Bee’s Best: No. 9 Grant football team ushers in new coaching era with Carl Reed
This week, we’re blowing up with prep two-a-days. We’re publishing two previews a day as we dive into the top 10 of our rankings for high school football in the Sacramento area.
No. 9 Grant Pacers
City: Sacramento
School opened: 1932
League: Sierra Foothill League
Division: I
Enrollment: 2,088
2021 spring record: 2-0
Coach: Carl Reed
Outlook: At Grant High School and throughout Del Paso Heights, a motto has stuck for generations: Pacer 4 Life.
That’s Carl Reed, a Pacer to the core.
He grew up in the region, played for the Pacers’ famed football team and returned some 20 years ago to teach and coach because that’s what his father, Lynn Reed did, and it’s what he wanted to do. Now, Reed is Grant’s head coach, ushering in a new era with the same intent of helping mold young lives through football while in pursuit of championships.
Reed takes over for Mike Alberghini, a fixture at Grant for 50 years. He is the winningest coach in Sac-Joaquin Section history with 282 victories to go with seven section banners, the 2008 CIF State Open Division championship and countless mentorship examples for players who looked to him as a firm father figure.
Reed is the right replacement at the right time, mainly because bleeds Pacers colors, believes in kids who were just like him not too long ago.
The impact of Grant football?
“It means a lot,” Reed said. “It’s the heart of the community, the pride of the neighborhood. It’s the pride of the community. My mom, dad, brother, father, step mom all graduated from Grant. My siblings, my daughter graduated from Grant. My aunts and uncles. My son will. It’s a long legacy.”
As for replacing the irreplaceable Alberghini?
“I’m in the worst position,” Reed said with a laugh. “Replacing the greatest of all time, playing on a field named after him. It’s a challenge. It’s where I want to be. I’ll be a Pacer 4 Life.”
Reed said he is impressed with the size, skill and tenacity of the Pacers, who went 2-0 in the shortened spring season with two late-game victories.
Grant is traditionally either huge or massive in the trenches and that still rings true. The lines include Alani and Sione Noa and Isoa Takeifanga, and the skill guys include running back/receiver Kyrell Goss-Pruitt and receiver Jonah Ardion.
“We have good leadership and size,” Reed said. “We’re big up front. That’s always been our MO.”
Grant opens Aug. 20 against Lodi, visits Inderkum on Aug. 27, hosts Edison of Stockton on Sept. 3 and visits Davis on Sept. 10 before starting Sierra Foothill League play at home against Folsom on Sept. 24.
This story was originally published August 16, 2021 at 8:33 AM.