It was a case of close but no cigar for the most recent challenger to De La Salle's Bay Area dominance, while other games involving top teams only muddied the waters. Watch highlights of many of these teams each week on Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area on YourTV, Channel 20, San Francisco at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. every Sunday. Replays during the week on Comcast Sportsnet throughout Northern California.

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

There were two stops for the CalHiSports.com Bay Area Top 20 caravan this past weekend.

Friday night as promised, we were on hand to see Terron Ward set a De La Salle school rushing record with his 398 yards in the 28-21 victory over Monte Vista.

The stadium was jam-packed with people lining the fence almost around the entire field, with some fans even seated on the overlooking hills outside.

"You can't top what Terron did tonight. He had good vision, found the lanes, and took them,” Spartans' Coach Bob Ladouceur told CalHiSports.com on the field after the victory

Almost lost in the shuffle was the first varsity start for quarterback Bart Houston. Lad picked one heck of a game to give the young man his first chance at signal calling, and although the 6-2, 185-pound sophomore looked a little shaky at times, he played very well considering the level of competition he faced. His 24-yard pass under heavy pressure to Lucas Shapiro with 23 seconds left in the second quarter knotted things up at 21-21. After the game Houston was beaming.

De La Salle's physicality wore down the Mustangs and enabled the Spartans to sack UCLA-bound Mustang quarterback Brett Nottingham three times in the second half with two by senior lineman Will Marre.

After the game, 6-1, 260-pound senior lineman Chris Lawrence was posing for pictures with his family when the picture-taker said "smile Chris.” He did, but after having the bridge of his nose busted open from the battering he delivered and took, it was hard.

On Saturday, the camels got totally rested since we hoofed it ourselves the six blocks from our crib to Petaluma High School for the 18th annual Egg Bowl.

Petaluma rolled up 360 yards rushing with 226 coming in the second half, as the hosts posted a decisive 40-14 victory in the contest for the bragging right to Chicken Town.

"Our kids played their butts off or any superlative you want to use, and it came against a quality opponent," said veteran Coach Steve Ellison, who notched career win No. 198 in 31 years at the helm of Petaluma.

Trojans running back Ricky Sims, wearing pink to show support for his cancer-surviving mother, rushed for three touchdowns. His backfield mate, diminutive but speedy Sean Sullivan, rolled up 194 yards rushing on 19 carries with two trips to paydirt on runs of 20 and 74 yards.

After six weeks the caravan has now personally seen nine of the top 20 teams in action.


This week's new Bay Area Top 20 follows:

(After games played on Saturday, Oct. 10)
(Previous ranking in parentheses)

1. (1) De La Salle (Concord) 3-2
For those who were writing De La Salle's epitaph as the Bay Area's dominant prep football power, running back Terron Williams-Ward had the answer. On tap is a San Ramon Valley team emboldened by a victory over previously state-ranked and currently reeling Foothill.

2. (2) Monte Vista (Danville) 4-1
Most of the assembled scribes agreed the Mustangs gave the Spartans everything they had but it just wasn't enough. Still, after the way Brett Nottingham, Bryce McGovern and the rest of Coach Craig Bergman's charges performed in the 28-21 setback, we want to see someone else beat the Stangs before dropping them below anyone that also has a loss or a team that hasn't played top level competition. Next up is a ride to Pleasanton to face newcomer to the rankings Amador Valley, a team that gave De La Salle a tussle and this week got a solid win over Granada.

3. (5) St. Francis (Mountain View) 4-1
Moving the Lancers ahead of a Palma team they lost to was a tough decision, but it appears the two teams responded to that game in different ways. Since the setback, retiring coach Mike Mitchell's charges have gotten it done in crucial moments against top teams, a knack championship squads seem to show in clutch situations. First, it was a solid win over Los Gatos, who beat Salinas 48-7, the same Salinas team that only lost 28-20 to Palma two Friday nights ago. Then last week, St. Francis came to San Francisco and prevailed in the late going to post a 24-21 victory over a very good St. Ignatius. This past Friday night, the Lancers duplicated the effort in a 27-24 win on a last second 27-yard field goal by Spencer Rogers. Quarterback Kyle Miller, who was a pinpoint 19 of 23 passing for 243 yards and three touchdowns, got it done with his legs on the winning drive. Dropping back to pass, Miller avoided a heavy Serra rush and scrambled for 23-yards to set up the winning kick. Next up is a trip across the Santa Clara Valley to Valley Christian to face a Warriors team that has been crushed two straight weeks by WCAL foes.

4. (3) Serra (San Mateo) 3-2
According to those at the game, the Padres just about had St. Francis quarterback Kyle Miller sacked, but their inability to corral him cost them the game as his scramble in the late going was their ultimate demise. Next up is another WCAL showdown when Coach Patrick Walsh's boys host a hot Bellarmine squad.

5. (9) Bellarmine (San Jose) 4-1
The time has come to move Coach Mike Janda's Bells up into the top five – and who can deny they belong, with only a lone loss to a loaded and state-ranked St. Mary's of Stockton and a 54-24 win this past Friday night on the road at San Jose Valley Christian. Kris Olugbode returned kickoffs 98 and 96 yards for touchdowns and quarterback Mike McGovern rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns as the bell tolled for the Warriors at San Jose City College. Next up is the matchup with Serra so one of the two teams will drop anyway.

