CBC Sports: CIF Playoffs - Third Round Valley Finals
23 November 2007
Valley Championships:
Down To the Nitty Gritty
The D-1 semifinal game between Clovis West and Edison, played before an “overpacked” crowd at
Sunnyside Stadium, was a game of highs and lows for everybody. Every seat in the stadium,
including some special bleachers put in behind each end zone, was filled with fannies. Then
there was, at least, again, another 1500 fans in the standing room only areas over
by the snack bars and throughout the park. The game, a long hoped for rematch between Clovis
West and Edison as the two powerhouse high school football teams fought to a 27-27 tie in the
same stadium, back on the 14th of September. That’s the night the lights went out,
literally, and the game had to be called off in the 3rd overtime. After that night, many fans
around the Valley hoped the two teams would meet again in the playoffs, and presto, they did.
Many of those fans, that wished for that, had to be happy as they got a great game to watch that
had some spectacular highlights. On display on this special night, were not just a few outstanding
young athletes who fought hard from the opening bell, right through to the last play.. In the end,
it was the Golden Eagles of Clovis West who came out on top by a score of 17 to 10.
It was a night to remember and here are some of those highlights:
- * An incredible play, Fred and I agreed this was the play of the year. The play began midway in the
2nd quarter as Tiger QB, Jerry Davis, with Edison on the Eagles 46 yard line. He dropped back to pass
and was given a good rush by Eagles, Tommy Noak, who just missed Davis, and Troy Rush who was able
to put a hit on the talented quarterback as Davis was in the throwing motion. Davis not only got
the throw off, but, off balance, he somehow managed to send a perfect spiral more then 50 yards
down field. End spectacular part one. Begin spectacular part two. Down field, the pass was to
the left of where receiver Rolando Jefferson was streaking down the sideline on a fly pattern.
Andy Trujillo, who had an excellent night for the Eagles, almost looked like he was the reciever
on the play as he was closer to where the ball was coming. For a second it looked like he could
call for a fair catch for the ball as it came down around the 10 yard line, about 10 yards in
from the sideline when all of a sudden, there was Jefferson, high off the ground over Truijillo
and he grabbed the pass away over the shoulder . Somehow Jefferson managed to keep his balance
and darted the last few yards into the end zone to put the Tigers within three points at 10-7.
Just incredible.
- * Then there was the most talked about play of the evening and one that will be talked about
for many years to come. Towards the end of the 1st half, Edison was on a roll. The great play by
Davis and Jefferson really lit the place up and the momentum was with the Tigers. Once again they
had the ball around midfield when Davis once again dropped back to throw, avoided another rush by
the Eagles (they did that all night), and he threw another long pass, this one a perfect strike to
the open Jeremiah Carter on a post pattern. Carter caught and was heading for a touchdown when
Truijillo, once again on the scene for the Eagles, made a diving, TD saving tackle inside the 5
yard line. That would have put the Tigers on the 3 yard line, a short distance to taking a 14
to 10 lead into the locker room at half-time. When Carter hit the ground, he fumbled and the
ball rolled into the end zone where Eagle Daniel Moultree pounced on and the referee ruled it a
touchback. However the KJEO Sports taped replay showed that Carter’s knee, both of them as a
matter of fact, were clearly down on the turf before the ground caused the fumble. Up in the
press box , where, of course, it’s an easier call after watching the replay, many of the working
press were crowded around the monitor to clearly to see the bad call. The play was pivotal in
that it surely changed to momentum Edison had been building on. True it was only just before
the end of the first half, but it was a huge play, a heartbreak for the Tigers, and a break
for the Eagles.
