Today’s edition is sponsored by The Rose Hotel.
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Welcome to the Playbook!
It’s time for another week of the Tri-Valley Preps Playbook, your inside source for all sports when it comes to the East Bay Athletic League. Join me each week for some honest feelings about the good, the bad, and the ugly side of high school athletics!
The Big Picture looks at the EBAL football teams that have captured NCS titles and what is next for them. Also, how did our local runners fare in the CIF State cross country meet!
EBAL Power Rankings offer the final football poll for the 2024 season. There are still two teams playing but how they run out the table will not change the final rankings. We are two weeks away from the first basketball polls, with the soccer polls not that much behind!
Fast Five introduces Dougherty Valley cross country runner Arrin Sagiraju, fresh off his great run at state!
Got a great story idea for something coming up in the winter? Let me know at acesmag@aol.com!
From the sidelines,
Dennis Miller, Playbook Editor
Football: Amador, De La Salle win NCS titles; San Ramon Valley loses thriller in D-I final
De La Salle, San Ramon Valley and Amador Valley all advanced to their respective division North Coast Section championship games, with the Spartans and the Dons winning to advance to on to the next stage in the postseason.
Power Rankings as of Dec. 3.
FINAL FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS
Mountain Division
*** De La Salle is not included in the weekly Mountain Power Rankings, but the Playbook will track them each week and they will be listed following the Valley rankings.
1. San Ramon Valley (11-2): The Wolves fell to Pittsburg in a 35-28 in the NCS D-I final to end their season. Will keep the top spot by virtue of their 28-28 win over Amador.
2. California (8-3): Season is over. Will finish No. 2 by virtue of their epic overtime 54-48-win, game of the year win over Amador.
3. Amador Valley (9-4): The Dons roll to the first NCS Football title with a 42-18 thumping of Bishop O’Dowd in the NCS D-II title game. Now one win away from playing for a CIF State title game. This week: at McClymonds, Friday, 7 p.m. This week: vs. Bishop O’Dowd, Friday at Dublin High, 7 p.m.
4. Monte Vista (5-6): Season is over.
Valley Division
1. Granada (7-5): Season is over.
2. Livermore (6-5): Season is over.
3. Dublin (3-8): Season is over.
4. Foothill (4-6, 1-3): Season is over.
5. Dougherty Valley (2-8, 0-4): Season is over.
*** De La Salle (13-0): The Spartans were off after winning the NCS Open title. Next up is the CIF Open division title game vs. Mater Dei on Dec. 14 at Saddleback College.
Pleasanton Preps: After stunning run to NorCal championship, Foothill girls’ volleyball falls in state final
The result was not what they had hoped for, but for the Foothill girls’ volleyball team, it was all about the journey — and then some.
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: Arrin Sagiraju
School and grade: Dougherty Valley High (2025)
Sport: Cross Country and Track & Field
Favorite streaming channel/favorite show: “Formula One: Drive to Survive”
What music are you listening to: ’90s hip hop
Must follow on social media: Jakob Ingebrigsten (Norwegian runner)
Favorite fast-food restaurant/meal: Anything, not a picky eater
Favorite quote: “You have to be so confident in yourself that people think you’re delusional” – Yaseen Abdalla
Do you have someone you want us to interview? Email us.
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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