San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Joy — and a legend — return in scrimmage
Back when Najee Harris hurdled wouldbe tacklers in high school, football royalty regularly visited Antioch High.
“We had guys like Nick Saban, Jim Harbaugh and Brian Kelly,” Antioch principal and former football coach Louie Rocha said. “But today topped them all.”
Parked adjacent to the Eells Stadium field, 84yearold John Madden sat in a black SUV with family members and watched Saturday’s scrimmage between the Panthers and Bishop O’DowdOakland. The Dragons featured secondyear starter Jesse Madden at quarterback.
The 6foot2, 190pound grandson of John and son of O’Dowd assistant coach Mike Madden looked sharp, firing three touchdown passes and completing 15 of 18 passes. O’Dowd coach David Perry said Madden showed great command of the offense.
“He is going to have a monster year,” the firstyear coach said.
O’Dowd athletic director Carlos Reed said that at workouts in recent months, the young Madden was “always the first one to show up and last one to leave. He’s a great kid.” Both Bay Area powers look to rebound after combining for five wins and 15 losses in 2019. Saturday was a chance just to break loose after the 15month coronavirus shutdown.
The teams lined up before and after the game as coaches addressed both squads, encouraging and applauding their efforts. Social distance guidance prevented handshakes.
“It felt absolutely amazing to be playing again,” said Perry. “I was overcome with emotion with how our young men have bought in.”
Especially so for Rocha, a lifetime Raiders fan. He said everything was just about perfect — the weather, competition, fan behavior (parents were allowed). Topping it all was John Madden, who regularly attends Jesse’s games.
“I told him of the coaches who have strolled around here that he topped them all,” Rocha said. “He said it’s always great to see a Raiders fan.”
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#16 Half Moon Bay 19, Burlingame 10: Will Moffitt threw for 104 yards and two TDs and ran for 59 yards to lead the Cougars. Connor Quosig rushed seven times for 74 yards and a TD. His late interception sealed the win. Kyle Sieben had a TD catch and fumble recovery and Will Uhrich forced a fumble and recovered one for Burlingame.
#17 Campolindo-Moraga 27, Freedom-Oakley 23: Jacob Griessel fired a 42-yard pass to Maxwell Weaver midway through the fourth quarter for the game-winner. It was Campolindo’s first lead and Griessel’s fourth TD pass, his second to Weaver. Teammate Dillan Thoms rushed for 132 yards on 20 carries, and he and Weaver each prevented scoop-and-score TDs with diving tackles inside the 10. Freedom came away with just three points on the two possessions. Freedom’s Les Callen threw two TD passes to Tyler Lepolo and Vince Nunley added nine catches for 95 yards. Greg Allen (interception) and Lepolo each played well defensively. “One of the wildest games I’ve ever been a part of,” said Campolindo coach Kevin Macy, whose team lost the turnover battle 4-1. “I told the team going in that it would feel like a state (championship) game and it did.”
Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton 49, Aragon-San Mateo 12: Sophomore Andrew Latu rushed 13 times for 77 yards and three touchdowns for the visiting Gators.
Other scores: American Canyon 42, Sonoma Valley 6; Justin-Siena-Napa 7, Petaluma 0; Vintage-Napa 53, Casa Grande-Petaluma 6; Capuchino-San Bruno 35, San Mateo 14.