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Welcome to the Playbook!
It is time for another week of the 2026-27 prep sports fall season! The Playbook will bring you inside the East Bay Athletic League, offering features, opinions, and analysis of the sports in the EBAL. I’ve been covering the EBAL for over 40 years now and will bring insight from my four decades of covering prep sports.
The Big Picture looks at the return of the Dougherty Valley football program. After dropping the season at the midpoint last year, the Wildcats are back this year and playing well, posting a 5-3 mark this year against a non-EBAL schedule. The Game of the Week looks at two EBAL postseason tournaments.
EBAL Power Rankings sees no change in the rankings of any sport.
What to Watch has the top games this coming week, including the EBAL volleyball and flag football playoffs. See where and when the local teams will be shooting for an EBAL playoff title. Also is the slate for Week 9 of the football season.
Fast Five visits with Foothill volleyball player Ilayda Cagler. Check out her favorite quote!
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
From canceled season to five wins (and counting…?) for Dougherty Valley football
There were times I felt like we may not see a Dougherty Valley football team again. Fortunately for Wildcat players, the school brought on coach Gwangee Pittman to run the program.
Power Rankings as of Oct. 19.
FOOTBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (6-0): The Wolves play their first EBAL Mountain Division game and get a win with a 49-7 final over Amador Valley. SRV makes the trip up I-680 this week to play at De La Salle.
2. Monte Vista (7-1): The Mustangs tasted defeat for the first time, falling to De La Salle by a 51-0 final.
3. California (5-3): The Grizzlies rebound from a tough loss to Monte Vista last week by beating Granada by a 62-28 final.
4. Livermore (4-3): Livermore gets ready to defend its EBAL Valley Division title with a 38-18 win over Arroyo.
5. Amador Valley (3-4): The Dons keep the No. 5 spot despite the 49-7 loss to San Ramon Valley, as many teams have met the similar fate against the Wolves.
Others: Granada (2-5), Foothill (2-4), Dublin (2-5).
* These rankings do not include De La Salle (7-0), Dougherty Valley (5-3) or Emerald (1-6) as the Spartans play an independent schedule from the EBAL, and the Aerouants and Wildcats are not in the EBAL for football.
FLAG FOOTBALL
1. Amador Valley (19-2, 9-0): The Dons beat Foothill 33-13 to win their first EBAL regular season title. To top the week off, they beat a loaded Castro Valley team 19-18. Host the EBAL tournament where they open with Livermore.
2. San Ramon Valley (65, 8-1): The Wolves escape with a 29-28 win over Monte Vista in the last regular season game. Plays No. 3 Carondelet in the first round of the EBAL playoffs.
3. Carondelet (14-5, 7-2): The Cougars have lost only to the top two teams in EBAL play and will seek revenge this week in the EBAL tournament, opening with San Ramon Valley.
4. Livermore (14-7, 5-4): The Cowboys top Granada in the regular season finale and get the No. 4 seed in the EBAL tournament, drawing top-seed Amador Valley in the first round.
5. Granada (8-8, 5-4): The Mats fall 12-6 to Livermore, missing out on the EBAL tournament on a tiebreak to Livermore.
Others: California (8-7, 4-5), Foothill (10-9, 3-6), Monte Vista (9-11, 3-6), Dublin (4-14, 1-8), Dougherty Valley (9-12, 0-9).
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
1. Monte Vista (26-4, 13-0): The Mustangs beat Carondelet, then beat San Ramon Valley in a 3-2 thriller. They will host Carondelet in the first round of the EBAL playoffs.
2. Foothill (22-9, 12-1): The Falcons beat Dublin and Amador Valley to close out the regular season. The Falcons lost to only No. 1 Monte Vista in league and will play San Ramon Valley in the first round of the EBAL playoffs.
3. San Ramon Valley (22-6, 10-3): The Wolves close out the regular season sweeping Dougherty Valley, then pushing Monte Vista before falling 3-2 for the second time this year. SRV goes on the road to face Foothill in the EBAL playoffs.
4. Carondelet (19-11, 7-6): The Cougars get swept by Monte Vista, then turn around and sweep Dublin to close out the regular season. Carondelet gets the No. 4 spot in league and will be at Monte Vista for the first round of the EBAL playoffs.
5. California (18-9, 7-6): The Grizzlies beat Granada and Dougherty Valley to end the EBAL regular season. They didn’t qualify for the EBAL playoffs but should easily find a spot in NCS in another week.
Others: Granada (13-12, 6-7), Amador Valley (10-11, 6-7), Dublin (10-14, 3-10), Dougherty Valley (9-19, 1-12), Livermore (7-16, 0-13).
Today (Oct. 20)
EBAL girls’ volleyball playoffs: Carondelet at Monte Vista, San Ramon Valley vs. Foothill at Amador Valley, both games at 6 p.m.
Wednesday (Oct. 21)
EBAL Flag Football Tournament (at Amador Valley): Amador Valley vs. Livermore 5 p.m.; San Ramon Valley vs. Carondelet, 6 p.m.
Championship Game follows: Amador-Livermore winner vs. San Ramon-Carondelet winner, 8 p.m.
Thursday (Oct. 22)
EBAL girls’ volleyball playoffs: Carondelet-Monte Vista winner vs. San Ramon Valley-Foothill winner, 6 p.m., TBD.
Friday (Oct. 23)
Non-league football: Kelseyville at Dougherty Valley, 6 p.m.; Emerald at Liberty 7 p.m.; San Ramon Valley at De La Salle, 7:15 p.m.
EBAL football: Amador at Monte Vista, Granada at Dublin, Foothill at Livermore, 7:15 p.m.
Bye: California.
A refreshingly honest approach to Tri-Valley Real Estate
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‘It is kind of mind-blowing’: RB Harrington making impact on Amador varsity as freshman
“That’s right – a 14-year-old freshman making a monster impact for a varsity football team. Just look at the last three games.”
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: Ilayda Caglar
School and grade: Foothill (junior)
Sport: Volleyball
Favorite streaming channel and favorite show: Netflix / “Gilmore Girls”
Favorite actor or actress: Adam Sandler
Favorite professional athlete: Kobe Bryant
Favorite go-to hype song: “POWER” (Kanye West)
Favorite quote: “To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.” (Denzel Washington)
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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Listen to the music: Top high schools regale Pleasanton at 52nd Foothill Band ReviewOctober 28, 2026 8:05 am
