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Pittsburg demolishes Cardinal Newman to cruise to fifth straight NCS Division I championship.
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Nathan Canilao
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Tag: high school sports
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Five in a row: Pittsburg crushes Cardinal Newman to claim latest NCS D1 crown
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Greater Lowell Tech shuts out Lowell Catholic on Thanksgiving Eve
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Greater Lowell Tech football players will certainly enjoy their Thanksgiving meals Thursday.
On Wednesday night, playing at home in Tyngsboro, the Gryphons rolled to a 30-0 victory over Lowell Catholic.
GLT finished the season 5-6, while the Crusaders ended with a 1-10 record. More details to come.
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Staff Report
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St. Pete Catholic reaching new heights this season
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When you put the work in, big things can happen.
Senior quarterback Chase Burrill and his St. Pete Catholic teammates are enjoying the spoils of a successful season.
The Barons are in the playoffs where the stakes get higher each week. But Burrill thrives when the game gets bigger.
“Being able to handle the pressure and everything that comes at you,” Burrill said. “I like a challenge. So as soon as I decided to play football, it was definitely something that caught my eye.”
The Barons have caught the eye of a lot of people this season.
They set out to win a lot of games. Turns out, they won them all. The Barons an undefeated 10-0 in the regular season for the first time in school history. That string of victories catapulted them into the postseason. And Burrill is a big reason why they’ve enjoyed unprecedented success.
“Any great quarterback, everybody has to gravitate to and I think when he walks into a meeting room or into a huddle, everybody kind of feels that presence of Chase and the guys want to play for him, they want to play with him,” head coach Jesse Chinchar said.
Burrill’s stats this season are impressive: 2,789 passing yards and 45 touchdowns, through the first week of the playoffs. But as eye opening as those numbers are, it’s his two interceptions that stands out the most.
“When you talk about quarterbacks, you want to have at least a two to one touchdown to interception ratio so when you have his, which is almost 50 to 2, it’s unbelievable,” Chinchar said. “It’s just a testament to him knowing the game and being able to protect the ball.”
His 45 touchdowns set a new Pinellas County record. And he’s not done. Chase has a shot at the state record. But that’s not his focus. He wants to see how far this team can go this year.
“It’s a blessing to be a part of it,” Chase said. “We’ve been working all year for this, so it’s expected but we definitely have more to come.”
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Katherine Smith
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Armwood offensive lineman is home on the range and the football field
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SEFFNER, Fla. — It takes a special player to wear the Armwood High uniform.
There’s a big responsibility when you play for one of the top football teams in the state.
Senior offensive lineman Logan Miller welcomes the pressure. He thrives on it. The bigger the game, the brighter he shines.
“For me, I can be as violent as I possibly can — everything single down, every single play,” Miller said. “And it’s just fun.”
But the football field isn’t the only place Miller feels at home. Want to put a huge smile on his face? Put him in a pasture with his cows.
In his spare time, Miller raises cattle. He wants to be a cattle rancher when his football-playing days are done. He raises the steers to be sold or bred.
“I love showing cattle because that’s the industry I want to go in the future,” he said. “I’m going to the University of West Georgia for agricultural business and hope to have my own cow operation out in Georgia or wherever I may go. So, it’s been my passion for a good two or three years, and this is my final little baby I have.”
There is a carryover between Miller’s two loves: football and raising cattle. One passion bleeds into the other. His head coach, Evan Davis, sees the correlation between the two.
“The energy, the love, the passion and dedication that he has for that is exactly what he brings out here on the football field,” Davis said.
Being an offensive lineman is not easy. There is a lot of responsibility that comes with the position. You don’t get the touchdowns or the highlight reel plays. The work in the trenches shows up in others player’s stats. But that’s okay with Miller.
“That kid’s 100 percent, whatever he’s doing,” Davis said. “He truly is the statement of ‘Be present where your feet are.’ Wherever his feet are, he is present and he is active.”
