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Bone crushing tackles? Check. Bruising runs? Check. Showstopping plays? Check, check, check. When the dust had settled on Berkeley High’s 40-14 domination of the Richmond Oilers, the Yellowjackets ran off more checks than Bill Gates on a shopping spree. Berkeley won its third straight game to remain undefeated league play (3-4, 3-0 ACCAL) before a showdown next week with Pinole Valley that will, according to senior running back Ramone Reed, “test how really good we are.” 

Eight different Yellowjackets rushed for a Berkeley offensive attack that piled up 288 rushing yards. The top ballcarrier, as always, was Reed, who followed up last week’s 3 touchdown performance at Encinal with 11 carries for 134 yards and 4 scores. Fullback Joey Terry-Jones pounded out 77 yards on eight carries and a touchdown, and Leon Ireland rounded up the Yellowjacket scoring barrage with a 10-yard punt return for a score.  

Reed further noted that Berkeley’s turnaround of three wins after four season opening losses is really a result of “everyone getting more focused... we’ve just dedicated ourselves.” In doing so, they sent an Oiler team to their fourth loss in the ACCAL and their sixth loss in seven games. Reed dedicated himself to excelling at every facet of the game. In additon to his four touchdowns, Reed blocked a punt, deflected two passes, racked up a sack, and pooched a 49-yard punt of his own. 

Berkeley roared out of the gates with a 61-yard opening drive in just under three minutes that culminated in a one-yard TD run by Terry-Jones. Reed’s block and Ireland’s recovery of an Oiler punt put the Yellowjackets up by 14 before a 28-yard touchdown run by Reed with 1:57 left in the first quarter capped off a 20-point Berkeley first quarter. The Yellowjacket offense scored in every single quarter thanks to their dominating rushing attack. 

As for Berkeley’s defense, the Yellowjackets held all-league fullback Roderick Chocklin to just eight rushing yards on five carries and six receiving yards on three receptions.  

The ’Jackets were strong in the air as well, as Richmond quarterback Lewis Montgomery was sacked five times and completed just seven of 17 pass attempts. Corey Anderson’s bobbling 67-yard touchdown reception and Tanzil Wagin’s 16-yard touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter were the only scores for Richmond. 

The one downside to Berkeley’s performance were its penalties. Last week at Encinal, second-year coach Gary Weaver harped on his team’s penalties, noting that “if we can get it together mentally, we’ll be a good team.” This week saw little improvement as most of Berkeley’s eight penalties for 55 yards came on false starts.  

Berkeley hopes to remain undefeated in conference play next Friday at Pinole Valley.