Hometown Report: Sperbeck is heaven-sent for Jesuit

Around the region in three minutes or less …

Holy moly – Thomas Sperbeck delivered one of the greatest Holy Bowl efforts in the game's 42-year history, and he's still trying to catch his breath.

Saturday night, the Jesuit High School senior quarterback accounted for all of the Marauders' touchdowns in a 28-23 victory over Christian Brothers at Hughes Stadium, where there was a sea of Jesuit white and red on one side and CBS blue on the other.

Sperbeck threw a 28-yard touchdown laser, slithered in for a four-yard score, raced 72 yards untouched for another and capped the evening by returning a fumble 85 yards for a touchdown.

In last year's Holy Bowl, Sperbeck managed just one down of action because of illness.

Said first-year Jesuit coach Marlon Blanton: "Thank God for Sperbeck. He put us on his back."

McKay's journey – Andy McKay has stepped down as the baseball coach at Sacramento City College to become the mental skills director for the Colorado Rockies organization.

The Rockies' catching coach is Jerry Weinstein, McKay's mentor when he played for him at SCC in the 1980s.

Derek Sullivan takes over at Sac City, which has suffered just two losing seasons since 1970.

Jordan patrol – Jordan Richards dreamed of nights like this: making plays against top teams and winning.

The Stanford sophomore safety from Folsom had an interception and helped key a spirited defensive effort that knocked off then-No. 2 USC 21-14.

Big Nifae – If USC-bound Eddie Vanderdoes of Placer High is this season's top nationally recruit lineman with personality, he has company.

Say hello to Nifae Lealao, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound junior defensive lineman for Capital Christian who stands as a true big man on a small-school campus.

As silly as he can be dominant, Lealao on Sunday received a scholarship offer from UCLA assistant coach Angus McClure, a former Sacramento State lineman and coach.

Miller-Wing's ease – Taylor Miller-Wing lost a close competition to be the starting quarterback at Folsom this fall.

Deflated and suddenly without interest in the sport, the senior turned in his gear and wished sophomore starter Jake Browning well.

Said Miller-Wing on Saturday while watching the Holy Bowl, "I'm really at peace with this and ready to finish school and go into the Navy. You can't play football if you're not into it. I'm just sorry so many people who don't even know me attacked my character on (social media)."

Shaq attack – In Washington's 52-13 rout of Portland State, coached by former Jesuit and Huskies star Nigel Burton, Shaq Thompson of Grant blocked a field-goal attempt Tre Watson returned 79 yards for a Huskies touchdown.

Rios rumblings – Defensive back Marcus Rios from Cosumnes Oaks is no longer a redshirt freshman at UCLA. He is now a freshman, having his redshirt status peeled away after playing extensively in the Bruins' 37-6 win over Houston.

• Read more articles by Joe Davidson

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