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Katherine Smith
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CCS, NCS football playoffs: Best of Saturday’s semifinals
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Saturday’s games
CCS Division II
No. 2 Sacred Heart Cathedral 63, No. 3 Santa Teresa 27
The game was tied at seven in the first half Saturday, but that’s as close as Santa Teresa would get as SHC routed the Saints to advance to the section title game, where the Fightin’ Irish will play rival St. Ignatius next week. SHC used a 28-point second quarter to propel the San Francisco school to the win. Quarterback Michael Sargent accounted for six touchdowns – throwing for four and rushing for two. Running back Jaylen Malcom had three touchdowns for Santa Teresa, which finished 11-1. – Nathan Canilao
CCS Division V
No. 1 Piedmont Hills 41, No. 4 Jefferson 14
Piedmont Hills will play in its first section final since 2010 after making quick work of Jefferson at home. Senior Diego Arias was excellent on both sides of the ball, getting a 32-yard pick-six and throwing a 50-yard touchdown to Travis Linane. Running back Alijah Torres had two rushing scores. Quarterback John Palomo ran for a touchdown and kicker Cash Martinez knocked in field goals from 26 and 32 yards away. Jefferson quarterback Robert Saulny-Green accounted for both of his team’s touchdowns with a rushing score and a passing TD. The Pirates will play Sobrato for the D-V championship next week. They will try to avenge a 40-30 loss to the Morgan Hill school this season. Jefferson ended its season 9-2. – Nathan Canilao
No. 2 Sobrato 27, No. 3 Terra Nova 19
Brady Lennon rushed for 272 yards and three touchdowns to help Sobrato to the win and the program’s first appearance in a CCS title game. Lennon broke a 70-yard scoring run on the second play of the game. Brandon Huighes connected with Jacob Sorrentino on a 35-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0. After Terra Nova drew to within 20-19, Lennon’s 26-yard TD run with 1:46 left gave Sobrato (8-4) an eight-point lead. Then when kicker Kyle Gurney recovered a fumble on the subsequent kickoff, the Bulldogs were able to run out the clock. For Terra Nova (8-4), QB Joey Donati rushed for 93 yards and passed for 184 and touchdowns to Robbie Johnson and Holden Najar. – Glenn Reeves
NCS Division V
No. 2 Ferndale 35, No. 3 Salesian 7
Salesian traveled more than 250 miles up Highway 101 for its semifinal game against Ferndale, hoping to return home to Richmond with a shot to capture the program’s eighth NCS championship next week. For three quarters Saturday, there was still hope. The Pride trailed 14-7 with 12 minutes to play. But the home team found another gear down the stretch, scoring three touchdowns in the final quarter to advance to play top-seeded St. Vincent de Paul for the championship next Saturday at Rancho Cotate High in Rohnert Park. Instead of Salesian playing for an eighth NCS crown, Ferndale (12-0) will be seeking its 15th. Salesian finished 10-2. – Darren Sabedra
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Nathan Canilao, Darren Sabedra, Glenn Reeves
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Prince George’s Co. schools look to curb student eligibility rule-breaking in high school athletics – WTOP News
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After violations, high school athletic directors, coaches and principals attended a mandatory “refresher” on Maryland’s policies for transfers and student participation,
After two of its high schools received punishments for breaking student eligibility rules during the football season, Prince George’s County Public Schools said it is responding to ensure policies aren’t broken again.
High school athletic directors, coaches and principals attended a mandatory meeting and training session as a “refresher” of the Maryland school system’s policies for transfers and student participation, Director of Secondary Programs Mar-c Holland told WTOP.
During the meeting, athletic officials were reminded that they are responsible for ensuring a student-athlete is compliant with the system’s policies. Holland said it is also important for athletic stakeholders to have open communication with a student-athlete’s family to ensure rules are being followed, calling it “a collaborative effort.”
“We felt it deemed necessary to pull those together that oversee this area to make sure that they are familiar and informed of those specific policies and procedures,” she said.
The meeting comes after two high schools — Charles H. Flowers and DuVal — were found to use ineligible players during varsity football games. It is the third time in two years that a football program was found breaking the system’s policies, Holland said.
Following an investigation, each school forfeited games won “in which the violation occurred,” Holland said. Flowers, which was undefeated at the time, vacated four wins while DuVal forfeited one game. Both teams’ head coaches were also suspended for the rest of the season.
In recent years, schools around the D.C. region have been barred from postseason play after recruiting and eligibility rules were broken. In Virginia, Fairfax High School’s football team was banned from the state playoffs after Fairfax County Public Schools determined the program violated recruiting policies.
However, officials did not assess postseason bans for Flowers and DuVal. According to Holland, issuing a playoff ban was not considered, as the investigation followed “state and district policies and procedures.”
To ensure it does not happen again, Holland said athletic directors and principals will participate in an ongoing monthly training. Some of its rules are also being evaluated.
“We are definitely reviewing how we monitor eligibility, including rosters, transfers, academic checks and so forth,” Holland said.
PGCPS’ zero tolerance on rule breaking will continue as the winter sports season begins in December. While football draws the most attention, Holland told WTOP that other sports are dealing with similar eligibility issues.
“We need to ensure that rules are followed, and we lead with integrity,” Holland said.
