Placer Hillmen too much to handle for Foothill of Palo CedroDenham throws 2 TDs to Brahce in rout
By Matthew Kimel / Journal sports editorDoug Guler / Gold Country News Service
The Hillmen's ground game produced four touchdowns Friday.
EL DORADO HILLS – It’s usually a good sign when your second-unit offensegets playing time in the fourth quarter.
Such was the case Friday night for the Placer Hillmen, who romped past ahighly-regarded Foothill of Palo Cedro team, 42-14, in the showcase of aFootball for Families fundraiser at Oak Ridge High School.
“All in all, I’m really proud of the kids,” coach Joey Montoya said. “I’mreally happy almost everybody got to play. We beat a really good footballteam there. “
The Hillmen built a 42-7 lead before a running clock was called for in themiddle of the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Peter Denham threw two touchdowns to Isaac Brahce and theHillmen got rushing touchdowns from Michael Robison, Todd Vallerie,Cameron Scott and Brahce, as they improved to 2-0.
Though Denham overthrew a wide-open Stone Sander twice on deep passes, hewas effective on the night. He completed 9 of 16 attempts for 175,including touchdowns of 30 and 41 yards to Brahce in the third quarter.
“We noticed their safeties were playing up a little bit and we had been soeffective on the run that the play action was really open,” Denham said ofhis connections with Brahce. “Isaac is really fast, so we threw it pastthe safeties.”
Like last week, Placer showed flashes of defensive troubles early,allowing two runs of 55 and 65 yards. But the unit was able to bookendopening- and closing-drive scores allowed with a complete shutdown of theFoothill (1-1) offense.
“I really thought after the first series we played really well against aprolific offense,” said Montoya, one week after saying his team’s 48-30victory at Central Catholic of Modesto was “sloppy” because it allowed toomany big plays.
For the second straight week, the Hillmen scored a touchdown on theopening drive. Placer jumped out to a 6-0 lead just one minute into the contest on aRobinson touchdown run. Dominic Granieri, however, missed the extra point.
The score came after a fortunate bounce, when the Hillmen’s TonySuverkropp recovered the opening kickoff at the Foothill 32.
“I came out and knew what I needed to do,” Suverkropp said of the setplay. “Dominic kicked a great ball and it had a sweet bounce. I got up andhad my hands on it. I was pumped up.”
The lead didn’t last long, as the Hillmen trailed for the first time thisseason after the Cougars immediately answered Robinson’s score. A RyanPollard touchdown pass was set up after Foothill was able to convert onfourth-and-inches with a 55-yard Jacob Shaddox run.
Apparently the Hillmen didn’t like the feeling of being down on thescoreboard, as they would go on to score 36-straight points.
Vallerie led the Hillmen’s ground game with 112 yards on eight carries,including his beautifully executed 63-yard score, in which he brokecountless tackles.
Logan Markstein, Nathan Ralls and Scott combined for nearly 100 rushingyards when Vallerie, Robinson and Brahce were given the rest of the nightoff.
Placer allowed 154 rushing yards, mostly in the first half on two carries,but Foothill wasn’t able to add any points on the board until mop-up time.
The closest the Cougars came to adding points after their initialtouchdown and a last-minute score came on a first-quarter field goal missby Davis Kepon, which appeared to be blocked. That squandered a 65-yardrun from Shaddox, who had 134 yards on the night.
Pollard finished the night 8 of 15 for 127 yards and two scores. He wassacked by Jacob Peek and Jake Lewis. Peek and Eddie Vanderdoes teamed upon another sack.
Vanderdoes, a national recruit and USC verbal commit, said Placer’sdefense hasn’t reached its full potential yet.
“We were feeling out the offense,” Vanderdoes said of the early miscues.“Once we got the hang of it, we kept rolling.”
Howe: One of These Schools Is Not Like the Other
by Ryan Howe
EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. • McClymonds gave us Hammer pants. Minico contributed to SpongeBob SquarePants.
McClymonds High is in Oakland, home to three pro sports franchises. Minico High is in Rupert, home to Christmas City, USA.
Oakland crams 390,000 residents into 55 square miles. Minidoka County spreads its 20,000 people across 760 square miles.
The Bay Area (Oakland-San Francisco) ranks in the top 5 for worst traffic congestion in North America. Rupert has three stop lights.
McClymonds’ roster includes names like Da’jon, Daishawn, Lavon and Shaqan. Minico’s names are Trevor, Tanner, Nathan and Matt.
Oakland public high schools: 19. Minidoka: 1.
Oakland has about three dozen smog check stations. Minico often catches the unpleasant whiff of the sugar beet factory.
Oakland’s annual celebrations include Art & Soul Festival, Chinatown StreetFest and the Oakland International Film Festival. Minidoka’s annual cultural celebration is the county fair.
