By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
Warning young readers, warning.
The following is a pre-1970s television series reference reserved normally to readers who own ear hair clippers or claim addiction to TV Land.
I don't claim either, but halfway through the Bay Area football season a single voice and word keeps popping into my noggin.
The voice: Jim Nabors in "Gomer Pyle."
The word: "Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!"
Perennial league bottom-feeders have risen to the top of league standings faster than Pyle unraveled Sergeant Carter's flat top.
Here is my top 10 midseason surprise teams of the 2007 season.
1. Northgate-Walnut Creek (4-1, 3-1 Diablo Foothill Athletic League) - Under first-year coach Darin Owens, the Broncos have won as many games as they did the previous three seasons combined. Their 14-11 win over perennial North Coast Section power Miramonte-Orinda on Friday was their first over the Matadors since 1994. Owens, who helped turn around programs at Wasco and Marin Luther King-Riverside in Southern California, has kept things simple with a double-wing, double tight end run attack that has put up 37.2 points per game. The team rushed for 417 yards in an opening 63-0 win over Tamalpais, which broke a 13-game losing streak before quarterback Chris Pelayo had 152 yards rushing and four TDs in a 28-27 win over Dublin. "We have a long, long ways to go," Owens told the Contra Costa Times. "When kids work as hard as they have, it's fun to coach those kids. We're having a fun time."
2. Santa Rosa (5-0, 2-0 North Bay League) - OK, so the Panthers haven't exactly beaten world beaters. Their opponents have combined for just seven wins. But considering Santa Rosa has just won four games the last four seasons combined (36 losses), this is a major turnaround. Behind coach Russell Ponce and the play of 6-foot, 185-pound junior running back Thermon McGowan (1,016 yards rushing, 10 touchdowns), the Panthers have outscored opponents 165-58.
3. Heritage-Brentwood (4-1, 3-1 BVAL) - Yes, the Patriots played a partial varsity schedule last season - against extremely small schools - but for all intents and purposes this is a first-year varsity program. Jeff Haagenson proved at San Lorenzo he could build a winner under adverse circumstance. He's done it again.
4. Tennyson-Hayward (3-2, 2-0 Hayward Area Athletic League) - According to a terrific column written by Michael Bower in the Hayward Daily Review, the Lancers have never won a NCS playoff game and claimed only two league titles, the last coming in 1970. Since then they've finished with a .500 record or better only six times. But fifth-year head coach Terry Smith has lifted his team to historic back-to-back HAAL wins over Hayward (the first since 1998) and Castro Valley (the first since 1993), the latter a 20-13 triumph as Max Carmona threw for three TDs and Luis Nazario hauled in seven passes for a school-record 214 yards.
5. Newark Memorial (5-0, 1-0 Mission Valley Athletic League) - Two years ago, the Cougars, a perennial NCS playoff squad, hit rock bottom at 0-10. Head coach Rich Swift never gave in and has Newark among the top teams in the Bay Area. With the emergence of James Logan-Union City into the Top 5 and Washington-Fremont, the MVAL is probably the area's most improved and surprising league.
6. Riordan-San Francisco (4-1, 1-0 West Catholic Athletic League) - OK, the Crusaders have played just one WCAL game, but it was a doozy of a victory - a thoroughly convincing 33-14 triumph over previously unbeaten St. Ignatius. Under second-year coach Mike Langridge, Riordan has won three WCAL games. The previous three seasons the Crusaders were winless in league.
7. Bellarmine-San Jose (6-0, 2-0 WCAL) - The only other undefeated team in the WCAL through two weeks was picked to finish last by The San Francisco Chronicle, which gets most of its information from the league coaches. Led by one of the state's top juniors, Usua Amanam, the Bells have outscored opponents, 203-64.
8. Ygnacio Valley-Concord (5-0, 3-0 Bay Valley Athletic League) - I saw the Warriors end the regular season with a 55-7 loss to De La Salle last year. It could have been much worse. Granted it was against the world beaters of high school football, but still, if someone told me then the Warriors would be unbeaten midway through 2007 and leading the BVAL I would have asked for a sobriety test. Then again, the Warriors did win a NCS playoff game last year 28-14 over Bishop O'Dowd-Oakland.
