De La Salle Wraps up Third State Title over Westlake
Following Saturday night’s display, De La Salle has impressed the nation again and made the EBAL proud.
Stand out players (hard to name all of them!) QB Bart Houston, RBs Tiupepe Vitale and Joe Teo, LB Michael Barton, LB David Moffit and DE Austin Hooper/Chris Olinger made quite a splash Saturday night with a 35-0 whipping of Westlake Warriors (previously unbeaten, now 13-1)
As usual the defense, running game and execution by the quarterback were keys to the game. It is pretty amazing that Bart Houston went 36-1 as a starter in his three year career and was at the helm for 3 straight California State Titles – having beaten Crenshaw (2009) 28-14; Servite 48-10 in 2010 and now Westlake. Of all the games I’ve watched, he was never injured once and never was shy to run it up the middle. Impressive and sets quite a standard for future Spartan players at that position.
On a side note, DLS should be loaded again next year with quite a few of their best players returning.Austin Hooper, Sumner Houson, David Moffit, Michael Hutchings, Daz Tautalasi, Tiupepe Vitale among a few….The key senior losses of are Anthony Williams, Wisconsin Badger bound QB Bart Houston and Cal-bound LB Michael Barton (all sensational players).
DE Austin Hooper pursues the Warrior running game
Tiupepe Vitale (#20) runs for a second half touchdown
Westlake Quarterback Justin Moore attempts a pass as DL Luc Hamilton (#57) pursues
Justin Moore getting wrapped up
Houston winds up to throw over a defender
Houston hands off to #37
TE/DE Austin Hooper makes the catch
De La Salle Spartans v Pittsburg Pirates NCS semifinal rd 3
The NCS semi-final was between De La Salle and Pittsburg, with the Pirates being the last team from Nor Cal to beat the Spartans. However that was two decades ago (in 1991) in a similar NCS playoff game.
There would be no repeat performance by Pitt on this night as the Spartans defense dominated the entire game and the offense, aside from an early interception on a gadget play on its first drive, could not be stopped with three different runners scoring TDs and running up a 48-0 first half score that would remain unchanged as the clock was set for a quick finish in the second half.
The one sided affair lacked drama but showed that the Spartans are all business as they attempt to return to the CIF Open title game for a possible 3 game state streak.
Here are the pics…
Spartan RB Joe Teo (#10), in his last action at Owen Field, takes an early hand-off
A trick play with WR #22 Andrew Buckley for a pass ended badly with a Pirate Interception
But DLS got the ball back after one play (forced fumble) and Bart Houston (#13) drops back.
Pitt got the ball back down then QB Malik got sacked by the Spartan D
Spartan RB Tiupepe Vitale (#20) follows blocks
Pirate QB Malik Watson finding things crowded as he sets up for a pass.
Spartan’s defensive front led by DE Austin Hooper ( #18)
With an ounce of protection on second down, Malik Watson (#8) winds up
Pitt RB #33 Vupinola
#55 Antonio Huey finds it rough going stopping Spartan ball carriers
Spartan D catches up
Tiupepe Vitale #20 breaks loose in route to his first TD
DLS Luc Hamilton #57 and #50 Chris Olinger pursue QB Malik Watson #8
Joe Teo breaking early across the first line of defense on way to TD
LB Michael Barton (#11), David Moffit (#58) and crew were a menacing presence
QB Bart Houston (#13) ran plenty and played physical with rush 2 TDs and other slashes
RB Joe Teo (#10) at it again
Teo breaks into the second level on his way…
Pittsburg Pirates v. Berkeley Yellow Jackets NCS playoff round 2ey
Ok, I headed out to this game in the wind blown fields of San Pablo Saturday night, at 7pm about 54 degrees, all 4 layers needed considering the winds.
It was a charged atmosphere, both the Pitt Pirates and Berkeley Yellow Jackets were fired up after Berkeley had won in an overtime affair earlier in the regular season.
But this night would be a whole lot different as Pitt led from the start on through to the finish and actually knocked stud RB Rudolpho James out of the game with a concussion in the third quarter. Regretful way to wrap up a hell of a career in Berkeley, I expect him to play at the college level.
