Led by clutch protection, San Ramon Valley pulls away late to beat California in league opener

DANVILLE – Regardless of the information or circumstances, San Ramon Valley’s annual league sport in opposition to California is all the time an enormous deal.

The 2 colleges, separated by simply three freeway exits, battled on Friday night time for bragging rights and the prospect to remain undefeated.

Led by a powerful defensive effort within the fourth quarter, SRV got here out victorious with a 38-26 win at residence in its league opener.

“It’s a close-town rivalry,” mentioned SRV linebacker Marco Jones. “We grew up with a lot of these guys, so it’s a good game no matter what our records. It was a tough win and it’s a big step so far for us this season.”

San Ramon Valley quarterback Rhett Thompson (7) throws a move within the second quarter of their sport at San Ramon Valley Excessive Faculty in Danville, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. San Ramon Valley defeated California 38-26.(Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)

With a extremely anticipated matchup subsequent week in opposition to De La Salle — The Bay Space Information Group’s No. 1 ranked workforce — Friday’s win provides the undefeated Wolves momentum in what will likely be a highly-anticipated sport.

“It’s another layer of confidence that we’re continuing to do the right things,” mentioned SRV head coach Aaron Becker. “Hopefully we’re ready to take on that challenge.”

SRV’s protection pressured three interceptions and received to the quarterback 4 instances – three of which got here within the ultimate six minutes of the sport.

Operating again Matthew Garibaldi led the Wolves with 236 speeding yards and two touchdowns. Garibaldi additionally caught a nine-yard rating from quarterback Rhett Thompson, who completed with 167 yards and three touchdowns.

Cal working again Jhadis Luckey led the Grizzlies with 159 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.

San Ramon Valley’s Matthew Garibaldi (4) runs for yardage in opposition to California within the first quarter of their sport at San Ramon Valley Excessive Faculty in Danville, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. San Ramon Valley defeated California 38-26.(Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)

SRV took a two-score lead within the second quarter after Thompson discovered Owen Scott for an eight-yard landing.

On the following possession, California drove 83 yards in seven performs that ended with Luckey’s second landing of the primary half, this time from 5 yards out.

Noah Henzi’s 21-yard subject aim gave SRV a 24-14 lead at halftime.

Getting into the second half, SRV seemed dominant.

The Wolves pressured a three-and-out on Cal’s first possession of the third quarter. On the following possession, Thompson threw a 65-yard landing move to Evan Economos that gave SRV a commanding 31-14 lead early within the third.

However Cal didn’t go away.

The Grizzlies responded later within the quarter with a three-play, 71 yard drive that ended with a 69-yard landing throw from quarterback Arjun Banerjee to vast receiver Nic Fox that made it a two-score sport.

Cal received the ball to begin the fourth quarter and inched nearer to the SRV lead. Banerjee discovered Fox once more, this time for a 58-yard landing. The Grizzlies couldn’t convert the two-point conversion, however lower the SRV deficit down to only 5 with the rating at 31-26 with underneath 10 minutes to play.

Whilst the sport received nearer, SRV didn’t panic. The Wolves went again to the run sport, feeding Garibaldi the ball to get them into the pink zone.

SRV marched 65 yards in precisely three minutes, ending with Garibaldi evading defenders on a display screen move to the top zone.

“Their defensive ends weren’t applying much pressure to us,” mentioned SRV left deal with Jason Doyle on how the offensive line created working lanes for Garibaldi. “We had been capable of kick them out and run numerous pressure performs. That allowed us to get our full backs up by way of the road and wrap up the linebacker. “

Down 12 with 6:43 left within the sport, Cal nonetheless had an opportunity to remain within the sport however wanted to attain rapidly.

SRV’s protection didn’t permit that to occur.

On third-and-long close to midfield, Jones and senior edge rusher Braeden Forschler received to the quarterback to pressure a protracted fourth down attempt that Cal wouldn’t convert. The Grizzlies received the ball again with slightly below three minutes left, however the Wolves’ protection got here up massive once more with defensive finish Kaleb Pleis sacking the quarterback on a fourth down attempt to seal the sport for SRV.

Regardless of giving up its highest level complete of the season, SRV’s was dominant for many of the sport. Tyler Petersen, Dylan Deitsch and Henry Ellis every had an interception. Petersen and senior Thomas Carpenter had a sack in Friday’s sport.

“The kids made plays,” Becker mentioned of his protection within the fourth quarter. “We had some good pressure and some good coverage. With those two combined, they really helped out.”

Added Jones, “I think it came down to just understanding what their game plan was. They got really good players, their running back is a really talented guy. We understood they were going to get some chunk plays, but really being able to sustain our defense in the long run and throughout the whole game was key.”

Whereas SRV has received the final six matchups courting again to 2018, the Wolves nonetheless take a look at this sport as a rivalry. Each groups did their justifiable share of gamesmanship even earlier than the season began.

“Cal is a local team, so we went into this week pretty serious,” Doyle mentioned. “We had a seven-on-seven game this summer and they were chatting a lot. We definitely wanted to put it to them in this game.”

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