Monday Morning Lights: Why Campo’s win was important. WCAL play heats up this week.

DANVILLE – Campolindo lineman Josh Tsai smiles after Luke Bonardi forces a turnover within the second quarter. Campolindo and Monte Vista performed in a highschool soccer recreation at Monte Vista Excessive Faculty in Danville Calif. on Friday, Sept. 22 2023

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CAMPO: WHY WIN OVER MONTE VISTA WAS IMPORTANT

Campolindo’s 38-14 victory over Monte Vista on Friday night time could possibly be probably the most consequential results of both staff’s season.

They’re two of 11 faculties competing for eight North Coast Part Division I playoff spots.

De La Salle, San Ramon Valley and Pittsburg are a lock to get in.

Clayton Valley figures to be there, too.

The others in Division I are California, Liberty, James Logan, Amador Valley and Antioch, together with Campo and Monte Vista.

If Logan wins its league and Amador Valley captures the East Bay Athletic League Valley Division to change into computerized qualifiers, that would go away simply two extra openings.

When contemplating who makes the lower, the part will have a look at huge non-league wins, one thing Campo’s gamers have been keenly conscious of on Friday.

“If we wish to make the playoffs, we wanted to win this recreation tonight,” Campo security Luke Bonardi stated.

Bonardi isn’t fairly proper.

Though Campo misplaced to Amador Valley and tied Windsor in nonleague, the Cougars can nonetheless routinely qualify for the playoffs by successful the Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division.

That gained’t be straightforward, with proficient Acalanes (1-3 after a brutal non-league schedule) within the combine, in addition to undefeated Miramonte and Las Lomas.

Shedding on Friday damage Monte Vista extra — the Mustangs now have losses to Amador Valley and Campolindo in back-to-back weeks after opening the season with three consecutive wins.

They’ve this week off earlier than opening EBAL Mountain Division play at Foothill on Oct. 6. After that, Monte Vista closes with California, Clayton Valley, De La Salle and San Ramon Valley.

A win on Friday definitely would have helped.

“We’re simply targeted on league,” Monte Vista coach Johnny Millard stated. “We’ll take it one recreation at a time, and make some noise in league.”

— Joseph Dycus

FOOTHILL: HUGE VICTORY OVER RIVAL

Foothill coach Greg Haubner was emotional and proud after his winless Falcons went on the highway on Friday night time and shocked archrival Amador Valley 12-7 in a nonleague battle between Pleasanton’s two excessive faculties.

“This is among the higher wins I’ve had as a coach,” stated Haubner, who’s in his seventh season at Foothill. “We have been 0-3 coming into the sport. This staff, this program has skilled loads of frustration. The children performed at a particularly excessive degree tonight. This was a extremely good win.”

A lot of the frustration for Foothill has centered across the lack of three of the staff’s high gamers. WR/CB Chris Lawson, a four-star recruit, transferred to Riordan within the low season. RB Samear Lattier left for Tracy.

However most hurtful was the lack of free security Jackson Chandler. He stayed at Foothill however was misplaced for the season when an ACL damage didn’t heal correctly.

“I’m so pleased for our seniors,” Haubner stated. “They’ve continued to provide us their finest efforts.”

— Mike Lefkow

WCAL: TWO BIG GAMES THIS WEEK

Serra clearly didn’t gather any rust in its week off earlier than starting protection of its West Catholic Athletic League championship.

The Padres routed Sacred Coronary heart Cathedral 61-0 on Friday, marking the second time the San Mateo powerhouse has reached 60 factors towards a WCAL opponent within the MaxPreps period (2004-present).

The opposite was a 64-21 win over Archbishop Mitty in 2017. Serra misplaced to Archbishop Riordan 66-45 in 2015.

The competitors for Serra will stiffen on Saturday when St. Francis pays a go to.

The final time St. Francis visited Serra, two years in the past, it wasn’t day for the house staff. Viliami Teu ran for 344 yards and two touchdowns in 45 carries as St. Francis gained 44-21.

