Sunday, Sep. 13, 2009

Estrada: MMC needs to move games or start earlier

The Modesto Metro Conference needs to be more realistic with its kickoff times, following Friday night's season-opening failure at Downey.

The MMC advertises varsity games starting at 7:30 p.m., yet Friday's game featuring Golden Valley at Downey didn't start until nearly 9. The game ended at 11:25.

The ridiculously late kickoff pushed a halftime ceremony for Downey grad and slain soldier Daniel Hyde back 90 minutes. Thousands of fans were on hand to pay their respects to Daniel — who died in Iraq in March when his Humvee was struck by anti-tank grenades — and his parents Glenda and Brian.

There's also the legal issue of students driving at night: Drivers under 18 must be with a parent or guardian if driving after 11 p.m. the first 12 months after getting their license. Drivers are OK with a note from a school official, but the note must specify when the event was to end. The law is in place because studies show the most dangerous time for teens to be on the road is from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

How many kids leaving the Downey parking had notes?

I'll know Monday, when I ask the principal for the number of football players, band members, cheerleaders and other students who received a waiver prior to the season. And what about the GV kids, who were driving to their homes at close to 1 a.m? Not only is it illegal, it's not safe — but it wasn't GV's fault.

The MMC's ongoing problem is a triple-header format with freshman and JV games before the varsity. The freshmen start at 3:30, so the MMC is saying each of the first two games will be done in 90 minutes to allow time for warm-ups. That's ridiculous.

There are some simple solutions: Merced schools start freshmen games at 3 p.m. and expedite the action. Other schools warm up on an adjacent field, so they can quickly kick off after the previous game. Others play freshmen games on Thursdays.

The MMC could adopt any of those, with freshmen doubleheaders at Downey or Johansen on Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday. Another benefit: Parents can see their kids.

How many parents can get out of work at 3:30? Modesto schools are missing a chance to increase revenue and community awareness by denying parents the chance to see their freshmen making plays.

City schools do a fine job encouraging student participation, both on the field and in the stands, but these administrators have an obligation to make sure these kids are safe.

I can only pray the MMC solves its problem before kids start being ticketed, or worse.

PUTTING UP POINTS — If the first full night of the season is any indication, at least a few MMC teams are capable of putting up points:

Davis exploded for 51 to rout Ceres, and the Spartans' two most explosive players — receiver Lance Castaneda and tailback Xevion Vega — were out with injuries. The defense helped, too, as Austin McGill had two sacks and chased the quarterback most of the game, and defensive back Frankie Alcala had an acrobatic interception.

Beyer scored 41, including 20 in the fourth quarter, to hold off East Union and celebrate the return of former offensive coordinator and now co-coach Richie Alkire. The Patriots threw four TDs and Anthony Jones returned a kickoff 75 yards for a score.

Modesto scored 27 in its loss to Stagg, and provided a glimpse of its potent ground game as quarterback Klayton Miller and tailback James Ingram each ran for for two scores in the one-point loss.

GOLDEN VALLEY 53, DOWNEY 14, at Modesto — The Cougars, who have scored 96 points in two games, found another scoring threat in Robert Askew. The transfer from Stone Ridge Christian scored on an 80-yard kickoff return and runs of 28 and 26 yards.

Sophomore Tyler Arnsberg topped a combined 200 yards in passing and rushing. GV (2-0) led 33-7 at halftime.

STAGG 28, MODESTO 27, at Stockton — The Panthers were on their way to a season-opening win, taking a 17-14 lead on Klayton Miller's 11-yard TD run in the third quarter, but faltered in the final 12 minutes as the Delta Kings rallied to score at the finish and added the decisive PAT kick to win it. Miller and Ingram each ran for two TDs for Modesto, but a failed PAT kick after the final score proved to be decisive.

TURLOCK CHR. 33, BIG VALLEY CHR. 12, at Modesto — After a back-and-forth first half, the Eagles scored 19 unanswered points in the third quarter to pull away from the Lions. James Riley's 5-yard TD gave TC a 13-6 lead, then Robbie Smallwood (8 of 18, 188 yards, 3 TDs) threw the first of two TD passes to Cody Alldrin (5 catches, 102 yards). The first was a 27-yarder, then he hit Smallwood from 28 yards minutes later. Smallwood tossed a 49-yard score to Geoffrey Retemeyer in the fourth to make it 33-6.

"It was a pretty significant play to seal the game for us," TC coach Rusty Lyon said. "You want to put the nail in the coffin so it was nice to have that there."

BRET HARTE 14, LIVINGSTON 10, at Livingston — The plan was for the Bullfrogs to open at home on their just-installed artificial turf. The turf isn't in yet, so they traveled to claim their narrow win over the Wolves. Trailing 2-0 in the second quarter, QB Robby Bragg snuck in from the 1-yard line and then Matt Brechtel picked up a fumble and returned it 40 yards for a TD to make it 12-2.