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Coming in the 2021 season with a team that had graduated 24 seniors and having only one returning starter (Elijah Klock) on offense and one returning starter (Bradley Nestal), Macy was as surprised as anyone at the development of the team from the start. "There was no evidence that we were going to get the production that we did when we started," Macy said. "With what this team was able to do those last seven games, it might be the most unique season we ever had."
With junior Dashiell Weaver establishing himself as the starting quarterback, it was a group effort at the skill positions with four running backs gaining at least 100 yards (led by Max Rittman with 731 yards) and 14 different players that had at least one carry. There were six receivers with at least 10 receptions (led by Robbie Mascheroni with 70 receptions) and 12 different players that caught passes.
The only serious injuries were to running back Greg Palamountain and cornerback Ryan Mandel, so the team's lack of depth at the key positions was not an issue. "The biggest secret of the year was that we stayed healthy," Macy said. "We used only five offensive linemen and 13 players on defense all season."
Macy did not allow the team to stay focused on the early season losses: "We made sure to make the kids put those games behind them. It became a collective to not panic when things would start going bad."
In some ways this team could be compared to the 2011 Campolindo that also made it to the state semifinals after two prior 5-6 seasons. "Both teams started the year as anonymous entities with low expectations, though the 2011 team did have more playmakers," Macy said. "Both teams were underdogs through the NCS playoff runs."
It's a year that Macy will long remember: "There was not one player on this team that did not overachieve from our initial expectations with unique stories for each of them. They all came through in one way or the other. There was magic with this team and we're still trying to figure out how it happened. This season is going to keep us entertained for a long time."
Quarterbacks
Honorable Mention
Luke Souza, Acalanes, senior
Passing: 200/301/3145/66.4%/38 TD/8 INT RUSHING 34/28 2 TD'S
Honorable Mention
Luke Duncan, Miramonte, junior
Passing statistics - 203/356/2949 yds/57.0%/30 TDs/12 INTs RUSHING:
Wide Receivers
Second team
Robbie Mascheroni, Campolindo, 6-3, 185, junior
Athletes
Second team
Tyler Dutto, Miramonte, 6-4, 210, senior
Receptions 67/1240/18.5/15 TD'S Defense 19T 1 Tackle for loss 4 Ints.
Linebackers
Second team
Sam Ross, Miramonte, 6-4, 225, senior
Tackles: 93 Tackles 24 Tackles for loss 3.5 Sacks Rushing 36/288/8.0/5 TD'S
Defensive Line
Honorable Mention
Elijah Klock, Campolindo, senior
Macy: "Klock was the guy that held it together for our offensive and defensive lines."
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA