Monte Vista coach recalls tight end Ertz as youngster
The first time 20-year Monte Vista-Danville football assistant Chris Babcock met Zach Ertz was at a 2005 signing party for former Mustangs baseball player Jeff Lyman, drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Braves.
“This eighth-grade kid walks up to me, introduces himself and carries on a long conversation,” Babcock said. “I remember then thinking that this kid is pretty impressive.”
The memory flashed several times during and after the Eagles’ 41-33 Super Bowl LII victory Sunday.
Ertz, a 2012 All-America tight end at Stanford, caught a goahead, 11-yard touchdown pass from Nick Foles with 2:21 left. Six of Ertz’s seven catches (for 67 yards) gave the Eagles a first down, including a fourth-down grab that kept the game-winning drive alive. All of it just made Babcock glow with pride.
“The entire community has to be ecstatic and proud,” Babcock said. “Honestly couldn’t happen to a better person. He’s always done the right thing. He has that infectious smile. Just seeing him so happy makes me so happy.”
Babcock, a rabid Steelers fan, has been close to Ertz since Ertz played for the Mustangs in 2006 through ’08. The two still text each other often. Babcock was emotional watching the scene in Philadelphia, a town hungry for a championship.
“They’re probably going to name a street after him there,” Babcock said. “He’ll never have to buy another meal in that town.”
Ertz, of course, is way too generous for that. He bought the Mustangs 100 shoulder pads before last season. He has given back to the program in many other ways, said Babcock.
“It’s awesome to see someone with obvious God-given talent but work endless hours at his craft to achieve at the highest level,” Babcock said. last week. St. Francis defensive tackle Tyler Manoa chose UCLA. His teammate Junior Fehoko, a tight end, and De La Salle-Concord running back and cornerback Kairee Robinson both are headed to San Jose State.
After much debate with several Pac-12 schools, Manoa (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) will play next to his high school rival, Serra defensive lineman Atonio Mafi, who signed with the Bruins in December.
Acalanes senior quarterback Robby Rowell accepted a preferred walk-on position to Cal, said his father, Buddy.
Rowell, a mobile 6-3 190pounder, had a superb senior season, accounting for 3,263 yards and 46 touchdowns for the Dons (9-2).
He may join best friend John Torchio, a Campolindo-Moraga quarterback and safety, who last month was offered a scholarship to Cal. Fourth-ranked Menlo SchoolAtherton took a 20-10 firstquarter lead and the rest of the game was about even during a 68-57 home win over then 11thranked University (21-2) on Saturday.
Lehigh signee Joe Foley scored 28 points to lead the Knights (19-1), who went 3-0 last week. Sophomore Cole Kastner had 15 and Riley Woodson added seven and a game-high 12 rebounds for Menlo, which won its 12th straight.
Spencer Spivey had 25 points and Charley Moore 14 for University, which had its win streak snapped at nine games.
This was a huge game for us,” Foley said. “This shows everyone in Northern California that despite being a small school, we are capable of accomplishing great things against the best of the best.”