Staff Report
MaxPreps.com
SEATTLE, Wash. – Give California High School of San Ramon, Calif., a lot of credit for making the trip north to face state power Bellevue at Qwest Field, home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.
The contest is the featured pairing of Saturday’s Best of the West Classic, an all-day event being staged at a venue that has been kind to the Wolverines in recent years.
In 2004 at Qwest, Butch Goncharoff’s Bellevue squad ended De La Salle’s national-record 151-game winning streak in impressive fashion, running away for a 39-20 victory without attempting a pass.
A year later, the Wolverines dissected another California juggernaut, Long Beach Poly, 30-16 on the same field. Bellevue has won five state titles over the last seven seasons and is off to an impressive start in 2008, outscoring Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.) and 4A power Bothell 79-32. Both contests have been uncompetitive by halftime.
Last week in the 38-19 thumping of Bothell, brothers David and Peter Nguyen paced the vaunted wing-T attack by combining for 277 yards and four touchdowns. Peter Nguyen ran for 134 yards and four touchdowns in the season opener against Central Catholic.
California will present Bellevue with its biggest challenge to date – and possibly of the year – after a 29-9 win over Las Lomas last week. Fullback Leroy Green rumbled for 124 yards and two touchdowns in the win and is expected to power the Grizzlies’ running game all year.
Under head coach Tony Sanchez, California went 11-2 in 2007 and plays in the highly-competitive East Bay League, which also features the aforementioned De La Salle.
The event begins at 10:30 a.m. with Kamiak taking on Shorewood, followed by a pair of KingCo battles with Woodinville vs. Eastlake at 1:30 p.m. and Redmond vs. Bothell at 4:30 p.m.
Best of the West Football Classic
Saturday, Sept. 20, Qwest Field – Seattle
Kamiak vs. Shorewood, 10:30 a.m.
Woodinville vs. Eastlake, 1:30 p.m.
Redmond vs. Bothell, 4:30 p.m.
California (San Ramon, Calif.) vs. Bellevue, 7:30 p.m.
