GAME OF THE WEEK: Bishop O’Dowd at Valley View
THE DETAILS:
Oakland Bishop O’Dowd vs. Moreno Valley Valley View
CIF-State Division 5 Championship Game
At Valley View HS, Moreno Valley (Calif.)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. PT on Saturday, Dec. 17
OAKLAND BISHOP O’DOWD (14-1 overall, 5-0 West Alameda County) is on the cusp of achieving the vision first cast by its coach. The Dragons are on an 11-game winning streak, have come to Moreno Valley as the CIF-Northern Section Division 3 champions and one win away from its first CIF State title. They defeated Kentfield Marin Catholic, 27-7, to capture their first section title since 2004, then beat Sacramento Capitol Christian, 24-21, in the State Regional playoff game last week. QB Joe Deluca has passed for 28 TDs and more than 2,000 yards this season, spreading the ball around to 13 different receivers along the way. Young RB Austin Jones (1,700 yards, 24 TDs) has given the offense a valuable option to help set up the pass.
HEAD COACH: Napoleon Kaufman
MORENO VALLEY VALLEY VIEW (12-3 overall, 4-1 Inland Valley) have gone on the kind of run most Inland area kids only dream of. The Eagles’ only loss in its last 12 games came to cross-town rival MoVal Rancho Verde, 62-38, in Week 6. Since then this team survived a postseason gauntlet to capture the CIF-Southern Section Division 11 championship with a 33-32 win over Quartz Hill before defeating San Bernardino San Gorgonio, 31-14, last week in the State Regional playoff game. RBs Justin Keeling and Dwight Brown, and FB Rudy Lovato have combined to form a potent and sophisticated three-prong rushing attack. QB Jacob Barlage has done well commanding the offense, and has a couple of favorite targets in WR Robert Heiermann and TE Brandon Reitan.
HEAD COACH: Dan Barlage
THE KEY PLAYERS:
Bishop O’Dowd – QB Joe Deluca, Sr. (6-foot-1, 190 pounds); RB/DB Austin Jones, Soph. (5-10, 180); RB/SB/DB A.J. Schabbing, Jr. (5-8, 140); RB/WR Ethan Baker-Greene, Sr. (5-9, 175); WR/CB Quinn Brinnon, Jr. (6-foot, 180); TE/DE Cooper Hagmaier, Sr. (6-5, 215); DE Walter Garber, Jr. (6-foot, 190); DB Kenyan Branscomb, Jr. (5-9, 179); DB Jevon Holland, Jr. (6-2, 180); K Trey Miller, Sr. (6-1, 175)
Valley View – QB Jacob Barlage, Soph. (6-foot, 160 pounds); RB Justin Keeling, Jr. (5-6, 160); RB Dwight Brown, Sr. (5-9, 156); FB/LB Rudy Lovato, Jr. (5-10, 230); WR Robert Heiermann, Jr. (6-foot, 180); TE Brandon Reitan, Jr. (6-2, 233); DE/LS Jonathan Salas, Sr. (6-4, 200); DB Donzell Alexander, Jr. (6-1, 150); FS Paul Hughes, Sr. (5-10, 160); K Walter Herrera, Jr. (5-9, 153)
THE DIFFERENCE:
Bishop O’Dowd’s level of athlete is higher by a degree or three. The Dragons have a super beefy front five, and will likely control the line of scrimmage.
THE FINAL SCORE:
Oakland Bishop O’Dowd 36, Moreno Valley Valley View 28
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 