Delta Valley

Schedule/Scores

Week 1 Scores
Nevada Union 42, Ponderosa 7...Elk Grove 37, Chavez 6
Laguna Creek 34, Florin 12...Valley 6, Argonaut 56
Franklin 28, Sacred Heart 10...Folsom 41, Davis 21

Week 2 Scores
Nevada Union 36, Rocklin 41...Elk Grove 0, Monterey Trail 27
Laguna Creek 20, Vacaville 57...Valley 12, Kennedy 28
Davis 13, Del Campo 35...Franklin 30, Rodriguez 11

Week 3 Scores
Franklin 12, Del Oro 62...Valley 6, Galt 44
Laguna Creek 7, Pleasant Grove 48...Sheldon 36, Elk Grove 19
Nevada Union 51, Roseville 27...Davis 14, Will C. Wood 7                               

Week 4 Scores
Nevada Union 34, Natomas 0...Elk Grove 10, Pleasant Grove 24
Valley 0, Monterey Trail 51...Laguna Creek 12, Sheldon 42
Franklin 13, Folsom 43...Davis 35, Pioneer 37

Week 5 Scores
Franklin 14, Sheldon 21...Nevada Union 41, Franklin-Stockton 23
Valley 0, Florin 26...Elk Grove 7, Vacaville 49
Davis 14, Oakmont 27...Laguna Creek 34, Jesuit 41

Week 6 Scores
Elk Grove 15, Franklin-Elk Grove 30...Nevada Union 42, Valley 0
Laguna Creek 41, Davis 23

Week 7 Schedule
Elk Grove 37, Laguna Creek 16...Davis 45, Valley 6
Nevada Union 49, Franklin 28

Week 8 Scores
Nevada Union 55, Laguna Creek 20...Franklin 72, Valley 13
Elk Grove 41, Davis 24

Week 9 Scores
Nevada Union 35, Elk Grove 14...Laguna Creek 0, Valley 0
Franklin 0, Davis 0

Week 10 Scores
Nevada Union 56, Davis 0...Elk Grove 49, Valley 0
Franklin 38, Laguna Creek 22 

2009 CNS SPORTS DELTA VALLEY CONFERENCE AWARDS

LEAGUE MVP: Eric Niederberger, LB/FB, Nevada Union
OFFENSIVE MVP: Broughan Jantz, QB/S, Nevada Union
DEFENSIVE MVP: Dan Pettinato, DE/TE, Nevada Union
BEST LINEMAN: Karmah Yates, DE, Franklin/ Lefi Letuligasenoa, OL/DL, Elk Grove
PLAYOFF MVP: Zach Vallejo, LB/FB, Nevada Union
ELITE 20: Broughan Jantz, QB, Nevada Union; Dan Pettinato, TE/DE, Nevada Union; Eric Niederberger, LB/FB, Nevada Union; Zach Vallejo, LB/FB, Nevada Union; Duncan Chappel, WR, Nevada Union; Drew Hoskin, RB, Nevada Union; Conor Scott, OL, Nevada Union; Juan Espinosa, SS, Nevada Union; Arnold Ferrari, QB, Laguna Creek; Terry Easmon, LB/TE, Laguna Creek; Diondre Batson, WR/DB, Laguna Creek; CJ Zabal, OL/DL, Laguna Creek; Peter Smith, TE/DE, Davis; Spencer Ling, WR/DB, Davis; Deon Ransom, RB/DB, Elk Grove; Lefi Letuligasenoa, Ol/DL, Elk Grove; Watson Tautuiaki, DL/OL, Elk Grove; Sivihiva Finau, LB, Valley; Devin Des Jarlais, WR/DB, Franklin; Karmah Yates, DE/OL, Franklin; Cody Galea, LB, Franklin.  


TEAM/UNIT AWARDS
BEST OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD:  NEVADA UNION
BEST OFFENSIVE LINE:             ELK GROVE
BEST RECEIVING CORPS:          LAGUNA CREEK/FRANKLIN
BEST DEFENSIVE LINE:              NEVADA UNION/FRANKLIN
BEST LINEBACKING CORPS:      NEVADA UNION
BEST DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD:   LAGUNA CREEK





2009 DELTA VALLEY CONFERENCE ALL-LEAGUE & AWARDS

Player of the Year: Dan Pettinato, Nevada Union.
Offensive Player of the Year: Broughan Jantz, Nevada Union.
Defensive Player of the Year: Eric Niederberger, Nevada Union.
Special Teams Player of the Year: Conor Maloney, Nevada Union.
Coach of the Year: Dave Humphers, Nevada Union; Preston Jackson, Valley.

