Score one for the upstart El Camino Eagles on Friday night with breakthrough second-half touchdowns, and score another one for the pleased principal.
With the Eagles beating Colfax 28-13 in a nonleague game after a scoreless half, El Camino coach Adam Reinking wasn't the only one holding his hands up in triumph. Just beyond the end zone, El Camino principal Jill Spears was planning a summer getaway, courtesy of the Colfax principal, Rick Spears, Jill's husband.
"Colfax beat us the last couple of times, and Rick got to pick the vacation spot, but now I think Jill is counting on a nice trip to Europe," Reinking joked Monday afternoon. "We were glad to help."
The No. 19 Eagles are counting on more festive Fridays. El Camino returns 11 starters from a group that placed third in the Capital Athletic League in 2011. Eagles halfback Desmond Boyd-Tanner broke loose for a 70-yard touchdown run to open the second half, and backfield mate Mike Kintz iced it with his own 70-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Jonah Lessard passed for 144 yards and hit Anton Hollins and Kevin Wise for touchdown passes. The Eagles' defense has been led by linebacker Quenton Hagen and defensive lineman Donnie Hibbs.
Sacramento State coach Marshall Sperbeck has expressed interest in the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Hagen, ironic since Hagen this week will have another Sperbeck in mind. Sperbeck's son, Tom, quarterbacks No. 17 Jesuit, which plays at El Camino on Friday.
Reinking understands the nature of this rivalry. He was a guard on the 1995 El Camino playoff team that gave Jesuit its only blemish during a Sac-Joaquin Section championship run, an early nonleague tie.
El Camino has gone 12-18 the past three seasons.
"It's been a journey since I got hired six years ago, a process of building a staff, finding an offense that suits us, getting the kids to buy in," Reinking said. "We've taken our lumps, and I've taken some lumps. But we're doing it the right way, learning the game, adjusting, staying current and putting a lot of work in. It's starting to show. We've created a buzz. We tell the kids we can be pretty decent."
Pleasant Grove pains – A year after losing two key starters for the season with knee injuries, No. 4 Pleasant Grove has been hit with more bad news: Running back-cornerback Brandon Lewis is out with an ACL tear.
After a 34-27 loss at Lincoln of Stockton, the schedule doesn't lighten up for Pleasant Grove with No. 2 Nevada Union looming Friday.
Holding pattern – Despite starting 0-2 against state powers Oaks Christian and Westlake in the Battle for Veterans showcase, Del Oro and Granite Bay coaches and players said the experience went well beyond the scoreboard.
Friday in Southern California, Westlake beat Del Oro 16-13 in overtime, and Saturday, Oaks Christian handled Granite Bay 48-13. Unless Del Oro and Granite Bay lose to area programs, the teams will not plummet in The Bee's rankings.
Et cetera – Alex Kropp threw four touchdown passes, two to Alex Van Dyke, to steer No. 12 Cosumnes Oaks past Sacramento 29-19.
• A year after going 1-9, Christian Brothers is 2-0 after beating Vanden 22-8 and debuts at No. 20 in the rankings.
• After beating River City 17-14, Yuba City is 2-0 for the first time since 1999.
• In an effort to elevate the North Section profile in terms of state bowl consideration, Enterprise of Redding scheduled – and beat – Del Campo for the second straight year, 45-21. Also, Foothill of Palo Cedro (near Redding), 20-2 in the past two seasons, plays No. 8 Placer on Friday.
• Rocklin is a dangerous 0-2, falling to Pleasant Grove 35-21 and Oak Ridge 16-7 despite strong efforts by quarterback Daniel Kniffin.
THE BEE'S TOP 20
PR – Previous ranking
School W-L PR
1. Elk Grove 2-0 1
2. Nev. Union 2-0 2
3. Franklin 2-0 7
4. Pleas. Grove 1-1 4
5. Del Oro 0-2 6
6. Granite Bay 0-2 5
7. Grant 1-1 3
8. Placer 1-0 8
9. Folsom 2-0 10
10. Oak Ridge 2-0 11
11. Burbank 1-0 12
12. Cos. Oaks 2-0 13
13. Del Campo 1-1 9
14. Inderkum 1-0 14
15. Antelope 2-0 15
16. Monterey Tr. 0-1 16
17. Jesuit 1-0 17
18. Whitney 2-0 19
19. El Camino 2-0 20
20. Chr. Brothers 2-0 –
– Joe Davidson
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