6. (6) Milpitas 5-0
Cameron Hernandez threw three touchdown passes in a 55-21 triumph over Saratoga to open De Anza League play. On tap for Kelly King's squad is what could possibly be a test in a home game against a Mountain View team that just waxed Santa Clara Wilcox.

7. (7) Berkeley 6-0
We don't even want to look at the stats of a 69-0 win for the Yellowjackets against an 0-6 Richmond De Anza team that has been outscored 325-7 this season. Coach Alonzo Carter's boys look like they will get their chance in the NCS Division I playoffs but until then their games may all be lopsided wins. With WCAL teams above them still having to play each other, Carter's boys can still move up as the weeks pass.  

8. (4) Palma (Salinas) 3-1-1
The 31-14 victory over St. Francis was looking real good until the Chieftains couldn't get it done against Seaside, coming away with a 21-21 tie on their trip to the coast. One has to think that playing so many tough teams early in the season has taken its toll on the small school squad. Next up is a 1-5 cross-town Alvarez. Look for Coach Jeff Carnazzo's boys to try and get fat on the Eagles.

9. (8) Los Gatos 4-1
It was a case of strong defense and efficient running as the Wildcats came away with a 49-14 victory at Cupertino Homestead. Junior running back Andy Heimer had seven carries for 55 yards and four touchdowns on runs of nine, one, 18 and two yards. He also hit all seven of his extra point attempts. Alec Gletzer also had 16 tackles and a sack. On tap for Coach Butch Cattolico's boys is a non-league contest at 0-5 San Jose Lynbrook.

10. (10) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 5-0
The only undefeated team left in the WCAL is Coach Matt Haniger's Monarchs after they took out St. Ignatius, 47-24, at Foothill College. According to the San Jose Mercury News, the Monarchs piled up exactly 500 total yards, including 383 on the ground. Junior quarterback Kyle Boehm threw for 117 yards and ran for 63, and Rocky Meszaros had 195 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

11. (NR) Amador Valley (Pleasanton) 4-1
We almost moved the Dons into the Top 20 by virtue of their performance in losing to De La Salle two weeks ago but figured we'd see what they did against a Granada squad that beat Foothill. We got our answer in a 13-3 road victory that propels the Rick Sira coached squad way up into these rankings. We'll see if it holds at home this week against Monte Vista. Against Granada, Dalton Turay scored both touchdowns, first on a 3-yard run to give his team the lead for good in the third quarter, then on a 38-yard run in the fourth quarter that sealed the deal.

12. (13) Pittsburg 2-3
The Pirates get a one spot bump after a 51-6 dismantling of Oakland Fremont. The team now opens BVAL play at Brentwood Heritage in what could be a very interesting contest

13. (14) Deer Valley (Antioch) 5-0
Likewise the Wolverines jump up a spot after a solid 28-7 win at home against Vallejo. In two weeks, provided the Wolverines beat Oakley Freedom this week and the Pirates take out Brentwood Heritage, we'll see what the league pecking order is when Coach Rich Woods' team travels to Pittsburg.

14. (11) Granada (Livermore) 3-2
The Matadors laid an egg in the loss to Amador Valley but in the EBAL it appears that at this time only Sparta is a certainty.

15. (NR) San Ramon Valley (Danville) 4-1
This team's lone loss is to a very good California (San Ramon) team that also could very well be in these rankings. The Wolves' own spot is validated by a 34-26 home victory over Foothill this past weekend. Michael Summers rushed for 109 yards and recovered an onside kick to preserve the win. Junior quarterback Chris Comes threw touchdown passes of 59 and 81 yards and running back Garrett Robinson also had a TD pass.

16. (12) Foothill (Pleasanton) 3-2
For now the Falcons hold their place in front of Novato in these rankings since they tripped the Hornets, 17-14, on the road, but it's not looking good for their chances to make any noise in the playoffs unless they can knock off some top EBAL teams in weeks to come. Even in defeat, Oregon State bound Sean Mannion completed 27 of 49 passes for 356 yards and two TDs.

17. (15) Novato 4-2
The Hornets have had to drop three spots in the past two weeks despite beating league foes by a combined 102-7 margin. Problem is, other than Kentfield Marin Catholic, the Marin County Athletic League competition, like many leagues this year in the Bay Area, is pretty weak.

18. (16) San Benito (Hollister) 6-0
The Haybalers have posted back-to-back 44-0 victories, this past week against Alvarez. The Tri-County League showdown with Palma comes on November 6.

19. (18) Encinal (Alameda) 4-1
Jets had no problem in a 38-6 victory over visiting Piedmont.

20. (NR) Petaluma 6-0
A decision had to be made to drop 4-1 Heritage, whose lone loss was to Monte Vista, and who posted a 39-7 victory over Oakland Skyline, or bring in the undefeated Trojans to take the Redwood Empire's spot in the rankings of the Casa Grande team they defeated.

On the Bubble:
Alhambra (Martinez) 5-1, Analy (Sebastopol) 5-1, California (San Ramon) 3-2, Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 2-3, Carmel 5-0, Casa Grande (Petaluma) 4-1, Healdsburg 5-1, Clayton Valley (Concord) 5-0, Heritage (Brentwood) 4-1, James Logan (Union City) 3-3, Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 5-1, Oakland Tech (Oakland) 4-1, Palo Alto 4-1, Pioneer (San Jose) 5-0, San Leandro 3-2, St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 2-3, Valley Christian (San Jose) 3-2, Windsor 5-1.