Encinal holds off Bishop O’Dowd, celebrates league title
Promotion to higher division doesn't affect Jets as they dethrone O'Dowd to claim WACC Foothill crown.
OAKLAND — There’s a new king in the Foothill League of the West Alameda County Conference. They’re from The Swamp, and their defense goes by The Dark Side.
Led by another stalwart defensive effort, Encinal squeaked by Bishop O’Dowd 10-7 to clinch sole possession of the Foothill Division title.
“It feels great,” said Encinal head coach Keith Minor. “Coming down from the Shoreline, coming up here to the Foothill, you know, that’s not supposed to happen. Most of the time, when teams come down from the lower division, they usually get bounced out.”
John Brindley’s 29-yard field goal in the third quarter would ultimately be the game-winner despite the kick coming with about 16 minutes of game time remaining. Following the team’s post-game meeting, Brindley’s teammates lifted him up on their shoulders.
“It feels great,” Brindley said. “I practice Saturday through Thursday. I practice every day. I’ve accumulated a couple injuries. I’ve had a concussion, a broken finger. But it feels great because I focused my attention on kicking and it showed today.”
The Dark Side, the Encinal defense’s self-titled nickname, forced three turnovers, a strip-sack by William Ealelei and two interceptions by Keirr Stewart. The Jets end the regular season having allowed only 59 total points.
“They don’t call us The Dark Side for no reason,” Stewart said as he rocked the team’s turnover chain. “We really prioritize ourselves on defense a lot. Our D is the key.”
Fresh off dropping 95 points in their last two games, Bishop O’Dowd’s offense came out with some juice and threw the first punch. Jayden Davis, who finished with 72 rushing yards, punched the pigskin in from the one-yard line, giving the Dragons an early 7-0 advantage.
The lead lasted about 30 seconds.
On the first play of Encinal’s ensuing drive, Isaiah Smith ran 93 yards to the house, notching things up at seven apiece. Smith, who finished with 113 rushing yards, made his way up the Encinal sideline before cutting towards the middle, evading numerous Bishop O’Dowd defenders, then dancing into the end zone.
“A lot of times, kids will go into the tank when things don’t work out immediately,” Minor said. “Our guys stayed tough and stuck with it.”
Encinal had a golden opportunity to take the lead just minutes later when Stewart picked off a Bishop O’Dowd pass and returned it to the Dragons’ nine-yard line. The Jets pushed it as close as the three-yard line, but the Dragons forced a turnover on downs when the Jets elected to go for it.
The score remained deadlocked at seven for the remainder of the half and much of the third. That was until the Dark Side cast the first stone in what became a game-winning drive. William Ealelei grown-manned his way past the Bishop O’Dowd offensive line and came up with a strip-sack, giving Encinal the ball at about midfield.
On second-and-7 at their own 48-yard-line, quarterback David Romero-Reinholz hit Stewart on a perfectly placed lob pass for 36 yards, putting Encinal in the red zone.
After failing to convert a first down, Minor went to Brindley, who banged it right through the uprights, giving Encinal the 10-7 lead.
The shift in energy was palpable, and considering how well both defenses were playing, it wouldn’t have been ludicrous to think those were the deciding points. Bishop O’Dowd, however, did not go quietly into the night.
On third-and-6 at their own 13-yard-line with about five minutes to go in the fourth, quarterback Jesse Madden found Nehemiah Kaufman near the Dragons’ sideline for a 61-yard gain, putting Bishop O’Dowd on the Encinal 26-yard line.
Once again, the Dark Side had the answer. Stewart perfectly read another pass and hauled in his second interception of the game. Encinal picked up a couple first downs on the backs of Archie Cole and Smith before going to victory formation.
Encinal’s attention now shifts to the postseason, where they’ll likely have a high seed. The team will have a bye week to recuperate and revel in their accomplishment, but Minor noted this team’s aspirations don’t end at the Foothill League.
“We just gotta work hard so we can do well in the playoffs. That’s the bottom line,” Minor said.