Pitt was simply a team on a mission to avenge its loss and continue the momentum it created by beating its rival Antioch twice in consecutive weeks. What characterizes the Pirates is a mostly no nonsense approach to their offense and defense. They do something that is pretty simple: Put their best players on the field and use simple alignments and toss runs or rocket and counters up the middle. When they need to they open it up and throw down the middle of the field though they are much more effective on the ground. They remind me of some of the college teams under Lou Holtz. Play defense, run the ball, don’t make mistakes. That is how their entire night went on Saturday, as I never once thought question their strategy and they fed the ball to their best players using plays that their O-Line can really block. On defense, they were equally up to the task swarming the Berkeley running game and laying some big hits. The squad has 20 players over 200 lbs and that doesnt count their speedsters. They did allow two long passes by Berkeley in the first half that were costly, setting up the Rudolpho TD but that was the only hope they allowed. Had they fixed their coverage they would have played a near perfect game against a very good Yellow Jacket team.
With the win, Pitt gets De La Salle next Friday night and it should be very emotional for Pitt. I went to the last game, in late 2009 in Dublin, the NCS championship and the Pirates could not stop Terron Ward and company all night, and as a sophomore Bart Houston was already looking very good.
In 2011, I know Pitt has a lot better athletes and more cohesiveness –due to improved coaching– and the sophomore kicker I noticed was literally booming kicks (against the wind) to the back of the end zone.
The RB Duo of Mister Marcus Cotton, Vupinola and Lockett (seen below) is fierce and the passing game for the Pirates has improved greatly since September when I saw them have to outrun Monte Vista because they had no passing attack. DLS is a lot to contend with, so I’ll leave it at that.
Above: Pitt QB Malik Watson with hand-off
ALL PHOTOS FOUND HERE ARE COPYRIGHT AND THE PROPERTY OF GREGORY CROSS.
Pirates gather on sideline early into the game.
Rudolpho James before the half
Yellow Jacket defense swarms in second half but cannot locate FB Crajon Monfee #30.
Pirate RB Mister Cotton heads into an opening. (hard to see #24) could be Lockett
Making life tough on the YEllow Jackets is OL #55 Antonio Huey
Loose ball scramble by Pirate defense.
QB Malik Jackson takes snap in first half.
Big catch for Yellow Jacket WR.
#4 for Berkeley Rudolpho James celebrates a lil bit early – his first TD
DL Antonio Huey makes life hard on Berkeley runner
Before the snap, Sir Devonte-Edwards surveys field
Pitt WR Miles Walker #5 makes a catch, from a distance
Pitt RB #24 Mister Cotton makes presence known around left side.
Pitt sealing it up.
Desperation pass for Berkeley in the fourth quarter, #24 Mister Cotton and #7 Jamon Ward close in
Pitt DB Miles Walker wrapping up
#25 Jamal Lockett closing things out with a hard earned yard
San Ramon Valley Danville v. James Logan Union City NCSs
In an NCS Round Two playoff match-up in Union City, the San Ramon Valley (SRV) Wolves met the 10-0 James Logan Colts on Friday night 
Nov 26th.
The game would be hard fought from start to finish; but it was squarely in SRV’s favor as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead and would never look back, especially after a surprising on-sides kick that was recovered after their 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
In the end, James Logan made it close, closing in with a second half TD to make it 21-14, but the Wolves defense, always in close pursuit and and grabbing a hardy handful of sacks on Colt’s QB Prothro made the difference.
Cal-bound Zach Kline (#5) had a stellar night throwing for two TDs and running for a third. The Colts were frustrated all night at the line of scrimmage where they couldn’t break open big enough holes for their backs and couldn’t stop the Wolves sack machine. Even when throwing screens the RBs were run down in short order. It was a great season for both teams. The Wolves keep the EBAL undefeated in NCS post season play and move on to face the winner of Monte Vista vs. San Leandro the following week.
QB Zach Kline takes the snap early in the game.
RB Felipe Parra over the goal line to put Wolves up 14-0.
RB Warren Long follows his blockers
The Logan Colts get into a power offense
#77 DL Jake Simonech for SRV Holds down Warren Long #42 of Logan
Colt QB Jeffrey Prothro (#9) gets the snap
Prothro scrambles as LB #55 Matt Fisher pursues
SRV’s O-line fires off the ball
SRV’s running back (unknown) gains tough yards
Wolves Jeff Greene #23 takes down Damond Beasley (#5) for the Colts
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Logan WR Ferdows Wahab (#21) cannot find room
Colts Damond Beasley scores Logan’s second TD to close to 21-14.
