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The early view: De La Salle vs. Folsom
Each week presents a brand new problem for De La Salle.
The challenges these days have intensified as accidents to key gamers have pressured the coaches to name on younger and inexperienced understudies to plug gaps.
That actually was not the sport plan when De La Salle loaded its schedule as soon as once more with the perfect Northern California has to supply.
However that’s the truth.
Friday, the Spartans will face one other heavyweight as Folsom, recent off profitable at Pittsburg and fewer than a yr from eliminating De La Salle in a regional playoff sport, will make one other journey to Harmony to play DLS.
This can be a matchup many Spartans circled as a part of their revenge tour. However how most of the veterans will likely be on the sector?
Accidents to linemen Derek Thompson and Cooper Powers, defensive sort out Chase Tofaeono and linebacker Peter Rachwald have damage.
However that’s a part of the sport. Folsom misplaced its Stanford-bound tight finish, Walker Lyon, to a damaged leg within the first half of the primary sport this season.
It’s unclear if DLS will get a number of the injured guys again for the sport Friday. Not that coach Justin Alumbaugh or anybody within the DLS program would use the lineup shuffling as an excuse if issues go sideways.
Alumbaugh noticed progress over the weekend as his crew discovered a technique to maintain off host Cathedral-San Diego when the sport was on the road within the fourth quarter. Cathedral beat Folsom in a state championship sport final season.
- MORE FOOTBALL: The place to search out our full Week 4 protection
Charles Greer ran for 211 yards and two touchdowns in 22 carries and Carson Su’esu’e threw for 180 yards and two TDs on Friday.
“To stroll away with a win – the place our children didn’t fold and we responded – is encouraging,” Alumbaugh mentioned. “However now the pure De La Salle coach in me is I do know we have now to be higher. We simply have to have a look at how we are able to get there and preserve working.”
– Darren Sabedra
Folsom prepared for DLS rematch
The ultimate whistle was nonetheless echoing by means of the Pittsburg evening as Folsom’s coach started to sit up for his crew’s subsequent Bay Space matchup. Paul Doherty’s Bulldogs will return to the East Bay on Friday, this time to play De La Salle.
Final yr, Folsom took down the Spartans 28-27 within the I-AA Northern California championship to disclaim DLS a shot at a state title.
However after blocking a kick and punt in opposition to Pittsburg, Doherty targeted on De La Salle’s particular groups’ dominance throughout the 2021 regular-season sport between the Spartans and Folsom, which DLS received 31-10.
“Final yr, we hosted De La Salle, and performed horrible on particular groups,” Doherty mentioned. “We let Zeke Berry take it to the home, after which later within the half, they blocked a punt in opposition to us. That’s the distinction within the sport.”
Doherty additionally rued his crew’s 17-12 loss this season to visiting Serra however admitted that he couldn’t be too upset contemplating how Folsom discovered a technique to beat Pittsburg 23-15 on Friday.
“I felt like we gave one away a couple of weeks in the past in opposition to Serra,” Doherty mentioned. “I assumed we have been higher than they have been. However these guys from Pittsburg have been in all probability higher than us, and we stole one from them. So it evens out.”
Rico Flores is a participant who may single-handedly tilt this Friday’s sport in Folsom’s favor. Although he's a prolific receiver, the Notre Dame commit’s largest affect may come on the opposite aspect of the ball.
“He hates me saying it, however that child must be taking part in some protection on the subsequent stage, and even on Sundays,” Doherty mentioned. “He’s that good. He breaks up passes and he’s within the center subject, which forces groups to test it down.”
– Joseph Dycus
Clayton Valley: What’s up with the gradual begin?
A month from now, Clayton Valley would possibly take a look at its 1-3 begin and never acknowledge what it sees within the mirror. The Ugly Eagles have subsequent week off, then go to Jesuit-Carmichael on Oct. 1 earlier than opening East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division play every week later at Amador Valley.
There may be time to show issues round.
Given the scores, Clayton Valley isn’t that distant. The Ugly Eagles have misplaced three video games at house, all by a landing or much less, two to groups which have but to lose, Salinas and Del Oro-Loomis.
Longtime coach Tim Murphy has by no means had a begin like this one since he took over the Clayton Valley program a decade in the past.
In actual fact, the final time the Harmony college opened with three losses in its first 4 video games was 15 years in the past, when the Ugly Eagles began 0-3 on their technique to a 4-6 season in 2007.
Murphy factors to a younger protection and his softening teaching type as causes for the gradual begin this season.
Two weeks in the past, the Ugly Eagles traveled to North Las Vegas and routed Canyon Springs 42-6.
That following Monday, the crew had 20 absences from observe.
5 days later, the crew misplaced at house to Turlock 35-33, a shocking final result provided that the guests have been 1-3.
However perhaps not a shock, given Clayton Valley’s observe attendance earlier within the week.
“A few them have been legitimately sick, however 20 absences at Clayton Valley, completely unparalleled,” Murphy mentioned. “I simply mentioned, ‘Look, man, too many people live on the fame of what we have now at all times accomplished. Yearly we earn it. It’s not simply given to us.’
“The blame goes on me for not being exhausting sufficient on these guys. I’ve tried to do it the nice-guy approach this yr, they usually simply can’t deal with it. It’s not their fault. It’s my fault, and I actually imply it.
“This bye is approach wanted. This can be a crew that simply must get refocused. We've got expertise. We’ve actually acquired lots of expertise. We’ve simply acquired to get again on monitor.”