McClymonds’ football claim-to-fame is putting multiple players in the NFL. Minico’s football claim-to-fame is alumnus Bill Fagerbakke, who played Dauber in the TV show “Coach.” He’s also the voice of Patrick Star on SpongeBob.
McClymonds has won a Grammy with alumnus MC Hammer. Minico has won an Emmy with alumnus and journalist Lou Dobbs.
I’m told McClymonds’ list of notable alumni also includes Bill Russell, Paul Silas, Frank Robinson and the Pointer Sisters. I didn’t verify all those, but I’m like the Republican Presidential race – I won’t let my column be dictated by fact-checkers.
Minico’s elevation: 4,157 feet above sea level. McClymonds: 13 feet.
According to Wikipedia, Oakland “offers a wide variety of cuisine… which reflect(s) the city’s ethnically diverse population. Minidoka has Stevo’s.
Malcom X once spoke at McClymonds High School. Asking Minico players about Malcom X is like watching a Jaywalking segment on the Tonight Show.
None of McClymonds’ current roster has ever been to Idaho. What comes to mind when Warriors star Lavance Warren is asked about Idaho?
“Big people,” he said. “And potatoes.”
Regardless of their differences, for one beautiful blue-sky afternoon in the suburbs of Sacramento, the game of football brought these communities together. Cool thing about football is, strap on a helmet and you can’t tell who has dreadlocks and who has a mullet. For two and a half hours Saturday, they were no longer inner-city kids and farm kids.
They were just kids.
Which brings us back to pants.
Whenever we faced a big-time opponent, my high school football coach used to give us the same pep talk, “Those guys are no different than you. They put their pants on the same way you do – one leg at a time.”
Doesn’t matter if those pants are Hammer or square.
Mistakes Hand Minico Defeat Against McClymonds
By Ryan Howe
EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. — For Minico to beat McClymonds, the best football team from Oakland, Calif., it knew it would need a near-flawless performance.
Four turnovers. That was the difference.
The Spartans (1-1) represented Idaho well, giving themselves a chance in the fourth quarter. But Minico gift wrapped the Warriors’ win, 34-21.
“It would have been a close game, but since we had turnovers, that killed us. As soon as we get the momentum back, something happens,” said Minico senior Jordan Browning.
McClymonds (1-1) scored after each of Minico’s first two fumbles. The third ended a Minico drive at the McClymonds 15-yard line. The fourth came early in the fourth quarter after the Spartans had recovered an onsides kick with 5:57 remaining and were driving in to make it a one-possession game.
The Spartans — as they expected — also had trouble with McClymonds’ superior speed and athleticism. It was evident from the get-go, as Lavance Warren ran back the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, leaving Minico to play from behind the entire afternoon.
“They’re better than any team we’ve played against. We’ve never seen anything like that, but I thought we did well. We played until the end. It was a great opportunity,” said Minico senior Taylor Seaton.
But after Minico took McClymonds’ punches, it countered time and time again. The Spartans gained 342 yards of total offense, to the Warriors’ 355.
“We play against faster teams, but these guys are bigger than what we’re used to playing against, so it evened out,” said Warren, who rushed for 129 yards. “We’re used to a team that tries to get you outside. I was expecting some hard hitting, and that’s what we got.”
Instead of trying to out-sprint McClymonds to the edges — which wouldn’t be a wise scheme of attack against the Warriors’ speed — Minico used its up-tempo wing-T to pound out yardage between the tackles. It’s a style of play McClymonds isn’t used to seeing.
“It was really tough to prepare for. You have to be really disciplined,” said McClymonds coach Curtis McCauley. “I had to make a bunch of adjustments at halftime because we were in a five-man front and they were having their way.”
Minico fell behind 14-0 before it put together a scoring drive. The Spartans went 77 yards in just four plays, capped by Jordan Browning’s 56-yard TD run up the gut.
The Spartans fumbled the ball away on their next two possessions and went into halftime down 21-7.
On its first drive of the third quarter, Minico struck fast. Two long runs by Seaton and Browning set up a Minico score, which Seaton plunged in from two yards out, making it 21-14.
But McClymonds answered right back, going 60 yards in nine plays. The Spartans fumbled away its next possession and McClymonds capitalized and pushed its lead to 34-14 at the end of three quarters.
Minico quarterback Shay Chandler hooked up with Seaton for a 10-yard TD pass with under six minutes to go. Jonathan Valero kicked and recovered the ensuing onsides kick, but the Spartans wasted the opportunity by fumbling on the very next play.
“We scheduled this trip hoping we could come together as a team, and we did that. It was something special,” said Minico head coach Tim Perrigot.
Perrigot hopes the experience makes Minico a better football team.
