Well, make that passing.
Would some quick thoughts on the Chico at Pleasant Valley 7-on-7 passing from Tuesday night interest you? Well then, let’s get started by ripping off some 100-word dashes. Here. We. Go.
100-word dash, Episode I
The Chico at Pleasant Valley high football 7-on-7 passing Tuesday went probably as expected with rough kinks and occasional good plays from both sides. Quarterback Clayton Welch seemed to have control of the offense throughout while some receivers still had to learn some plays. Chico wideout Miles Fishback provided one of the best catches while running along the right sideline. A PV defender (sorry, no numbers and roster make it hard to identify new players) made a nice play breaking up a pass. Another Viking jumped a route to pick off a pass as Chico was approaching the end zone.
VIDEO: A few plays from 7-on-7 passing.
100-word dash, Episode II
If you can’t find Cameron Alfaro, try the Chico High weight room. The soon-to-be junior running back looks like he’s been serious about bulking up. As a baby-faced sophomore, Alfaro ran for more than 1,000 yards and the bulk he’s put on might lessen the need for Welch to run so much as Alfaro could take more carries. Alfaro also looked more and more like Welch’s dump-off preference when no one is open downfield. While Welch garnered most of the headlines, Alfaro starred in relative obscurity as a sophomore. He looks like he’s intent on making himself impossible to ignore.
VIDEO: Some more plays from 7-on-7 passing.
100-word dash, Episode III
Another player who looks like he knows his way around the weight room is Pleasant Valley sophomore Jordan Cooley. Yes, Vikings coach Mark Cooley’s son probably will work his way on to the field for the varsity team quite a bit this year. The younger Cooley plays both running back and cornerback (no surprise there as that’s what the elder Cooley coached as a Butte College assistant). The Vikings already had an uncertain depth chart at running back after the vast majority of their running back committee graduated. Don’t be surprised if he steps up. He already looks the part.
VIDEO: PV on offense, and Chico on defense in 7-on-7 passing.
100-word dash, Episode IV
Unfortunately, I delivered some bad news to Chico football coach Jason Alvistur. Panthers standout Kody Sonday won’t be able to play in the 37th annual Lions All-Star Football Game because of a rotator cuff injury suffered in the South team’s first practice. Alvistur often praised Sonday in postgame interviews for his work as a two-way standout at inside linebacker and left guard during the Panthers’ 2013 season. The coach said hearing about Sonday “bummed” him out. Sonday was a late addition to the South team that will take on the North at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Shasta College in Redding.
VIDEO: More Chico on defense and PV on offense with a cameo from defensive coordinator Mike Miller.
100-word dash, Episode V
While coaches and players alike take the 7-on-7 passing seriously, there are plenty of lighter moments. One Chico player volunteered to do some push-ups after a gaffe. His push-ups weren’t exactly what defensive coordinator Mike Miller had in mind, saying they were what many elder Americans would not consider proper technique. Never one to shy away from a good-natured joke, Miller said the kind of push-ups done stemmed from the “wuss-ification” of America over the last 20 years, a book Miller said he could write, and he even knew how it would begin. “Chapter 1: Soccer,” he said, getting laughs.
VIDEO: Chico on offense, and PV on defense.
100-word dash, Episode VI
The start date is less than a month away. On Aug. 11, Northern Section football teams start practicing for the upcoming season. Many of them can’t waste time, especially this year. Week Zero, a week usually reserved for few games is nearly a full-fledged slate of good contests come Aug. 29: Pleasant Valley hosts Yuba City, Chico is at Roseville, Paradise is at American Canyon, Las Plumas hosts Marysville and Orland hosts Durham in an all-area matchup. Other section pairings for that night include Shasta at Anderson, Red Bluff at Central Valley, and Foothill at West Valley. Should be fun.
