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Freedom football rings loud and clear in East Bay
The Bay Area football spotlight has shone brightly on eastern Contra Costa County, where the nation’s No. 1 senior recruit (Antioch’s Najee Harris) and one of the state’s top teams (Pittsburg) play.
The best-kept secret might be Freedom-Oakley, which, despite a new quarterback and line and a small — by its standards — roster (37 players), has a 5-0 record and is No. 8 in The Chronicle’s Top 25.
Led by 15-year head coach Kevin Hartwig, the Falcons have outscored foes 229-61 with a cohesive blend of offense, defense and special teams.
“We’ve been really good in all three phases,” Hartwig said.
Two third-year starters are leading the way: 5-foot-8, 170-pound tailback Ronnie Rivers (631 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns) and 6-1, 220-pound linebacker Kyle Harmon (9.5 tackles per game, two interceptions).
Rivers, the son of former NFL running back Ron Rivers, also excels as a receiver and returner.
In his career, which included a few games as a freshman, Rivers has rushed for 3,322 yards and 46 touchdowns and added 36 catches, 593 yards and eight more scores.
Rivers “is much stronger than he looks,” Hartwig said.
Tackling is Harmon’s job.
The 4.0 student has 297 in his career after being credited with 137 last season and 122 as a sophomore.
Senior quarterback Jonathan Pierce (49-for-72, 1,054 yards, 18 TDs, no interceptions) didn’t play football last season, instead focusing on baseball.
The 6-3, 185-pounder probably would have sat behind third-year starter Joe Sweeney.
“We’re just glad he came back to the program,” Hartwig said.
“He doesn’t look particularly fast or quick, but he runs great routes and has unbelievable hands,” Hartwig said.
The team’s offensive line and its defense have been the biggest surprises.
Hartwig had to replace all five offensive-line starters from last year’s 7-5 team.
There’s no superstars.
Besides Pittsburg and seventh-ranked Antioch (3-2), the league features No. 24 Heritage-Brentwood (6-0).
Volleyball turnaround:
With one state, five Northern California and seven Central Coast Section crowns, Sacred Heart Cathedral has ruled San Francisco girls volleyball.
[...] St. Ignatius, under new coach Dave Huan, seems determined and primed to change that this season.
The Wildcats (17-4, 2-0) visit SHC at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in a WCAL match.
St. Ignatius already has a win over the Irish at the Milpitas Spikefest Tournament 25-21, 25-22, but that might serve only as extra motivation for SHC, which is off to a 6-3 start, but is 1-1 in WCAL play after getting swept by Mitty last week.
The Wildcats, who opened league play with wins over Valley Christian and Presentation, are led by two college-bound outside hitters, 5-9 Anne Crouch (UCLA) and 5-10 Mallen Bischoff (Dartmouth).
The two helped SI beat perennial national power Assumption of Kentucky last month at the prestigious Durango Tournament in Las Vegas, where the Wildcats finished 11th in the 64-field team.
“I’m not sure if anyone expected us to have success there but us,” Huan told MaxPreps correspondent Gordon Kass.
SHC is led by 5-8 senior Michaela Arrobio (50 kills) and 5-10 senior setter Sophia Plett (130 assists, 40 digs).
Mitch Stephens is a senior writer at MaxPreps.com.
Chronicle top 25 football
REC.
LR
De La Salle
Monte Vista
Antioch
Freedom
Cardinal Newman
Marin Catholic
Foothill
Heritage
NR
More...
The Bay Area football spotlight has shone brightly on eastern Contra Costa County, where the nation’s No. 1 senior recruit (Antioch’s Najee Harris) and one of the state’s top teams (Pittsburg) play.
The best-kept secret might be Freedom-Oakley, which, despite a new quarterback and line and a small — by its standards — roster (37 players), has a 5-0 record and is No. 8 in The Chronicle’s Top 25.
Led by 15-year head coach Kevin Hartwig, the Falcons have outscored foes 229-61 with a cohesive blend of offense, defense and special teams.
“We’ve been really good in all three phases,” Hartwig said.
Two third-year starters are leading the way: 5-foot-8, 170-pound tailback Ronnie Rivers (631 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns) and 6-1, 220-pound linebacker Kyle Harmon (9.5 tackles per game, two interceptions).
Rivers, the son of former NFL running back Ron Rivers, also excels as a receiver and returner.
In his career, which included a few games as a freshman, Rivers has rushed for 3,322 yards and 46 touchdowns and added 36 catches, 593 yards and eight more scores.
Rivers “is much stronger than he looks,” Hartwig said.
Tackling is Harmon’s job.
The 4.0 student has 297 in his career after being credited with 137 last season and 122 as a sophomore.
Senior quarterback Jonathan Pierce (49-for-72, 1,054 yards, 18 TDs, no interceptions) didn’t play football last season, instead focusing on baseball.
The 6-3, 185-pounder probably would have sat behind third-year starter Joe Sweeney.
“We’re just glad he came back to the program,” Hartwig said.
“He doesn’t look particularly fast or quick, but he runs great routes and has unbelievable hands,” Hartwig said.
The team’s offensive line and its defense have been the biggest surprises.
Hartwig had to replace all five offensive-line starters from last year’s 7-5 team.
There’s no superstars.
Besides Pittsburg and seventh-ranked Antioch (3-2), the league features No. 24 Heritage-Brentwood (6-0).
Volleyball turnaround:
With one state, five Northern California and seven Central Coast Section crowns, Sacred Heart Cathedral has ruled San Francisco girls volleyball.
[...] St. Ignatius, under new coach Dave Huan, seems determined and primed to change that this season.
The Wildcats (17-4, 2-0) visit SHC at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in a WCAL match.
St. Ignatius already has a win over the Irish at the Milpitas Spikefest Tournament 25-21, 25-22, but that might serve only as extra motivation for SHC, which is off to a 6-3 start, but is 1-1 in WCAL play after getting swept by Mitty last week.
The Wildcats, who opened league play with wins over Valley Christian and Presentation, are led by two college-bound outside hitters, 5-9 Anne Crouch (UCLA) and 5-10 Mallen Bischoff (Dartmouth).
The two helped SI beat perennial national power Assumption of Kentucky last month at the prestigious Durango Tournament in Las Vegas, where the Wildcats finished 11th in the 64-field team.
“I’m not sure if anyone expected us to have success there but us,” Huan told MaxPreps correspondent Gordon Kass.
SHC is led by 5-8 senior Michaela Arrobio (50 kills) and 5-10 senior setter Sophia Plett (130 assists, 40 digs).
Mitch Stephens is a senior writer at MaxPreps.com.
Chronicle top 25 football
REC.
LR
De La Salle
Monte Vista
Antioch
Freedom
Cardinal Newman
Marin Catholic
Foothill
Heritage
NR
More...