All-League:
OFFENSE:
Broughan Jantz, QB, Nevada Union; Arnold Ferrari, QB, Laguna Creek; Andre Bobbit, QB/UT, Valley; Courtney Williams, RB, Davis; Russell Robards, RB, Elk Grove; Kenny Hunt, RB, Franklin; Don Jackson, RB, Laguna Creek; Drew Hoskin, RB, Nevada Union; Devin Des Jarlais, WR; Diondre Batson, WR, Laguna Creek; Spencer Ling, WR, Davis; Jory Rucker, WR, Franklin; Peter Smith, TE, Davis; Dan Pettinato, TE, Nevada Union; Conor Scott, OL, Nevada Union; Lefi Letuligasenoa, OL, Elk Grove; Steven Moore, OL, Elk Grove; CJ Zabal, OL, Laguna Creek; 
DEFENSE:
Karmah Yates, DL, Franklin; Lefi Letuligasenoa, DL, Elk Grove; Dan Pettinato, DL, Nevada Union; Josh Oakley, DL, Franklin; Christian Castro, DL, Davis; Cody Galea, LB, Franklin; Eric Niederberger, LB, Nevada Union; Sivi Finau, LB, Valley; Tylar Clarke, LB, Elk Grove; Alex Lawton, LB, Elk Grove; Terry Easmon, LB, Laguna Creek;  Zach Vallejo, LB, Nevada Union; Deon Ransom, DB, Elk Grove; Mengo Lee, DB, Valley; Derek Nelson, DB, Davis; Anthony Boyce, DB, Laguna Creek; Juan Espinoza, DB, Nevada Union.


 

NEVADA UNION DEFENSE CARRIES THE DAY
 

December 12, 2009


All season long it has been the Miners offense that has come through and won the big games. This fact was further supported by last week's Division I Sac-Joaquin Section semi-final victory over Pleasant Grove, in which the Miners were forced to score 31 points to avoid the upset. In this section championship game, however, it was the Miner offense that struggled against Monterey Trail (the section's fifth-best defense by yardage) while the defense pitched a shutout in its greatest performance of the year.

In addition to its standout defense, Monterey Trail also features a brutally efficient running attack that had pummeled foes to the tune of 311.5 rushing yards per game. The Nevada Union defense knew that slowing down the Mustang running game was the first and most important component to victory. If the Miners could effectively take away their inside running game, then they would put a whole lot more pressure on Junior quarterback Mike Calvan, who has not proven capable of winning a high scoring football game with just his arm. In addition, taking away the inside running game would put more pressure on the Mustangs' defense, which is rated so high statistically in part because they are not on the field much and are never tired; two of the biggest perks to having an offense that chews up clock by moving the chains without throwing the ball.

Although the Miners knew exactly what they needed to do to win, it was still up to the boys on the field to execute...and execute they did. The Miner's defense was led by Colorado State bound Eric Niederberger (8 tackles), Arizona bound Dan Pettinato (10 tackles, 1.0 sack), Zach Vallejo (12 tackles, 1.0 sack), Chad Knight (12 tackles, 1 fumble recovery) and Juan Espinosa (7 tackles). The Miner front seven did a fantastic job of anticipating the snap count and firing into the line of scrimmage. From start to finish they controlled the line of scrimmage and took away that which the Mustangs totally depend on; a consistent four yards out of the fullback dive. The poor weather also helped the Miner defense as both teams would have a difficult time moving the ball through the air. In all, the Miners held Monterey Trail to just 114 total yards of offense, including just 82 on the ground...both season lows. The Miner defense also forced three turnovers, all of them fumbles, and recorded a pair of sacks.