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Jose Umana
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CCS, NCS football playoffs: Best of Saturday’s first round
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Saturday’s games
CCS Open Division/Division I
No. 1 Archbishop Riordan 42, No. 8 Salinas 9
The Crusaders scored 28 points in the first quarter and didn’t look back in a rout of Salinas at home. Despite having four touchdowns called back because of penalties, the San Francisco school had no problem moving the ball against the Cowboys. The lead grew insurmountable in the second half as a running clock initiated in the third quarter. Riordan (10-0) will play Serra (7-4) for the Open Division title next week. – Nathan Canilao
No. 2 Serra 29, No. 7 Archbishop Mitty 13
The Padres rushed for 312 yards and shut down Mitty’s offensive attack to cruise to a 16-point win at home. Speedy receiver Charlie Walsh led Serra with a rushing and a receiving score. Kicker Saul Marks knocked in three field goals and Serra’s defense forced three turnovers.S Serra will get a rematch with Riordan – after falling to the Crusaders in the WCAL regular season finale – in the Open Division finals next week. Nathan Canilao was in San Mateo and has the story here.
CCS Division II
No. 2 Sacred Heart Cathedral 34, No. 7 Wilcox 21
After trailing by two at halftime, the Fightin’ Irish took over the game behind a second-half surge to down visiting Wilcox at City College of San Francisco. Three second half touchdowns from quarterback Michael Sargent charged SHC’s offense, and the San Francisco school’s defense held Wilcox to just one score in the final two periods to seal the win. SHC (5-6) will host another South Bay powerhouse in undefeated Santa Teresa (11-0) next week. – Nathan Canilao
No. 4 Menlo School 17, No. 5 The King’s Academy 7
Menlo earned a hard-fought postseason win, defeating TKA at home. Quarterback Jack Freehill threw a touchdown pass to Chuck Wynn and Trevor van der Pyl’s 82-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter sealed the win for Menlo. Dylan O’ Malley rounded out Menlo’s scoring with a 27-yard first-quarter field goal. Quarterback Jaiden Flores to wide receiver Ricky Gutierrez was the only score TKA had on Saturday. Menlo (9-2) will travel to top-seeded St. Ignatius next week for its semifinal game. TKA ends its season 9-2. – Nathan Canilao
CCS Division V
No. 2 Sobrato 28, No. 7 Santa Cruz 17
Sobrato advanced to the Division V semifinals after defeating Santa Cruz at home. Junior running back Brady Lennon led the way with rushing touchdowns from 35 and 10 yards. Jacob Sorrentino had a 75-yard touchdown grab and senior Jacob Kimerer had a 65-yard touchdown run. Sobrato improved to 7-4 and will host Terra Nova (8-3) next week.
NCS Division V
No. 3 Salesian 38, No. 6 Northgate 33
Quarterback Izeah Buchanan tossed four touchdown passes to lead the Pride to a win over Northgate at home. Basketball star Carlton Perrilliat Jr. caught two touchdown passes while Joseph Tarin had two receiving scores of his own as Salesian will advance to the section semifinals at Ferndale next Saturday. Senior Jahlil Lindsey had a 95-yard scoop-and-score and kicker Roberto Mora knocked in a 27-yard field goal to round out the scoring for Salesian. Northgate (5-6) ends its 2025 season one game under .500. – Nathan Canilao
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Nathan Canilao
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How local sports community is remembering Oakland icon John Beam
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John Beam’s death has rocked everyone who knew or knew about him.
From professional sports to high school sports, the outpouring of admiration and love for the 66-year-old former Oakland football coach who was gunned down on Thursday at Laney College and died Friday has been non-stop.
Beam coached Skyline High to 15 Oakland Athletic League championships from the 1980s to the early 2000s, then had similar success at Laney College before retiring from the sidelines last year and moving into his role as athletic director.
Along the way, the coach went from Oakland icon to nationally known when Netflix featured Beam’s Laney College program in its “Last Chance U” series in 2020.
His death was national news.
Here is a sampling of what the local sports community is saying about Beam:
Bob Ladouceur, former De La Salle High football coach, on X: “John was good for Skyline, good for Laney, good for teenagers/young men. For all who coach college and High School…he was one of the best. He dedicated his life to his profession of making men out of boys.”
Damian Lillard, who played at Oakland High before becoming an NBA star, on Instagram: “This man is a true Oakland (l)egend and a GREAT man. Gave me my first job at Laney football games… Hundred(s) of kids all over Oakland became the type of men they are today because of this dude and for someone from that exact world to randomly come and take his life just ain’t right… this ain’t the Oakland I grew up in. Sh** sad!”