- * In the second half, Edison got a 3rd quarter field goal by Eric Zamora to tie the game
at 10-10, but it was the last time the Tigers would be on the scoreboard. It’s not that they
didn’t have chances as one time they had the ball, first and goal on the one yard like, and they
failed to get any points in four downs. Clovis played an outstanding half, getting awesome
defense from Noak, Truijillo, Troy Rush, sophomore James Cook, Kyle Negrete, and Travis Brown
among others. The offense for the Eagles in the second half, was mainly give the ball to their
go-to-guy, Matt Jelmini, and the MVP and three time all-Valley performer did the job, picking up
5 or 6 or 7 yards and first downs while the clock was winding down. Beau Sweeney had another good
game for the Eagles, as the Cal bound quarterback directed the offense with precision. He ran for
a score from 13 yards out in the first quarter, and fired a perfect pass to Nathan Fellner, who had
gone untouched through the Tiger defense, and caught the pass right in the middle of his number 5
on his jersey to close out the scoring for the evening.
Misc. notes: Jerry Davis has got to be one of the best drop back passers in the state who has
not yet signed to a college yet. Rest assured he will be...soon. .........The Tigers came into
the game at 10-0-1 and took their first lost of a great season. Tim McDonald and his staff deserve
a lot of credit and the Tigers, who have been improving every year, will certainly be in the hunt
next year with the likes of Marquise Cooper, Cliff Harris, Relando Jefferson, Rykeem Yates, and
Gabe Cardono coming back. .............Jerry Davis closed out his senior year with a 20 for 35,
264 yard performance, that put him over 1350 yards, 28 TD passes and just 5 interceptions.........
The long season continues for the Eagles as they will play Bakersfield in Bakersfield this week.
It’s been quite a ride for the Eagles of Marty Martin. Quite a ride indeed considering all the
crazy things that happened this year to the team many people had pegged for number one in the
pre-season polls.....Credit coach Martin for keeping the team together despite the injuries,
suspensions, and other bumps along the way in this, his first season at the helm of Clovis West.
Credit too the coaches and players. Jelmini, Sweeney, Fellner, Negrete, Jake Day, Rush, James Cook,
Tommy Noak, Tom Richardson, Truijillo, Moultree, Brown, and the kicker who put a lot of points on
the board also booted a lot of kickoffs into the end zone, keeping opponents stuck with starting
out series at their own twenty yard line...........
Other Games of Note:
Div I Bakersfield 56, Centennial 7 - Wow! That’s a lot of point gap in semifinal
game. The Driller’s Ojeriakhi catches goes 100 yards catching 3 passes, all three
for touchdowns. The Drillers are powerful and deep. They meet the surging
Golden Eagles of Clovis West for all the marbles.
Div II El Diamante 21, Lemoore 9 - The Miners “held” to just 21 points. Tanner Sneed
Tanner Seed throws for 2 more TD’s, and Ross Herbert catches both of them.
Tulare 38, Reedley 17 - Reedley, in the semifinals as the 11th seed, gave a scare
to the Redskins, taking a 17-12 lead into half-time. That was about as far as the
Pirates would go and Tulare comes up big in the second half with 26 points. Tulare’s Jontell Reedom
rushed for 284 yards.
El Diamante and Tulare are gong to make a great final down in Visalia.
Div III - This division will be an all Bakersfield final as Tehachapi shutout Garces, 23-0,
and Foothill came back to defeat Washington Union, 30, 26. In that one, Ebahn Feathers of Washington Union closed out his storied career for the Panthers
throwing for 221 yards, and rushing for another 123. The future Fresno St QB
had a rough night from the Foothill defense.
Tehachapi, the number one seed and Tulare, the number 2 seed will be another
great game. Lots of offense and fireworks.
Div IV - Taft beat Chowchilla 14-7, and Corcoran beat Exeter 17 to 8. The Panthers will
travel to meet Taft, the #1 seed. Corcoran is the # 3 seed
Div V - A nightmare in Fowler as the #2 seed Bakersfield Christian Eagles came in a beat the #1 seed Redcats for the Valley Championship, and ending the undefeated season dreams for the Redcats. The Eagles overcame a 28-6 half-time Fowler lead,
scoring 35 straight points to win 35-34 in overtime. The Red cats went for two
points and the win in the overtime.
