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Welcome to the Playbook!
This week brings another week of the 2025-26 prep sports year! Once again, this season the Playbook will take you inside the EBAL, giving outlooks, updates and insights into all the sports, along with profiles of athletes, and opinions regarding controversial issues in high school sports.
The Big Picture is all about the induction of the San Ramon Valley Athletic Boosters Hall of Fame Class of 2025. We will call back to the glory days of the two athletes, one former coach and team to be inducted this week.
EBAL Power Rankings has little movement this week as the volleyball and flag football continue league play with football teams working through the non-league campaign.
What to Watch has key games for volleyball and flag football, along with the complete non-league schedule for week five of football. The Fast Five introduces you to Amador Valley water polo player Addi Drain. I follow her go-to social media site and it’s always entertaining! Check it out.
If you know of a great story, or have any questions, please reach out either by email at acesgolf@aol.com or by phone at 925-200-0719.
From the sidelines,
Dennis Miller, Playbook Editor
Celebrating San Ramon Valley sports Hall of Fame class of 2025
The SRV Hall of Fame ceremony takes place this Thursday at the Round Hill Country Club in Alamo. I will be attending the event as a guest of one of the people being inducted, and I am as excited as I have been to attend any school event.
Power Rankings as of Sept. 22.
FLAG FOOTBALL
1. California (7-1, 4-1): The Grizzlies fall 13-6 to Dougherty Valley in a big upset. Cal rallied with a convincing 26-0 win over Pittsburg and will stay at No. 1 for now.
2. San Ramon Valley (7-3, 4-1): The Wolves pull out a tough 7-0 win over Livermore to move into a first-place tie with California in EBAL play.
3. Amador Valley (8-3, 3-2): The Dons played once this week and took out Monte Vista by a 20-13 final to stay within a game of the top in the EBAL race.
4. Granada (9-4, 3-1): The Mats put a 27-7 hurting on Carondelet in their lone game last week.
5. Dougherty Valley (3-5, 3-2): The Wildcats shocked California and dropped them from the unbeaten ranks but then fell 13-6 to Northgate.
Others: Foothill (6-4, 2-2), Dublin (8-4, 1-4), Livermore (5-6, 1-2), Monte Vista (4-10, 0-5), Carondelet (3-6, 1-3).
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (10-2, 4-0): The Wolves stay unbeaten in league beating California and Granada. Big crosstown rival match next week with Monte Vista.
2. Carondelet (15-4, 4-0): The Cougars have won 12 straight matches, including a tournament win last weekend. Took out Livermore and Amador Valley last week.
3. Monte Vista (13-6, 3-1): Big EBAL win to end the week, taking out Foothill in a thrilling 3-2 final.
4. Amador Valley (8-4, 3-1): The Dons got the best of Dublin with the 3-0 sweep but then met the same fate when they were swept 3-0 by Carondelet.
5. Foothill (8-5, 3-1): The Falcons took Granada down for the second time this season, then fell 3-2 to Monte Vista despite beating the Mustangs 2-0 in a tournament the previous weekend.
Others: Granada (9-7, 0-4), California (5-6, 2-2), Livermore (7-11, 0-4), Dougherty Valley (10-10, 1-3), Dublin (3-10, 0-4).
FOOTBALL
Mountain Division
Note: De La Salle is not used in the rankings since they get the automatic berth from the EBAL. De La Salle (4-0) d. Grant. 47-20.
1. California (4-0): The Grizzlies are doing everything asked of them so far, knocking off Menlo-Atherton 28-13 to stay unbeaten on the season. Interesting game with McClymonds this week.
2. San Ramon Valley (2-2): The Wolves as usual are playing a very tough non-league campaign. Went on the road to the Central Valley and fell 43-14 to unbeaten Clovis North. Will stay at No. 2 for now.
3. Monte Vista (3-1): The Mustangs rack up two in a row with a 42-7 win at James Logan. That’s two games in a row the offense has put 40 on the board.
4. Amador Valley (0-4): Been a tough road so far for the Dons. Now they get crosstown rival Foothill, with a win able to make the season.
Valley Division
1. Livermore (4-0): The Cowboys keep setting the pace, blowing out Arroyo 40-13 to stay perfect on the season.
2. Foothill (3-1): The Falcons dropped their opener, then rolled to three wins in a row. This week it was a 14-7 win over San Leandro.
3. Dublin (2-2): Windsor is a loaded team and playing them on the road is even tougher, as the Gaels fall 31-14.
4. Granada (2-2): The Mats recover from a 14-10 loss to San Leandro and get a 28-13 win over Berkeley to get back to their winning ways.
5. Dougherty Valley (1-3): The Wildcats get involved in a shootout but fall 42-29 to Kennedy-Fremont.
Today (Sept. 23) – EBAL flag football: Dublin at Amador Valley, Granada at California, San Ramon Valley at Dougherty Valley, all 7:30 p.m. EBAL girls’ volleyball: Carondelet at Foothill, California at Monte Vista, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday (Sept. 25) – EBAL girls’ volleyball: Monte Vista at San Ramon Valley, Foothill at Amador Valley, 6:30 p.m.
Friday (Sept. 26) – Non-league football: Freedom at Dublin, Livermore at Heritage, McClymonds at California, Hayward at San Ramon Valley, Fremont (Oakland) at Dougherty Valley, St. Mary’s at De La Salle, Monte Vista at College Park, all 7 p.m. Foothill at Amador Valley, Las Lomas at Granada, 7:15 p.m.
Pleasanton Preps: Meet Amador’s 2025 Hall of Fame class
It is time for the latest edition of the Amador Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame, where another class of inductees will be presented on Friday between the varsity and junior varsity games against Foothill.
‘Pro footgolf is here’: New sports league launches debut season in Livermore
Major League FootGolf made its debut last weekend at Las Positas Golf Course in Livermore with a season-opening tournament that had $5,000 at stake for players from across the country adept at the amalgamation sport.
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: Addi Drain
School and Grade: Amador Valley High (11th, junior)
Sport: Water polo
Favorite Show: “The Summer I Turned Pretty” (Prime Video)
Favorite Genre Music: Rap
Must Follow on Social Media: “avwopo” – Amador Valley Girls Water Polo Instagram
Favorite Fast-Food Restaurant: In-N-Out. Plain cheeseburger and fries
Favorite Quote: “Just because there’s a goalie doesn’t mean you can’t score.” Attributed to many, as a motivational phrase.
Do you have someone you want us to interview? Email us.
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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