Charlie Ramirez, Pittsburg High football coach: “It’s extremely devastating, and honestly, simultaneously horrific and every other thing you could explain it to be. It was terrible. He was a mentor to me just like he was to so many coaches in the Bay Area. We were at their seven-on-seven this year, he’s come to my coaches clinics, not to mention he recruited the heck out of our guys at Laney, got a lot of them to the next level. Even though we’re out here in Pittsburg, he had a lot of strong ties with our program and he’s going to be extremely, extremely missed.”
Greg Calcagno, St. Francis football coach: “My dad (Ron) knew him really well. St. Francis played Skyline for a long time. And my dad spoke super highly of John. I knew John. He married a St. Francis alum, so I’d see him at the reunions. Just a great quality person, and the number of people that he helped, it’s just so sad to hear the news of his passing. It puts everything in perspective. This is a football game, right? And I get to coach kids that I love and coach with people that I love and against people that I respect. But this is just a football game. We can still smile at the end, sort of. But yeah, just super sad. A lot of our guys, they work out up at Laney, and they know all those guys. And so it was a tough day for them.”
Los Gatos High Head Coach Mark Krail takes part in a moment of silence honoring Laney College coach John Beam, who was killed during a shooting on Laney College’s campus, before the start of their Central Coast Section Open Division I playoff football game against Saint Francis High in Los Gatos, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group) Mark Krail, Los Gatos football coach: “I never had the privilege (to meet him), but I certainly knew of him. And it broke my heart when we heard the news break, and then obviously the fact that he had passed was just awful. I mean, football in Oakland, his name is all over it, and it will be for a long, long time. It’s just a tragic, tragic loss for the city of Oakland, because there’s so many people that he helped their life go in the right direction. From what I understand, he was no-nonsense, and he would tell you how it was. A personality like that that is true to themselves, that’s full of integrity, that’s when guys rally around you and want to be a part of what you’re doing. And sometimes you get young kids, especially that have a tough upbringing, to see the light and see the right way of doing things. And he had 20 guys that were in the NFL, or something like that, I read. So that speaks to the success of him as a coach, but I think as a man, he was more highly regarded than that, just for his impact in the city of Oakland.”
Mike Cable, Liberty High football coach: “Coaching is so much more than X’s and O’s. It’s about the impact that you have in the lives of your players. It’s about the men that they grow up to be. He was the epitome of that.”
Herc Pardi, former Pittsburg and Clayton Valley coach, in an email to Bay Area News Group: “UNBELIEVABLE!! My heart is crushed. What a tragedy. One of the more Dynamic coaches/teachers I ever met – period!! … Anytime I saw Coach down the road, we picked up right where we left off — FB chatter and some hearty laughs!! John was a CHANGE AGENT!! So sad.”Oakland Ballers baseball team on X: “Our hearts are broken. Coach Beam was one of the first people to believe in the Oakland Ballers. He was part of our secret meetings, and he helped us make important connections within the Oakland community. As the Ballers grew, Coach Beam was a mentor, an advisor, an investor, and a friend of the team. We will miss him dearly, but his legacy and impact on the Oakland community will never be forgotten. Rest easy, Coach.”
Las Vegas Raiders on X: “The Raiders Family is tremendously saddened by the loss of John Beam, a coach, mentor, and friend to so many in Oakland and the entire Bay Area. John was an influential and guiding force both on and off the field for young athletes, and his decades of service will forever be woven into the fabric of football in the East Bay. The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with John’s family, the Laney College community, and everyone else whose life he touched.”
Oakland Roots soccer team on X: “Today, our hearts are filled with tremendous sadness and grief at the passing of an Oakland icon, Coach John Beam. While his name was John Beam, everyone in Oakland knew him as Coach Beam – not only because he commanded deep respect, but because he was, and always will be, Oakland’s Coach. No one cared more about the past, present, and future of this great city and its youth.”
In the fall of 2023, Laney coach John Beam speaks with Oakland Section commissioner Franky Navarro before the Silver Bowl, the annual McClymonds vs Oakland Tech game and the Oakland Athletic League football championship game at McClymonds High School in Oakland. Beam was shot on Thursday and has died at the age of 66. (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group) 
John Beam, Skyline head football coach, the All-ANG Coach of the Year Dec. 17, 2002. (D. Ross Cameron/ Tribune Archive) [ad_2]
Darren Sabedra, Justice delos Santos, Christian Babcock
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Agoura football survives OT struggle to oust Orange Vista
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PERRIS — Despite nine total interceptions it was still a one-point game in the end.
Agoura senior quarterback Gavin Gray was intercepted six times, but junior slotback George Hastings stepped up to finish the job as Agoura defeated Orange Vista 27-26 in overtime on Friday night in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 quarterfinals.
“I was just the right guy at the right time,” Hastings said. “I always knew we were going to rally and win this game.”