“We went 9-0 last season and didn’t experience a loss until the (playoffs) and then it’s over. Losing is a bitter feeling, but if you’re going to lose a football game, let’s lose it Week 2.”
Minico will be back home next week, hosting Mini-Cassia rival Burley.
McClymonds 34, Minico 21
Minico 7 0 7 7 —21
McClymonds 14 7 13 0 —34
First quarter
McClymonds – Warren 92 kick return (kick failed) 11:44
McClymonds – Cummings 8 run (Hope pass from Williams) 3:31
Minico – Browning 56 run (Wrigley kick) 2:12
Second quarter
McClymonds – Thompson 44 pass from Williams (Simmons kick) 7:29
Third quarter
Minico – Seaton 2 run (Wrigley kick) 10:34
McClymonds – Thompson 26 pass from Williams (Simmons kick) 5:58
McClymonds – Williams 4 run (kick failed) 0:00
Fourth quarter
Minico – Seaton 10 pass from Chandler (Wrigley kick) 5:57
Minico Makes a Name for Itself with California Foes, Onlookers
BY RYAN HOWE
EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. • Trying to hide from the 92-degree heat at kickoff, fans of both Minico and McClymonds high schools spread out in the home side stands Saturday afternoon at Oak Ridge High School in the posh Sacramento suburb.
“Where is Minico, Idaho? I can’t find it on Mapquest,” one McClymonds fan asked, holding up her smartphone.
It’s true. You can’t find Minico, Idaho on a map.
Even the public address announcer had trouble pronouncing the school from Rupert, calling it “Minoka.”
Playing in its first out-of-state football game in school history, the Minico Spartans couldn’t overcome four turnovers in a 34-21 loss to McClymonds, a school from West Oakland.
Although disappointed about the loss (see complete game story in Sports), the Spartans left California closer as a unit, and tested as a team.
“It was awesome for our team. It was a great trip. It was good to spend this time away and have this opportunity,” said Minico senior Taylor Seaton.
A few dozen Minico fans made the trip, plus a handful of former Spartans now living in California were on hand.
“I was surprised to see them coming, but I also think it’s pretty exciting that they would have the opportunity to come and play in California. It’s a good deal,” said Sheila Pfeifer, a 1981 Minico graduate who now resides in the Bay Area working for a law firm.
Class of 2000 graduate Blake Smith, who now lives in Grass Valley, Calif., was cheering on his nephew T.J. Strunk. Smith played for Minico coach Tim Perrigot back when Minico was a struggling program.
“I recognize almost all the coaches down there. It’s like a trip down memory lane,” said Smith, who works as an insurance broker. “This is the first time I’ve gotten to see them play.”
Smith said he’s watched from afar the rise of Minico football into a 4A power in Idaho. He said he’s still proud to be a Spartan, especially after competing well against the best public football program in Oakland.
“It’s nice to see them have success, because there’s a lot of people who played there who didn’t have it,” he said. “If they don’t shoot themselves in the foot, it’s an even game. They’re probably not used to this heat.”
Erase some turnovers, and the final score could have been reversed. Regardless, the Spartans never gave up, despite trailing the entire ballgame.
“They’re a tough team and never quit,” said McClymonds coach Curtis McCauley. “I’ve got a lot of respect for them.”
With that, the Spartans put Minico on the map.
McClymonds 34, Minico 21
Minico 7 0 7 7 —21
McClymonds 14 7 13 0 —34
First quarter
McClymonds – Warren 92 kick return (kick failed) 11:44
McClymonds – Cummings 8 run (Hope pass from Williams) 3:31
Minico – Browning 56 run (Wrigley kick) 2:12
Second quarter
McClymonds – Thompson 44 pass from Williams (Simmons kick) 7:29
Third quarter
Minico – Seaton 2 run (Wrigley kick) 10:34
McClymonds – Thompson 26 pass from Williams (Simmons kick) 5:58
McClymonds – Williams 4 run (kick failed) 0:00
Fourth quarter
Minico – Seaton 10 pass from Chandler (Wrigley kick) 5:57
Small-school Idaho team tops Casa Roble
By Bill Paterson
The players and coaches from tiny Fruitland High School in Idaho saw themselves as ambassadors for their state's brand of gritty football when they ventured 550 miles to play in Saturday's Football for Families fundraising showcase in El Dorado Hills.
They made believers out of those who found their way to Oak Ridge High School for a rare morning game, the first of four games that rounded out the two-day, seven-game benefit for foster families.
Behind their immensely talented and inspiring leader, senior quarterback-linebacker Joey Martarano, Fruitland overcame injuries, the loss of an early lead and the fatigue of so many players playing both ways in rising temperatures to top Casa Roble 29-22.
