CSD records another shutout

From: The Argus, Ca
Oct. 18, 2002

By Ken Bishop

CORRESPONDENT

FREMONT -- Junior quarterback Clint Dickinson threw three touchdown passes and California School for the Deaf football team dominated Berean Christian High in every phase Thursday as the Eagles lashed the Walnut Creek school, 38-0, in their Bay Football League opener.

In the process, CSD (5-1, 1-0) posted its fourth straight win via the shutout route, and tied a school one-season record set in the early 1980s with its fourth goose egg -- with four regular season games to play.

The Eagles have outscored the last four opponents 122-0 and may well be on track for only their second ticket to the North Coast Section Class B small school playoffs, their first appearance at that level since 1992.

Thursday's triumph saw the hosts muzzle the visitors with 34 yards rushing in 25 carries, and allow the reigning four-time BFL champions just 1 completion in 9 pass attempts (for minus-1 yard).

CSD netted just 105 yards rushing, but Dickinson carried the day with 11- for-19 and 296 yards passing, throwing for 201 in the opening half. The one-sided affair was partial atonement for last season's 56-0 setback in the Diablo Valley.

And the next two weeks promise to be equally interesting as first-year coach Kevin Bella sends his troops into combat against their two biggest rivals. A week from Saturday, the Eagles visit sister school CSD-Riverside, then on Halloween (6:30 p.m.) host ancient Bay Counties League and BFL rival Emery at James Logan High.

Signing through an interpreter, Bella said, "The kids have a personal goal to stop the other teams on defense. But we never really expected all the shutouts." Bella noted his club offensively was able to counter Berean's "tough pass rush by being very patient and looking for the open hole," or passing lane.

CSD's first three scores, giving it a 19-0 halftime lead, were the result of a trio of third down executions that saw swift junior Chris Ivory on the receiving end of his team's first and third tallies. Ivory scored three times, and Johnson twice for the winners.

The Eagles' first drive lasted but three plays after Berean's Ben Sanders bounced a punt 50 yards to CSD's 26. Dickinson connected with Ivory at the Berean 45, and he was off to the races on a 74-yard play 5:59 into action.

A 46-yard hookup with Sal Acevado two possessions later moved CSD to the Berean 14, and after a 5-yard penalty, Johnson ran 9 yards to end a 6-play, 67-yard march 5:42 into the second quarter.

Then, CSD used stealth and guile to collect an improbable third score. Dickinson kept his team huddled for an excessive time as it appeared CSD was content to let the half expire. But on third-and-14 from Berean's 41, with the visitors now relaxed, he spotted Ivory at the 19, and Ivory scored with 0:12 still left on the clock.

In his post-game recap, Bella signed, "We wanted to kill them right there on the surprise."

Berean turned over the second-half kickoff at the 11, and Johnson went in two plays later. CSD scored twice in the final 7:01 with Charlton Williams gaining 24 yards, and Ivory the next 28 to make it, 32-0.

Davey DeHoyos' 21-yard interception return set up the final CSD score as the Eagles zoomed 70 yards in 3 plays, the final 65 coming on a Dickinson hookup with David Harvey.

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