Sports
Page 12
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
October 13, 2017
Clayton Valley, De La Salle football winning ugly JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
On the surface looking at the Clayton Valley Charter and De La Salle high football team records you would assume things have gone pretty well for each local team. But behind the records entering the final three weeks of the regular season each team has been consistent in only one area—making mistakes. Each head coach has said their team effort has been good but mistakes are frustrating, especially so late into the season. UGLY EAGLES NEED TO WIN OUT
Clayton Valley Charter (42, 1-0) opened Diablo Athletic League play with a 41-21 victory over Miramonte last Friday at Gonsalves Stadium. The win was the ugly Eagles 28th consecutive league victory. Coach Tim Murphy says, “For having so many juniors starting I am really glad to see our progress throughout the season. Biggest issue is we continue to make the same mistakes and it’s going to kill us when we are in a close game like it did in Reno against Reed.” Penalties have been an ongoing problem this season, the coaches admit. The Eagles started the season with two losses. The season opener in Reno saw the Eagles make too many mistakes in a 38-22 loss, a game Murphy feels they could have won. The second loss was to Hawaiian power-
Christy Murphy photo courtesy CVCHS football
Clayton Valley defenders swarmed Miramonte in the diablo Athletic league football opener last Friday. eagles Cade Carter and kyle Sparks (2) made the tackle with Parker Allen (18) and dwayne Alatini (16) pursuing the play in a 41-21 victory at Gonsalves Stadium.
house Mililani, a team which is still undefeated at 8-0. Since those games CVCHS has rolled off four straight wins while scoring 144 points in the past three weeks. The team is still focused on its wing-T running game but senior quarterback KJ Gardner has had two
Christy Murphy photo courtesy CVCHS football
thomas Alatini (15) is half of the two-headed CVCHS running attack along with Jr. teofilo who have accounted for 16 touchdowns and over 1100 yards rushing in six games as the Ugly eagles have rebounded from an 0-2 start to win four in a row.
games of over 200 yards passing. Thomas Alatini and Jr. Teofilo have carried the rushing load while combining for 110 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. Assistant coach Dax Crabbe’s Facebook report after the Miramonte game, 10 Thoughts from last night’s victory over Miramonte spotlight the team’s defense against the Mats. Gabriel Dobbins had two rally-killing interceptions including a 90yard touchdown. Parker Allen also had an INT. He said Dusty Mitchell and Kitione Tau each had a pair of sacks and Dwayne Alatini one, the pressure he credited with leading to the interceptions. He added “special teams were outstanding last night. They did not allow Miramonte to start past the 25yard on any of the kickoffs. Not only that, the hands team did an excellent job fielding onside kicks.” He said Christian Seeley had five special team tackles. CVCHS Homecoming this Friday is against Concord High and first-year coach Paul Reynaud, a former CV player and coach. The Min-
utemen have struggled through a tough season with a 1-5 record but the crosstown rivalry usually brings out the best in both teams. The toughest two Diablo Athletic League games remaining for the Ugly Eagles appear to be Oct. 20 at Acalanes (6-0) in Lafayette and Nov. 3 vs. Campolindo (4-2) in Moraga. The Eagles are borderline to be among the four teams chosen for the North Coast Section Open Division playoffs. It appears De La Salle, San Ramon Valley and Pittsburg are near locks while Freedom is currently projected as the fourth team. CVCHS is currently ranked as the No. 1 Division I team in playoff projections but may still be selected for Open play if they win out as DAL champions with a strong non-league schedule and impressive victory over Antioch. DE LA SALLE WEATHERING INCONSISTENCY, SCHEDULE
De La Salle (6-1) has come through the toughest part of its independent schedule while facing seven
successive teams with winning records and coming up with six wins. Their final three games are also against teams with positive season marks. Listening to coach Justin Alumbaugh after each victory (and the sole defeat to twotime National Champion Bish-
op Gorman in Las Vegas) you hear essentially the same message. The fifth-year coach would laud the team’s effort while bemoaning too many mistakes (penalties, turnovers, missed assignments) that got the Spartans into trouble or didn’t allow them to pull away from their opponent. Last week’s 42-0 win over California was the first shutout of the season for DLS’s defense, which was touted in the pre-season as the strongest element of the team with top recruits such as junior Henry To’oto’o and senior lineman Tuli Letuligasenoa, a USC commit. Against Northern California’s toughest schedule, DLS has allowed over 30 points three times and 24 in another. Junior quarterbacks Erich Storti and Andrew Jones have been sharing signal-calling duties with neither taking charge of the position with consistent play. Jones is considered the better passer and Storti a stronger runner in the veer offense. Senior leaders Kairee Robinson and Letuligasenoa have battled injuries with To’oto’to filling in for Robinson in the key battle with Central of Fresno that ultimately was a 49-30 victory in a game that has implications for State Bowl Open Division game placement. In spite of the faltering play, the Spartans have remained ranked No. 1 all season and figure to be unbeaten Nov. 3 when they host San Ramon Valley, which is currently 6-0, at Owen Owens Field to conclude the regular season.
dennis lee photo courtesy SportStars magazine
Heavily recruited junior linebacker Henry to’oto’o (11) stepped in at runningback to cover for injured teammate kairee robinson when de la Salle hosted undefeated Central of Fresno and was a key figure in the Spartans 49-30 win that may have State bowl implications at seasons’ end.
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