Oakland power embraces schedule
McClymonds adjusts after move up three divisions
McClymonds football coach Michael Peters wasn’t pleased with California Interscholastic Federation’s compliment — being called up three divisions to Division 2-A of the state’s competitive-equity playoff model in the 2019 playoffs.
But he wasn’t going to complain about it, either. That’s not his style.
The 52-year-old father of NFL cornerback Marcus Peters didn’t want to be a head coach, either.
He was perfectly content with his role as assistant coach for more than two decades under head coaches Alonzo Carter (now an assistant at San Jose State), Eric Culberson and Curtis McCauley.
When McCauley stepped down unexpectedly in 2013 and enrollment at McClymonds dwindled into the low 200s, there was talk of the West Oakland public school morphing into a charter school.
Peters saw the handwriting on the wall. It had his name in bold and all caps.
“Football is good for the community and school,” Peters said. “Someone had to step up, so it might as well have been me.”
The result has been a 91-10 record with three state titles, a city parade and — in May — the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches High School Coach of the Year award.
“You stretch yourself a little, and good things happen,” he said.
So when the Warriors were elevated three divisions, after winning 5-A, 5-AA and 4-A state crowns, but then lost 34-6 to Pacifica-Oxnard in the 2019 2-A game, Peters didn’t bemoan, anger or step aside.
He upgraded Mack’s competition.
The fifth-ranked Warriors (2-0), led by Chronicle AllMetro first-team spring 2021 quarterback Dreyan Paul, two-way players Dwayne McDougle and Jay’Vion Cole, and interior lineman Simeon Mitchell (6-foot-3, 300 pounds), are in the middle of a rugged four-game stretch, all against Metro-ranked teams.
Following last week’s sluggish 22-8 win against then-No. 17 De Anza-Richmond, McClymonds hosts No. 9 Marin Catholic-Kentfield at 7 p.m. Friday, before games at No. 16 MenloAtherton (Sept. 24) and at home against No. 4 Pittsburg (Oct. 1).
From there, the Warriors will enter league play on a 74game Oakland Athletic League win streak. The past 10 games against OAL foes: Mack 570, Opponents 0.
Though enrollment has grown to 340, McClymonds is still tiny compared with most that have played in the Division 2-A bracket. Open, Division 1-A and 1-AA are the three top brackets.
“I didn’t think we should have been moved up that high,” Peters said. “But if they’re going to do it, we have to play the caliber of teams we’re going to see at that stage. Our schedule is loaded now, so we’ll definitely be battle-tested by the end of the season.”
Besides a competitive team edge, playing top teams adds exposure to college coaches. McClymonds’ next three foes feature plenty of Division I prospects: Marin Catholic quarterback Michael Ingrassia, Menlo-Atherton receiver-defensive backs Jeremiah Earby and Jalen Moss, and Pittsburg quarterback Jaden Rashada, running back Charles Brown and receivers Rashid Williams and Israel Polk.
Marin Catholic (3-0) also features a defense that has allowed seven points this season. McClymonds downed the Wildcats the past two meetings, 26-0 in 2018 and 19-7 in 2019.
“Big wins, but these are two new groups,” Peters said. Ingrassia “presents a lot of problems because he can run or pass. It’s going to take all hands on deck to slow down these guys.”
In McDougle and Cole, he has two explosive players who hold down four positions: wide receiver and cornerback. Sophomore Tajir Golden is averaging better than 100 yards rushing per game and Paul, a fourth-year starter, has been superb running the show.
Paul (5-11, 170 pounds) was The Chronicle’s spring East Bay Regional Player of the Year in May after accounting for more than 1,800 yards and 30 touchdowns in just five games.
“He’s had a lot of passes dropped,” Peters said, “but the kid is cool and calm. He doesn’t crack under the pressure. The big stage doesn’t intimidate him.”