"It's just a great experience to see how we stack up against a big California school, and it's a big win for us," said Martarano, who has led his school to five state championships in three sports. "Maybe this will help for other Idaho teams to be able to come down here."
Though it has played in Idaho's last six 3A state title games, Fruitland (3-0) is a school of 500 students, nearly three times smaller than Casa Roble (1-2), which has a team that platoons its players and a sophisticated spread offense rarely seen in the Gem State.
Fruitland overcame injuries to 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end-defensive end Alec Dhaenens, a Boise State verbal recruit (left knee injury) and sophomore running back-defensive back Kody Graves (fractured right leg). But the Grizzlies still had Martarano.
The 6-4, 230-pounder has already verbally committed to Boise State to play linebacker, but the gifted slugger could be a first-round pick in baseball's free-agent draft in June.
"I've coached 35 years and I can't remember having another one like him," said Fruitland coach Bruce Schlaich. "He does it all. He feels no pressure. The bigger the situation, the more he steps up."
With Martarano leading the way, Fruitland held Casa Roble on its 12-yard line early in the fourth quarter, then drove the Grizzlies 88 yards, rushing for the stay-ahead touchdown and two-point conversion with 6:08 left.
After Fruitland forced a Casa Roble fumble near midfield with 5:17 to play, Martarano helped the Grizzlies run out the clock with several up-the-gut runs with defenders clawing and scratching at him to try to jar the ball loose.
"Joey is a man-child, an excellent football player," said Casa Roble coach Norm Ryan. "He made the plays that had to be made. He wanted it more than anyone on the field."
Martarano, who completed eight of 10 passes for 134 yards and rushed for 67 yards on 18 carries, said the injuries to Dhaenens and Graves only steeled his resolve despite the fatigue, heat and "air that is a lot different than in Idaho." "We wanted to win it for them," Martarano said.
Fruitland limited Casa Roble's usually potent offense (471 yards per game coming in) to 224 total yards. The Grizzlies pressured quarterback Peyton Wilfley (12 for 22 for 122 yards) throughout the day, sacking him five times and allowing few big pass plays.
Fruitland also held area rushing leader Kody Jones (averaging 205 yards coming in) to 64 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. "We knew it was going to be a struggle because all our players are 48-minute ironmen," Schlaich said. "But they're extremely tough, physically and mentally, and we're just so proud of them. To come down and beat a school like Casa Roble is a big feather in our cap."
Samuels throws four TDS, three to Spain and defense posts shutout overWashington 49-0
by Matt Long Telegraph Sports Editor
The Oak Ridge Trojans improved to 3-0 on the season Saturday night with a49-0 shutout over Washington High from Fremont.
Jason Samuels threw four touchdown passes, three to Byron Spain, as theTrojans dominated the Huskies in every way a team can.
It was just the performance the Oak Ridge coaching staff was hoping tosee, as the team prepares to host a 1-2 Grant team on Friday who will bedesperately trying to snap a two-game losing streak.
“I’m proud of the way we played tonight,” Oak Ridge coach Eric Cavalieresaid. “We played at our level tonight and when the second and third-stringguys were in there they executed and preserved the shutout. We tell themthat whoever is on the field is the starter and the expectation is thesame for everyone.”
Oak Ridge took little time lighting up the scoreboard. Seven plays intothe game, Samuels hooked up with Spain on a 17-yard score just 2:21 intothe game. Ryan Lamb’s extra point made it 7-0.
After forcing Washington to punt, it took the Trojans another seven playsbefore Samuels and Spain worked their magic again, this time from 31 yardsout, and Lamb’s extra point made it 14-0 seven minutes in the game.
The Trojans’ special teams put the next points on the board, as ThomasMahlman blocked a punt, picked it up and returned it 24 yards for thethird touchdown of the game and the Trojans led 21-0 after one quarter.
Samuels and Spain hooked up for the final time early in the second quarteron another 17-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-0.
“We showed what we can do tonight,” Spain said. “Our offense had beenstruggling and not getting a lot of looks, but we came out strong tonight.The offensive line did a good job giving Jason time and Jason made goodthrows and I made the catches. This game will definitely help ourconfidence.”
Cavaliere was glad to see his offense hit its stride and was impressedwith the Samuels-to-Spain combination.
“They’re best friends off the field and two very good players on it,”Cavaliere said. “They played tonight on a Saturday and I expect them to beplaying on Saturdays next year in college.”
Samuels’ fourth and final touchdown came late in the first half and wasthe most impressive of all his throws. Rolling to his left and nearing thesideline, Samuels spotted Brad Buenzli in the back of the end zone andtook a big hit on his follow through but earned the score.
