fall just shy in upset bid
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Anchorpoint Christian head coach KC Adams has
been a part of plenty of big games during his five years at the helm of the
Warriors 8-man football team. And Adams’ breadth of football experience expands
far past the small high school located 2220 Pacheco Pass Highway. But the effort
his team put forth on a cold, rainy Saturday night, almost sent the verbose
Adams to the brink of speechlessness.
“I’ve never been so proud of a team in my life,” Adams said.
Without a majority of its their regular starters due to disciplinary reasons,
playing with the minimum eight players – at times with seven – the Warriors
hosted visiting Antelope Valley Christian High School and battled play after
play, shaking off hit after hit and clung to a 20-18 lead with 2 seconds
remaining in the fourth quarter.
However, Eagles’ quarterback Michael Liao barely outran a Warriors defender
to the pylon for the winning touchdown and a 24-20 final in a non-league
encounter on Senior Night in Gilroy.
“It is what it is,” Adams said. “At that point I didn’t really care. I was
just amazed at what those kids were able to do.”
Austin Keathley, one of two seniors, including Steven Hunter, to suit up,
lined up at quarterback for the first time in his prep career and, on cue,
tossed a pair of first half touchdowns to give the Warriors a 14-12 first-half
edge.
“Austin and Steven, that was football at its finest,” Adams said. “That was
them putting it all on the line in their last game.”
Keathley connected with sophomore Kelon Jacobs for a 25-yard scoring strike
on the Warriors first possession of the game. After an unsuccessful 2-point
conversion try, the Warriors led 6-0.
Utilizing a consistent and efficient running game, the Eagles countered with
two unanswered touchdowns to state to a 12-6 cushion midway through the second
quarter.
Anchorpoint grabbed the lead on a Keathley-to-Devon Jones 11-yard touchdown.
Hunter lowered his head and bulled in for the 2-point try and the 14-12 lead.
That possession was set up by an Aaron Avena fumble recovery.
A heavy downpour greeted the two teams in the second half, adding to the
grittiness of the ball game. Hunter did most of the work to get the Warriors
down to the 1-yard line where Keathley finished a long drive with a quarterback
sneak and a 20-12 advantage midway through the third.
But the Eagles responded with a pair of late scoring drives, including the
game-winner as time expired.
“It was phenomenal,” Adams said. “That was tough, hard football.”
The Warriors’ season was far from smooth, facing countless setbacks with
injuries and player discipline. Despite all of that, the Warriors (3-4 overall,
3-1 league) still managed to capture a share (Trinity and Pinewood) of the
Coastal Athletic League title – their fifth straight.
“The players’ character and hard work still came through,” Adams said. “And
it just gets me looking forward to next year. We are going to be good.”
Other seniors who were honored at halftime were Matt Thomas, who missed the
second half of the year after being involved in a car accident, reigning league
MVP Kareem Lucas and receiver Collin Minyard.
| Josh Weaver Josh Weaver is the sports editor for the Gilroy Dispatch. He can be reached at (408) 842-1694.   |
Christian football
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Asked what had to go right for his Anchorpoint Christian 8-man football team to finish out Coastal Athletic League
action against Pinewood with a win, head coach KC Adams said simply, “Everything.”
The Warriors travel to Los Alto Hills to face a resurgent Pinewood squad that
has won three consecutive outings. Game time is slated for 3:30 p.m.
“Their three best players were all hurt and now they are back, so they are
looking to beat us,” Adams said.
A victory over Pinewood ensures the Warriors their fifth straight league
title. A loss would snap a 22-game unbeaten streak that dates back to the team’s
inaugural season.
“It’s a big one,” Adams said. “Believe me, if anyone wants to end that streak
it would be Pinewood. We have a love, hate relationship.”
The Panthers are led by quarterback John Bennet (11 TDs) and running back
Michael Naumann (319 yards, four TDs.)
The Warriors have been bitten by the injury bug as well this season. But
following a bye week, all hands will be on deck today.
“Everybody has to stay focused,” Adams said. “We are good now that everybody
is healthy, but we have to play a complete game.”
