Titantic rebuilt: No. 5 Grant versus No. 24 Folsom

Nationally-televised national showdown has all the earmarks for instant classic.

FOLSOM, Calif. — It’s the Titanic showdown all Sacramento-region high school football fans wished for last year, a dream match-up that crashed and sunk on consecutive semifinal nights on the very same field in eerily similar painstaking fashion — missed last-second chip-shot field goals.

Dano Graves accounted for 66 touchdowns in 2009.

Photo by Ralph Thompson

It's the irresistible can't-keep-your-jaw-closed-while-watching force — Folsom's electrifying do-everything motor mouse quarterback Dano Graves, running a high tech, state-of-the-art uber-productive offense — against the massive and menacing immovable object Villiami Moala — Grant's 6-foot-3, 330-pound defensive tackle who personifies an intimidating, no-nonsense, rip-your-helmet-off defense.

It's the winningest coach in Sac-Joaquin Section history coming out of retirement — Max Miller — to toughen up a supposedly soft Folsom defense against a powerful and physical attack coordinated by a gritty legendary coach himself — Mike Alberghini — who says the 60-something prep gridiron lifers and rivals are "older than dirt."

It's one proud, close and rugged inner-city community from the toughest unpaved streets of Del Paso Heights, traveling to the also proud and tight, but upscale, la-tee-dah smooth suburban sidewalks and neighborhood of Folsom.

This is Grant (Sacramento, Calif.), No. 5 according to the MaxPreps.com Xcellent 25 national rankings, against Folsom (Calif.), No. 24 in the MaxPreps Freeman national rankings, and if you weren't one of the 10,000 fans in the region who gobbled up a coveted golden ticket in less than an hour last week, then there's good news. The game is being televised nationally on ESPN2, adding yet another morsel to this delectable and rich high school face-off that jump starts the season at 7 p.m. (PST) on Friday.

"I've been covering this region for 23 years and there's no doubt this is the biggest, most hyped, most anticipated regular-season game ever in this region," Sacramento Bee sports writer Joe Davidson said. "It's off the charts."

Grant's Puka Lopa takes aim at unloading on another unsuspecting quarterback.

Photo by Anthony Brunsman

Off the EKG charts, that is. This high-energy affair won't be for the faint of heart and both head coaches aren't even pretending to downplay it.

"It's a monster," Folsom coach Kris Richardson said.

Said Alberghini: "It should be loads of fun."

FLUTIE JR.
Guaranteeing that's the case all by himself is Graves, a 5-9, 185-pound Doug Flutie clone who last year threw for 3,882 yards, rushed for a team-high 874 yards and accounted for an astounding 66 touchdowns, 52 through the air.

He's the perfect maestro for Richardson's hybrid Utah/UNLV/Texas Tech spread scheme that he devised along with former head coach and Cal quarterback Troy Taylor, who still assists the Bulldogs.

Graves completed 75 percent - 246 of 327 - in 2009.

Photo by Ralph Thompson

Graves follows in the footsteps of previous Folsom quarterbacks now playing in college, Cary Grossart (Northern Arizona University) and David Graves (Hawaii), the Bee's 2008 Player of the Year.

The younger Graves is three inches shorter than his brother, but is quicker, more accurate and a better runner.

"If he was two inches taller he'd be a major national prospect," Richardson said. "We've been blessed to have some great quarterbacks and that helps greatly in our system. With Dano running things, the sky's the limit."

Said Davidson: "He runs like a tailback and is such an accurate passer. That makes him lethal."

The comparisons to Flutie aren't far-fetched. A Northeast college scout who recruited Flutie in high school and followed him all through his glory days in the CFL told Richardson that Graves is a spitting image.

"Except he said Dano is flat out better than Flutie when he was in high school," Richardson said. "The thing about Dano beyond the production and numbers is that he's come up big in every big game we've ever had. Huge."

And this is indeed the biggest matchup, literally and figuratively. He appears the perfect anecdote to Grant's brawn and muscle and even speed. He can move the pocket, which was key last season for Rocklin in its Sac-Joaquin Section semifinal victory over the Pacers.

He's got weapons galore in wideouts Tyler Trosin (81 catches last year, 1,446 yards, 25 touchdowns) and Kori Babineaux (64, 1,187, 15), and running back Jordan Richards (492 yards rushing, 53 catches, 883 yards receiving, 18 combined TDs).

"(Graves) can obviously do a lot of things, especially in that offense," Alberghini said. "They run jailbreaks, quick screens, middle screens. He gets the ball downfield to their tall and talented receivers. He runs around pressure. He's their best runner. He's a lot to deal with.”

"TINY" DANCER
So is Moala, affectionately known as “Tiny,” who is ranked the No. 33 recruit in the country by MaxPreps/CBS College Sports recruiting expert Tom Lemming.

Moala (55) has little trouble getting by the first blocker.

Photo by Anthony Brunsman

A brute that Lemming says will inevitably be compared to Baltimore Ravens lineman Haloti Ngata, Moala is surprisingly nimble and possesses great feet.

"He's a lot quicker than people think," Alberghini said. "He can go side to side and close on people. People are amazed that he can pursue and make plays on the sideline."

