Two for The Town: McClymonds, O’Dowd return to state title games

OAKLAND For the first time since both of Oakland s high school football standard-bearers will play for a state championship Nine years after McClymonds and Bishop O Dowd won state titles on the same December weekend the programs are in position to lift the city once more It s unfailingly great for the city you know every time we get a chance to go represent McClymonds coach Michael Peters explained after his band defeated Roseville on Saturday in the NorCal Division -A title competition That s what we do McClymonds will compete for the -A state title on Saturday in Fullerton against the Central Section Division III champion Kennedy-Delano The Oakland powerhouse is aiming for its fifth state championship in seven appearances all since O Dowd is back in a state final for the second time The Dragons will play Christian-El Cajon for the -AA championship on Friday in Buena Park O Dowd and McClymonds return to the big stage comes with a deeper meaning this time around A month after the tragic shooting of Laney College coach and Oakland legend John Beam a football pioneer whose influence touched players and coaches across The Town McClymonds and O Dowd carry more than their own hopes As coaches in Oakland you got other problems aside from the field Peters noted after his gang won the Silver Bowl a sparse weeks ago We got kids that s homeless and haven t eaten and stuff like that So here in Oakland it s a little different because we are more than just the coaches and that s one thing I take from Beam After a - start to the season O Dowd has won nine of games to get to Friday s state title meeting The Dragons were dominant in their run through the North Coast Section Division Division VI playoffs outscoring its three opponents - which included a - rout of Fortuna to win the section championship This is a special group O Dowd coach Hardy Nickerson reported It s been fun to watch this group gel come together and make this run The Bishop O'Dowd football squad poses for a picture after the Dragons defeated host Chico - on Friday Dec for the CIF Division -AA NorCal championship Photo courtesy of Bishop O'Dowd athletics Last week the East Oakland school rode the back of running back Lamar Ellis who scored two rushing touchdowns to pull out a - win over Chico in the NorCal Division -AA title battle Nickerson mentioned in preparation for O Dowd s postseason run his squad has taken a liking to the late Kobe Bryant for motivation Our model this year has been Mamba Mentality We literally watch and read every quote from Kobe Bryant Nickerson announced To see them continue to buy into what myself and the staff has been preaching has been great And to see them come all the way from literally nowhere it s just super gratifying For McClymonds a effort long defined by its ability to turn scarcity into strength this season has been no different The Warriors have navigated their lack of depth and have leaned on their resilience to grind their way back to a state title contest The Warriors signature preeminence came early in the season when they pulled out a low-scoring win over South Bay powerhouse St Francis The West Oakland school then went on a tear through the Oakland Athletic League before defeating Roseville for the NorCal title last week McClymonds is in the end coming into its own as Washington-bound senior Rahsjon Duncan is back in the lineup as a receiver and defensive back after missing greater part of the season with injuries San Diego State commit Koi Taiese figures to be a key piece for the Warriors as McClymonds will prepare to stop Kennedy s Wing-T offense Related Articles How St Ignatius recovered from - start to reach a state football final South Bay public celebrates as Lincoln-San Jose s longtime football coach gets day in sun Bay Area News Group high school football predictions Week High school football rankings Week Bay Area News Group Top Monday Morning Lights Special season ends for Serra coach son With both teams standing one win away from another shared place in Oakland lore a state championship will mean more than a trophy that hangs in the hallways of the two Oakland powerhouses In a year marked by heartbreak McClymonds and O Dowd will take the field representing a city that has endured adapted and kept things pushing just as their programs consistently have If McClymonds and O Dowd can finish the job they won t be just adding to their own histories They ll be giving Oakland a reason to come together celebrate and feel Beam s legacy echoing in a historic manner for The Town -AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BISHOP O DOWD VS CHRISTIAN-EL CAJON Records Bishop O Dowd - Christian - Kickoff Friday at Buena Park High School Stadium p m How O Dowd qualified Won the NCS Division VI championship routing Fortuna - in the final Then prevailed at Chico - in a regional last week How Christian qualified Won the San Diego Section Division III championship with a - accomplishment over Central-El Centro Beat Valley Christian-Cerritos - for the Southern -AA regional title last week Top O Dowd players to watch RB Lamar Ellis QB Christian Cermenelli-Johnson ATH Bryan Edwards Top Christian players to watch QB Kaleb Runkle WR Kai Rosier LB Chase Togerson Computer projection HSRatings com picks O Dowd to win - -A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP MCCLYMONDS VS KENNEDY-DELANO Records McClymonds - Kennedy - Kickoff Saturday at Fullerton UHSD Stadium p m How McClymonds qualified Won the Oakland Section championship by defeating Oakland Tech - Then beat Roseville in NorCal regional final - at home How Kennedy qualified Defeated Independence-Bakersfield - to capture the Central Section Division III title Beat Carson in the SoCal regional final - Top McClymonds players to watch QB Berell Staples WR Prince Staten WR DB Rahsjon Duncan RB Dominic Davis DL Koi Taiese Top Kennedy players to watch RB Jace Demacabalin RB Cristian Hernandez RB Jamison Membreve LB Anthony Lara Computer projection HSRatings com picks Kennedy to win - Nathan Canilao