Wolves WR Brian Danis (#9) holds on
RB Jordan Weiss (#42) stretches for final SRV TD, 28-14 lead.
Colin Wilson #25 takes down Logan RB in 4th Quarter.
Wolves Sack on Colts final drive
Kline takes knee to close out game
Monte Vista Jeff Lockie v Heritage Patriots Captured NCS
On a rainy Saturday night, the Monte Vista Mustangs of Danville hosted the Heritage High Patriots of Brentwood.
This one wouldn’t be close (if you judged by the first half) as the Jeff Lockie (EBAL MVP) torched the Patriots who couldnt get away from their own penalties nor cover the Mustang WRs. The Patriots stormed back to somehow score 36 points but I had left as it was pouring rain.
In the end MV prevailed, making for a 2-1 record for the league in the opening round of NCS play. With both Pittsburg and Freedom, tough opponents from the BVAL also advancing, the next three weeks are going to be pretty good. De La Salle will remain a heavy favorite however.
Freedom vs. Cal San Ramon NCS Playoff Captured
Freedom High of Oakley and Cal High San Ramon squared off in the first round of NCS Div 1 on Friday night, Nov. 18th.
A thrilling game, filled with drama and back and forth battles. The home team Falcons, who, after a having been down 28-13, stormed all the way back with a TD, point after, a Field Goal, another TD (game winner).
But that wasn’t all. Leading by 1 point (29-28) with 3:50 on the clock, the Falcons also needed a 4th quarter interception, and lastly, a blocked FG as the last 7 seconds burned off the clock to hold off the Grizzlies who drove it all the way down near their 15 yard line.
A disappointment for Cal which could not assert its ground game, aside from some killer plays by Armani Washington (#3) (what I thought would be dominant) and whose defense–like on other occasions this year– could not stop Freedom’s offense; a mix of wildcat, shotgun and other plays from highly effective offensive sets. But both teams gave maximum effort and great result.
The winning points came on a QB run by Stephen Rodriguez (a last moment stand in for the hurt starter) and kicker Anthony Cantabrana (pictured below) whose kick with 3:42 left was the final necessary point.
The real star of the game with a pair of TDs and the HUGE interception was #5 Darrell Daniels; This guy was a gamer.
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First play for the Falcons
#5 Jerrell Dunn tackles #5 Darrell Daniels
#5 Darrell Daniels has no quit
Cal’s Jerrell Dunn #5 takes a first quarter hand-off
Cal got its ground game off early as it went up 14-0 before the Falcons could respond.
Cal QB Cameron Owen (#15) Launches pass to the end zone
Shane Haley (#8) for Cal breaks the ice on scoring with first TD.
Freedom’s first drive, down 7-0.
RB/DB “do it all” Darrell Daniels #5 around end.
Before half a Falcon looks on
Freedom’s RB Joe Mixon (#20) around left side.
Freedom’s Malik Jackson (#24) flies in for the stop
#5 Jerrell Dunn faces the music, right into the back of #45. OUCH.
Freedom’s head coach, dealing with the stress of ‘win” or “out’ NCS D1.
All things in order for the new QB, Stephen Rodriguez
Cal’s second TD drive, RB Brian Krause (#27) on the move
Brian Krause on track around the left side
Up 14-0, Cal’s D crowds ball carriers
Darell Daniels (#5) Runs Tough as LB Kevin Leathley (#54) closes in
Darell Daniels (#5) plucks his way towards the goal line
Falcon’s (#5) Darrell Daniesl hits paydirt; Freedom on the board with a TD
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Falcon’s #4 Jordan Sheppard eludes Cal S Nicco Mendietta (#45)
#5 Darrell Daniels takes a wildcat snap
A critical first down by (#4) Jordan Sheppard of Freedom to pull the Falcons closer
Second half TD and the come back is on. Believe it was QB Stephen Rodriquez (#2)
#2 Stephen Rodriguez takes the snap.
the SPY, Darrell Daniels sees an errant pass in the 4th Quarter.
The SNAG, INT by Daniels keeps it away from #3 Armani Washington
The Celebration, just after the biggest INT ever; Rodriguez #2 points to the sky
Frustration – Cal’s Armani Washington after the turn-over as Falcons gather up.
