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9/25/2014 Distractions don't deter Clayton Valley Charter - MaxPreps
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Distractions don't deter Clayton Valley CharterNorthern Calfornia's No. 5 team uses strong leadership, prolific running game and improved defense to start 3-0 and wipeaway off-field distractions.
Monday, September 15, 2014By Mitch Stephens | MaxPreps.com Follow @MitchMashMax
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Photo by Gary Jones
The Clayton Valley Charter Eagles charge the field heading into their first game of the season atthe Honor Bowl in Loomis.
With 11 starters returning from last year's 11-2 team, including All-State running back Miles Harrison, the 3-0start 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 TimMurphy 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'vetaken 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 afterClayton 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, wasthat 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 schoolwebsite."
The Eagles were stripped of six practices to start fall practices by the North Coast Section, but that wouldhave left them short of the 14 required to play their Aug. 30 opener at the Honor Bowl. Clayton Valley couldhave pulled out of the event and found
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9/25/2014 Distractions don't deter Clayton Valley Charter - MaxPreps
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Photo by Gary Jones
Miles Harrison, Clayton Valley Charter
File photo by Dennis Lee
Tim Murphy led Clayton Valley to an 11-2 seasonlast year after going 12-2 in 2012.
another game later, but Murphy didn't thinkit was fair to Honor Bowl promoter MarkSoto or his players. He pleaded andeventually received an alternative.
"It was my mistake, so punish me," he said.
Murphy was held out of the first two gamesand three of the six practices strippedwould come later in the season. Murphywatched the team's two first wins — 55-7over Carson City (Nev.) and 28-21 overTracy — 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 hesat out 2,000-yard rusher Harrison the firsthalf for cutting a class.
"Great kid, as good as they come, butschool is first," Murphy said. "We're here tolearn lessons. Harrison is a hero to lot ofkids in our program. But our heroes have tobe accountable too. Miles owned thepunishment. He took it like a man. He
promised it would never happen again.Done."
Harrison rushed for 120 second-half yardsand a 40-yard touchdown, helping to breaka 14-14 tie. He was one of seven standoutson the Clayton Valley sideline the first half,the other six were players who transferredto the school since last season. Those sixare seeking eligibility through the NorthCoast Section and CIF.
The most recognizable of them is KahlilMcKenzie, the nation's No. 2 senior recruit,a 6-foot-4, 340-pound defensive tackle whoearned All-American honors last year at DeLa Salle-Concord. The NCS ruled thatMcKenzie, the son of Raiders GeneralManager Reggie McKenzie and Tennesseecommit, transferred for athletic reasonsand is ineligible for the season.
The family is appealing that decision to thehighest court, the CIF.
Of the remaining five transfers, accordingto Murphy, one was ruled ineligible for theseason, two will be allowed to play afterthree more games via the six-game sit out
rule, and the two still have pending paperwork issues before they will be ruled upon.
9/25/2014 Distractions don't deter Clayton Valley Charter - MaxPreps
http://www.maxpreps.com/news/aLveIujn406nHm7ECKAfdQ/distractions-dont-deter-clayton-valley-charter.htm 3/4
Photo by Gary Jones
The Eagles are gang tackling much better in 2014.
Photo by Gary Jones
Jax Carter leads the Eagles with 13 tackles per game.
Murphy said though distracting, all sixtransfers have added greatly to the team,especially Kahlil McKenzie. All practicewith the squad, but none have played in agame.
"It takes a special kid with a specialcommitment to go through what we requireand not play on Friday night," Murphy said."Kahlil has been a great mentor to all thekids."
Murphy said kids are attracted to theschool and his program for more thanwinning football. In 17 seasons at threeschools, Murphy's team grade pointaverage has never been below 3.0, hesaid. Almost all of his rosters have includedmore than 70 varsity players, including 71this season.
He's led Ygnacio Valley (Concord), Clovis East (Clovis) and Clayton Valley to first-ever sectionchampionships, and his 2003 Clovis East squad finished 23th in the country. In his third season for theEagles, 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 backElijah Breon.
Carter, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior, lost35 pounds in the offseason to move fromthe line to linebacker. Cooper and Breonare both undersized (5-8, 170), but pack abig punch. Breon broke Saturday's 14-14game with a 58-yard interception return fortouchdown.
Clayton Valley is the top-ranked Division IIteam in Northern California but figure to geta big challenge from league and city rivalConcord (3-0).
"We've maneuvered through a lot thus far,"Murphy said. "We're just trying to get betterweek-by-week."
With an improved and new 4-3-4 defensivealignment designed by defensivecoordinators Ryan Reynolds and MitchMcDuff, the Eagles have already scored apair of touchdowns on that side of the ball.Carter (39 tackles) and Rich Peralta (36)average 13 and 12 tackles per game, butsix others average at least six per game.
"We're really rallying to the ball better,"Murphy said. "And this should help oursecondary."
They'll need to be sharp to containConcord's potent passing game, featuringthe 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 yardsrushing per game, led by Harrison (560 yards, seven TDs), Cooper (266 yards), along with Luis Ramos andJustin Zapanta, each with more than 100 yards.
9/25/2014 Distractions don't deter Clayton Valley Charter - MaxPreps
http://www.maxpreps.com/news/aLveIujn406nHm7ECKAfdQ/distractions-dont-deter-clayton-valley-charter.htm 4/4
"We're doing great, but the goal is to always get better," Murphy said. "I'm confident with the leaders we haveon this team, that we will."
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