Hastings, who had six catches and three touchdowns last week in a first-round win over Summit, led the Chargers (10-2 overall) with 16 carries for 60 rushing yards and scored the game-tying touchdown in overtime before senior Luke Bussiere kicked the point-after attempt to win the game.
“We got down in the game in the second half and I think this team just wants it more,” Hastings said. “You could see everyone coming together to will us to this win.”
Senior quarterback Khalil Abdul-Aziz was just 9 for 22 with three interceptions and also fumbled twice in his final high school appearance as Orange Vista (9-3) lost for the first time since Week 1.
“We started the game off with fumble after fumble,” Orange Vista coach Shawn Fleming said. “Wet weather definitely affected our quarterback. It took a little bit away from our best player.”
Junior safety Devin Sandville returned two interceptions for touchdowns as Orange Vista battled back from a 17-6 deficit to take a 20-17 lead in the fourth quarter.
“We knew it was going to come down to the wire,” Fleming said. “Our defense played a great game to keep us in it.”
The Coyotes held that advantage until Bussiere kicked a 30-yard field goal to tie the game with less than 5 minutes remaining, and Bussiere even had a chance to win the game with a 37-yard field goal, but it was blocked as time expired in the fourth quarter.
“I feel more fortunate than I’ve ever felt,” Agoura coach Dustin Croik said. “I haven’t been a part of a game that has come down like that, and at the end we just dug it out and did what we needed to do.”
Orange Vista lost the coin flip to start overtime and took possession of the ball. Sophomore running back Bobby Greer (27 carries for 151 yards) got into the end zone in five plays for a 26-20 lead, but the PAT was blocked.
Hastings, who replaced Gray under center late in the fourth quarter, went around the left side for 20 yards in overtime to set up a game-tying 3-yard scoring plunge over the goal line.
“Everybody believes in (Hastings),” Croik said. “They call him ‘Captain America’, and for good reason. He’s the man. He rises to the occasion.”
Bussiere knocked through the ensuing PAT through the uprights to end the 3-hour, 47-minute game.
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Dennis Pope
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Pittsburg’s defense, special teams units set tone for big win over Liberty
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PITTSBURG — Second-seeded Pittsburg’s defense and special teams units shined on Friday night, hauling in two interceptions, recovering a forced fumble and snagging a loose ball during a kickoff en route to a commanding 42-18 victory over No. 7 Liberty in the first round of the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoffs.
Sophomore Isaiah Harrison impacted the game on both sides of the ball, recording an interception, recovering a fumble and reeling off a 23-yard touchdown run. Senior Truly Bell had an interception of his own as well.
On offense, senior Carlos Torres and sophomore Javale Jones each had a highlight-worthy touchdown pass. Torres lobbed an end zone fade to senior RJ Mosley Jr. for a one-handed snag while Jones found sophomore Kenneth Ward on a perfectly-thrown deep ball for a 62-yard score. Senior Siotame Finau had two rushing touchdowns as well.
Pittsburg’s Siotame Finau (22) celebrates scoring a touchdown against Liberty during the second quarter of the first round of the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoff game at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) “The benefit of playing a team twice — and only a few weeks ago — is the scouting isn’t as involved,” said Pittsburg head coach Charlie Ramirez, whose team improved to 10-1. “We can really just focus on technique and our basic fundamentals, and it showed itself tonight. It’s telling the guys, ‘As long as we’re doing what we’re supposed to do, nothing else matters.’ And that’s what they stuck to.”
For Liberty (8-3), sophomore Jonathan Munoz had an interception of his own while senior running back Jaxon Bell. Junior quarterback Zander Barrows also had a pair of passing touchdowns in the game’s final minutes, one being to his brother, senior wide receiver Makoa Barros.
“I told the guys you’ve got to keep your head up high,” said Liberty head coach Mike Cable. “8-2 is a heck of a season. We deserved to be here, we deserve to play against any team. We didn’t play the best game tonight, but we had our opportunities. That’s the reality of this game: someone’s gotta win and someone’s gotta lose. Tonight just wasn’t our night.”
Pittsburg’s Pat Cassell (29) tackles Liberty’s Ben Hill (10) during the fourth quarter of the first round of the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoff game at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. Pittsburg defeated Liberty 42-18. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) For all the postgame jubilation, Friday night’s began on a scary note.
On Liberty’s second play from scrimmage, a Pittsburg defender was knocked to the ground and required medical attention. As the player received medical attention from the team’s training staff, Pittsburg players gathered on the sidelines and collectively took a knee. An ambulance drove onto the field to retrieve the player, who had to be carted off on a stretcher.