9. California-San Ramon (5-0, 2-0 East Bay Athletic League) - Probably the Bay Area's second-best league is stacked again but most prognosticators picked four teams ahead of the Grizzlies - two teams from Danville (San Ramon Valley and Monte Vista) and two from Pleasanton (Amador Valley and Foothill). Instead, behind stellar linebacker play from Nick Rosato, California allows just 10.8 points per game and are at the top of the heap. Tony Sanchez, one of the East Bay's top young coaches, has done it even without arguably his top recruit, tight end David Gory (lost to injury at a football summer camp), making the Grizzlies' rise even more unlikely.
10. Salesian-Richmond (5-0, 0-0 Bay Football League) - Any questions regarding how effective the coaching staff is at Salesian have been answered. C'mon. The Pride lost to graduation whom everyone thought was their one-man squad in Jahvid Best, The Chronicle's 2006 Player of the Year now turning heads at Cal. Conventional wisdom said that once "The Jet" departed, Salesian would just as quickly drop. Instead, the Pride have hung together and won all five games, three by four points or less.
PLUGGING AWAY: Make sure to check out Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area with Robert Braunstein and Amy Calderone that airs Sunday at 7 and 11 p.m. on KBWB 20 cable 13 and Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Comcast Sportsnet West.
NEW TOP 25: With the majority of the teams from the WCAL and EBAL, these rankings will shuffle often, though not at the very top.
1. De La Salle (4-0, last week No. 1) - How will the Spartans' coaching staff get their team up now after 35-7 win at Mission Viejo, seemingly their last big challenge until perhaps the NCS 4A championship game with James Logan? De La Salle does have interesting match-up this week at upstart Heritage on Friday.
2. Vacaville (5-0, No. 2) - Bulldogs won their 16th straight game as Terrance Daily rushed for 220 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-14 win at Davis. Hosts Armijo-Fairfield on Friday.
3. Bellarmine (6-0, No. 3) - Amanam had a key 40-yard interception return for a touchdown as Bellarmine won the 50th Bell Game against St. Francis-Mountain View, 21-16. Plays Valley Christian-San Jose at San Jose City College on Friday.
4. James Logan (5-0, No. 4) - It took Rashad Evans just seven carries to rush for 200 yards and four touchdowns - he also returned a punt for a score - as Logan cruised to a 63-18 win over American-Fremont at Washington-Fremont. Colts play at Mission San Jose on Friday.
5. Los Gatos (5-0-1, No. 6) - Nick Kalpin, a 6-foot, 215-pound senior running back, has now rushed for 917 yards and 15 touchdowns after going for 240 yards and four TDs in a 49-21 home win over Saratoga. Linebacker Kiko Alonso (6-3, 234), who verbally committed to Oregon, has been playing as large as his 6-3, 234-pound frame with 68 tackles. The Wildcats, who have outscored the teams they've beat 161-41, play at Los Altos on Saturday.
6. Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa (3-1-1, No. 8) - Max Pond accounted for four touchdowns in short duty as the Cardinals cruised to a 56-12 home victory over Elsie Allen-Santa Rosa. Plays at dangerous Montgomery-Santa Rosa on Friday night.
7. Serra-San Mateo (4-2, No. 14) - Earned a spot back in the top 10 as DeLeon Eskridge finally broke loose, against a very worthy opponent to boot, with 195 yards rushing and three scores in a 39-22 romp over visiting Valley Christian-San Jose, our previous No. 5 team. Plays at surging Riordan on Saturday.
8. St. Francis-Mountain View (3-2-1, No. 7) - Lost a tough 21-16 decision to Bellarmine and now has week off to rest up for Valley Christian.
9. Novato (5-0, No. 9) - Here we go, another shutout, this one 35-0 over Terra Linda. That's the second of the season after recording nine in 2006. Tough test at Justin-Siena on Friday.
