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 from my four decades of prep sports.
The Big Picture looks at the monster flag football game between San Ramon Valley at Amador Valley on Tuesday night. The two best teams in the EBAL square off in a huge game. We will also take a quick look at the football season as the teams finish their fourth game. Finally, see if you can guess what the Game of the Week is?
EBAL Power Rankings see a little movement in the bottom of the top five but there is still one school sitting on the top of the ladder in all three sports.
What to Watch has the top games this coming week. See where and when the local teams will lock horns.
Fast Five lets you get to know Amador freshman Tyler Foley – one of two freshmen on the Amador varsity. His favorite quote is all about your work ethic.
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 most-anticipated game of the Tri-Valley fall sports season is here
It’s just a little over halfway through the season, yet the flag football monster game with San Ramon Valley (5-0 in EBAL play) visiting Amador Valley (5-0) on Tuesday night has the feeling of a championship game.
Power Rankings as of Sept. 22.
EBAL FOOTBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (4-0): The Wolves score over 40 points again and they moved to 4-0 with a 42-7 win over Clovis North.
2. Monte Vista (4-0): The Mustangs continue their early season roll, beating James Logan 41-21 as the offense continues to take care of business.
3. California (3-1): The Grizzlies win their third straight, beating Menlo-Atherton by a 23-22 final. Big game at El Cerrito this week.
4. Livermore (2-1): The Cowboys had a bye last week, some well-earned time off as the Livermore defense has held opponents scoreless in two straight games.
5. Granada (2-2): The Matadors get better in a big way, thumping Berkeley 34-0 to end their two-game losing streak.
Others: Foothill (2-2), Dublin (1-3), Amador Valley (1-2).
* These rankings do not include De La Salle (4-0), Dougherty Valley (3-1) or Emerald (1-2), as the Spartans play an independent schedule from the EBAL, and the Aerouants and Wildcats are not in the EBAL for football
EBAL FLAG FOOTBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (10-3, 5-0): The Wolves get ready for the big Amador showdown with a 38-0 win over Dublin and a 39-6 win over Alameda.
2. Amador Valley (11-2, 5-0): The Dons played once last week, beating Monte Vista 45-26. Monster game with San Ramon Valley on Tuesday.
3. Carondelet (9-3, 4-1): The Cougars stay right back of the first two, this time beating Foothill (27-21) and Freedom (25-0) last week.
4. Livermore (7-3, 3-2): The Cowboys beat Dougherty Valley 52-0 in their lone EBAL game, then beat American 47-0 in a non-league game.
5. Granada (5-5, 3-2): The Matadors move into the top five by beating Cal 19-18. They lost 25-0 to Las Lomas, one of the top programs in the section.
Others: California (4-5, 2-3), Monte Vista (5-8, 2-3), Dougherty Valley (6-7, 0-5), Foothill (5-5, 1-4), Dublin (2-8, 0-5).
EBAL GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (15-2, 5-0): The Wolves hold off Cal 3-2, then drop Granada 3-0 to stay perfect in EBAL. Monster game with rival Monte Vista on Tuesday night.
2. Monte Vista (12-2, 5-0): The Mustangs remain unbeaten in league with a 3-0 over Carondelet and a 3-1 win against Foothill. Huge match with SRV on Tuesday.
3. Foothill (11-5, 4-1): The Falcons beat Granada 3-0 to start the week, then drop a 3-1 match to Monte Vista.
4. Carondelet (10-5, 2-3): The Cougars fall 3-0 to Monte Vista but rebound with a 3-0 win over Livermore.
5. California (11-4, 3-2): The Grizzlies fall 3-2 to San Ramon Valley, then comeback with a 3-0 win over Dublin to end the week.
Others: Granada (9-8, 3-3), Dublin (8-8, 1-4), Livermore (7-10, 0-5), Amador Valley (4-4, 2-3), Dougherty Valley (6-9, 1-5).
Today (Sept. 22)
EBAL flag football: San Ramon Valley at Amador Valley, Carondelet at California, 7:45 p.m.
EBAL girls’ volleyball: Foothill at Amador Valley, Livermore at Granada, Carondelet at California, San Ramon Valley at Monte Vista, 6:15 p.m.
Thursday (Sept. 24)
EBAL girls’ volleyball: California at Monte Vista, San Ramon Valley at Amador Valley, Foothill at Livermore, 6:15 p.m.
Friday (Sept. 25)
Non-league football: San Marin at Amador Valley, California at El Cerrito, Dougherty Valley at Emerald, all 7 p.m. Foothill at San Ramon Valley, Hayward at Livermore, Monte Vista at Dublin, Deer Valley at Granada, all 7:15 p.m.
Saturday (Sept. 26)
Non-league football: Centennial at De La Salle, 2 p.m.
A refreshingly honest approach to Tri-Valley Real Estate
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Pleasanton Preps: Amador flag football team building momentum in 2026
This year the Dons entered the season with a lot of experience and jumped out to a 10-2 mark, including a 13-12 win over Cardinal Newman last Friday, ending a 29-game winning streak by the Cardinals.
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: Tyler Foley
School and grade: Amador Valley High School freshman
Sport: Football
Favorite streaming channel and favorite show: “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
Favorite actor or actress: Adam Sandler
Favorite professional athlete: Julio Jones
Favorite go-to hype song: “Skrilla” by Kodak Black
Favorite quote: “The game doesn’t care how much time you put in; nobody cares how much time you put in. You put that time in for yourself.” – NFL player Stefon Diggs
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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