Distractions don't deter Clayton Valley Charter

With 11 starters returning from last year's 11-2 team, including All-State running back Miles Harrison, the 3-0 start for Clayton Valley Charter (Concord, Calif.) isn't all the surprising.

But considering the avalanche of off-the-field distractions his team has faced in the off-season, coach Tim Murphy said Monday that 3-0 is awfully impressive, if not rewarding.

"It's really about the leadership of these kids," he said. "We've never had seven captains before. But they've taken responsibility and ownership of the team when we needed it most."

Murphy, in his 18th season, took responsibility for the first distraction. He started practicing the week after Clayton Valley got out of school May 30. Rules prohibited fall sports practices until after the last CIF event, which was June 7.

Murphy said his team's have always practiced the week after school gets out. The problem, in this case, was that school at Clayton Valley got out two weeks early.

"We weren't trying to gain an advantage or deceit anyone," he said. "Our schedule was on the school website."

The Eagles were stripped of six practices to start fall practices by the North Coast Section, but that would have left them short of the 14 required to play their Aug. 30 opener at the Honor Bowl. Clayton Valley could have pulled out of the event and found another game later, but Murphy didn't think it was fair to Honor Bowl promoter Mark Soto or his players. He pleaded and eventually received an alternative.

"It was my mistake, so punish me," he said.

Murphy was held out of the first two games and three of the six practices stripped would come later in the season. Murphy watched the team's two first wins — 55-7 over Carson City (Nev.) and 28-21 over Tracy — via streams on the Internet.

"I did a lot of yelling at the computer," Murphy said.

Saturday's 42-21 win at Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa was his first game back and he sat out 2,000-yard rusher Harrison the first half for cutting a class.

"Great kid, as good as they come, but school is first," Murphy said. "We're here to learn lessons. Harrison is a hero to lot of kids in our program. But our heroes have to be accountable too. Miles owned the punishment. He took it like a man. He promised it would never happen again. Done."

Harrison rushed for 120 second-half yards and a 40-yard touchdown, helping to break a 14-14 tie. He was one of seven standouts on the Clayton Valley sideline the first half, the other six were players who transferred to the school since last season. Those six are seeking eligibility through the North Coast Section and CIF.

The most recognizable of them is Kahlil McKenzie, the nation's No. 2 senior recruit, a 6-foot-4, 340-pound defensive tackle who earned All-American honors last year at De La Salle-Concord. The NCS ruled that McKenzie, the son of Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie and Tennessee commit, transferred for athletic reasons and is ineligible for the season.

The family is appealing that decision to the highest court, the CIF.

Of the remaining five transfers, according to Murphy, one was ruled ineligible for the season, two will be allowed to play after three more games via the six-game sit out rule, and the two still have pending paperwork issues before they will be ruled upon.

Murphy said though distracting, all six transfers have added greatly to the team, especially Kahlil McKenzie. All practice with the squad, but none have played in a game.

"It takes a special kid with a special commitment to go through what we require and not play on Friday night," Murphy said. "Kahlil has been a great mentor to all the kids."

Murphy said kids are attracted to the school and his program for more than winning football. In 17 seasons at three schools, Murphy's team grade point average has never been below 3.0, he said. Almost all of his rosters have included more than 70 varsity players, including 71 this season.

He's led Ygnacio Valley (Concord), Clovis East (Clovis) and Clayton Valley to first-ever section championships, and his 2003 Clovis East squad finished 23th in the country. In his third season for the Eagles, Murphy is 26-4.

"We're much more than just about winning football games here," Murphy said.

He's never had better leaders, he said than linebackers Jax Carter and Ryan Cooper, and defensive back Elijah Breon.

Carter, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior, lost 35 pounds in the offseason to move from the line to linebacker. Cooper and Breon are both undersized (5-8, 170), but pack a big punch. Breon broke Saturday's 14-14 game with a 58-yard interception return for touchdown.

Clayton Valley is the top-ranked Division II team in Northern California but figure to get a big challenge from league and city rival Concord (3-0).

"We've maneuvered through a lot thus far," Murphy said. "We're just trying to get better week-by-week."

With an improved and new 4-3-4 defensive alignment designed by defensive coordinators Ryan Reynolds and Mitch McDuff, the Eagles have already scored a pair of touchdowns on that side of the ball. Carter (39 tackles) and Rich Peralta (36) average 13 and 12 tackles per game, but six others average at least six per game.

"We're really rallying to the ball better," Murphy said. "And this should help our secondary."

They'll need to be sharp to contain Concord's potent passing game, featuring the Bay Area's top passer Mitch Daniels.

But the way Clayton Valley runs the ball, it may not matter. The Eagles average better than 400 yards rushing per game, led by Harrison (560 yards, seven TDs), Cooper (266 yards), along with Luis Ramos and Justin Zapanta, each with more than 100 yards. 

"We're doing great, but the goal is to always get better," Murphy said. "I'm confident with the leaders we have on this team, that we will."