TODAY
Anchorpoint (3-2, 3-0 TCAL) at
Pinewood (3-3, 2-1), 3:30
- Last year: AP 78, Pinewood 46
- Warriors can make it five straight undefeated league seasons with win.
Athletic League unbeaten streak to 20 games (19-0-1) with a shootout victory
over Alma Heights Christian Academy on Saturday in Pacifica.Kareem Lucas threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns and accounted for 165
rushing yards and four more scores, as the Warriors outlasted Alma Heights
74-48.Receiver Collin Minyard hauled in 175 yards and three touchdowns, while
fullback Austin Keathley posted 95 yards and three scores.
The Warriors led 40-8 at halftime.
“My defense needs to work on a lot,” head coach KC Adams said. “We can score,
we just need to keep people from scoring.”
Steven Hunter did have two interceptions on defense.
The Warriors host Riverdale Christian on Saturday, the first of two straight
contests Adams considers as the team’s biggest matchups of the season.
Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. at Anchorpoint.****************************************************************************************************************
Anchorpoint earns 38-28 victory over Anzar
Friday, September 23, 2011
Anzar High, the new kids on the 8-man football block, hosted four-time Coastal Athletic League champion Anchorpoint Christian and a rivalry sprang to life in San Juan Bautista on Friday night.
Daniel Modic barreled into the end zone in the second quarter for the Hawks’ (0-2 overall, 0-1 CAL) first touchdown in program history, sending a spirited home crowd into frenzy. But it was Kareem Lucas and the Warriors (1-2 overall, 1-0 CAL) who had the final say with a 38-28 victory, pushing their league unbeaten streak to 17 games.
“That’s one down,” said head coach KC Adams, whose Warriors suited up just nine players. “We are trying to win the league. That’s our goal. Let’s win something with the little that we got.”
PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Anchorpoint Christian Warriors
ingrained into the 8-man football program established by coach KC Adams.For the past four seasons the Warriors bruised and battered opponents to the tune of four consecutive league championships.
By now, Adams is used to getting the best out of what he’s got, and with 13 players on the roster for the 2011 season, he is determined to do it again.
“You only need eight to play,” Adams said with an assuredness to his tone. “We have very coachable kids this year. We are probably the smartest we’ve ever been. We’re not as physical or as big, but we are smart as a team.”
The small roster caused Adams to get creative with his game planning, though,
he still expects his offense to put up jaw-dropping statistics.
“We have to be a totally different team,” he said. “It’s going to be finesse
now. We completely changed our offense. We are going to put points up. We’ve
been doing it since March, so we are pretty good at it by now.”
If Adams wants physicality, he need look no further than senior Kareem Lucas, who with his 6-foot, 215-pound frame has made a habit out of gobbling up yardage in chunks. Lucas, the league’s MVP in 2010, ran for 1,413 yards on just 81
carries last fall, often times playing just one half on offense.
“Kareem has done everything we have asked of him – and then some,” Adams said. “He doesn’t miss a workout. He leads by example.”
Doing what Adams asks takes on a new meaning this season, as Lucas will not take on his normal tailback role. Instead he is shifting to quarterback, a position he got a taste of in the Warriors’ final game of the 2010 season.
“He’s not a quarterback, but he has worked his butt off to become one,” Adams said.
Another key returning figure is fullback/linebacker Austin Keathley, who reported to camp 20 pounds heavier, Adams said.
“He has rose to the occasion like never before,” Adams said. “He took it upon himself. He is our best utility player.”
Keathley said he is looking forward to the opportunity to dive headlong into the action.
“We are definitely going to try and outperform everybody,” Keathley said. “We have a lot of speed. I think I’m in the best shape of my life.”
Collin Minyard, who has slowly but surely developed into a quality wide receiver, will again see his role increase. Minyard registered four receiving touchdowns last season and Adams expects to see that number at least double.
“He’s a guy that’s back stronger, faster,” Adams said. “This is the first year he has trained all year. That made me happy.”
