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 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 visits with Amador Valley flag football quarterback Riley Harrington. Now a senior, Harrington is in the fourth year of being the Dons quarterback. She’s gone from the outhouse to the penthouse as the Amador signal caller. When she was a freshman, the Dons struggled and now in her senior year, the Dons ran the table on the EBAL to give the school its first title!
EBAL Power Rankings see a big shake up in the girls’ volleyball rankings as there were some surprises in the EBAL playoffs. Also, there are some changes in football and flag football!
What to Watch has the schedule for the North Coast Section volleyball and flag football playoffs. Also, check out the slate of local football games.
Fast Five is all about Foothill volleyball player Kaitlyn Vogel. Check out her very profound 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
Seeded No. 1 in NCS flag football tournament, Amador seeks ‘exclamation point on the season’
For their efforts, the Dons are the top seed in the North Coast Section Division I playoffs and host No. 16 San Leandro on Wednesday night…
Power Rankings as of Oct. 27.
FOOTBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (7-1, 1-0): The Wolves led De La Salle at halftime before falling 31-14. Maybe some other ranking services will finally give SRV credit for the season they are having.
2. Monte Vista (8-1, 2-0): The Mustangs methodically beat Amador 35-14 and move to 2-0 in the Mountain Division.
3. California (5-3, 0-1): The Grizzlies had a bye last week and now ready for San Ramon Valley this week.
4. Foothill (3-4, 1-0): It’s all about what you have done lately in the Power Rankings and what the Falcons have done was knock off the defending Valley champ Livermore 35-30. Foothill controls its own destiny in the Valley.
5. Livermore (4-4, 0-1): The Cowboys looked like the prohibitive favorite to defend their Valley title, but a 35-30 loss to Foothill leaves them behind the eight ball.
Others: Amador Valley (3-5, 0-2), Granada (2-5, 1-0), Dublin (2-6, 0-1).
* These rankings do not include De La Salle (8-0), Dougherty Valley (5-4) 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 (21-2): The Dons kept the ball rolling, beating Livermore 18-0, then Carondelet 18-13 to win the EBAL tournament. Next up – the North Coast Section playoffs.
2. Carondelet (16-6): The Cougars came in and beat San Ramon Valley 19-18 in the EBAL tournament, then fell 18-13 to Amador in the title game.
3. San Ramon Valley (16-6): The Wolves were upset by Carondelet 19-18 in the semifinals of the EBAL tournament.
4. Livermore (14-8): The Cowboys fell 18-0 to Foothill in the EBAL semifinals.
5. Granada (8-8): Did not play. The Mats should get an NCS berth.
Others: California (8-7), Foothill (10-9), Monte Vista (9-11), Dublin (4-14), Dougherty Valley (9-12).
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
1. Foothill (25-9): The Falcons take the top spot for now by beating San Ramon Valley (3-1), then Carondelet (3-2) to win the EBAL playoffs.
2. Carondelet (26-12): The Cougars appear to be hitting stride at the right time. They went 5-0 in a tournament Oct. 17, then beat top-seeded Monte Vista in the EBAL playoffs. In the title game, they pushed Foothill to the limit, falling 3-2. With the run, the Cougars move from No. 4 to No. 2
3. Monte Vista (26-5): The Mustangs blew through the regular season without a loss then dropped a first-round EBAL playoff game to Carondelet. Expect a big rebound in the NCS tournament.
4. San Ramon Valley (23-7): The Wolves dropped a 3-1 decision to Foothill in the first round of the EBAL playoffs. Next up is the NCS playoffs.
5. California (18-9): Did not play in EBAL playoffs but should be a lock for NCS play.
Others: Granada (13-12), Amador Valley (10-11), Dublin (10-14), Dougherty Valley (9-19), Livermore (7-18).
Today (Oct. 27)
NCS girls’ volleyball first round: No. 16 Rancho Cotate vs. No. 1 Foothill at Amador Valley High, No. 9 Washington at No. 8 Bishop O’Dowd, No. 13 Amador Valley at No. 4 Las Lomas, No. 12 Albany at No. 5 California, No. 15 American Canyon at No. 2 Berkeley, No. 10 San Marin at No. 7 Alameda, No. 14 Archie Williams at No. 3 Carondelet, No. 11 Mission San Jose at No. 6 Windsor, all games at 7 p.m.
Tomorrow (Oct. 28)
NCS flag football first round: No. 6 James Logan at No. 11 Redwood, 3:30 p.m. No. 16 San Leandro at No. 1 Foothill, No. 9 Livermore at No. 8 College Park, No. 13 Granada at No. 4 Castro Valley, No. 12 Alameda at No. 5 Heritage, No. 15 Foothill at No. 2 Liberty, No. 10 Deer Valley at No. 7 Clayton Valley, No. 14 California at No. 3 San Ramon Valley, all games at 7 p.m.
NCS girls’ volleyball first round, Open Division: No. 1 Monte Vista vs. bye, No. 5 James Logan at No. 4 Redwood, No. 2 Campolindo vs. bye, No. 6 Marin Catholic at No. 3 San Ramon Valley, both matches 7 p.m. D-II: No. 12 Granada at No. 5 Cardinal Newman, 7 p.m.
Friday (Oct. 30)
Non-league football: Amador Valley at De La Salle, Dougherty Valley at Riverbank, Emerald at Freedom, all 7 p.m.
EBAL football: California at San Ramon Valley, Granada at Foothill, Livermore at Dublin, 7:15 p.m.
Bye: Monte Vista
Saturday (Oct. 31)
NCS flag football second round, D-I: Amador-San Leandro winner vs. College Park-Livermore winner; Castro Valley-Granada winner vs. Heritage-Alameda winner; Liberty-Foothill winner vs. Clayton Valley-Deer Valley winner; San Ramon Valley-California winner vs. James Logan-Redwood winner, TBD.
NCS girls’ volleyball second round, D-I: Foothill-Rancho Cotate winner vs. Bishop O’Dowd-Washington winner; Las Lomas-Amador Valley winner vs. California-Albany winner; Berkeley-American Canyon winner vs. Alameda-San Marin winner; Carondelet-Archie Williams winner vs. Windsor-Mission San Jose winner, all TBD.
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Pleasanton Preps: Foothill honors volleyball coach Collins on milestone
The Foothill High girls’ volleyball team won its final two games of the regular season to finish 12-1 in EBAL play and the No. 2 seed in the league playoffs.
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: Kaitlyn Vogel
School and grade: Foothill (senior)
Sport: Volleyball
Favorite streaming channel and favorite show: ESPN / “The Office”
Favorite actor or actress: Glen Powell
Favorite professional athlete: Morgan Hentz (U.S. volleyball national team)
Favorite go-to hype song: “E85” by Don Toliver (American singer / rapper)
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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