Prep football: Coach addresses social media post; Bella Vista uprising; QB injury updates
Reggie Harris is as no-nonsense as they get.
The fiery Inderkum High School football coach regularly reminds his student-athletes about the perks and perils of social media posts, that good fun doesn’t always come across as good fun, especially when it is in poor taste. When Harris learned of a post that a handful of his players engaged in, disparaging their next opponent, he made a stand.
On Saturday afternoon in Oak Park before a nonleague contest against the host Sacramento Dragons, Harris asked Sac High coach Kimbbie Drayton if he could address both teams before kickoff. Drayton agreed. With both teams on a knee and locked in, Harris spoke. Everyone listened.
“A student that doesn’t even play put something on social media, disrespecting the Sac High program, and I lost my mind,” Harris told The Bee on Tuesday. “I always try to teach our kids how to use social media as a benefit, and to be kind and respectful about other people. I apologized on behalf of our program to the Sac High program and let them know how much I highly respect them and their coaches. We defused the situation right there.”
Harris said the Tigers players that engaged in the social media post or reacted to it each apologized to the Dragons, including handshakes. Ranked No. 7 by The Bee, Inderkum rolled 68-0 to move to 2-1.
But Haris wasn’t finished with his message.
“After the game,” Harris said, “I made sure the young men (involved) understood the consequences. I had them help Sac High clean up the field, and then gave them some TLC — conditioning.”
So for a good 20 minutes, Harris had those players run gassers on the Sac Hi field. He also told the gassed players to apologize to their parents for their actions, explaining “because their last name means something.”
Harris added: “It’s time to educate when this happens. It won’t happen again.”
Bad break
Cole Davis, the strong-armed and driven quarterback who helped Pleasant Grove to a 2-1 start, has been lost for the season.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound junior suffered a broken clavicle during Friday’s 35-24 loss at West Park, a doubly bad break for the program. Davis started last season, a growing-pains campaign in which the Eagles went 1-9. With the bulk of the team back, Davis was at the forefront of a revival. Ranked 18th by The Bee, Pleasant Grove hosts No. 19 Laguna Creek at Sheldon on Friday night.
Bad break II
Dallas Munn competed to the last day of fall camp for the starting quarterback job at Rocklin, a role that went to sophomore Reeve Sloan. Munn transferred to Capital Christian for a fresh start, but his first game action with the hard-luck Cougars on Friday could be his last for some time.
Playing a home game against Memorial High of Fresno, the 6-2, 205-pound junior was tackled while trying to avoid a sack. He suffered a broken clavicle. He could be out up to eight weeks, which could end his season unless the Cougars catch fire. Munn completed two passes for 44 yards and rushed four times for 12 yards.
Ravaged by injuries, Capital Christian lost 38-14 to fall to 0-3. Capital Christian has a bye this week and visits Rio Americano in a Capital Athletic League opener on Sept. 15.
Broncos uprising
Not too long ago, a deficit this large may have buckled Bella Vista.
Not these days. The dreary days and residue of a 48-game losing streak are long gone, replaced by positive results and good vibes. After going 5-5 last season, the program’s first non-losing campaign since 2009, Bella Vista is 2-1 under fourth-year coach Jim Gray, one of the game’s good spirits, punctuated by a 36-29 rally to beat Ponderosa.
The Bruins led 29-14, but Bella Vista scored the final three touchdowns to win it. Aaron Mora had two touchdown passes in the game and Nolan Bernhard was a workhorse, rushing 13 times for 268 yards and two scores, and catching one in drawing praise from his coaches for his effort and impact.
Logan Farren rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown for Bella Vista, which has a bye this week and hosts River Valley in a Capital Valley Conference opener on Sept. 15. Damian Rickett had a touchdown catch, five tackles and an interception. Travis Frank played well at linebacker and Jacob Disney-Taylor made his presence felt as a guard and defensive tackle with some “pancake” blocks on offense.
“Baby steps are getting bigger for sure,” Gray said of his program making strides. “We had some turnovers, but we fought back.”
Weekend movers and shakers
▪ Toby Black, Rio Americano: Had two sacks and a fumble recovery in a 26-20 win over Woodland to move to 3-0.
▪ Matthew Brooks, Johnson: Rushed for 140 yards and two TDs in a 30-24 win over Valley Christian.
▪ Brennan Collins, Mira Loma: Had 272 yards of total offense and four scores as the Matadors moved to 3-0.
▪ Kaden Cavolt, Bear River: Caught two TDs from Cole Stowers and had a 75-yard kickoff return in a 20-6 win over Johansen.
▪ Jake Cherrington, Union Mine: Rushed for 147 yards and three scores in a 42-17 victory over Amador for a 3-0 start.
▪ Jaron Hodson, Folsom: Forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and had an interception in a 48-15 win over Edison.
▪ Daniel Kamara, Christian Brothers: Rushed for 161 yards and three scores and had an interception in a 42-20 win over Rodriguez.
▪ Derek Keeley, Rocklin: Rushed for 110 yards and two TDs, had 65 yards receiving and a score and made six tackles in a 42-20 win over Buchanan for a 3-0 start.
▪ CJ Lee, Jesuit: Passed for 101 yards and rushed for 118 and two scores in a 28-27 loss to Sacred Heart Prep.
▪ Isaac Martin, Wheatland: Had 26 tackles, 15 solo, in a 14-7 win over Gridley.
▪ Nicolas Navarre, Vista del Lago: Made 17 tackles in a 28-24 win over Vanden.
▪ Giovanni Ruiz, Davis: Had 11 tackles as the Blue Devils beat Oakmont 13-12.
▪ Baron Taylor, Inderkum: Had two interceptions against Sacramento, giving him 10 for his career.
▪ Armon Thonrtona, Laguna Creek: Rushed for 281 yards and five TDs in a 39-30 win over Roseville.
▪ Doug Smith, Woodcreek: Had three “pancake” blocks, flattening his foes in a 28-16 win over Cosumnes Oaks.
▪ Westin Wade, West Park: Rushed for 125 yards and three TDs in a 35-24 win over Pleasant Grove.
▪ Jasen Womack, Oak Ridge: Rushed 31 times for 140 yards and a score and caught one in a 22-20 win over Madison-San Diego.
This story was originally published September 5, 2023 at 11:40 AM.