Football: Eagles 'D' Tames Tigers in Rout

Clayton Valley 31, Fremont (Oakland) 6

The Star: The Uglies played relentless defense, refusing Fremont the pleasure of a first down from midway through the second quarter to the final minute of the contest, a period spanning over 30 minutes. On top of that, Fremont yielded just one score and 28 second-half rushing yards.

The Turning Point: Clayton Valley made short work of their first drive after halftime, as running back Joe Protheroe charged into the end zone from 30 yards out to put his team up 21-6 and the game out of reach. 

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 travels to Roseville to face Oakmont, Friday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.

Bottom Line: The Eagles capitalized on Fremont’s offensive miscues early and often, and they had the upper hand most of the way.

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Clayton Valley High Coach Herc Pardi spent the week preparing for what he believed would be a highly physical matchup with Fremont High of Oakland Friday night.

Apparently the Eagles defensive unit got the message.

The Uglies defense held the Tigers to a single touchdown, leading the team to a 31-6 romp in front of the home crowd. Even more impressive, Clayton Valley refused to yield a first down for over a half hour that spanned from midway through the second quarter to just over a minute remaining in the game.

“Fremont is tough,” Pardi said. “They’ll hit you hard, but our defense did a great job.”

Fittingly, the Eagles posted their first points on the scoreboard by converting a Tigers turnover into a touchdown

Late in the first quarter, the Tigers tried to set up a delayed misdirection screen. Linebacker Jesse Medrano was not fooled and swooped in on quarterback Azel Grazty's pass and ran it back 20 yards for the Eagles' first score of the night.

The Eagles offense stumbled its way through the first half, but found itself facing first-and-goal from the Tigers 6-yard line after Zach Meeker blocked a punt deep in Fremont territory.

After missing on all but two passes up until that point, Michael Protheroe smoothly tossed a six-yard fade to his brother, Joe Protheroe, to put the home team up 14-6 with just over a minute left in the first half.

Even Fremont’s lone scoring drive didn’t come easy.  It took the visitors 10 minutes, 26 seconds to march the ball into the end zone, and they would never sniff the end zone again.

Still, the physical bunch from Oakland only trailed 14-6 at halftime. 

Whatever Coach Pardi said to his team in the locker room at halftime had the Uglies on their high horse, as the line opened up holes and Joe Protheroe ripped off a series of big runs on the opening drive of the second half. Clayton Valley finished the series off within two minutes as Joe Protheroe shook off a pair of would-be tacklers and dashed 30 yards to the end zone.

The Tigers' fate was sealed in the third quarter as they surrendered their third turnover of the game, a fumble on 3rd-and-long in their own territory.

After stringing together a pair of negative plays and a penalty, the Eagles found themselves in 3rd-and-forever (25, to be precise) when Joe Protheroe sailed a pass to Kaleb Chelette on an out-and-up route that resulted in a 50-yard touchdown.

The defense held up its end of the bargain, surrendering a meager 28 rushing yards following the intermission.

Next week the Eagles travel to Oakmont High in Roseville, a team still in search of its first win of the year.

Oakmont's lack of wins notwithstanding, Coach Pardi won’t be taking them lightly.

“They’re definitely good,” he declared. “We’re definitely going to get a great test.”

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Clayton Valley 31, Fremont (Oakland) 6

Fremont (Oakland) 0 6  0 0 — 6
Clayton Valley         7 7 14 3 — 31

Scoring summary
1:55, 1st: CV — Medrano 20 interception (Juarez kick)

5:27, 2nd: F — Grazty 1 run (Kick good)

1:07, 2nd: CV — M. Protheroe 6 pass J. Protheroe (Juarez kick)

10:16, 3rd: CV — J. Prothroe 30 run (Juarez kick)

8:36, 3rd : CV — M. Prothroe 50 pass Chelette (Juarez kick)

9:45, 4th: CV — Juarez 40 field goal

Records: Fremont (Oakland) 0-3. CV 3-1.

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