Senior Stephen Hunter, a converted soccer player, is set to make his debut with the Warriors, and according to Adams, it’s a much anticipated appearance.
“He’s just a natural athlete,” Adams said. “For us he is a blessing.” Hunter will assume the running back position vacated by Lucas. For all the offensive projected firepower, Adams foresees one point of apprehension.
“Defensively, I don’t know how we are going to stop people, he said. “That’s my question mark.”
The Warriors open the season Saturday at Cornerstone Christian.
Who to watch: Kareem Lucas makes the switch from running
back to quarterback
Watching Kareem Lucas bulldoze his way past would-be tacklers is comical in a
way – a-man-among-boys scenario.
Lucas has rushed for more than 2,000 yards and found the end zone 48 times, via rushing receiving and passing in two seasons with the Warriors. His talents often go unnoticed at a school that fields an 8-man football team.
“He’s the best athlete I’ve ever had,” Anchorpoint coach KC Adams said. “He deserves the credit that everybody else gets. But by being at this small school he doesn’t get the attention that I think he deserves.”
Far be it for Lucas to complain. He feels right at home.
“I’ve thought about leaving, but I have all this support here from family and friends. It really is like a family here,” Lucas said, looking toward teammate Austin Keathley. “Like this guy here, he’s my brother.”
Following a forgettable freshman year at Sobrato High School, with failing grades and a bit of out-of-the-classroom trouble, Lucas ended up at Anchorpoint under the tutelage of Adams and the rest of the teaching staff.
“I didn’t do so well. I was lost, got into some trouble and I came here,” Lucas said. “I’ve gotten way better as a player being here. And, for the first time, I have my grades up. There’s been a lot of one-on-one time. It’s been good.”
Warriors roster:
Caleb Brown, Stephen Hunter, Nico Moffitt, Kareem Lucas, Austin Keathley, Joshua Golisano, Jacob Banales, Bailey Scott, Isaiah Ahumada, Collin Minyard, Aaron Avena, Devon Jones and Fernando Sierra.
Schedule:
Saturday: At Cornerstone, TBA
Sept. 10: At Rincon Valley, 2
Sept. 16 Kings Christian, 7
*Sept. 23 At Anzar, 6
*Oct. 1 At Alma Heights, 1
*Oct. 15 Trinity, 7
*Oct. 28 At Pinewood, 3:30
| Josh Weaver |
GILROY DISPATCH
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
CAMP NOTES: No rest in sight for Warriors
By Dispatch Sports Staff (sports@gilroydispatch.com)
Realizing early on his numbers were going to be down this season,
Anchorpoint Christian 8-man football head coach KC Adams has done some of what
he does best: he’s adjusted.
“They are going to have to be in shape,” Adams said
Monday.
“They have about three weeks of hell coming up and they are
going to have to make it happen. We are trying to prepare.”
Though Monday was just Day 1 of fall camp, the Warriors, all 13 of
them, were running a gauntlet of strength and conditioning exercises, led by
Adams and his good friend, Vicanto Goodwin of Crossover Academy.
The two vociferous coaches traded turns shouting out commands to
keep the Warriors focused on what they had to do.
“Do something someone else ain’t doin’,” Adams said.
To emphasize the point, Goodwin countered, “Be the hammer,
not the nail.”
The Warriors return only a handful of players from last year’s
team that went 9-1 overall and undefeated in the Coastal Athletic League for
their fourth consecutive league championship. On the bright side, one of the
returners is do-everything-man, Kareem Lucas.
Lucas’ work load will increase dramatically, Adams said, an
interesting notion considering the 6-foot-1, 200-plus pound senior led
Anchorpoint in nearly every offensive category last fall.
“He’s going to be the man,” Adams said. “He’s always
been the ace in the hole. We have no choice.”
Another line-up adjustments Adams said is foreseeable is veteran
wide receiver Collin Minyard spending time at quarterback.
The Warriors will spend the night every night this week, using
part of each day on the field and in the classroom learning the play book. They
open the season against CAL newcomer Anzar High School, which enters its first
season as a team.
