Richmond rivals Salesian, Kennedy seek title
Chad Nightingale has coached long enough to trust his eyes and not necessarily numbers. Even a score.
The SalesianRichmond football coach, in his 27th season with the Pride — including 24 as head coach — isn’t buying the notion that his team is the favorite heading into Friday night’s game at KennedyRichmond (81, 31) to decide the TriCounty Athletic League Rock Division title.
Nightingale is certainly not convinced based on Kennedy’s only loss, 2714 to El Cerrito — a team Salesian (81, 40) beat 2114 last week.
“Kennedy dominated a lot of that game and probably should have won,” Nightingale said. “There was a fumble recovered in the end zone that resulted in a 14point swing. A punt return for a touchdown. Kennedy is really good and probably the best team we’ve played this season.”
Nightingale also has coached long enough to know when he has a good team.
He has led the Pride to five North Coast Section championships, including four in five seasons, starting in 2010. They also won it all in 2005 with Jahvid Best, who the following season rushed for 3,325 yards and 48 touchdowns, both Bay Area records.
Salesian has only 22 players, but the Pride has won eight straight.
“We’re a real team,” Nightingale said. “These guys like one another, play well and support one another. If they make mistakes, they don’t freak out. They trust one another.”
Like when Salesian lost its season opener 247 to Bradshaw ChristianSacramento — which is 72 and has outscored foes 323108.“SacJoaquin Section teams get two scrimmages and (an NCS team) only gets one, plus they had more practice time,” Nightingale said. “I had a feeling we’d be OK. Our kids have really stepped up.”
Especially a strong senior core, led by quarterback Ronald Robertson, receiver Kailan Chang, linebackerrunning back Kareem Sullivan, linebackerfullback Justin Gutierrez and twoway lineman Princeton Toki.
Robertson accounted for three touchdowns in the 2114 win over El Cerrito on Saturday.
“He throws the ball real well and is accurate with good velocity,” Nightingale said. “If you’re going to have a threeyear starter, it’s nice to have one in that position.”
Nightingale is just hopeful that Robertson is on the field long enough to make a big impact.
Kennedy loves to control the clock behind an offensive line led by junior cocaptains Jaylen McDaniel and Sateki Lavulo (each 6foot, 265 pounds) and a group of running backs headlined by Trey Baker and Devon Gilbert.
Quarterback Camron Young has rushed for 491 yards and eight scores and his favorite target is 64, 235pound junior tight end Jermaine Terry II, a 4star recruit who — according to 247Sports — has 17 college offers, including from Alabama, Florida, LSU and Penn State. He’s rated the No. 4 junior tight end in the country.
“Those kind of athletes don’t come around very often,” Nightingale said.
Briefly: According to the Santa Rosa PressDemocrat, at least six Redwood Empire games scheduled for Friday have been postponed until Nov. 8. That decision was made after the NCS decided to extend its regular season a week in response to the Kincade Fire and PG&E power outages. Those games are: Rancho CotateRohnert Park at Ukiah; Maria CarrilloSanta Rosa at Windsor; Cardinal NewmanSanta Rosa at AnalySebastopol; MontgomerySanta Rosa at Healdsburg; PinerSanta Rosa at Santa Rosa and HarkerSan Jose at El Molino. … AragonSan Mateo (18) will forfeit Friday’s Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division game with defending state champion MenloAtherton (63) because of small roster size and player safety, Aragon coach Steve Sell said. This is at least the sixth Bay Area game forfeited this season for similar issues.