McClymonds preps for ‘huge’ title matchup
football coach Michael Peters picked up the phone Sunday afternoon, not savoring another Northern California championship — the Warriors won their fifth straight Saturday night with a 40-21 3-A home win over Campolindo-Moraga — or watching NFL action.
“We’re studying Birmingham,” he said of next week’s finals’ opponent from Lake Balboa (Los Angeles County). “They’re huge. We’re all (coaching staff ) trying to figure out how we’re gonna attack these guys.”
Preparation is one explanation while the Warriors (11-1) are making another state titlegame appearance.
With De La Salle-Concord surprisingly out of the mix — the Spartans were stunned 28-27 by visiting Folsom on Friday in 1-AA — McClymonds is the new Metro mainstay with rich history. The Warriors, who won titles in 2016-17-18, are the only school in the state to make a state final in five divisions.
The Oakland Athletic League power, with an enrollment fewer than 400, is one of nine Metro teams that will play for state titles Saturday, one of seven hosting games.
“Kids and coaches work hard,” he said. “And we have some very talented players.”
Among them: Jaivian Thomas, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound junior who needed just 10 carries to rush for 240 yards and three touchdowns. He took his first two carries 63 and 81 yards for scores, outracing an overmatched Campolindo secondary.
While the Cougars (10-4) meticulously worked the ball up field behind the short and intermediate passing of Dash Weaver (310 yards) to Robbie Mascheroni (seven catches, 130 yards, one TD), McClymonds broke off one chunk play after another. Especially Thomas, who replaced sophomore Tajir Golden (broken wrist) earlier in the season and hasn’t missed a beat.
“He’s stepped up big time,” Peters said.
Campolindo coach Kevin Macy agreed: “If he’s second string I can only imagine their top guy. They just had too much speed and size. Not a good matchup for us. But the kids battled to the end like they did all year.”
While McClymonds is a state championship regular, Sacred Heart Cathedral is not. The Irish (7-7) won their first NorCal title with a 31-7 4-A win over Chico (9-4) as Ray-John Spears threw touchdown passes to R.J. Miller (18 yards), Aidan Shea (20) and Jerry MixMcClymonds-Oakland on (18), and Bruce Upersa returned a punt 91 yards for another score.
Like Peters, SHC coach Barry McLaughlin spent Sunday studying film of his next opponent. Northview (Covina) advanced with a 27-26 defeat of Colony-Ontario.
“Looks like (Northview) has a hell of a back” in Cheo Medina, McLaughlin said. “He could be a load to stop.”
Just as surprising as De La Salle being ousted was how Pittsburg (9-3) was eliminated by Liberty-Bakersfield, 35-7, in the 1-A final at Bakersfield College on Saturday. The Pirates had handled Clayton Valley-Concord, a team that beat Liberty earlier in the year. Liberty (11-2) raced to a 35-0 lead behind three touchdown catches from Jason Oliver before Kai Green broke loose for a 50-yard TD in the fourth quarter.
That leaves just two Metro teams playing in the the top five division title games at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Friday and Saturday.
Wilcox-Santa Clara punched its ticket to Orange County on Saturday with a 35-21 2-A home win over Manteca behind 172 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Luthern Glenn and 175 total yards and two scores from quarterback Armand Johnson.
It was the ninth straight win for the Chargers (10-4), who overcame a 344-yard rushing, three-TD performance from Manteca’s Blake Nichelson. Wilcox will go after its second state title. It won the 3-A crown in 2018.
Serra, chosen to represent Northern California in the Open Division, will do so Saturday at 8 p.m. against national power Mater Dei-Santa Ana.
Besides SHC, San MarinNovato (5-AA) and Balboa (7-A) are the only other Metro teams playing in their first state title games.