Now with the ball in 4th quarter, Falcons work to close the deal
Cal is not out of it yet, Coach Eric Billeci looking for focus
#5 Darrell Daniels would not be denied survival.
What would be the game winning extra point
Cal’s back up QB Cameron Owen *#15) sparks a desperation drive, a critical gain.
The last second FG try by Cal is amazingly blocked
Loose ball, no time, means game over, Freedom 29, Cal 28.
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An incredible celebration as the Falcons know how tough the win was.
Frozen, on a cold night, Freedom travels to Concord next to meet the Spartans
To the victor go the spoils; media interview for Darrell Daniels with Cal Hi Sports
EBAL Football Captured in Photos
De La Salle Spartans v. Cal High Grizzlies; Nov. 11 2011
A blog capturing the best of the Tr-Valley’s EBAL HS Football League in color photos. Wanted to do this for a while, so here goes…
The first game I was able to cover with the camera is also the last of the 2011 regular season in the EBAL.California High of San Ramon vs. De La Salle Concord, at DLS on a rainy Friday night.
This would be the last home game for a number of DLS seniors and they made it memorable one, winning 24-3 to go undefeated in league play and take the #1 seed in the North Coast Section (NCS), where playoff games begin next week and the Spartans will have a bye.
But this blog isn’t so much about who won or lost, as I really have no favorites, but it is about capturing timeless images of the game. While these are the property of myself (Gregory Cross) and are for purposes of this blog, do view, share and enjoy them * but do not download to use for commercial or promotional purposes.
Begin…
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Sr. RB Joe Te’o with family for last home game, he started tonight at RB for the Spartans
Coin flip, lets get this thing started
RB Joe Te’o (#10) heads left
Where it starts, the Epicenter of the line, Cal Center Brandon Linkhart
The DLS Veer in Action, 1 second after the snap
Grizzly line shoots out
Armani Washington (#3) Cuts through the middle of the Spartans
Cal High QB Farley with a shifty scramble for 15 yds
(in the fray for DLS is #36 Alex Bucklet and Chris Olinger (#50)
DLS on the nose
Bart Houston (13) takes snap
DLS LBs corps
DLS return team on the move
Cal High QB Farley sets offense. He made great throws all year after replacing graduated QB Drew Riel
Coach Eric Billeci, a former DLS player, Gathers the Grizzly offense during time out
DLS QB Bart Houston (#13) gears up to pass
Coach Ladoceur confers with his brain trust late in the second half.
DLS RB Tiapepe Vitale (#20) makes first steps of 68 yard run left to Cal’s 2 yard line
Cal’s O-Line shows it wont be pushed around, cut block on Spartan DE Austin Hooper (#18)
Cal’s David Pray (#36) and Armani Washington (#3) line up ‘Trips Right’
A Bread & Butter run for the Cal Grizzlies’ “Dunn –Jerrell Dunn” courtesy of OL Brian Watkin (#60)
DLS LB #54 Sumner Houston wraps up a Grizzly RB with Text Book Style
Cals Armani Washington (#3) finding some space – but not much
In second half, the Grizzly D, including LB Brian Krause (#27), Anthony Galasso #27,
and CB Grant Sherrod (#9) stand united in the face of the State’s #1 team
Houston we have a shotgun 5 WR set – So what happened to the Veer?
DLS Anthony Williams (#21) who eluded the camera all night catches a screen
DLS Sideline huddle
QB Bart Houston and OL Chris Olinger (#50) look to sideline for Coach Lad’s guidance
As they close in near North goal line for another touchdown.
Cal’s #4 WR Blake Guardino and fellow Grizzlies huddle up tight early on in the game
Toss sweep play to the left, more staple for the Grizzlies ground and pound style
Grizzly Defenders in action: Izaiah Ortega (#56), Paul McBam #51 and Brian Watkin (#60)
flush Bart Houston out of the pocket
Opposing Forces on 2nd down. Cal C Brandon Linkhart #62 seems to never miss a snap.
Tribute to Junior Seau and the ‘State of Football’
RIP Junior Seau, 1969 to 2012. He defined a West Coast Era of football.
#55, he was the X Factor – This post comes as great sadness is upon me. I graduated high school in 1990 here in California; I’ve followed every level of prep, college and pro football religiously.