Oak Ridge led 35-0 at the half and the teams played with a running clockfor the remainder of the game. The Trojans picked up two more touchdownson runs by Blake Martin (22 yards) and Josh Wellman (10 yards).
Up next for the Trojans is Grant, who visits El Dorado Hills on Friday.
TWIN FALLS — District IV ruled the 8-man football polls in the 2011 regular season.
It ruled the postseason as Hagerman (Division I) and Lighthouse Christian (Division II) won state titles.
And several of its players ruled Saturday’s 8-man all-state game at Canyon Ridge High School, with the East team thoroughly dominating the West on both sides of the ball in a 40-6 victory.
“We knew that we had really good guys on both sides,” Carey’s Dillon Cenarrusa said. “On defense, we knew we were stacked and could get the job done, and that we had it in us to do it.”
Shoshone’s Gage Roberts was a little more blunt.
“We planned on whuppin’ them,” Roberts said. “We were looking forward to it. We had to represent.”
The East’s dominance becomes more pronounced when realizing that it won with a backup quarter-back. Dietrich’s Brody Astle is still recovering from injuries suffered in a car accident shortly after basket-ball season, so North Gem’s Tyler Mclain, who was listed on the roster as a defensive back, stepped in for Astle and threw for 224 yards and three touchdowns on 13 of 20 passing in earning game Offensive MVP honors. He also rushed for a 10-yard touchdown with 7 minutes, 21 seconds remaining in the first quarter to open the game’s scoring.
The East’s front line of Roberts, Cenarrusa and Rockland’s Cody Hidalgo, who won Defensive MVP honors, quickly established control in the trenches. Cenarrusa and Hidalgo teamed for a sack and forced the West into a holding penalty that caused its opening drive to fizzle, and Roberts tackled Potlach’s James Amos for a 4-yard loss on 2nd and 1 on the West’s second drive, which ended with a 9-yard punt by Tri-Valley’s Alex Loveland.
Given outstanding field position — a recurring theme for the East squad — Roberts capped a four-play, 41-yard drive by grabbing the back end of the football for a 28-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
“I was in triple coverage and reached out and barely snagged it,” said Roberts, who is going to the Col-lege of Southern Idaho before pursuing an engineering degree at Boise State.
Other outgoing District IV players who shined included Oakley’s Stephan Ortiz, who scored on a 14-yard reception and 20-yard run; Dietrich’s Gray Weber, who did a little bit of everything with 67 yards total offense and several tackles from his linebacker spot, and Lighthouse Christian’s Dylan Van Esch, who had six catches for 110 yards.
Another defensive star was Shoshone’s Tyral Furgason, who had three sacks, two coming on back-to-back plays late in the first half.
“I missed it for quite a while. I talk about it all the time, I miss (playing) so much,” Furgason said about his last high school football game before enrolling at Idaho State in the fall.
The West’s defense nearly pitched a shutout — a feat almost unheard of for an all-star game. However, Cascade’s Josh Vandenburg caught a 14-yard screen pass from Wallace’s Casey McKinnon with 3:18 re-maining in the game to shatter the goose egg.
East 40, West 6
West 0 0 0 6 —6
East 14 6 12 8 —40
First quarter
East – Mclain 10 run (run failed)
E – Roberts 28 pass from Mclain (Mclain run)
Second quarter
E – Hidalgo 11 run (pass failed)
Third quarter
E – Simonson 19 pass from Mclain (run failed)
E – Ortiz 14 pass from Mclain (run failed)
Fourth quarer
E – Ortiz 20 run (Owsley run)
West – Vandenburg 14 pass from McKinnon (run failed)
TWIN FALLS! As class of District IV football stars bade the gridiron farewell at the All-State games at Canyon Ridge High School Saturday, another announced its arrival.
If the eighth-grade game, which featured incoming freshmen, was anything to go by, the district is in good hands.
Players representing five District IV schools suited up for Team Idaho, which beat Team Treasure Valley 35-6 to wrap up the all-state tripleheader. Each school represented had something to cheer about, and some of the headliners were happy with their first taste of what it’ll be like at the high school level.
“At the high school level it’s more sophisticated that at the middle school, with the terms and things like that,†said lineman Jason Sims, who hopes to force his way into Canyon Ridge’s varsity thinking sooner rather than later. “It’s a little bit of an advantage for the guys who were invited to this, so we can know what to expect.â€
One glance at the height and weight for players on both rosters, and it could have easily been confused for a varsity high school game. It looked the part on-field too, with the feel of an early-season high school game — turnovers, the odd miscommunication, and players trying to find chemistry with teammates.
A lot of that cohesiveness was formed during the week, when players stayed in the College of Southern Idaho dorms for three nights and built camaraderie. It also helped to know some possible future playoff opponents — team Idaho put Minico, Twin Falls and Canyon Ridge kids with Hillcrest kids, and Gooding kids with Shelley and Teton kids.
