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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 deep-dives back into the mess that is social media and the damage it can do to potential college careers. There was a scary moment for a pair of young athletes in the area last week. It was something we can all learn from.
EBAL Power Rankings sees upheaval in the Mountain football rankings, as well as new No. 1 in the volleyball rankings. What to Watch has the schedule for the first week of the North Coast Section volleyball and flag football playoffs.
The Fast Five visits with Amador Valley senior water polo scoring machine Susan Swyers. Her favorite quote tells it like it is.
If you know of a great story or have any questions, please reach out either by email acesgolf@aol.com or by phone at 925-200-0719.
From the sidelines,
Dennis Miller, Playbook Editor
Teachable moment after social media rears ugly head for middle school athletes
“In the span of moments, their respective middle school football careers were in jeopardy all because of a poor choice making a social media video. Ultimately the coaches decided to use the situation as a teachable moment – the correct decision as far as I am concerned.”
Power Rankings as of Oct. 27.
EBAL FOOTBALL
Mountain Division
1. Monte Vista (4-3, 1-0): The Mustangs lay down the hurt on California, winning 34-13. They deserve the top spot for now as they beat the former No. 1 convincingly. Goes to Amador Valley this week.
2. California (7-1, 1-1): The Grizzlies get slapped back into reality, seeing their unbeaten season come to an end with a 34-14 loss at Monte Vista.
3. San Ramon Valley (5-4, 1-1): The Wolves come off the loss to California and run into De La Salle, falling 56-7. A much-deserved break this week before closing the regular season with Monte Vista.
4. Amador Valley (2-6, 0-1): The Dons had a bye last week and will host Monte Vista on Friday night.
Valley Division
1. Livermore (7-1, 1-0): The Cowboys had a bye this week and play Foothill this week before closing with crosstown rival Granada this weekend.
2. Dublin (5-4, 2-1): The Gaels close out the regular season with a 52-7 win over Foothill. Now they have two weeks off before playing again, thanks to Dougherty Valley dropping its team this year midway through the season.
3. Granada (4-4, 1-1): The Matadors are dealing with what Dublin is now, as they had a bye last week and have another this week with the departure of Dougherty Valley. Will next play Nov. 7 against Livermore.
4. Foothill (4-4, 0-2): The Falcons fall 52-7 to Dublin, evening their overall record. Plays Livermore on Thursday night this week. Picked up a game with Redwood Christian on Nov. 7.
Note: De La Salle is not used in the rankings since they get the automatic berth from the EBAL. De La Salle (8-0) d. San Ramon Valley 56-7.
EBAL GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (25-8, 10-3): The Wolves win the EBAL Tournament with a win over Foothill in the semifinals and beating Monte Vista in the finals.
2. Monte Vista (25-9, 12-1): The Mustangs topped Amador in the semifinals of the league tournament but then fall in the title game to SRV.
3. Foothill (24-8, 12-1): The Falcons close the regular season with a win over Amador but then call 3-2 in the EBAL playoffs to San Ramon Valley.
4. Carondelet (24-9, 9-4): The Cougars close the regular season with a 3-0 sweep of California and now await the post season.
5. Amador Valley (14-12, 8-5): The Dons suffer a pair of losses, falling first to Amador Valley in the regular season finale, then to Monte Vista in the first round of the EBAL playoffs.
Others: California (11-13, 4-9), Dougherty Valley (16-17, 4-9), Granada (13-12, 4-9), Dublin (8-20, 2-11), Livermore (7-19, 0-13).
EBAL FLAG FOOTBALL
1. California (15-3, 8-1): The Grizzlies take the EBAL playoffs beating Granada 12-6 in the semifinals, then San Ramon Valley in the championship game by a 14-7 final.
2. San Ramon Valley (14-6, 7-2): The Wolves take a 6-0 win over Amador in the EBAL semifinals, then fall 14-7 to California in the finals.
3. Amador Valley (15-6, 6-3): The Dons fell 6-0 in the first round of the EBAL playoffs to San Ramon Valley. Next up – NCS playoffs.
4. Granada (12-7, 6-3): The Matadors make the EBAL playoffs and drop a 12-6 game to the eventual champion California.
5. Foothill (12-7, 5-4): The Falcons close the regular season with a 32-13 win over Leadership 32-13.
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).
Today (Oct. 28)
North Coast Section Flag Football D-I: California (2) vs. College Park (15) at California, 6 p.m.; Dublin (14) at Liberty (3), 6 p.m.; Amador Valley (8) vs. Castro Valley (9) at Liberty, 7:30 p.m.; Granada (5) vs. Alameda (12) at Heritage, 7:30 p.m.; San Ramon Valley (6) vs. Foothill (11) at California, 7:30 p.m.
NCS Volleyball D-I: Monte Vista (1) at Petaluma (16), 7 p.m.; Carondelet (3) at Rancho Cotate (14), 7 p.m.; Northgate (11) at Foothill (6), 7 p.m.
Tomorrow (Oct. 29)
NCS Volleyball Open: Branson (4) at San Ramon Valley (5), 7 p.m. D-II: Granada (16) at University (1), 7 p.m.; Terra Linda (9) at Amador Valley (8), 7 p.m.
Thursday (Oct. 30)
EBAL Football: Livermore at Foothill, 7:15 p.m.
NCS Flag Football Quarterfinal: First round winners.
Friday (Oct. 31)
EBAL Football: California at De La Salle, Monte Vista at Amador Valley, both 7:15.; San Ramon Valley, Dublin, Granada, byes.
Saturday (Nov. 1)
NCS Volleyball D-I Quarterfinals: First-round winners, TBD. D-II Quarterfinals: First-round winners, TBD.
Pleasanton Preps: Goalie Suresh continues strong season for Amador girls’ water polo
The Amador Valley girls’ water polo team had a strong week, winning its lone EBAL game and then going 3-1 in the Tri-Valley Tournament to take fifth place. Goalie Deepika Suresh continues to be an anchor for the Dons’ defense.
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: Susan Swyers
School and grade: Amador Valley (senior)
Sport: Water polo
Favorite streaming channel/favorite show: Netflix
Favorite genre music/Favorite performer: Rap/Jaydes
Must follow on social media: Amador Valley girls’ water polo (Avwopo)
Favorite fast-food restaurant/meal: Street tacos with horchata
Favorite quote: “No pain, no gain.” (Popularized by Jane Fonda in the 1980s).
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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