The region of SoCal, the civic portion at least, to this NorCal guy, was never my ‘cup of tea.’ LA with way too much attitude, hot and dry, and too many people. But there is one enclave, south of the Orange County, the area of Oceanside & Vista, that I always liked a lot, I visited 4 times in the 1980s and a few times later. Not an extension of the LA megalopolis but a balmy, colorful place with big ocean and a variety of people. Folks with personality and a weight to them; keeping their feet on the ground yet simple and very real.
As a football fan, there have been a few players to come out of Cali’s ‘deep south,’ but one player, #55 Junior Seau from Oceanside, who played for the USC Trojans and later the San Diego Chargers, that almost everyone my age who follows the sport knows all about during this very special era. And everyone who played with him considered a brother
Seau passed away today, of a self-inflicted gunshot, ending an era in my life (and our lives I hope). I am not a thin kid anymore with the luxury of being in my early twenties, I am just over 40 like he was. I worry about bills, a child to rear among many other relationships.
Seau was reportedly a poor kid growing up, but one who had a great family, a hard drive, and the athletic make-up, enough to become the perfect linebacker of the special era. A linebacker that only that our time could produce. This is defined as a time when football caught its rising star, reached so high in popularity due to ESPN, the Web and the characters are created with it. It seems unreal compared to where the media and Internet was in 1990 (yeah that was Prodigy service at 9,400 kbps).
The Man: Seau was and is an ‘Islander’ –a Samoan who was not white and not black nor mixed– he certainly was not conventional. In sport, be it right or wrong, we assign what we expect from a player to their race, either on or off the field–compared to what we have seen and experienced before with others of the same race (The sole reason why people thought Rick Mirer would be a good quarterback in 1993). But you couldn’t really do that with #55. Nobody created a mold for Junior Seau and he certainly didn’t break the mold of anyone else. A rarity.
In a sentence, Seau was super-charged, super-fast, super strong and intimidating, yet he a remarkably friendly look in his eye. An undeniable substance about him; one that would lead to a Hall of Fame type career in the NFL with 12 pro bowl seasons and 268 games played, second to only Clay Matthews.
In the 1990 NFL draft, after Junior had dominated the Pac 10 for a few years as the perfect Trojan terror, he would be a top 5 player selected in that April’s draft. And I always remembered one aspect, that there was this other outside linebacker coming out that year, Keith McCants of Alabama who had the nearly the same size and was the higher rated ‘East Coast’ player, who was likely tracked much more closely by the recruiting powers that be
But when some nasty draft rumors began to fly about Mccants just a few days ahead of the draft concerning his work ethic and apparent lack of strength, suddenly McCants didn’t seem so perfect. Thus the cat quick Junior quipped to a sportswriter — “Maybe Superman lost his cape?” It really meant something that Seau would take a stab at a fellow player verbally, but it was only because he knew better, he saw right through the hype and couldn’t resist. McCants, #52, was still the 4th overall pick in the draft by Tampa Bay and Junior Seau went one single pick later to the San Diego Chargers. Fate would have it that way.
It was his perfect fit, his home town and turf, an ideal fit for Calfornia’s emergence in the much wider ‘State of Football.’
As for Keith McCants, he didn’t last long (as many overrated draft picks don’t). He flamed out after just three years.
But by that time, 1994, Junior Seau was just hitting his stride as the fiercest defensive player in the league. Seau’s impact was profound in so many ways. Due to him, ‘islanders’ were suddenly getting a lot more attention in prep recruiting circles, California players were becoming known for more than just chucking passes.
Seau was “as imposing a football player I’ve that every played against” said former Pittsburgh Steeler fullback Merrill Hoge <just now on TV> It makes sense because the very second someone saw #55 flashing across the TV screen, It was obvious. Seau made the pro bowl a number of times, played in a Super Bowl (1995 against the 49ers) and had a stellar career, even a stellar life up until now.
I don’t know why Seau may have taken his life today (May 2nd) but at this point it doesn’t matter. We have to relish his memory, across our imaginations, our old magazines, on Youtube channels and through posts and articles like this (pride of Oceanside).
Hats off to you Junior Seau, #55, you greatly affected thousands of us with your skill and determination. I hope you’ve found an even better place. California (and) the ‘State of Football is better because of you.
EBAL High School Football Captured 