“This is a great experience. I wish we could do it more,†said running back Peyton Bailey, the game’s offensive MVP who’s hopeful of joining the recent line of studs in Minico’s backfield. “It’s nice to get to know a lot of these guys, and of course I want to see these other guys because we could play against them someday.â€
Whether it was Jose Sandoval (Twin Falls) playing center field and picking off a pass, or Clancy Cockerham (Gooding) making a heady downfield read on the speed option and knowing he still had his pitchman open for an easy touchdown, there was little doubt that the players featured Saturday are some of District IV’s potential stars of the future.
The players already know what they need to get there, too.
We Support the Foster Adoption Cause
Coach's supporting the cause!
Football For Families coach's react to facts about foster children.
By Andrew Ottoson - sports/outdoors reporter
MOSCOW -- Salmon River eeked out a 44-42 win over Tri-Valley during the final moments of their Saturday, Sept. 17, meeting at the Kibbie Dome.
"It was an offensive show by both quarterbacks," coach Charlie Shepherd said. "We took an early lead, but they came back and took the lead in the fourth quarter. When we got the ball back, we had three minutes to try and win it."
When the drive stalled, the Savages set up a passing play to Shayden Wallace, who took a throw from Leighton Vander Esch to convert for the first down. Vander Esch ran a game-tying 5-yarder into the Tri-Valley end zone on the next play.
"They have big corners who were playing up on our receivers, so we split Leighton out wide and asked Charlie to complete the pass," Shepherd said. "That gave us the lead with 23 seconds left."
Tri-Valley threw three times, and the game ended with the Savages tackling scrambling quarterback Rodney Hollan in the open field.
"It was an exceptional effort by Leighton, both offensively and defensively," Shepherd said. "All the kids showed great maturity when we got behind. They were never defeated. We've seen a lot of growth from the start of the season. After losing two close ones, it was great to close one out, finally."
Vander Esch ran for three scores and averaged 4.6 yards per carry on 15 attempts. He also threw for three scores among 27 completions for 442 yards.
Salmon River was again without offensive threat and defensive kingpin Ethan Couie, who again went out with an ankle injury.
"When Couie went out, I thought their power run game would take it to us," Shepherd said. "But our defensive line shut them down to the point they had no choice but to throw."
Shepherd said Couie will be playing through pain for the rest of the season.
Coming -- Salmon River (2-2) will host its homecoming on Friday, Sept. 23, against Council.
"They have a strong run game. They're big and powerful, but young," Shepherd said. "We don't match up with them very well, but if we play well, we can hang with them."
Rio Linda is going to do it the old-fashioned way.
The Knights are playing in the Idaho Classic on Saturday at the University of Idaho's Kibbie Dome.
But unlike Whitney and Vanden, the two other California high schools competing in the showcase event, Rio Linda will bus to Moscow, Idaho, instead of fly.
Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/14/3908662/high-school-football-rio-linda.html#ixzz1bG3sIxLb
MOSCOW, Idaho – The quarterback without a scholarship made a statement Saturday.
Chad Chalich had Whitney of Rocklin, Calif., coming and going as the Coeur d’Alene senior quarterback owned the first half as the defending Idaho 5A state champion Vikings (4-0) romped past the Wildcats 55-6 at the Kibbie Dome.
MOSCOW - So close, but so far away.
After battling back to within a point, the Lake City Timberwolves were unable to convert on a two-point conversion as they fell to the Rio Linda Knights of the Sacramento area 20-19 in the Idaho Football Classic on Saturday at the Kibbie Dome.
MOSCOW, Idaho — Even with a loss Saturday, Vanden High football coach LeVon Haynes said he’d do it all again.
As it was, the Vikings fell 35-34 to Highland of Pocatello, Idaho, Saturday at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho, in the second game of the Idaho Classic.
In a game that went back and forth throughout, Vanden (2-1) held its own against a team that plays much of its schedule against out-of-state teams.
“It was very narrow,” Haynes said.
Rio Linda made sure its 16-hour bus ride to Idaho was worth it.
Lamar Bible rushed for three touchdowns and forced a fumble; Jose Ram recovered two fumbles and forced another; and the Knights' defense stopped a game-winning two-point conversion run attempt to beat Lake City of Coeur d'Alene 20-19 Saturday at the Idaho Classic at the University of Idaho.
The trip wasn't as satisfying for Whitney.
Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/preps/archives/2011/09/rio-linda-trium.html#ixzz1bG2lANfJ
MOSCOW — They proved they were the class of the 5A level last year with a state championship.
Now, the Coeur d’Alene Vikings are running through the West Coast.