10. California (5-0, No. 15) - Defense has keyed perfect start for Grizzlies, who got a key 56-yard touchdown pass from halfback Leroy Green to Cameron Cook for a rare win at Monte Vista, 19-13. The Grizzlies hope for a sweep over Danville schools with home game against San Ramon Valley on Friday.
11. San Ramon Valley (4-0-1, No. 12) - Showed defensive prowess for second straight win with 19-9 win at Granada-Livermore. Will need to chore up the offense at California on Friday.
12. Riordan (4-1, No. 18) - Makes biggest leap of the week after Darius Bell threw for 335 yards and five touchdowns and Daniel Cannon caught 10 balls for a school-record 240 yards and four scores in 33-14 win over previous No. 11 St. Ignatius. Hosts Serra on Saturday.
13. Mitty-San Jose (4-1, No. 10) - A week off may be good to rejuvenate and rest, but getting competitive juices up to speed in the WCAL isn't easy. Hosts St. Ignatius-San Francisco at Foothill College on Friday.
14. Valley Christian (3-1-1, No. 5) - Trailed 26-0 to Serra before finally waking up. The Warriors can't dwell on humbling defeat on Friday when it plays Bellarmine at San Jose City College.
15. Oak Grove-San Jose (4-1, No. 16) - Elusive scatback Nevin Gardner rushed for 158 yards and two scores in 42-6 win over Branham. Oak Grove has outscored foes 144-48 since opening-night loss to St. Francis. The Eagles host Lincoln (4-0) on Friday night.
16. Palma-Salinas (4-1, No. 19) - The Chieftains recorded biggest and best win of the year with 35-3 triumph over Salinas. Palma hosts Alisal Friday night.
17. St. Ignatius (4-1-1, No. 11) - Big numbers from QB Abe Waziri (203 yards passing) and Roy Lang (seven catches, 141 yards) weren't enough against Riordan. Play Mitty on Friday at Foothill College.
18. Monte Vista (3-2, No. 13) - Despite big effort from USC-bound Drew McAllister (26 completes, 235 yards), the Mustangs came up short against Cal. They host Livermore on Friday.
19. Amador Valley (4-1, No. 17) - Rebounded well from tough loss to San Ramon Valley with 38-13 win over good Livermore squad. Must contend with hungry team at Antioch in nonleague game on Friday.
20. Casa Grande-Petaluma (4-0-1, No. 21) - Move up a spot after Matt Nadolski accounted for 224 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns in a 35-21 home win over Analy-Sebastopol. The Gauchos play at Sonoma Valley on Friday.
21. Newark Memorial (5-0, 22) - Sophomore kicker Anthony Benavente won his second game in a row with a last-second field goal as Newark Memorial escaped disaster with a 30-27 win over winless McNair-Stockton. The Cougars host American-Fremont on Friday.
22. Ygnacio Valley (5-0, NR) - The Warriors officially returned to glory days as sophomore running back Patrone Wood, filling in for an injured starter, rushed for 281 yards and three second-half touchdowns in a 55-36 win over preseason Bay Valley Athletic League favorite Freedom-Oakley. The Warriors play at Clayton Valley-Concord on Friday.
23. Pinole Valley (4-0-1, No. 23) - The Spartans have pulled out more close games in the last five years than any Bay Area team, including a 27-24 triumph over Alameda on Friday. Deante Purvis, known for his running prowess, threw and caught a touchdown for the winners, who play at Richmond on Friday.
24. Las Lomas-Walnut Creek (5-0, 25) - The Knights piled up 443 yards in a 49-14 win at Alhambra-Martinez. Las Lomas hosts upstart and cross-town rival Northgate on Friday.
25. St. Patrick/St. Vincent-Vallejo (5-0, NR) - Former De La Salle star running back Marlon Blanton has the Bruins, the defending Class A champions, off and rolling again despite being hit hard by graduation. St. Patrick hosts Kennedy-Fremont on Friday.
What do you think of these rankings? Leave any team out? How about the surprise teams? E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.