“The biggest thing was seeing his arms and legs have strength (before he left),” Ramirez said. “I think that helped. We explained to them, ‘He’s doing good, this is out of precaution more than anything else.’ They gave the love and they felt the love, so I think that was the biggest part for them being able to transition after seeing him laying down for so long.”
Pittsburg quarterback Carlos Torres (19) throws a pass against Liberty during the first quarter of the first round of the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoff game at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Liberty opened up the scoring on its second possession with a field goal, but its offense received a fresh set of downs as Pittsburg committed a roughing the snapper penalty. The Lions then turned that second chance into six points as Jaxon Bell rushed for a five-yard touchdown out of the wildcat formation. The point-after attempt was blocked, but Liberty had a 6-0 lead.
Pittsburg’s offense struggled to find a rhythm over its next two possessions. On the Pirates’ second possession, the Lions’ Munoz reeled in an interception. On Pittsburg’s third possession, the offense punted the ball away.
With Pittsburg’s offense needing life, the defense proceeded to step up.
With roughly four minutes left in the first half, Harrison picked off Liberty at the Lions’ seven-yard line. On the very next play from scrimmage, Torres tossed up a fade to Mosley, who reeled in the catch with one hand for a touchdown. Pittsburg converted the point after attempt, and the Pirates had a 7-6 lead that they’d never lose.
Two plays later, the Pirates’ defense paved the way for another touchdown as Harrison recovered a fumble at Liberty’s 15-yard-line. Pittsburg quickly capitalized on the opportunity as Finau rushed for a three-yard score, upping Pittsburg’s lead to 14-6, which would be the score going into the break.
In the second half, Pittsburg turned more defense into offense. Bell hauled in an interception on Liberty’s first offensive possession of the second half, and Harrison subsequently rattled off a 23-yard run for a score. Pittsburg then recovered the ensuing kickoff at Liberty’s 23-yard line, and Finau extended the lead with a one-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 28-6.
The game already in hand, the Pirates continued padding their lead in the fourth quarter as Jones threw a perfect deep ball to Ward for a 62-yard touchdown. Zander Barros threw a pair of touchdowns for Liberty in the fourth, the Lions’ first points since the first quarter, but Pittsburg was well on its way to a victory — and a matchup against No. 1 De La Salle.
Liberty quarterback Pat McCree (7) throws under pressure by the Pittsburg defense during the third quarter of the first round of the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoff game at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
Liberty head coach Mike Cable gestures to the officiating staff while playing Pittsburg during the first quarter of the first round of the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoff game at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
Pittsburg head coach Charlie Ramirez yells at his players while playing Liberty during the second quarter of the first round of the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoff game at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
Liberty quarterback Pat McCree (7) fumbles the ball against Pittsburg during the second quarter of the first round of the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoff game at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
Pittsburg football players kneel during a moment of silence for former Laney football coach John Beam before the start of the first round of the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoff game at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
Pittsburg’s Rolph Mosley Jr. (2) reaches for a one-handed touchdown catch over Liberty during the second quarter of the first round of the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoff game at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) [ad_2]
Justice delos Santos
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Local roundup: Wilmington swimmer Sara Reppucci signs with University of Minnesota
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A future Golden Gopher enjoyed a golden moment Wednesday.
Wilmington High senior Sara Reppucci signed a National Letter of Intent to swim at the University of Minnesota.
Surrounded by family and friends, Reppucci made her commitment official during an afternoon ceremony at Wilmington High.
She received interest from dozens of colleges before narrowing her choices to Minnesota and the University of Wyoming.
Reppucci developed her talents through Crimson Aquatics. She has swum in meets across the country, competing against the nation’s best in Florida, Wisconsin, New York and Virginia.
She swam last month in Westmont, Ill., in the World Aquatics World Cup. Reppucci is also an excellent student and is receiving an athletic and academic scholarship from the University of Minnesota.
Soccer stars
The Revolution Academy’s Under-18s, Under-16s, Under-15s, Under-14s, and Under-13s all resumed MLS NEXT action last weekend.
The U-15s defeated the Philadelphia Union, 2-1, on Saturday. Philadelphia came out on the front foot with a goal in the fifth minute, but New England quickly responded with the equalizer in the 22nd minute. Moments later, Shirley resident Arthur Bernardino netted the game winner.
The U-13s were defeated by Beachside in a 4-3 loss on Saturday, but Westford’s Michael Miller continues to find the back of the net. He scored another goal and leads the team in scoring.
College basketball
UMass Lowell stormed out to a 36-31 halftime lead, but the second half was another story during a non-conference men’s game at Columbia in New York, N.Y.
Columbia rebounded to top the River Hawks, 86-72, despite four double-digit performances from Austin Green (19 points), Shawn Simmons II (14 points), Xavier Spencer (12 points) and Dracut’s Darrel Yepdo (10 points).