Coeur d’Alene, which beat Skyview of Vancouver, Wash., 52-14 last Saturday, rolled past Whitney High of Rocklin, Calif., 55-6 in the final game of the Idaho Football Classic on Saturday night at the Kibbie Dome.
In some ways, the Highland High School football team did not know what to expect when it traveled to Moscow to take part in the first ever Idaho Football Classic.
After all was said and done, the Rams left the Kibbie Dome with a thrilling 35-34 victory over the Vanden Vikings from Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif.
Prep Football Showcase Set For Grant High Sept. 2-3
Mike Ray, Gold Country News Services
After nearly five months of planning, everything has been finialized for the first "Smackdown In Sactown" football showcase which locally will feature both Placer and Colfax high schools.
"We're all set to go," said Smackdown organizer Matt Wiliams who in past years as headed showcases played at both Folsom and Del Oro.
"It took some time and coopertation from everyone involved but it's all coming together now," said Williams.
According to Williams, all seven games in the Smackdown will be played at Grant High School. The slate has three games to be played on Friday, Sept. and four on Sat. Sept. 3.
While there are several attractive matchups over the two-day event, the feature tilt on Saturday evening will match-up state and national powers Grant against Long Beach Poly.
"We'll probably have Snoop Dog and possibly M.C. Hammer in the house," said Williams. Rapper Snoop Dog is a graduate of Long Beach Poly.
Tickets for the event are $10 for adults and $5 for high school students and younger. Children ages 6 and under will be admitted free of charge.
Here's the schedule for the Smackdown:
at Grant High School
Fri. Sept. 2
4:30 - Colfax vs. Bradshaw Christian
6:30 - Placer vs. Brookside Christian
8:30 - Del Campo vs. Rancho Cotati (Sonoma County)
Sat. Sept. 3
9 a.m. - Grant Jr. Pacers vs. Fremont
11 a.m. - Yuba City vs. Maria Carrillo (Santa Rosa)
2 p.m. - Franklin (Elk Grove) vs. Bishop O'Dowd
7 p.m. - Grant vs. Long Beach Poly
Grant, Buhach Colony snap up three spots on preseason first team while Elk Grove, Lincoln of Stockton, Pleasant Grove and Whitney all get two
Note: This is the first part of another continuing series in which we will list preseason all-section teams or preseason all-area teams from throughout California. Up Next: CIF Central Section.
With three CIF state bowl game wins in the last three years, the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section has earned a strong bump for its football reputation.
Another sign of the section’s growing strength as a statewide power is the number of Pac-12 level college prospects that dominate this year’s preseason all-section team.
Looking at the big boys up front, in fact, only the massive CIF Southern Section can compare. Four of the five best offensive linemen in the section have offers from Pac-12 colleges while two of the top 25 players in the ESPNU 150 – tackle Aric Armstead and defensive back/athlete Shaq Thompson – are both from the Sac-Joaquin.
Armstead, who has committed to USC, is joined on the first team preseason offense by Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove, Calif.) teammate Mark Jenkins. He rushed for 2,739 yards and scored 41 touchdowns as a junior in leading the Eagles to the Division I section championship.
Thompson, the Cal-Hi Sports State Junior of the Year, had 1,892 yards rushing with 25 touchdowns for Grant (Sacramento, Calif.), but is more highly regarded by colleges as a safety. He is joined on the preseason all-section squad by teammates Charlie Vue (kicker) and Terry Shine (quarterback/running back).
The only other school with three first team preseason all-section picks is Buhach Colony (Atwater, Calif.). All three of the Thunder honorees – Aaron Cochran, Matt Cochran and Aziz Shittu – are linemen.
Several quarterbacks return with impressive totals from last season. Elite 11 camp participant Jake Rodrigues of Whitney (Rocklin, Calif.) passed for 2,039 yards and 21 TDs while also rushing for 1,300 yards and 22 more scores. He has committed to Oregon.
Small school star Tony Rodriguez of Brookside Christian (Stockton, Calif.) didn’t make the preseason section team, but deserves mention for his 3,472 yards passing and 48 touchdowns from last year.
Preseason All-CIF Sac-Joaquin Section
Football Team
Offense
WR D.J. Myart (Inderkum, Sacramento) 5-10, 175, Sr.
TE Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick (Whitney, Rocklin) 6-5, 250, Sr. * Playing Idaho Football Classic
OL Gavin Andrews (Granite Bay) 6-6, 330, Sr.
OL Aric Armstead (Pleasant Grove, Elk Grove) 6-7, 275, Sr.
OL Matt Cochran (Buhach Colony, Atwater) 6-4, 330, Sr.
OL Steven Moore (Elk Grove) 6-7, 265, Sr.
OL Leonard Wood (Monterey Trail, Elk Grove) 62, 295, Sr.
