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Welcome to the Playbook!
This week brings another week of the 2025-26 prep sports year! Once again this season, the Playbook will take you inside the EBAL, giving outlooks, updates, and insight into all the sports, along with profiles of athletes, and opinions regarding controversial issues in high school sport.
The Big Picture this week looks at if EBAL schools have athletic Halls of Fame and where they stand. Are they up to date? When was the last offered a new class? And who are the schools without HOFs?
EBAL Power Rankings has a big shakeup in volleyball with teams moving up and teams falling down in the rankings. As the season goes on, is the cream rising to the top, or will we see a resurgence from some?
What to Watch has the final week of the non-league football season before the battles for the banners begin. There are a pair of key volleyball matches and a big flag football game as well. The Fast Five is taking this week off and will be back next week.
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
High time every Tri-Valley high school had an active sports Hall of Fame
“Here is my promise – it is so important to me to see every school represented with a Hall of Fame, I will give my time to any school to help get the ball rolling. Let’s run through EBAL and see how the schools stack up…”
Power Rankings as of Sept. 29.
EBAL FOOTBALL
Mountain Division
Note: De La Salle is not used in the rankings since they get the automatic berth from the EBAL. De La Salle (5-0) d. St. Mary’s 36-7.
1. California (5-0): The Grizzlies move to 5-0 on the season with a 28-20 win over McClymonds. Mack went to the CIF NorCal semifinals before losing to Amador.
2. San Ramon Valley (3-2): The Wolves rebounded from the loss to Clovis North by beating Hayward 44-7. Gets Granada this week.
3. Monte Vista (4-1): The Mustangs won their third game in a row, beating College Park 59-36. The offense has scored 42 or more points in all four wins.
4. Amador Valley (1-4): The Dons got their first win of the season by beating crosstown rival Foothill 49-25. The Dons get another Valley Division in Dublin this week.
Valley Division
1. Livermore (5-0): The Cowboys enjoy life at the top and keep it going with a 27-14 win over Heritage. Will be putting their perfect record on the line this week at 5-0 California.
2. Foothill (3-2): The Falcons saw their three-game win streak come to an end with a 49-25 loss to Amador Valley. Plays Newark Memorial this week.
3. Dublin (3-2): The Gaels moved to a winning record with a 42-20 over Freedom. Takes on Amador Valley this week.
4. Granada (3-2): The Mats roll past Las Lomas 38-21 this week to move to a winning record. A tough one at San Ramon Valley this week.
5. Dougherty Valley (2-3): Beat Fremont (Oakland) 41-15.
EBAL GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
1. Monte Vista (15-6, 5-1): The Mustangs continue their roll and take over the top spot. They opened the week beating Cal, then knocked off San Ramon Valley 3-2. Four teams now stand 5-1 in EBAL play.
2. Foothill (14-6, 5-1): The Falcons had the best week of anyone, knocking Carondelet from the unbeaten EBAL ranks, then sweeping rival Amador Valley to close the week.
3. San Ramon Valley (17-3, 5-1): The Wolves opened the week beating Dougherty Valley, but then got beaten 3-2 by Monte Vista to tumble a couple of spots.
4. Carondelet (16-5, 5-1): The Cougars fell from the unbeaten ranks in league, losing 3-1 to Foothill. They rebounded with a 3-0 win over Dublin.
5. Amador Valley (9-5, 4-2): The Dons started the week beating Granada 3-1, but then were swept by Foothill to close out the week.
Others: Granada (9-8, 0-5), California (5-8, 2-4), Livermore (7-12, 0-5), Dougherty Valley (11-11, 2-4), Dublin (4-11, 1-5).
EBAL FLAG FOOTBALL
1. California (9-1, 5-1): The Grizzlies have survived their lone misstep, having won three straight after falling to Dougherty Valley. Stays tied for first with SRV but does have the win over the Wolves.
2. San Ramon Valley (7-3, 4-1): The Wolves hold at No. 2 after beating Dougherty Valley 46-7.
3. Amador Valley (9-3, 4-2): The Dons have won four games in a row and stay one game behind the leaders in the EBAL race. Took apart Dublin 18-2 last week.
4. Granada (9-5, 3-2): Had a chance to draw even with Cal but fell 18-12 to stay one back. Needs some help from others down the stretch.
5. Foothill (7-5, 4-2): The Falcons thump Livermore 30-6 to stay one game back of the leaders at this point. Welcome back to the top five.
Others: Dougherty Valley (3-6, 3-3), Dublin (9-5, 1-5), Livermore 5-8, 2-2), Monte Vista (4-11, 0-6), Carondelet (5-6, 2-3).
Today (Sept. 30): EBAL flag football: Dougherty Valley at Amador Valley, 7:30 p.m. EBAL girls’ volleyball: Foothill at San Ramon Valley, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday (Oct. 2): EBAL girls’ volleyball: San Ramon Valley at Carondelet, 6:30 p.m.
Friday (Oct. 3): Non-league football: Central Catholic at De La Salle, 7 p.m. Dublin at Amador Valley, Newark at Foothill, Granada at San Ramon Valley, Oakland at Dougherty Valley, Livermore at California, all 7:15 p.m. Monte Vista, bye.
Pleasanton Preps: Watching my friend get inducted into Cal North Hall of Fame
“It was a sensational night, allowing those of us who grew up together to celebrate the accomplishments of our best friends, Kevin Crow, and give us all a chance to reflect on our amazing childhood.”
As Pac-12 rebuilds, new football shows filmed in Pleasanton
Pleasanton’s Goal Line Studios, the media production space created by late football legend John Madden, has become the new home of pregame, halftime and postgame shows for the Pac-12 as the sports conference gears up for the next stage of its rebirth next year.
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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