Offensively, the Miners had a difficult time themselves handling the athleticism and aggressiveness of the Monterey Trail defense. The Mustangs may be a bit undersized in some spots, but what they lack in size they certainly make up for with speed, athleticism, and desire. Miner Quarterback Broughan Jantz attempted just three passes in the rain, completing one of them to Jason Slade for 13 yards. Another of his passes, however, was intercepted by Evan Favors and returned 22 yards. Most of the Mustangs' opponents this season, including even pass-happy Folsom, have learned firsthand just how dangerous it is to throw the ball around against this defense. With the kind of athleticism they have at linebacker, it is much like having five safeties on the field at once, and their impressive season total of 19 team interceptions is a pretty clear indicator.
The Miners pretty much stuck to the ground after quickly learning their lesson, rushing for 143 yards on 51 carries. Jason Slade and Drew Hoskin led the way, rushing for 78 and 68 yards each, respectively.

It is not always the case, but in this one the statistics truly tell us the story. Nevada Union and Monterey Trail engaged in a brutal, slug it out run-fest in which the teams combined to throw just 14 passes. Of course the pouring rain had much to do with this fact. Nevada Union rushed for 143 yards while Drake Tofi (69 yards on 20 carries) and the Mustangs rushed for a total of just 82 yards on 36 carries. The total yardage gained advantage just barely went to Nevada Union, 156-117. Both offenses struggled against fantastic defenses and poor weather. Clearly, the difference in this game was in the turnover battle, in which the Miners had the three to one advantage. Verily, the breaks just seemed to go the Miners way, and the result was the end of a magical season for the upstart Monterey Trail Mustangs and the Miners' fourth Division I Section Championship in the Dave Humphers era.



-Justin Cruise


 

MINERS CALL ON OFFENSE TO SQUEAK INTO CHAMPIONSHIP
 

December 5, 2009

Last year, Pleasant Grove knocked off the Nevada Union Miners in the second round of the 2008 Division I playoffs on their way to a Section Championship appearance. This year the Miners were looking for revenge, but were once again tasked with the job of knocking off a Pleasant Grove team that was playing by far its best football of the year at just the right time. Pleasant Grove's 38-28 upset victory over 10-1 powerhouse Vacaville one week ago was as clear a message as any that the Eagles were ready to make another run at the title this season. Nevada Union, however, also seems to be playing their best football of the year right now, especially on the defensive side of the ball, as they smothered Sheldon 41-7 last week.

In this game, the Miners ran the ball extremely well (347 rush yards) and stuffed the Pleasant Grove rushing attack. The Miners did not, however, have an answer for Taylor Congdon and the Pleasant Grove passing attack. Congdon completed 14 of 25 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns, including a 17 yard TD pass to DI recruit Jalen Saunders (180 all purpose yards, 1 rec TD) and a 61 yard TD pass to WR Drew Ahmann (6 rec, 161 yards, 1 TD) that tied the score at 28 early in the fourth quarter. For the Miners, Broughan Jantz had a quiet game in the passing department, completing just 2 of 5 passes for 43 yards. However, Jantz ran the offense efficiently and was an impact player as a runner, gaining 80 yards and scoring a touchdown. Defensively the Miners looked very good once again, despite Pleasant Grove's success through the air. Den Pettinato recorded 10 tackles and a sack, Zach Vallejo was active in recording 8 tackles and making many big hits, Eric Neiderberger recorded 9 tackles, Conner Klauer recorded 10 tackles and a sack as well, and Josh Cena made by far the biggest play of the game.

After Nevada Union kicked what would be the game-winning field goal with around six minutes to go, Pleasant Grove put together a nice drive of their own. The Eagles' Kenny Taylor, however, fumbled the ball at the Miner 20 yard line with 3 minutes to play and Cena made the recovery to seal the Eagles' fate.
 

-Justin Cruise
 

 

MINERS ROLL

November 28, 2009

In the Sheldon Huskies, Nevada Union faced a physical team with great size up front that has been running the ball right over a host of opponents this season.  Heading into this weekend's Division I second round playoff contest, the Huskies averaged an impressive 241.9 rushing yards per game, including six games in which they eclipsed 300 yards rushing...all of them wins.  The last of these impressive performances came last week as the Huskies upset Oak Ridge 20-17 in the opening round of the playoffs.  The Trojans could do nothing to stop the big Sheldon offensive line, which paved the way for 313 rushing yards, including 229 yards from the new starting running back Burnis Chambers.  Clearly, Nevada Union would have to focus on slowing down the Sheldon running attack to avoid a potential upset.

