wing-T attack to rack up record-breaking rushing totals. This year CVCHS’s 9-1 record and a berth in the first-ever North Coast Section Open Division playoffs is due in large part to a stifling defense, demonstrated by the gang tackling of a Campolindo runner last Friday in the Diablo Athletic League Foothill Conference championship game. Aaron Fonseca (28), Dusty Mitchell (31), Evan Barney (13), Masi Latu (10), Brandon Abon (12) and Kitione Tau (53) put a smile on defensive coordinator Ryan Reynolds’ face with this play.
in the Diablo Foothill Athletic league over the past five seasons without losing a league game. The Cougars won their first four games in the new DAL before meeting up with Clayton Valley last Friday at Gonsalves Stadium with the Foothill Conference championship on the line. Murphy’s Eagles controlled most of the game as Campo essentially abandoned its balanced offensive attack and relied on senior quarterback Jacob Westphal to beat the Eagles outstanding defense. Westphal threw a season-high 35 passes, completing 20, but it was much too little to offset a CAMPO CONTROVERSY strong CV running game that Campolindo ruled the roost gained over 400 yards.
each coming off a NCS championship. The Spartans won 34-14 after a very close 17-14 battle at halftime. The Nov. 18 game will be the second time the Concord schools have met in the NCS playoffs. The first was in the 1986 3A semi-finals where the Spartans prevailed 24-6. Clayton Valley will be looking to advance in the playoffs and get to their straight state championship game. DLS is the only school in California to reach all 10 State Championship games and the Spartans have won seven, including six of seven since 2009.
Sophomore Thomas Alatini scored a pair of touchdowns on 99 yards rushing for the Ugly Eagles. Junior Kenny Gardner filled in when starting QB Zia Rahmany went down early in the game with an injury to guide the CV offense. Gardner ran for 85 yards on just five carries. Clayton Valley attempted only two passes. The Eagles defense allowed only one touchdown until the score rose to 42-7 with a running clock in the fourth quarter. Campo drove down for its second TD and two-point conversion with just under five minutes left. Following the ensuing kickoff Campo made the unusual
See DAL, page 11
Local soccer teams enjoy Halloween weekend tournaments
Photos courtesy MDSA
MDSA BOCA JUNIORS UNDER 14 BOYS scored 15 goals and didn’t give up any to win the white Division of the U14B San Ramon FC Boo Cup Tournament. The team includes, front row from left, Anthony Montoya, Christian Nomellini , Riley Claunch, Bakari Johnson, Jason zimmer, Omar Popal; back row, coach Luano Nomellini, Michael Boyle, Logan Gonzales, Marques wirth, Sebastian Ledezma, Evan Hunter, Davin Fabrizio, Aidan Nolan and coach Robert Helena.
DIABLO FC 05 GIRLS PREMIER TEAM held up its lofty state ranking by winning the witchcraft under 12 division at the 18th annual Halloween Kick or Treat Classic. The local team won three and drew one to take first place. Coach Miguel Gonzalez’ team has been ranked as high as second in California and fifth in the USA this year. The team includes, front row from left, Tade Scheid, Courtney wagner, Jules Colchico, Allyssa Pringle, Indigo whiteley, Jacky Bellamy; back row, coach Gonzalez, Caroline Tobin, Emily Beeson, Lil Bailey, Erica Upson, Grace Dausses and Anonda walker.
MDSA ELITE UNDER 13 GIRLS PHOENIX were champions in the 2004 Girls Division of the Creek Cup Bronze Edition Octoberfest. The team include front row from left, Mipo Okeowo, Emma Howe, Morgan Perkins, Katelynn Brown, Sydney Mendelson, Nyah Akoni; back row, coach Heidi Brown, Princessa Barragan, Sarandon Kamrud, Rachel lloyd, Julia Stranko, Sophia Menard, Isabella Veran, Sophia Sinclaire, Laine Moraes, Hawah Opeyany, Kaitlyn McNevin and coach Chris McNevin. Not pictured, Kelsey Macaulay
Photos courtesy Diablo FC
DIABLO FC UNDER 12 BOYS were voted Best Costume in their U12 division at the 18th annual Halloween Kick or Treat Classic. The “Skeleton” Diablo FC 2005 team coached by Brian Voltattorni includes, from left, Andres Leroux, Andy Arriaga, will Van Voorhis, Cameron Imberg, Luis Esteban, DJ Hanley, Raul Arana, Jose Ortiz, Humberto Sanchez and Samuel Moreno. Not pictured, Angel Ruiz. In the tournament the team had one win, one draw and one loss.