QB Jake Rodrigues (Whitney, Rocklin) 6-3, 205, Sr. * Playing Idaho Football Classic
RB Mark Jenkins (Pleasant Grove, Elk Grove) 5-9, 175, Sr.
RB Josh Miguel (Escalon) 5-9, 175, Sr.
RB Sean Tow (Union Mine, El Dorado) 5-7, 160, Jr.
PK Charlie Vue (Grant, Sacramento) 5-8, 170, Sr. *Playing in Grant’s Smackdown in Sactown
Defense
DL Aaron Cochran (Buhach Colony, Atwater) 6-8, 310, Jr.
DL Maile Fainu (Burbank, Sacramento) 6-4, 240, Sr.
DL Charles Howard (Lincoln, Stockton) 6-5, 305, Sr.
DL Aziz Shittu (Buhach Colony, Atwater) 6-4, 275, Sr.
DL Pio Vatuvei (Patterson) 6-3, 265, Sr.
LB Alex Bertrando (Del Oro, Loomis) 6-3, 205, Sr.
DB Jaquari People (Merced) 5-9, 170, Sr.
DB Deon Ransom (Elk Grove) 5-9, 175, Sr.
DB Marcus Rios (Cosumnes Oaks, Elk Grove) 6-0, 170, Sr.
P Devan Barkley (Lincoln, Stockton) 5-11, 165, Sr.
Multi-Purpose
QB/DB Joey Armstrong (Lodi) 6-0, 180, Sr.
QB/RB Mitch Samson (Casa Roble, Orangevale) 6-0, 170, Sr.
QB/RB Terry Shine (Grant, Sacramento) 5-9, 160, Sr. *Playing in Grant’s Smackdown in Sactown
RB/DB Shaq Thompson (Grant, Sacramento) 6-1, 200, Sr. *Playing in Grant’s Smackdown in Sactown
RB/KR Dalemaria Williams (McNair, Stockton) 5-8, 175, Sr.
DB/KR Ryan Wood (Stagg, Stockton) 6-1, 175, Sr.
Second Team (Alphabetical)
WR/DB Josh Adams (Pleasant Grove, Elk Grove) Jr.
LB Cameron Buell (Casa Roble, Orangevale) Sr.
WR Dylan Collie (Oak Ridge, El Dorado Hills) Sr.
RB Justin Davis (Lincoln, Stockton) Jr.
QB/RB Cole Farrow (Rio Linda) Sr.
OL Eric Flores (Enochs, Modesto) Sr.
DB Gabe Humphers (Nevada Union, Grass Valley) Sr.
LB Craig Jones (Central Catholic, Modesto) Sr.
QB Brendan Keeney (Granite Bay) Sr.
RB Casey Lambert (Roseville) Sr.
PK/DB Justin Martin (Oakdale) Sr.
DB Tyler Munoz (Enochs, Modesto) Sr.
WR Corey Palin (Whitney, Rocklin) Sr.
LB Jordan Owensby (Franklin, Elk Grove) Sr.
WR Ryan Rogero (Tokay, Lodi) Sr.
DL Ewing Simmons (St. Mary’s, Stockton) Sr.
PK Jon David Smith (Oak Ridge, El Dorado Hills) Sr.
DL Tony Vincent (Escalon) Sr.
PK/P Marcus White (Pleasant Grove, Elk Grove) Sr.
One of the biggest upsets in California history and likely the most important victory in Sacramento-region history will be re-set early in the 2011 football season.
According to the Sacramento Bee, perennial national power Long Beach Poly which has sent more players to the NFL than any in the nation, will take on Grant (Sacramento, Calif.) as part of the California Football Classic on Sept 3.
Grant's Shaq Thompson will return
next season as one of the nation's
top recruits.
Grant defeated Poly 25-20 for the 2008 CIF Open Division Bowl championship at the Home Depot Center in Carson, costing the Jackrabbits a possible mythical national championship.
According to the Bee, the Grant-Poly contest will be the marquee contest of a two-day, six-game showcase, put on by the event organizer Matt Williams.
The site for the game has yet to be decided – likely either Sacramento State, Sacramento City College or American River College.
Grant (13-1 last season) opens the season the week before against CIF Division II Bowl Champion Folsom, a team it defeated 49-14 to start the 2010 season but was eliminated by with a 41-20 defeat.
The game ends any speculation that Grant was headed to Dallas to play in the annual Herbsteit Classic at Cowboys Stadium.
Grant will return one of the nation's top all-round players Shaq Thompson. Poly, winners of 18 Southern Section crowns, is coming off a disappointing 8-3 season.
"We're going to find out how good we are pretty fast," Grant coach Mike Alberghini told Bee writer Bill Paterson.