Luckily for the Miners, they have the fifth-best rushing defense in the entire section, allowing just 93.9 rushing yards per game on the season.  This fantastic Miner front was indeed up for the challenge this weekend.  On the game, Sheldon's big offensive line was visibly dominated by an equally big Miner defensive line.  Defensive linemen Chad Knight (14 tackles, 1.0 sack) and Dan Pettinato (11 tackles, 1.0 sack), linebackers Eric Niederberger (9 tackles, 1.0 sack), Zach Vallejo (8 tackles), and strong safety Juan Espinosa (7 tackles) all made their presences felt in the running game as the Huskies were held to just 37 yards rushing in 33 carries.  Sheldon Quarterback Raymond Dickerson was forced to carry the load and completed just 10 of 26 passes for 125 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.  Dickerson showed that he was a true warrior.  Although his stats were not great, he did manage to single-handedly move the ball at times despite constant relentless pressure from the Miners' front.  He was sacked four times and took several more hits.  All in all it was another dominating performance by the Miner defense, which allowed just 162 total yards and seven points.

Offensively, the Miners were equally impressive.  Quarterback Broughan Jantz completed 7 of 10 passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns; two to tight end Dan Pettinato and one on a beautiful 49 yard catch and run by fullback Eric Niederberger.  As a team, the Miners also rushed for 253 yards on 41 carries, led by Drew Hoskin's 134 yards and two touchdowns.  Next week the Miners will square off against another Delta River League power in Pleasant Grove, the team who ended their season in the second round of last year's playoffs.


-Justin Cruise


    

FRANKLIN AND ELK GROVE FALL; ALL HOPE RESTS IN MINERS

November 22, 2009

As expected, Franklin and Elk Grove both ended their once-promising seasons with another lackluster performance.  Just one week into the 2009 playoffs and only Nevada Union remains alive to represent the Delta Valley.

Franklin entered the season as a ranked team with a host of talented players on both sides of the ball.  Then they came out and got themselves a couple of impressive victories to start the season and people started to talk about Franklin as a team with a legitimate chance to make a run at a Division I title.  Then came week three and Del Oro, who promptly put Franklin back in their place with a 62-12 whooping.  In week four, Folsom delivered a blow of their own with a 43-13 beat down, while Sheldon's 21-14 week five victory over the Wildcats set the tone for the rest of the season. True, Franklin played a brutal schedule.  It is also true that they went 4-1 in the Delta Valley and finished second only to Nevada Union.  By many measures, it was a successful season for the Wildcats.  Still, this team was far too talented to tank every big game that they played in.  With the exception of their 30-15 victory over Elk Grove, this is pretty much exactly what they did.

Pleasant Grove is a tough opponent to have to play in the first round of the playoffs.  Still, Franklin has as many or more kids on their roster and just as much talent and experience.  They have some big time playmakers and some serious beef up front.  Talent-wise, you could say that these two teams are fairly evenly matched...and the game statistics would show just that!

Offensively, Franklin was only outgained by Pleasant Grove's vaunted offense 395 to 328.  Led by Kenny Hunt's 163 yards on 16 carries, the Wildcats rushed for 229 total yards to Pleasant Grove's 213.  Although Pleasant Grove quarterback Taylor Congdon (10 of 15, 182 yards, 1 TD/1 INT) clearly outplayed his Wildcat counterpart Derek McIntyre (9 of 26, 99 yards, 0 TD.1 INT), the total yardage gained by each team on the game was similar.  In addition, Franklin intercepted two passes to Pleasant Grove's one.  So, both offenses had similar performances and Franklin won the turnover battle; this should have the makings of a tight game, but it was not.  Pleasant Grove was up 28-7 at the half and never looked over their shoulders.  The critical difference between the two teams was not that one team had more talent or was better coached, or even that one team made more mistakes than the other.  No, the critical difference was that one team could make the big plays when they needed them and the other could not.  Just as they have done in big games all year long, Franklin choked.  They had opportunities to score points and steal this game away from Pleasant Grove, but they lacked the leadership and playmakers to sieze those opportunities and were thus beaten by three scores in a game that they could have won.  

This last loss sort of summed up the entire season for Franklin: they had the ability, but lacked either the will or the magic with which to sieze victory.  This was one of the most talented classes in Franklin high's young history.  It is a terrible tragedy that this team should finish in 6-5 mediocrity.

