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Welcome to the Playbook!
It is time for another week of the 2025-26 prep sports year! The Playbook takes you inside the East Bay Athletic League, writing about outlooks, updates and insights into all the sports, along with profiles of athletes, and opinions regarding controversial issues in high school sport.
The Big Picture looks at the amazing season of the California High varsity football team. The Grizzlies have recovered from graduation losses to win their first seven games. The latest win over San Ramon Valley gave Cal control of the EBAL Mountain Division.
EBAL Power Rankings have no movement this week as the teams are settled in, setting up their post season runs. What to Watch has the schedule for the final EBAL volleyball games and the eighth week of football! The Fast Five travels to Livermore to talk with Caden Romero of the top-ranked Livermore football team.
If you know of a great story or have any questions, please reach out either by email at acesgolf@aol.com or by phone at 925-200-0719.
From the sidelines,
Dennis Miller, Playbook Editor
‘The kids are hard workers’: 7-0 Grizzlies roar ahead after dominant win over Wolves
Now, Cal has three regular season games left before the postseason. And even with the huge win over the Wolves, there is plenty of work to be done.
Power Rankings as of Oct. 20.
EBAL FOOTBALL
Mountain Division
1. California (7-0, 1-0): The Grizzlies are firing on both sides of the ball, beating San Ramon Valley 33-14 to take control of the Mountain division.
2. San Ramon Valley (4-3, 1-1): The Wolves go to Cal and never get going as the Grizzlies controlled both sides of the ball, losing 33-14.
3. Monte Vista (4-3, 0-0): The Mustangs travel all the way to El Dorado Hills and got beaten by Oak Ridge 38-13. Finally start EBAL play this week.
4. Amador Valley (2-6, 0-1): The Dons have the task of facing De La Salle last week, falling 56-13.
Valley Division
1. Livermore (7-1, 1-0): The Cowboys pick up a 31-7 non-league win over Redwood Christian and hold the top spot again this week.
2. Dublin (4-4, 1-1): The Gaels go to Granada and get the 23-20 win to lay claim to being the No. 2 team in the Valley.
3. Granada (4-4, 1-1): The Mats play host to Dublin and drop a tough 23-20 game to the Gaels.
4. Foothill (4-3, 0-1): The Falcons have a bye and an extra week to prepare for Dublin.
Note: De La Salle is not used in the rankings since they get the automatic berth from the EBAL. De La Salle (7-0) d. Amador Valley 56-13. Also, Dougherty Valley canceled its EBAL season, leaving only four teams in the Valley.
EBAL FLAG FOOTBALL
1. California (13-3, 8-1): The Grizzlies keep the top spot with a 26-12 win over Dublin in the last game of the regular season.
2. Amador Valley (15-5, 6-3): The Dons beat Foothill 28-14 in the regular season finale, then go out and blast San Ramon Valley 18-2 in the first round of the SRV Tournament.
3. San Ramon Valley (12-5, 7-2): The Wolves drop a 18-2 game to Amador in the SRV tournament and drop a spot. The two teams meet again today in the EBAL playoffs.
4. Granada (12-6, 6-3): The Matadors beat Livermore 14-7 in the final game of EBAL play and get the second seed in the Valley in the EBAL playoffs.
5. Foothill (11-7, 5-4): The Falcons fall to Amador Valley 28-14 in the last game of the regular season. This is a team that could put a run together in NCS.
Others: Dougherty Valley (4-9, 4-5), Carondelet (9-10, 4-5), Dublin (15-9, 1-8), Livermore (8-12, 3-6), Monte Vista (6-15, 1-8).
EBAL GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
1. Monte Vista (23-8, 11-1): The Mustangs sweep Dougherty Valley and California to stay on top and likely the top seed from the Mountain in the playoffs.
2. Foothill (23-7, 11-1): The Falcons sweep Dublin and Livermore at No. 2 this week, with the EBAL playoffs looming this week.
3. San Ramon Valley (23-7, 10-2): The Wolves are just one game back on Monte Vista and get the Mustangs tonight, with the top seed in the Mountain at stake.
4. Carondelet (19-8, 8-4): The Cougars drop a tough 3-2 final to San Ramon Valley but then rally to sweep Dougherty Valley.
5. Amador Valley (14-10, 8-4): The Dons split league games, beating Livermore but then getting swept by San Ramon Valley.
Others: California (11-12, 4-8), Dougherty Valley (15-17, 3-9), Granada (12-12, 3-9), Dublin (8-19, 2-10), Livermore (7-18, 0-11).
Today (Oct. 21) – EBAL flag football playoffs: Granada at California, 5:15 p.m.; San Ramon Valley at Amador Valley, 6:15 p.m. EBAL girls’ volleyball: Foothill at Amador Valley, San Ramon Valley at Monte Vista, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday (Oct. 23) – EBAL girls’ volleyball playoffs: Mountain No. 2 at Valley No. 1, Valley No. 2 at Mountain No. 1.
Friday (Oct. 24) – EBAL Valley: Foothill at Dublin, 7:15 p.m. EBAL Mountain: California at Monte Vista, 7:15 p.m. Non-league football: De La Salle at San Ramon Valley, 7:15 p.m. (Byes: Livermore, Granada, Amador Valley)
Take Us Along: House divided, Tokyo edition
Jennifer and Andrew Pearce put their baseball loyalties to the test at the Tokyo Dome this past May at a Tokyo Giants vs. Tokyo Swallows game.
Pleasanton Preps: Busy stretch for girls’ volleyball, water polo
The Dons have been busy the last couple weeks, traveling south for the 2025 Arroyo Grande Fall Classic, as well as playing non-league and EBAL games.
We interview high school athletes and coaches all the time. Occasionally we ask them questions that have nothing to do with sports. Here’s one:
Name: Caden Romero
School and grade: Livermore High (Junior)
Sport: Football
Favorite streaming channel/favorite show: Netflix – “We’re the Millers”
Favorite genre music/Favorite performer: Hip-hop
Must follow on social media: Christian McCaffrey (@christianmccaffrey)
Favorite fast-food restaurant/meal: Chipotle/Burrito Bowl
Favorite quote: “I never lose – I either win or learn.” (Nelson Mandela)
If you are interested in doing a Fast Five, contact Dennis Miller at acesmag@aol.com. Thank you!
Dennis Miller is a veteran sports writer and editor, covering sports in the Tri-Valley for over 35 years. In addition to being the editor of Tri-Valley Preps Playbook, he has written a weekly column for Pleasanton Weekly and PleasantonWeekly.com, “Pleasanton Preps,” since 2011. Email him at sports@pleasantonweekly.com.
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