Sports
Eagles Bounce Vintage High 23-6
Clayton Valley shakes off previous week's defeat to hold court in front of the home crowd
Clayton Valley 23, Vintage 6
The Star: Last week’s star, Eagles kicker Eddie Juarez, showed some versatility, recording a touchdown catch, a 40-yard field goal and three touchbacks. Sophomore Michael Protheroe, who started the season as the backup, showed flashes of brilliance, notching three touchdowns on 159 yards passing.
The Turning Point: Following Broderick Villamor’s key interception, Protheroe found Kaleb Chelette on a 21-yard slant that put Clayton Valley up 16-0, and put the game out of reach.
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The Quote: "This week was a little better. We’re still making an awful lot of mistakes, but we’re getting better. We’ve got to get some experience soon." — Clayton Valley coach Herc Pardi.
What's Next? Clayton awaits Fremont of Oakland, Friday, Sept. 23rd at 7 p.m.
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Bottom Line: The Eagles built up their confidence early, as they forced two first-half turnovers that led to scores. Vintage was visibly off balance the rest of the way.
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Just a week after submitting his team’s most impressive performance in a disappointing home loss, it was only fitting that Eddie Juarez would be the one to put the finishing touches on Clayton Valley High’s first win.
What the Eagles' opponents—Vintage High School of Napa—probably did not expect was that those touches would come in the form of a long touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, as Clayton Valley rolled over the Crushers 23-6.
Facing third-and-fourteen inside Vintage territory in the fourth quarter, the home team looked as if it would have to call upon Juarez’s powerful leg to try to extend its 16-0 lead. That call came a down early as Juarez lined up as a receiver and found himself wide open 30 yards downfield after the defense bit on quarterback Michael Protheroe’s play-action fake.
Protheroe sailed the ball right into Juarez’s chest and he waltzed into the end zone for his club’s final score (of course he converted the point after).
The Uglies treated their home fans to a balanced offensive attack and redeemed themselves after having stumbled in overtime against Antioch last week.
Still, they put up most of their points in the first half.
Clayton Valley stalled on the game’s opening drive, but after subsequently stopping the Vintage offensive unit on a fourth-down rushing attempt, the Eagles began to march.
Protheroe capped a quick drive with a beautifully placed 12-yard fade to Kelili Dominguez in the corner of the end zone to go up 6-0.
On the ensuing drive the Crushers responded by pounding the ball up the field from deep in their own territory. They strode down near the CV 30-yard line before Eagles defensive back Christian Pedraza swooped in to nab Crushers quarterback Dylan Duprez’s attempt.
Unable to capitalize on the turnover with a trip to the end zone, Eagles Coach Herc Pardi elected to deploy Juarez, who slammed a 40-yard kick through the uprights that looked well-equipped to clear 50.
“He is a great ballplayer,” said Pardi of Juarez. “He is going to play at the next level.”
Up 10-0, Broderick Villamor snatched the Eagles second of three interceptions—and four forced turnovers—setting up a 21-yard scoring connection on a slant from Protheroe—who compiled 159 yards and three touchdowns through the air—to Kaleb Chelette, affording the Uglies a 16-0 advantage at the half.
The Crushers would need until the 4:24 mark in the fourth quarter to post a score, as Duprez found AJ Claudio open deep for a 48-yard touchdown. The loss dropped them to 0-3.
Despite missing four starters due to injury, the Ugly Eagles improved to 2-1, but the celebration won’t last long. They host Fremont High of Oakland next week, and Pardi expects to have his hands full.
“Fremont [of Oakland] is gigantic,” the coach explained. “They are going to try to push us around. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
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Clayton Valley 23, Clayton Valley 6
Vintage—Napa 0 0 0 6 6 — 6
Clayton Valley 10 6 0 7 0 — 23
Scoring summary
5:08, 1st: CV — M. Protheroe 12 pass (Juarez kick)
2:28, 1st: CV — Juarez 40 field goal
4:40, 2nd: CV — M. Protheroe 21 pass Chelette (PAT failed)
9:20, 4th: CV — M. Protheroe 33 pass Chelette (Juarez kick)
4:24, 4th: V — Duprez 48 pass Claudio (Kick good)