Meanwhile, one of the most storied football programs in the entire section was setting out to write yet another chapter of greatness.  That storied football program was the great Elk Grove High Thundering Herd, and the task before them was the knocking off of undefeated Rocklin High.  Unlike most of their previous playoff runs, however, this year's edition of Herd football kind of squeaked in to the playoffs by default.  The Herd finished 4-6, and suprisingly that was good enough for third place in the Delta Valley and an automatic playoff birth.  The Herd have quite a bit of young talent on the roster, and if they can keep developing it they should be a real threat to compete at the level that they used to in years past.  A return to glory, however, would certainly not come this year, and certainly not in this game, against a Rocklin team that looks poised to write a little history of their own.

The Thunder dominated the Thundering Herd from start to finish with an effective inside running game that was perfectly balanced by surgically placed passes from standout quarterback James Laughrea.  Rocklin running back Jackson Cummings accounted for every one of Rocklin's 215 rushing yards and four touchdowns while Laughrea completed 16 of 24 passes for 192 yards and a 30 yard touchdown pass to Holden Huff (5 rec, 94 yards, 1 TD).  On the other side of the ball, Elk Grove's big, yet young and inexperienced offensive line was stifled by Rocklin's uber-tough front seven, rushing for just 91 yards on the game, and Elk Grove was forced to do something that they really do not like to do: throw the football.  Still, Elk Grove quarterback Alex Angell has shown some serious improvment since the beginning of the season, when the Herd were reluctant to put the ball in his hands.  In this game, Angell actually had quite a bit of success against a defense that is, by any standard, quite good.  He completed 11 of 20 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown, all without throwing a pick.  Gabriel Vazquez (4 rec, 61 yards, 1 TD) scored Elk Grove's only points of the game when he hauled in a 17 yard pass from Angell.  Six foot, five inch wide receiver Chase Zamora led the Herd with 78 yards on four receptions.

While Franklin and Elk Grove had similar seasons in that they both were expected to be very good yet quickly fell into mediocrity, their outlooks on the future remain quite different.  For Franklin, the future appears a little grim as the lose most of their standout players including running back Kenny Hunt (997 rush yards), star wide receiver and defensive back Devin Des Jarlais (564 rec yards, 6 TD; 60 tackles, 2 INT), dominant linemen Karmah Yates (14.0 sacks), Josh Oakley (6.0 sacks) and Jose Escobar (4.0 sacks) and stud middle linebacker Cody Galea (95 tackles, 3.0 sacks).  They do return quarterback Derek McIntyre and wide receiver/free safety Anthony King, but with much of their talent gone and certain improvement from most of their league foes, Franklin's future appears bleak at best.

Meanwhile the Thundering Herd featured one of the best young offensive and defensive lines around, with three standout sophomores (Watson Tautuiaki, Steven Moore, and Marcus Powell) to place hope in.  Also a sophomore, running back and cornerback Deon Ransom showed that he has some serious star power, and fellow sophomore Josh Letuligasenoa and freshman Josh Hinegardner looked promising as linebackers. The Herd also return a large and talented group of juniors including giant receiver Chase Zamora, linebacker Alex Lawton, defensive end Justin Plath, and eight linemen over 230 lbs. For the Herd, a return to glory might be just over the horizon.  For now, however, the entire Delta Valley must sit at home and root for the only team still fighting for league respect...the Nevada Union Miners. 

THANK GOD ITS OVER

 October 15, 2009

If you were to tell somebody five years ago there would be a Delta Valley conference with Elk Grove, Nevada Union, Davis, Laguna Creek, Valley, and a successful new football program in Franklin as its members, and then ask them to predict what the respective teams' non-league records would be heading into 2009 league play, imagine the answer you would get.  Nevada Union and Elk Grove have long been two of the most prestigious and successful football programs in the entire Sac-Joaquin section, Laguna Creek has been a powerhouse since the year it was built, Valley and Davis regularly produced dynamic teams and division one prospects and Franklin, well, nobody would have known a thing about Franklin.  Still, it is amazing and almost sad to look at how far this group of programs has collectively fallen, with the exception of Nevada Union and maybe Franklin.

