Stakes high for Clayton Valley and Liberty after 28 days off
The notion that good things come to those who wait will be put to the test at 7 p.m. Saturday, when Clayton ValleyConcord’s football team travels to Liberty-Brentwood in a North Coast Section Open Division semifinal.
The game, originally scheduled for Nov. 10 but postponed twice because of poor air quality from the Camp Fire, was already one of the most anticipated matchups of the season.
Clayton Valley (9-1), ranked fourth by The Chronicle, has outscored opponents 279-30 during a six-game winning streak after a 35-34 nonleague loss to Antioch.
Liberty (10-0), ranked second, has had only one close game all season, a 24-21 win at Pittsburg on Oct. 19. The defending NCS Division 1 champion Lions have outscored foes 456-101.
“Those are two really, really good, well-coached teams,” De La Salle-Concord coach Justin Alumbaugh said. “I don’t know who has the edge. Liberty is so good offensively, but Clayton can control the ball. That should be a great game.”
The winner gets De La Salle, a 38-0 semifinal winner over Pittsburg, in the Dec. 1 championship game, and both Open Division finalists advance to CIF State Bowl play.
That gives extra zest to Saturday’s game. The winner extends its season at least two more weeks. The loser’s season ends.
It must seem like the season has ended for both teams, as they last played Oct. 26. The four-team Open bracket had a built-in first-week bye. The postponements have led to three weeks off for both teams.
“We’ve obviously practiced a ton,” Liberty coach Ryan Partridge said with a laugh. “If we had known we were going to have 29 days between games, we surely would have done some activities. But it always just felt the game was at our fingertips with the weird cancellations.”
On Thursday, the Lions met for practice before Thanksgiving festivities and wore their youth football jerseys, or any they could muster.
“We’re trying to make it a fun tradition,” Partridge said. “We’ve changed up practice daily and rarely done the same things. It’s been fine, but we’re definitely ready to actually play a game.”
Clayton Valley coach Tim Murphy has tried to keep his squad as regimented and focused as possible. In some regards, the layoff has been good because of a rash of earlyseason injuries.
“We’re as healthy as we’ve been all season,” Murphy said. “The kids who took their places got a lot of playing time. In that regard, we have more happy kids than ever before because so many have contributed.”
The Eagles have had 19 ball carriers this season, led by junior Makhi Gervais (1,419 yards, 17 touchdowns) and Carson Sumter (828, 11).
Unlike previous Clayton Valley teams under Murphy, this one is a passing threat, with quarterback Logan Sumter (1,360 yards, 17 TDs). Rayshawn Jackson (16 catches, 488 yards, 30.5 average, 6 TDs) and Cade Carter (14, 348, 24.9, 6) are deep receiving threats.
Liberty might have the most potent trio of skill players in the Bay Area in 6-foot-6, 180pound junior quarterback Jay Butterfield (130-of-198, 2,513 yards, 36 touchdowns, 4 interceptions), running back Tyerell Sturges-Cofer (147 carries, 1,093 yards, 13 TDs) and receiver Sione Vaki (51 catches, 1,117 yards, 18 TDs).
Butterfield is ranked the No. 2 junior pro-style quarterback in the country. Vaki, a 6-foot, 190-pound senior, has 15 college offers, including Cal, Stanford, USC and Tennessee. He might play safety in college.
“Their offense is really good,” Murphy said. “Butterfield and (Vaki), those guys are the real deal. We’ll no doubt have to bring our ‘A’ game. We’re ready. We’ve been ready. Hope we finally get it in.”