Today’s edition is sponsored by Park46 Real Estate.
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Welcome to the Playbook!
It is time for another week of the 2026-27 prep sports year! 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 of my four decades of prep sports.
The Big Picture dissects the first two weeks of football season and how the EBAL teams are sorting themselves out. Some seem destined for big things while others are still searching for an identity. Also, check out what The Game of the Week is. It falls on Tuesday night!
EBAL Power Rankings are in full force this week with football, volleyball, and flag football. One school stands on top of all three polls.
What to Watch check out the slate for week three of the football season, as well as the first night of EBAL volleyball, and some key flag football games. Fast Five will debut next weekend with a new slate of questions for the season!
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
The haves and have-nots in EBAL football – plus those too early to tell
It’s two weeks into the prep football season and two things have become obvious. Some teams are set for very strong seasons and others could be in for a long one.
Power Rankings as of Sept. 7.
FOOTBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (2-0): The Wolves offense is certainly rolling as they beat Enochs 54-13. That comes after scoring 41 in their opening game.
2. Monte Vista (2-0): The Mustangs are legit as they make the trip to Liberty and come out with a 30-14 win to go to 2-0 on the season.
3. Granada (1-1): The Mats opened with a win at Campolindo, then get handed a 17-7 loss to Miramonte in their home opener.
4. California (1-1): The Grizzlies rally from an opening night loss to Liberty with a 41-19 thumping of James Logan to even their record.
5. Livermore (1-1): The Cowboys even their record with a 13-0 shutout of Amador Valley.
Others: Dublin (0-2), Foothill (1-1), Amador Valley (0-2).
**These rankings do not include De La Salle, Dougherty Valley or Emerald as the Spartans play an independent schedule from the EBAL, the Wildcats have no EBAL games this year and the Aerouants are not in the EBAL.
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (11-2, 1-0): The Wolves have losses to Campolindo and Branson, two very strong programs. Won their league-opener 3-2 over Carondelet.
2. Monte Vista (5-1, 1-0): The lone blemish on the Mustangs’ early season is a loss to Branson. They opened league with a 3-0 win over California.
3. Carondelet (8-3, 0-1): Started league with a loss but it was 3-2 to San Ramon Valley, the second time the Wolves have beaten the Cougars this year. The third loss was to Marin Catholic.
4. Foothill (2-2, 1-0): The Falcons have a 3-2 loss to Branson and a 3-1 loss to James Logan. Two very solid programs.
5. Granada (8-5, 1-0): The Mats started the EBAL season with a 3-1 win over Amador Valley.
Others: California (5-2, 0-1), Dublin (6-4, 1-0), Livermore (7-6, 0-1), Amador Valley (0-1, 0-1), Dougherty Valley (2-5, 0-1).
FLAG FOOTBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (5-0, 3-0): The Wolves might have the best player in the area in QB in Gia Ryan and have jumped out to a 5-0 mark.
2. Amador Valley (8-1, 3-0): The lone setback for the Dons came against Beckman of Irvine in a tournament. Riley Harrington is in her fourth year as the starting quarterback for Amador.
3. Carondelet (5-2, 3-0): The Cougars lost to Redwood and Deer Valley but were perfect in the other five games, including all three EBAL games.
4. Livermore (4-3, 1-2): The Cowboys get the No. 4 spot for now by virtue of their 14-7 overtime win over California. They have losses to San Ramon Valley and Carondelet.
5. California (3-1, 2-1): The Grizzlies have that overtime loss to Livermore as the lone blemish on their record. They have EBAL wins over Monte Vista and Foothill.
Others: Granada (3-4, 1-2), Dougherty Valley (5-4, 0-3), Foothill (1-3, 1-2), Dublin (2-4, 0-3), Monte Vista (2-7, 1-2).
Today (Sept. 8)
EBAL flag football: Amador Valley at California, San Ramon Valley at Carondelet, both 7:45 p.m.
EBAL girls’ volleyball: Carondelet at Amador Valley, San Ramon Valley at Dublin, both 6:15 p.m.
Thursday (Sept. 10)
EBAL girls’ volleyball: Amador Valley at Monte Vista, Carondelet at Foothill, 6:15 p.m.
Friday (Sept. 11)
Non-league football: Elk Grove at Dublin, Washington at Dougherty Valley, Foothill at Las Lomas, Granada at San Leandro, Monte Vista at Campolindo, Clayton Valley at San Ramon Valley, Santa Teresa at California, all 7 p.m. Liberty at Amador Valley, Burton at Livermore, both 7:15 p.m. Saint Francis at De La Salle, 7:30 p.m.
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Amador Valley boys’ basketball hit with penalties, put on probation over player ineligibility
The Amador Valley boys’ basketball team has been placed on probation and banned from the postseason for the next two seasons – as well as forced to forfeit wins from last year – after NCS officials found the program violated player eligibility rules in 2025-26. The school’s athletic department is also on probation.
Pleasanton Preps: A naming proposal for Amador Valley’s new gym
“That got me thinking about Amador and how easy it would be to name the gym and the court. And after a phone call from longtime Tri-Valley Herald writer Billy Ortiz where he offered a suggestion, it got me thinking even more…”
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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