The River Hawks were coming off a 73-67 home to loss to New Haven. They will continue their road trip Sunday at ACC member Wake Forest. Tip off is at 2 p.m.
College cross country
Just two weeks ago, UMass Lowell competed in the 2025 America East Championship at Hopkinton State Fairgrounds in Hopkinton, N.H.
The River Hawks found much success on the men’s side, claiming their sixth conference title in a row, before sophomore Georgia Brooks (Groton) led the women to a fifth-place finish with her fifth-place individual performance.
Both teams will now return to Hopkinton State Fairgrounds for the NCAA Northeast Regional on Friday, looking to see how they stack up against some of the top competition in the region.
The women will kick it off with their 6k race at 11 a.m., while the men will follow with the 10k at 12 p.m. The men rank eighth in the region.
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Staff Report
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Valencia’s Eliana Saga earns spot in girls golf state championship
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Kara An hits from the 2nd tee during the CIF-SS Girls Golf Regional roundup at Los Serranos Country Club on Nov. 13, 2025 in La Verne CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
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Kara An hits from the 2nd tee during the CIF-SS Girls Golf Regional roundup at Los Serranos Country Club on Nov. 13, 2025 in La Verne CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
CHINO HILLS — Four area golfers participated in the 2025 CIF State Girls Golf SoCal Regional at Los Serranos Golf Club on Thursday, and two were able to qualify for the state championship that is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.
Valencia’s Eliana Saga’s strong day saw her punch a ticket to the championship with a 5-under 69, and Buckley’s Kandice Chuang joined her after posting a 4-under 70.
Valencia’s Kara An and Notre Dame Sherman Oaks’ Lily Morua came up short after each shot a 7-over 81, putting a cap on strong seasons for the two.
Saga started her round strong with four birdies on the front nine and was sitting in a qualification spot at 3-under par as she made the turn. From there, she held steady with back-to-back pars on the par-3 10th hole and par-4 11th before she faced adversity on the 12th.
She recorded just her second bogey of the day on that hole and fell back to 2-under and out of the top nine spots on the leaderboard for championship qualification. The USC-committed junior responded to that trouble with one of her most clutch shots of the afternoon, recording an eagle on the par-5 13th hole to put herself at 4-under and again in a qualifying spot.
After carding a birdie and a double bogey on the 14th and 15th holes, respectively, Saga’s state championship hopes were still in her hands. With her scorecard at 4-under, a cushion of just one stroke between her and qualification, and six competitors trailing her at 3-under, a birdie would see her clinch a state berth.
Saga came up big again and finished off 18 with a birdie to end her day tied for fourth to advance to the state’s highest level of competition, and she will be one of 54 total golfers in the contest between both individual and team qualifiers.
The day was less dramatic for Chuang, a junior who began her round on the 3rd hole, and a strong final nine holes proved vital for her to advance on Thursday.
Chuang sat at 1-under through her opening nine before she surged ahead with three birdies in her next seven to improve her score to 4-under with three holes to play.
From there, she ended her day with two straight pars to finish in a tie for seventh place to advance to the championship.
Morua and An had uneven outings on Thursday as they finished in a tie for 78th place after their rounds.
A stretch where Morua recorded a score of 6-over after five consecutive holes saw her on the outside looking in, although the senior did record two birdies on the day, coming on the par-4 9th and par-4 12th.
An carded three birdies on the afternoon, but a 5-over front nine made the prospect of a comeback difficult for the Clemson commit and it proved to be a hole too deep to climb out of.
But for Saga and Chuang, they will now see themselves tested on California’s biggest stage on Wednesday.
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Matt Wagner
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Lawsuit: NCS denied hardship transfer waiver after antisemitism at SF high school
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A two-sport student-athlete encountered antisemitism at University High School in San Francisco and, upon transferring to another school in Marin County, was wrongly denied a hardship exemption that cost her critical time in tennis and track and field, a lawsuit filed last month in Marin Superior Court alleges.
In the case set to be heard Dec. 1, the athlete’s father, Bart Schachter, is seeking a temporary injunction that would reverse North Coast Section commissioner Pat Cruickshank’s decision to deny the waiver and allow his daughter, a 15-year-old sophomore at The Branson School in Ross, to compete without restrictions in the spring track season, which begins in February. She was already required to sit out half of the fall tennis season.
“What we thought would be a fairly routine transfer turned out not to be so,” said Bart Schachter, who filed the suit anonymously through his attorney and requested that his daughter’s name not be used. “That is the greatest hardship endured in this whole thing.”
