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It’s been a blur for Anthony Harrington as he enters his senior year for the Amador Valley High School football team.
Much the same way Harrington has been a blur to opposing defenses throughout his four years on the Amador Valley varsity.
That’s right, Harrington is entering his fourth year on the varsity for the Dons. Playing as a freshman on a varsity football team in the East Bay Athletic League is a rare accomplishment, but Harrington has done just that – and thrived.
Now on the verge of beginning his final and senior season, Harrington took some time to look back on the journey.
He had barely graduated from Harvest Park Middle School in Pleasanton when he was called up to the Amador varsity to provide badly needed depth for the Dons’ defensive backfield.
It was a lot to digest.
“The speed was way different, the size was different, and I felt like I was getting dominated,” said Harrington, who was 5-foot-7, 135 pounds at that point. “Being able to learn from them and to see how a varsity team worked – it was mind blowing.”
He learned quickly.
“He was the next dude up in the entire program,” Amador coach Danny Jones said of pulling Harrington up from the freshman team. “Initially there were some size concerns, but within a week, he was starting at corner for us.”
And he was opening the eyes of the coaching staff.
“It went from getting depth for defense to how do we get him the ball in the open field,” Jones said.
Along the way that freshman year, among the teams he had to play against was traditional national powerhouse De La Salle.
“Oh my God – that was scary (stuff),” said Harrington about taking on De La Salle for the first time. “They were just different than other teams.”
Harrington persevered throughout the year, including a lost fumble the first time he touched the ball on offense, and by the end of the season, his path was defined.
“Yep, he fumbles on his very first offensive play, but by the end of the season, he was one of our best players,” said Jones.
When the season ended, Harrington knew the mission was clear.
“It was a different feeling,” he said about how he looked at being on the varsity. “I knew where I wanted to get to and how much work I had to do to get there. I wanted to be a dude at this program.”
His role would be two-fold his sophomore season. Amador’s new quarterback Tristan Ti’a had to sit the first five games after transferring from Granada, so the Dons’ ability to get the ball down the field through the air was limited.
As a result, Harrington needed to contribute running the ball.
“I wanted to show what I was capable of,” Harrington said. “I knew I could help the team with my feet.”
Jones and his staff could see the maturation process.
“You could tell his body was getting bigger,” Jones said. “He was getting thicker. He was just incredible in the open field that year. We needed him to move the ball on the ground.”
Ti’a played the last three games, as the Dons took the EBAL Valley Division title at 4-0, and then they lost 41-14 to Pittsburg in the first round of the North Coast Section playoffs.
But the final three games of the season were a preview of what was coming next season for the duo of Ti’a and Harrington.
“Going into his junior year we knew he was our best player on the field,” Jones said of Harrington.
“We had really high expectations for that season,” Harrington added. “Tristan and I played on the same 7v7 team, helping us learn a lot there as we worked together.”
One thing was clear: The Dons could put points on the board. Through the first three games in 2024, Harrington had already hauled in 19 passes, and it was obvious where the key was for the offense.
“The connection they had was amazing,” Jones said of Ti’a and Harrington. “They had their own hand signs like if the corner was playing soft.”
Like for instance in a 48-12 win against crosstown rival Foothill, Jones sent in a play but when Harrington got to the line, he saw how the corner was lined up. He signaled Ti’a, the quarterback acknowledged, and the result was a 70-yard touchdown.
“They called that play – not me,” said Jones, with a sense of astonishment and recognition of the way the two players communicated.
The numbers continued to build, and by the end of the season Harrington finished with 86 receptions for 1,503 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Those numbers were among the leaders in California and set Amador Valley single-season and career receiving records.
Ti’a – now at Oregon State – finished with 3,758 passing yards, hitting on his passes at 75%, finishing with 32 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He added 871 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns.
But as good as the individual performances were, it was the team side that made Amador’s season one to remember.
One year after winning the EBAL Valley title, the Dons went 1-2 in the insanely strong Mountain Division, with their losses coming to San Ramon Valley (29-28) and California (54-48, OT).
The competition made them sharp for the postseason.
The Dons were seeded No. 2 in the NCS Division II tournament and took the title with wins over Las Lomas, Windsor and Bishop O’Dowd.
That got them in the CIF 3-AA State Bowl playoffs, having to travel to West Oakland and McClymonds to play for a spot in the state title game.
“That was one for the books, that game,” Harrington said of the McClymonds game. “We were a little intimidated, but once we figured out they were like us, it was a hard-fought game.”
The Dons trailed 13-8 at the half but charged back in the second half, scoring 14 in the third quarter and 22 points in the fourth to win 44-33 and earn a spot to play for the state title.
That came seven days later when Amador faced Frontier (Bakersfield) in Long Beach. What happened next no one could see coming.
The day of the game, Harrington had a breakfast burrito at the team hotel, and it turned into a case of food poisoning.
“I felt so fatigued – all I could do was think, why is this happening,” Harrington said. “By the time the game started, nothing felt good – my adrenaline never kicked in. I went through three cans of air, and I threw up at halftime. I felt better in the second half but still never felt good.”
He still caught a second-half touchdown to pull the Dons within 18-14, but Frontier held on to win.
In an almost hard-to-believe move, Harrington battled through the illness without letting on to anyone outside of his family.
“He didn’t say a word until the bus ride home following the game,” Jones said. “He had food poisoning, was still able to catch a touchdown, and never said a word. What a stud – he’s just a special person.”
The season also put Harrington on the map of colleges – or at least should have. Now checking in at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Harrington did not fit the numbers most colleges look at. It wasn’t unexpected for the rising senior.
“I always knew my size was going to be an issue,” Harrington said. “For me it was all about working hard – I knew because I was smaller, I had to work harder. My goal was always D-I. I sent out emails trying to build a connection.”
He got invited to some summer camps, one of which was Idaho State.
He made the trip to Pocatello, Idaho for the camp and showed the Bengals’ staff what the EBAL already knew – Harrington is a special player.
“I went to their camp and balled out,” he said. “The coaches said they were going to talk at the end of camp. Later that night they called and offered me. It was a sense of relief – I knew I wanted to be there. I wanted to take the first offer because they saw something in me first.”
Jones was ecstatic.
“He came in as a 135-pound freshman and is now committed to a D-I program,” Jones said. “I am so proud and happy for him.”
Now all that’s left is his senior year. With what Jones called the most talented junior class in his time with the Dons now back together as seniors, Harrington could put those school records he has in his back pocket out of reach.
“As a senior, I feel like this is my team – our team,” Harrington said. “Last year taught us what we have to do. It taught us how to fight through injuries to achieve our goals.”