Remember the Elk Grove Thundering Herd of 2000?  Lance Briggs, Ryan Dinwiddie, Trent Lundin, Adam George, Jeremy Callaway, Rick Cottengin, Mitch Quist?  Three city championships and two section titles in four years.  It wasn't just that little dynasty either.  The Elk Grove Thundering Herd were an elite Sac-Joaquin powerhouse that schools like St. Mary's couldn't even touch.  What the heck happened?  The Herd has, of course, been decimated by the quick introduction of numerous new schools that has effectively soaked up its once rich talent pool.  Still, considering the tradition and the nature of the town, the Thundering Herd should still be able to compete with the best that the section has to offer, and certainly should not be getting trampled on by other Elk Grove schools like Sheldon, Monterey Trail, and Pleasant Grove.  Of course all of these schools, also including Franklin, Valley and Laguna Creek, share the same problem of having far too many schools drawing fro the same talent pool.  And yet the fact that most of these schools are good and the rest are decent sure says a lot about the talent pool itself.  Obviously there still exists the talent in Elk Grove to sustain a section powerhouse...provided that most of the talent chooses to go to the same school!  

The hard truth with regards to this year's edition of the Delta Valley League is that most of the talent has found its way into the Delta River league schools.  In twelve games between Delta River and Delta Valley league teams, the Delta Valley won just one, a 34-12 Laguna Creek victory over Florin.  The Delta Valley has just one winning team as we enter league play, Nevada Union, who will likely cruise through for a league title.  Franklin, at 2-3, has been impressive at times and can be excused due to their brutal schedule (their three losses have all come at the hands of 5-0 teams).  The Wildcats may be able to challenge Nevada Union if they can recover from their devastating losses to Folsom and Del Oro.  Laguna Creek, Davis, Valley and Elk Grove, all once proud programs, will struggle to get wins all season long, however, and have to be more than ready for league play so they can beat up on each other!    


 

MORE OF THE SAME: DELTA VALLEY OWNED BY DELTA RIVER

September 30, 2009

In week three there were two more high profile interleague games between the Delta Valley and the Delta River: Elk Grove vs. Sheldon and Laguna Creek vs. Pleasant Grove.  In both games the Delta Valley was beaten.  Soundly.  In week two, Delta Valley powerhouse Elk Grove was destroyed by the upstart Monterey Trail 27-0.  So far this season Delta Valley teams are just 1-4 against Delta River teams, and with four more games between the two leagues this week, all but one of them considerable unfavorable for the Delta Valley, that number promises to get a lot worse.

Looking at this week's schedule...
Elk Grove has to face a superior Pleasant Grove team at Sheldon high school.  Once upon a time, Elk Grove was one of the premier programs in all the section.  Just nine years ago, the Herd had probably the greatest team in section history; one that, if the current state championship system would have been around at the time, would have rolled any other team in the state by at least 20 points, including De La Salle.  Today, however, Elk Grove is just one of a host of schools competing over a talent pool that could sustain just one championship team...or several good teams.  Don't expect the Herd to get nostalgic this week.  Pleasant Grove is too good of a football team.  CHALK UP ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE DELTA RIVER. 

Franklin was annihilated last week by Del Oro and has to face another section powerhouse in Folsom this friday.  One couldn't help but feel terribly sorry for the Wildcats.  This is an very talented team with some studly linemen and linebackers like Karmah Yates and Cody Galea, a good quarterback in Derek McIntyre and a playmaker at wide receiver and cornerback in Devin Des Jarlais.  They have the talent to be a very good team and indeed got off to a great start with a high profile win over Bay Area foe Sacred Heart and a dominant win over Rodriguez of Fairfield.  The Del Oro game, however, may have ripped the very soul out of this football team, however.  It is difficult to respond to a beating like that; to have the confidence necessary to come back and take chances and be winners again.  Now, the very next week, they must face a Folsom team that has embarassed everybody they have faced this season with one of the section's best offenses.  Folsom must be vigilant in making sure that they prepare for this game and do not take Franklin lightly.  They are a much better team than last week's score could lead many to believe.  Still, whether they are prepared or not, Folsom will emerge victorious because they are quite simply too damn good.  CHALK UP ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE DELTA RIVER.

The Valley Vikings have struggled against everybody this season and the upstart Monterey Trail Mustangs will be no exception to that rule.  The Vikings have allowed an average of 327 yards rushing per game and Monterey Trail offense averages 351.67 yards rushing per game themselves.  Those numbers alone add up to be trouble for the Vikings this week.  Although new Valley head coach Preston Jackson, formerly at UC Davis, is certain to get the program turned around (because that is just what Davis coaches always do), he will not get it turned around before friday night.  CHALK UP ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE DELTA RIVER.