Schachter’s daughter, who competes at the varsity level in both sports, enrolled at the private college preparatory academy in the Presidio Heights neighborhood as a freshman for the 2024-25 school year and, he said, “pretty quickly” began to experience a string of antisemitic incidents.
Schachter brought the issues to administrators at UHS and later provided the documentation to the NCS in the hardship application. When the section contacted the school to verify the information, however, administrators disputed the characterization of the allegations, and the application was denied.
In a correspondence to the family provided to this news organization, Cruickshank wrote that the girl was denied the “student safety hardship waiver based upon no documentation from UHS of any student safety incidents while enrolled there.” Cruickshank declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
UHS Head of School Nasif Iskander denied the allegations of antisemitism at the school to this news organization but added: “We’ve never objected to the CIF granting this student a waiver to play sports at a new school. … We explicitly supported her desire to play sports.”
Regardless of the court’s decision, Schachter’s daughter will have two years of eligibility remaining in both sports, but the father said, “It’s emotionally challenging to show up at a new school as a transfer. You make friends through sports. It’s hard to sit on the sidelines when you’re a star player.”
The lawsuit alleges that the Schachters and other Jewish families submitted “dozens” of documented safety incidents to UHS over the course of the 2024-25 school year and prior. Iskander said, “We strongly disagree with the allegations … and we have robust and effective programs and policies to provide students an uplifting learning environment that is free of antisemitism and other discrimination.”
Schachter disagreed, telling this news organization that “the fact pattern would indicate” systemic issues with antisemitism at UHS, “(and) if you’re asking about the root cause, that certainly plays a role. Normally we would move on and find a better pasture, but we hit this sports issue and it’s not over.”
In one instance described in the lawsuit, Schachter’s daughter was in the same class as two boys who repeatedly practiced the Nazi salute and “mock(ed) the physical characteristics of Jews.” A few months later, she was “pressured” to attend a meeting on the Israel-Palestine conflict “where Jewish students were mocked for their perspectives … with no meaningful response from UHS administration despite complaints.”
According to the lawsuit, that led Jewish parents to formally submit a complaint regarding “bullying and harassing environment for Jewish students” at the school. The CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council also weighed in, informing UHS that it faced “some of the most serious antisemitism issues reported among independent schools in the Bay Area.”
Iskander said the school was never informed of the first incident and disputed the characterization of the public meeting.
“We said we had no objection to her playing sports,” Iskander reiterated, “but we really disagreed with the characterization of her experience at the school.”
The Schachters filed their petition under bylaw 207.B.(5)c of the California Interscholastic Federation constitution, which waives the mandatory sit-out period for transfers “when a student is transferring as a result of a specific, documented safety incident in which the student was involved.” It requires “sufficient documentation to satisfy that CIF Section Commissioner that the circumstances meet this criteria … including but not limited to administrative records and documentation from the former school about the specific safety incident that occurred at the former school and/or police records (if any).”
The lawsuit alleges that Cruickshank validated the petition’s status under the safety-incident exception by not rejecting it outright and remarking on the “sensitive” nature of the situation upon receiving the initial application. The Schachters submitted to CIF a 72-page report documenting the harassment, correspondence with school officials and the concern from the Jewish Community Relations Council. Regardless of the school’s interpretation, the Schachters believe they met the requirements under the bylaw.
“That’s what every school would say,” Schachter said. “There’s no one who admits these kinds of issues.”
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Evan Webeck
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LA Daily News high school football playoff schedule Friday, Nov. 14
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Daily News football quarterfinals playoff schedule for Friday, Nov. 14. All games 7 p.m. unless noted.
Dates, times and locations are subject to change.
CIF SOUTHERN SECTION
DIVISION 1
Santa Margarita at Sierra Canyon
DIVISION 3
Chino Hills at Notre Dame
DIVISION 4
Oaks Christian at Paraclete
DIVISION 6
Burbank at Eastvale Roosevelt
Agoura at Orange Vista
Moorpark at Ventura
DIVISION 7
Hart at Palm Springs
La Canada at Barstow
Calabasas at Saugus
DIVISION 8
Irvine at Quartz Hill
DIVISION 10
Oak Park at Tahquitz
South Pasadena at Palmdale
DIVISION 12
Yucca Valley at Grace
DIVISION 13
Viewpoint at La Puente
DIVISION 14
Trinity Classical Academy at Pioneer
LA CITY SECTION
OPEN DIVISION
Kennedy at Birmingham Charter
DIVISION I
Van Nuys at Marquez
Dorsey at Eagle Rock
DIVISION II
North Hollywood at Cleveland
Arleta at San Fernando
Chatsworth at Marshall
DIVISION III
Chavez at Wilson
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Tarek Fattal
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