The best undefeated team in California that few know about is
Windsor High School.
And that doesn't seem to bother first-year head coach Rob Gatrell much at all.
The former NFL and Fresno State lineman had taken a very controlled, detailed but balanced approach to the 15-year-old school, which is located about 10 miles North of Santa Rosa.
Rob Gatrell played seven seasons
professionally after starring
at Fresno State.
Photo courtesy of Windsor High School
The fact few are considering them for a State Division II Bowl berth, despite a 13-0 record and 500-113 point differential and beating 10 playoff teams, might bother him deep inside.
But heading into tonight's North Coast Section championship game against
Concord at Santa Rosa High School, his focus is other places.
Namely, tonight's NCS title game against Concord.
Which it should be.
"We can control only one thing – and that's how we play (tonight) against Concord High," Gatrell said. "After that, it's out of our hands. We just need to take care of business and if anything else happens after that it's a bonus."
It appears a done deal that either Sac-Joaquin Section powers
Del Oro (12-1) and
Vacaville (12-1) would get the nod over Windsor based on strength of schedule.
And perhaps history.
Windsor has been to the postseason only once before – last season – when it went 7-4 after starting the season 7-0.
Del Oro's only loss is a 27-24 overtime defeat to Southern California's top-ranked Division I team
Westlake (Westlake Village).
Vacaville just beat defending state Division II champion Folsom and its only loss was to Marin Catholic (13-0), which is Northern California's No. 1 Division III school.
There's not a signature win on the Windsor schedule. Not by State Bowl standards, but decisive wins over larger schools Heritage-Brentwood (38-3) and Montgomery-Santa Rosa (42-0), and last week's 35-0 stomping of a strong and peaking Dublin school is more than impressive.
"I'll just say this on the matter," Gatrell said. "If we win (against Concord), we'll be the only Northern California Division II team without a loss."
Hard to argue that.
Or Gatrell's approach.
An offensive line coach at Santa Rosa Junior College the previous seven years, Gatrell decided to make the leap to high school ball after previous coach Dustin Davis took his dream job at the Sheriff's department.
Gatrell, 34, played for the Rams, 49ers and Patriots, and also had stints in the Arena league.
Judging by a 13-0 start and his approach, the prep game seems a perfect fit. There's lots of repetition: ball-handling, footwork, and conditioning. Gatrell was in charge of strength and conditioning at Santa Rosa JC.
"It's all about the little things and mixing it up," Gatrell said. "I'll stretch with the team, push them around a little. I definitely want to make it fun."
Santa Rosa Press Democrat columnist Bob Padecky
caught this moment at practice on Tuesday.
Windsor cornerback Kameron Richardson poached a pass, intercepted it and began sprinting down the sidelines. Sixty yards ahead of him. All alone. No one near him. For about four seconds.
Windsor coach Rob Gatrell took off after him. It was a sight.
Gatrell, 34, played pro football for eight years, was an offensive lineman for the 49ers, Patriots and Rams. At 275, 30 pounds below his playing weight, Gatrell soon was in lock-step with Richardson.
This visual treat revealed two things. One, this is the kind of athletic talent necessary to play in the NFL. Two, this is the kind of coach Gatrell is, one who demands maximum effort and is not shy about demonstrating it, even if it involves some personal sweat equity.
"Did you do this to get some exercise?" I asked Gatrell, already knowing the answer.
"I didn't do it for the exercise," Gatrell said. "I did it to make sure Kameron finished."Gatrell, who has recruited the area for SRJC, knew the Jaguars had good talent heading into the season. But being a lifetime lineman, the unselfish team stuff attracted him to the job. He also thought it smart to simplify things.
The Jaguars went from a no huddle, spread attack more basic pro and balanced sets. Predictably, he wanted to establish the run game.
It's worked.
The Jaguars are almost perfectly balanced, with 2,684 yards on the ground, led by running backs
Darrian Roman (1,190 yards, 21 touchdowns) and
Jarod Leon (729, 7) and quarterback
Christian McAlvain (571, 7).
McAlvain, a 6-foot, 170-pound sheer athlete, has also completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,046 yards and 20 touchdowns, 11 of those going to 6-6, 195-pound receiver
Kameron Richardson (42 catches, 766 yards).
"Christian is a very athletic kid who can beat you with his arm or legs," Gatrell said. "Darrian (5-10, 200) is a physical, tough runner and Jarod runs just as hard."
Ironically, the offensive line is undersized, but with a lot of hard work and good training, it's turned out to be about the team's most effective group.
"Those guys have worked extremely hard," Gatrell said. "They all have. And the coaching staff has done a phenomenal job."
As good as the offense has been (40 points per game), the defense has been even better with three shutouts while allowing a scant 8.6 per outing.
They are led by middle linebacker
Brady Stibi (6-2, 220), who leads the team with 98 tackles, along with defensive ends
Taylor Biaggi (20.5 sacks) and
Vince Valdes, defensive back
Mike Piazza (10 interceptions) and defensive lineman
Anthony Randel (91 tackles).
Stibi, who has a 6-foot-9 wing span, has a great nose for the ball and can cover fast. Piazza is the ultimate ball hawk. Randel (5-8, 200) is the ultimate gap-stopper.
"It's a physical team," said Gatrell, who starred at
Liberty (Brentwood). "We play the Jaguar way – tough, physical, hard-nosed and we like to cause havoc."
They hope to contain the state's leading rusher
Olito Thompson tonight.
Thompson has rushed for 3,203 yards and 34 touchdowns, including an almost preposterous 1,102 yards and nine touchdowns during a three-game playoff stretch.
That's included 91 carries, begging the question whether the 5-10, 210-pound junior has enough stamina left for tonight's game.
"He looks like a real good runner," Gatrell said. "He's not a blinder and not a slasher. He gets around you then uses a different gear. He runs with great determination and has great vision.
"But listen. We can't just focus on stopping No. 2 because they got 10 other guys who can beat you."
