McClymonds vs. Fremont- OAK Thurs Nov 9, 2017
Photos by Eric Taylor
This evening’s football matchup between McClymonds HS Warriors vs. Fremont HS Tigers should be a great matchup as this is for the OAL (Oakland Athletic League) championship and for the #1 seed in next week’s playoffs.
MACK (McClymonds) has been a football powerhouse for the past years and they are currently the defending 5A State Champs. Head Coached by Michael Peters is his son Marcus Peters who is the starting cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs. Coach Peters has a great squad building up from last year. The team is led by #4 RB Jarmar Julien, a 5’11” 220lb junior who’s running game is compared to Adrian Peterson’s during his college days at Oklahoma — Jarmar’s Dad played in the NFL.
After winning State Championship last year in Division 5, MACK has been moved up to Division 3 despite having a D5 school enrollment.
On the other side of the ball for Fremont HS, a school that is located in East Oakland off East 14th (International Blvd) and High St in a heavy Tongan, Latino and Black neighborhood. I’m intrigued to see Tongan student-athletes #54 Johnathan Latu (DE), #58 Folau Finau (DE) and #10 Sione Fili (LB). Latu, a senior, has great upside at 6’4” 290LBS with a Division 1 offer by BYU due to his commitment to serve a mormon mission upon graduation. Fremont is led by #6 running back Antonio Fa’ateete who is half Samoan-half Black as he is the leading rusher in the San Francisco Bay Area with over 2000 yards coming into this game. I’m excited to see what Antonio can do against a superior MACK defense.
Fremont wins the coin toss:
And chooses to receive in the first half. MACK kicks the ball and #9 of Fremont, Iman Nelse returns the kickoff for an 80 yard touchdown. Instead of kicking the extra point, Fremont gives it to #6 Antonio Fa’ateete and the 2-point conversion is good. Just like that, Fremont is on the board 8-0 with 11:40 remaining in the 1st quarter.
On the 2nd play of MACK’s offensive possession, #1 QB Emoreea Fountain runs a QB sneak of 44yards for a TD. Extra point is good and MACK is behind 8-7 with 11:10 remaining. The first offensive series for Fremont is a struggle as MACK’s defense, led by #55 Ramone Sanders is stopping the current leading rusher #6 Fa’ateete. The next MACK drive I see the first carry for #4 Jarmar Julien and he runs for 23 yards. He is a big boy and is hella fast for his size. The next play, #1 QB Fountain passes to #18 Day’marr Johnson for a 30 yard TD as he was in single coverage.
Bay Area Leading Rusher Fremont #6 Antonio Fa’ateete in open field
14-8 MACK with 7:31 remaining.
The next possession for the Tigers and they punted on 4th down. MACK blocks the punt and is recovered by #20 Peter Diaz who takes it to the house 25 yards out for the score. It is 21-8 MACK with 5:37 remaining. Three different MACK TD scores already (run, pass, special teams) and we still got a half quarter to play in the first. LB #55 Ramone Sanders for MACK is on every tackle using his Ezekiel Elliott Dallas Cowboys slogan “Feed Me.” Well #55 is eating good tonight!
In the 2nd quarter with MACK having the ball, #4 Julien explodes for a 30 yard run. The next play a holding penalty negated a 50 yard reception. Following that penalty, QB, #1 Fountain gives the ball to #4 Julien and he runs for a 76 yard touchdown run. MACK is up 27-8 with 11:21 remaining. Julien is so elusive in open territory as I’m loving this kid’s game.
MACK recovers an onside kick. The next play #4 Julien gets the handoff and he’s off to the races for a 55 yard TD run. It is 34-8 with 5:18 remaining in the half. Going into halftime #4 Jarmar Julien has 7 carries for 199 yards.
At halftime and it is senior night for Fremont HS as the student-athletes were being recognized with flower leis and so forth, taking their pictures with their parents which is always a good thing. In my Tongan culture, parents are not required to go to their kids activities because they are so busy working 2-3 jobs to keep up with the high cost of living in the Bay Area. I’m headed now to the sideline of Fremont HS as I’m familiar with some of the Oakland football kids from both teams that I coached this past summer at the Marshawn Lynch annual Fam1st Football camp which took place at the Oakland Raiders practice facility in Alameda.
It’s the 3rd quarter, MACK receives the ball. As they were in Fremont territory, Fountain throws in double coverage as Fremont DB #9 Iman Nelse got the INT. However, during Fremont’s offensive possession, MACK forces a fumble and recovers it in good field position at the Tigers 30 yard line. Two plays later, #4 Julien takes it in from 4 yards out for a TD and the score is 41-8 MACK with 2:40 remaining.
In the 4th quarter with the game out of reach, Fremont continues to pound the ball by giving it to #6 Fa’ateete. The Tigers couldn’t score an offensive TD in this game and the final score is 41-6 McClymonds. The Tigers Antonio Fa’ateete finishes with 16 carries for 155 yards — most likely he will finish as the leading rusher in the San Francisco Bay Area. On the other hand for MACK, Julien finishes with 8 carries for 217 yards averaging 25 yards per carry and only a JR. He looks like a Power 5 College Running Back.
Most likely the two teams will meet again in two weeks for the OAL championship as MACK will have a stiffer test towards their run to the State Championship in Division 3 play if they win the Silver Bowl (OAL Title). Congrats to Coach Peters and the 2017 McClymonds Warriors Varsity Team for an undefeated season. I wish good luck to both teams as they head into playoff action.
Til next time. Ofa Atu -George
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