Finally, how about those Laguna Creek Cardinals?  Last year, Laguna Creek shocked everybody with an amazing playoff run that went all the way to the fourth quarter of the city championship (against Pleasant Grove of the Delta River).  Although the Cardinals were decimated by graduation, most people expected Laguna Creek to re-stock their roster and be as good as they always are.  However, a couple of early beatdowns this season has made it quite clear that this is in fact a re-building year for the Cardinals.  This week they have to face the Sheldon Huskies, a senior heavy team that sits at 3-0.  Though Laguna Creek holds the traditional edge over the Huskies, they do not hold the advantage this year.  The Sheldon Huskies have the biggest, most physical offensive line in either the Delta Valley or Delta River leagues and they will use it to pulverize the Cardinals to submission.  Laguna Creek can counter with their Arnold Ferrari led passing attack and running back Don Jackson is destined to make a few big plays, but the Cardinals just dont have the overall firepower to counter the Huskies' size.  CHALK UP ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE DELTA RIVER.

So the verdict is...after this week the Delta River will be 8-1 against the Delta Valley league.  Although this clearly points to the fact that overall there is quite a bit more talent in the Delta River this year than the Delta Valley, there is one question that begs to be asked.  That question is: Where are the Nevada Union Miners in all of this?  While there is an inter-league battle for bragging rights going on, the Delta Valley's best team is out scheduling random division two teams.  Hey Miners, the Delta Valley needs you!


-Justin Cruise 

DELTA VALLEY GETS OBLITERATED; BIG DOGS FALL

 

September 19, 2009

Week two was none too pleasant for the Delta Valley League.  The league went 0-4 friday night, with three of those four being blowouts and the fourth being the most high-profile upset of the weekend.

ROCKLIN 41, NEVADA UNION 36

The #3 Nevada Union Miners got off to a terrible start and dug themselves into a hole in their non-conference match-up at Rocklin.  Costly penalties and mistakes kept the Miner offense from getting into rhythm early, and Rocklin QB James Laughrea seized the opportunity, throwing two first quarter TD passes to WR Nick Garvella.  Rocklin led 14-0 at the end of the first.

The Miners offense got things going in the second quarter as QB Broughan Jantz found Eric Neiderberger from 20 yards out to cut the Thunder lead in half.  Laughrea, however, answered with another TD pass, this one a six yarder to RB Sean Moore.  The Miners put together another drive to end the half that culminated with a successful field goal attempt, and the Rocklin Thunder went into the locker room with a 21-10 lead.

The story in the second half was similar to that of the second quarter.  Broughan Jantz and the Nevada Union offense was able to move the ball and score points, but they couldn't manage to make up any ground.  Jantz finished the game 17 of 26 for 264 yards with two touchdowns and Miners RBs Drew Hoskin, Josh Cena, and Jason Slade all ran in second half touchdowns.  However, James Laughrea and the Thunder answered every time the Miners got close.  Laughrea was phenomenal all game, completing 20 of 30 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for a fifth.  Rocklin running back Jackson Cummings added another 102 yards on the ground, and the Thunder finished with just under 500 yards of total offense.   


Other Delta Valley League Games:

Laguna Creek hosted a high powered Vacaville offense last night, and a game that was supposed to be one of the week's best turned very ugly, very quickly.  The Cardinals couldn't keep up with the Vacaville offense and they surely couldn't stop them, so they got left in the dust as Vacaville rolled 57-20.

The #12 Thundering Herd of Elk Grove were the second Delta Valley team to get a visit from the upset fairy this weekend.  The Herd came out sloppy and were never able to get things going offensively against a tough Monterey Trail defense.  Monterey Trail controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball en route to a 27-0 upset blowout (if there is such a thing).  

There was too much Ryan Dimino for the Blue Devils to handle friday night as the Senior Quarterback amassed just under 500 all-purpose yards, ran in touchdowns from 2, 5, and 76 yards out, and threw two touchdowns as well.  For the second straight week the Blue Devils played host to a dominant non-league foe, and for the second straight week they were defeated.  Final score, Davis 13, Del Campo 35.