— Darren Sabedra
SHP: Receivers shouldn’t be missed
Sacred Coronary heart Prep runs a exact offense primarily based on a punishing floor sport. The drives can typically seem to be an never-ending parade of five-yard runs because the Gators work their approach downfield.
However when Los Gatos visits on Friday afternoon, don’t be shocked if the SHP passing sport performs a key think about what Gators coach Mark Grieb known as the most important sport of the yr.
“I can’t see the long run, however while you consider Los Gatos and the way effectively coached and the way disciplined they're, that sport stands out,” Grieb mentioned.
Carter Shaw, known as a freak athlete by Grieb and the son of Stanford coach David Shaw, began SHP’s 35-7 win over Archbishop Riordan with an extended landing reception. He ripped the ball from two defenders in a play that left opposing coach Adhir Ravipati impressed.
“Carter Shaw provides them a tall and lengthy man that they haven’t historically had on the surface,” coach Ravipati mentioned. “They did a fantastic job of scheming up our protection too.”
The passing sport is extra than simply Shaw on the surface, although.
Brandon Hsing, Tyler Wong and Luke Maxwell are able to working routes and making a play when wanted, and working again Andrew Latu is a good possibility when quarterback Mitchell Taylor has to test it down or throw screens.
“There’s ups and downs like there may be with each crew, however they’re a hard-working group,” Grieb mentioned when requested about his crew’s move catchers. “You noticed a glimpse of that immediately. When their quantity is known as, they’ll make a play.”
These aforementioned receivers can all make a play, however when Sacred Coronary heart Prep wants the play of the sport in opposition to Los Gatos, it will be sensible to guess that Taylor will likely be taking a look at Shaw.
“Carter is 6-3 and has lengthy arms and may go after the ball. I assumed it was a reasonably good matchup for Carter (in opposition to Riordan’s corners), however he acquired that one for positive.”
— Joseph Dycus
Heritage: What’s fueling unbeaten file?
“All in.”
For the Heritage Patriots, these phrases echoed all through low season exercises. These phrases have been plastered on banners across the weight room on the Brentwood college. These phrases have been stitched on the again of the shirts the gamers wore.
These two phrases have develop into synonymous since Dave Fogelstrom took over this system in 2020. The varsity had received three video games in two seasons earlier than the coach’s arrival. He wasted no time incorporating the brand new “All in” motto.
By way of 4 video games this season, it’s clear that Heritage is all in.
The crew is off to a 4-0 begin and has outscored opponents 177-34. The Patriots have an opportunity to go undefeated in non-league play after they journey to Union Metropolis to play James Logan on Friday evening.
Fogelstrom mentioned this crew has the potential to be the perfect in this system’s 17-year historical past. Even higher than the 2010 crew that beat fellow Bay Valley Athletic League member Pittsburg within the quarterfinals of the North Coast Part Division I playoffs.
To this present day, that has been Heritage’s solely victory over the powerhouse Pirates.
“This crew doesn’t have any ‘me’ guys on it. Everyone simply needs to win,” Fogelstrom mentioned. “They are often the perfect crew at school historical past. They consider me, and I consider in them.”
– Jesús Cano
Tennyson: Halftime snacks ignite rally
Tennyson’s gradual begin on Friday evening appeared odd for a crew that put up basketball-like factors in opposition to Mt. Eden the earlier week.
However in opposition to a great Hayward crew, Tennyson coach John Pangelina — sure, the coach — was a little bit gradual throughout the first 24 minutes of an eventual 29-28 win.
After the sport, Pangelina gave a shocking motive for his shaky efficiency.
“I virtually handed out as a result of I had a loopy busy day and hadn’t had something to eat,” Pangelina mentioned. “The primary half I used to be out of it. After that, individuals introduced me snacks and fluids, after which I used to be again into it.”
A re-energized coach masterminded Tennyson’s rally from down 13 within the fourth quarter.
The crew received after Hayward missed a subject purpose that Hayward’s teaching workers believed went in. Pangelina mentioned he and the video disagreed.
“On our movie, it exhibits it went huge,” Pangelina mentioned. “You see it goes up and across the upright.”
— Joseph Dycus
Early peek at Week 5
Friday
Folsom (3-1) at De La Salle (3-1), 7 p.m.: DLS hasn’t forgotten how final season ended.
Los Gatos (2-1) at Sacred Coronary heart Prep (3-1), 4 p.m.: Ought to be a terrific matchup, given how SHP dominated Riordan.
Serra (3-0) at St. Francis (1-2), 7 p.m.: St. Francis received the WCAL title final season. Serra is the heavy favourite to seize the crown this season.
San Ramon Valley (3-0) at Liberty (3-1), 7 p.m.: SRV QB Luke Baker is finishing 77.3% of his passes.
Menlo-Atherton (2-1) at Wilcox (3-0), 7 p.m.: Wilcox has had an additional week to arrange. M-A is coming off a blowout loss at Del Oro-Loomis.
St. Ignatius (1-2) vs. Bellarmine (1-2) at SJCC, 7 p.m.: Each had sturdy non-league schedules. Has that gotten them prepared for the WCAL?
Archbishop Mitty (3-0) vs. Sacred Coronary heart Cathedral (2-1) at Kezar Stadium, 7 p.m.: Mitty beat Palma to open the season. SHC misplaced to Palma every week later.
Amador Valley (2-1) at Foothill (2-2), 7 p.m.: The battle of Pleasanton. Sufficient mentioned.
– Darren Sabedra