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Gauchos are standing between Yellowjackets and perfection

By Jared Green Daily Planet Staff
Friday November 15, 2002

The Berkeley High football team is just one win away from the school’s first perfect season in nearly 30 years. The weight that accomplishment isn’t lost on head coach Matt Bissell. 

“All week we’ve been trying to tell the players the significance of another win,” Bissell said of his coaching staff. “We’re trying to impress on them the uniqueness of the situation they’re in.” 

Standing in the way of Berkeley’s perfect regular season are the El Cerrito Gauchos. They’ll be looking for revenge after the Yellowjackets completed an impressive fourth-quarter comeback last season at El Cerrito, a loss that knocked the Gauchos out of contention for the Alameda-Contra Costa Athletic League title. 

Berkeley is playing its best football of the season, however, with three straight shutouts and an offense that has continued to roll despite the loss of its starting running backs. Fullback Aaron Boatwright, whom Bissell has called the key to his team’s offense, will likely sit out tonight’s game with a sore knee, while tailback Craig Hollis returns from a game on the bench for disciplinary reasons. 

Hollis’ return won’t mean sophomore Antoine Cokes will head to the bench for good. Cokes was impressive last week against Alameda, running for 142 yards and two touchdowns, and will likely get quite a few carries against El Cerrito. Cokes’ brother, Finus, also had 55 yards and a touchdown and will start at fullback tonight. 

Bissell knows none of his players have been to the North Coast Section playoffs, and he and his staff are working hard to get the Jackets ready for a tough first-round game, most likely against either San Leandro High or Foothill High. Bissell expects his team to take their excitement out on the Gauchos before moving on to the playoffs. 

“We’re trying to keep our players on a level playing field,” he said. “This feels like a new season, a new starting point for the team.” 

Defensive coordinator Ronald Moore said he won’t be surprised if his defense pitches another shutout. The last time the Jackets were scored on by an opponent was on Oct. 18 against Hercules, an overtime win that set the tone for what has been Berkeley’s best season since the Jackets were undefeated in 1973. 

“I never want any team to score on us, but we’ve been playing just unbelievably well lately,” Moore said. “We can play defense against anybody and not give up anything.” 

Notes: The NCS selection committee will meet on Sunday morning to seed the playoff teams. Berkeley is ranked seventh in 4A on the calpreps.com Web site, but they should be seeded higher than No. 6 Antioch High, as Berkeley beat Liberty High and Antioch lost to Liberty. Berkeley will likely only host a playoff game if they are matched up against a team that doesn’t win its league, as league champions get first shot at hosting a playoff game.