Said Richardson: "He's one big, fast dude. He dominates the run game. His whole goal is to shove the center into the quarterback and he does it all the time."

What makes it doubly tough is that you can't double-team him. Not with another blue chip recruit Puka Lopa lined right next to Moala. At 6-2, 245, Lopa is no shrinking violet himself.

"It's one of the best defensive lines I've ever seen in high school football," Richardson said. "We're definitely going to have to move the pocket and get our players in space."

That won't be so simple with absolute studs like middle linebacker Darryl Paulo (6-2, 230) and defensive backs James Sample (6-3, 190) and Shaq Thompson (6-1, 195). Paulo has the meanest streak on the roster, Sample has been offered spots by every Pac-10 school and Thompson, a junior, might wind up the top recruit ever out of the area.

A sprinter on the track team, Thompson, brother of current Denver Bronco defensive back Syd Thompson, will take over the running duties from Devontae Butler, who rushed for 2,884 yards and 45 touchdowns.

Thompson might also relieve first-year starting quarterback Terry Shine to run various versions of the Wildcat.

Thompson will probably be the best athlete on the field.

Photo by Anthony Brunsman

"'Special' is the word for (Thompson)," Richardson said. "He runs like a man possessed and he might be even a better defensive back."

Said Alberghini: "He's our best running back, best quarterback, best punter and defensive back. He's just our best total athlete."

And that's saying something. So is this:

"He has a chance to be one of the all-time greats and maybe the best ever at Grant," Davidson said.

Considering NFL talents Donte' Stallworth and Onterrio Smith dominated at Grant, that is indeed a mouthful.

BITTER TASTE
Besides chomping at the bit to start the season, both teams are trying to wash away the bitter taste from losing excruciating semifinal games last season.

Folsom squandered a 35-7 halftime lead and 42-14 late in the third quarter to lose to Del Oro 43-42 in the SJS semifinals. Graves was remarkable, going 18 of 23 for 324 yards and having a hand in all six touchdowns. He even drove his team all the way to the Del Oro 5 in the waning seconds, but a 22-yard field goal was partially blocked and caromed off the cross bar to end a remarkable season and game.

That loss has driven the Bulldogs throughout a lip-chomping six months. The 18 returning starters are bent on erasing that memory.

Alberghini during final moments of loss to Rocklin.

Photo by Anthony Brunsman

"It was a bitter defeat, no doubt," Richardson said. "I think we've been hungry and mad and (teed) off how the season ended. It's something that never should have happened."

Ditto for the Pacers. They scored on their opening possession against Rocklin, "then fell asleep," Alberghini said.

When they awoke, Grant pulled off a superb fourth-quarter rally and following a blocked punt seemed to have pulled out the game as well. First-and-goal inside the Rocklin 1, they ran Butler three straight times but couldn't topple the line.

No big deal. They had a super reliable kicker, but from the left hash mark, he pulled his kick ever so slightly. No good.

Like Folsom, a 22-yard field goal at the buzzer failed. Like Folsom, there were tears. Anguish. Frustration.

"I should have called it better down the stretch," Alberghini said. "We should have played better early. None of us feel good about it, but it's over and we've moved on. We're probably better people for it.”

OPPOSITE ENDS
Though the losses were remarkably similar, the teams don't share much socially. This is the first meeting between the schools.

Richardson and Alberghini agreed on the game in March and ESPN jumped on board sometime in June. Both coaches agree bringing the diverse communities together is a positive, but it wasn't a reason for the showdown.

"We like challenges and this team really presents many," Alberghini said. "As far as economics, yes there's a difference. But that's the beauty of sports. You don't carry your wallet onto the field. You just go out and play."

Said Richardson: "I guess some will frame it as the inner city kids against the rich, spoiled kids. Our kids aren't spoiled. They're hard working. They're not worried about all that. They just show up every day and play and practice hard. We have great respect for our opponent and know it's going to be one heck of a game.”

Folsom's defense must gang tackle to defeat Grant.

Photo by Ralph Thompson

It's going to help Richardson and the Bulldogs to have Miller, who has been in plenty of big games over the years, especially at Cordova where he coached Taylor and amassed 257 wins. Miller offered Richardson his first job in the area 15 years ago and though he didn't take it — he was offered a teaching job at Folsom — Richardson always remained close with the legendary coach.

When Richardson mentioned during the offseason he might seek help on defense, Miller quickly volunteered. Not as quick, however, as Richardson's acceptance. "It took me about two seconds," Richardson said. "He's been fantastic. He's exceeded all my expectations. Our coaches and players love him."

How that will all translate to Friday's game is anyone's guess.

Certainly Grant will try to keep Folsom's offense off the field with a long, ball-controlled, smash mouth attack. When the Bulldogs get the ball, Grant will try to intimidate physically but must stay disciplined against all of Folsom's misdirection.

"We've had all summer to prepare for them and they've had all summer to throw in some new wrinkles," Alberghini said. "We have just about everyone back and so do they. Everyone is at full strength. There should be no excuses."

Said Richardson: "I don't know what's going to happen but I do know this: we're prepared. We're ready. Now it's just time to play the game."