Since then, Serra has had the higher hand towards its Mountain View rival, successful 16-12 to seize the 2022 Central Coast Part Division I title and 29-7 final season at St. Francis.

Within the different huge WCAL recreation this week, Valley Christian travels to Riordan on Saturday.

Valley (4-0) gained one recreation final season. Riordan (3-1) gained three.

This season, Valley has allowed a mean of 8.3 factors per recreation. Riordan has scored 37.8 per recreation.

One thing must give.

DE LA SALLE: GRIT OVER FLASH

On this period of online game passing numbers, De La Salle has turned the clock again.

Previously three video games — victories over St. Francis, St. Mary’s-Stockton and Folsom — the Spartans have rushed for 856 yards and handed for 62.

They’ve run 147 instances through the successful streak and tried 19 passes.

“We’re beginning loads of underclassmen, we’ve acquired a younger group and we’re actually attempting to have them embrace the Spartan method,” DLS coach Justin Alumbaugh stated after his staff’s 14-7 win at Folsom on Friday. “We’ve performed 5 nice opponents to begin our season, and we’re getting higher.

“We’re very clearly higher than we have been firstly of the yr, and it’s as a result of these guys are shopping for into it. I’m happy with them. It’s gratifying as a coach once they’re taking to teaching.”

DLS opened the season with losses to Orange Lutheran 34-14 and Serra 28-0. That they had 63 runs for 270 yards and 42 move makes an attempt for 181 yards within the two defeats.

“We weren’t bodily in any respect the primary two weeks, particularly offensively,” Alumbaugh stated. “I’ve actually favored our improve in physicality. We’ve been doing loads of physicality drills. We’ve been difficult them with early-morning practices. Numerous very outdated methods to get them going. They’ve responded very well.”

Up subsequent: Friday at dwelling towards McClymonds.

— Darren Sabedra

DEER VALLEY: BOUNCE-BACK SEASON CONTINUES

An 18-game dropping streak that spanned three years appears distant now, changed by a 3-2 document on the halfway level of this season for Deer Valley.

The Wolverines bounced again from a 19-14 loss towards Castro Valley to beat Dougherty Valley 34-28 victory on Friday.

It was through the loss, not the victory, that Deer Valley’s second-year coach Matt Mills stated he may see the distinction between this yr’s and final yr’s groups.

“As an alternative of claiming ‘Oh, we’re not adequate’ or ‘We don’t have the expertise,’ the fellows have been upset and saying, ‘Man, we let one get away,’” Mills stated.

After spending final season laying what he known as the muse of a successful tradition within the locker room, Mills is now seeing profitable outcomes on the sector.

Deer Valley has a bye this week, then will open league play at dwelling on Oct. 6 towards defending champion Pittsburg.

“Final yr was robust at instances,” Mills stated. “However when the juniors got here again, it wasn’t about educating them about what the expectations have been. This yr, we have been capable of focus extra on the scheme and the best way to make the most of our expertise.”

— Joseph Dycus

PEEK AHEAD TO WEEK 6

Friday

Pittsburg (4-0) at Los Gatos (3-1), 7:30 p.m.: Pittsburg has narrowly gained its previous two video games. Anticipate one other tight one on Friday.

McClymonds (2-1) at De La Salle (3-2), 7 p.m.: DLS will attempt to win 4 in a row to complete nonleague play.

Granada (4-1) at California (3-2), 7 p.m.: Granada QB Quinn Boyd has been electrical. Will California pull the plug right here?

Mountain View (3-1) at Wilcox (2-2). 7 p.m.: Wilcox is 12-0-2 towards Mountain View within the MaxPreps period (2004-present).

Jesuit-Carmichael (4-1) at Clayton Valley Constitution (2-2), 7 p.m.: When these groups performed final season at Jesuit, CVC gained 35-21.

Saturday

St. Francis (2-2) at Serra (4-0), 1:30 p.m.: Serra is the clear favourite, however St. Francis will make it bodily.

Valley Christian (4-0) at Archbishop Riordan (3-1), 2 p.m.: Valley’s protection vs. Riordan’s offense will likely be one thing to see.

— Darren Sabedra