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Gary Galloway, center, coaches baseball practice at St. Vincent De Paul High School on Monday.
Credit: Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat

PADECKY: St. Vincent’s Galloway is Mr. 500

Could you come to St. Vincent, principal Sister Maureen said back in 1979, for a job interview? “Sure,” Gary Galloway said, “but could you give me directions to the school?” That’s how fresh and new and innocent it was for Galloway, 34 years ago. Read Article →

Rancho Cotate hosting youth football camp

Rancho Cotate is hosting a camp that begins Monday and is open to players 12-14. Read Article →
New El Molino football coach Randy Parmeter works with students on weight training. Parmeter played at El Mo in the early 1990s.

Parmeter takes over El Molino football

Randy Parmeter has been a student of the game since his playing days at El Molino. After honing his coaching chops at three Sonoma County schools, Parmeter said he is ready to put the bite back in the Lions. Read Article →
Senior running back Jalon Luque ran for 2,071 yards in 2012, helping Rancho Cotate go 12-1 and reach the NCS championship game. (Scott Manchester / The Press Democrat)

All-Empire Large School Football: Rancho Cotate’s Luque offensive player of the year

Rancho Cotate's Jalon Luque rushed for a school-record 2,071 yards in 2012, including 278 against Northgate in the NCS semifinals. Read Article →

All-Empire Large School Football Teams

The All-Empire Large School first and second teams for offense, defense and special teams. Read Article →

All-Empire Small School Football Team

First and second team offense, defense and special teams Read Article →
Fort Bragg

All-Empire Small School Football: Fort Bragg’s Dondanville defensive player of the year

Fort Bragg nose tackle Neil Dondanville recorded 54 tackles and 3½ sacks, but that doesn’t begin to define his contributions. Read Article →
Fort Bragg

All-Empire Small School Football: Fort Bragg’s Smith offensive player of the year

Zach Smith rushed for 1,801 yards and 18 touchdowns and led the Timberwolves to an undefeated record in NCL I play. Read Article →

Padecky: SRJC coach sharing lessons learned from ‘Biggest Loser’

SRCJ defensive line still gets recognized from his time as a contestant on NBC's show in 2010. He carries on a regular fitness regimen and shares his experiences with his players. Read Article →
CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / The Press Democrat
Montgomery athletic director Dean Haskins will take over as head football coach this fall.

Haskins takes over Montgomery football program

Dean Haskins, the school’s athletic director, wants to return Montgomery to a winning program with accountability as his watchword. Read Article →
Bill Carle, president of the Santa Rosa Schools board of education, fielded questions about spring sports during a town hall meeting put on by Schools Plus at Santa Rosa High on April 13, 2010.  
Credit: Crista Jeremiason / The Press Democrat

PADECKY: School board forks out for safety

A week ago Wednesday, the idle conversation and the wringing of hands stopped. The Santa Rosa City Schools board approved the hiring of athletic trainers and neurocognitive testing for every student-athlete who will play a collision sport. Read Article →
Santa Rosa's Devin Murray, wearing a concussion band, chases a loose rebound between Maria Carrillo's Aaliyah Sowards (No. 31) and Claire Wheeler during a game on Jan. 28.  Credit: Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat

Battle plan for concussions

Starting this autumn, student-athletes at all five Santa Rosa public high schools will be supervised by certified athletic trainers and given baseline cognitive tests to help evaluate head injuries. Read Article →
SCOTT MANCHESTER / The Press Democrat
Elijah Qualls shares the moment with his brother Isaiah Miggins, 9, after signing his National Letter of Intent  to play football at the University of Washington.

PADECKY: Qualls shows what Team Elijah can do

Elijah Qualls of Casa Grande signs a National Letter of Intent with the University of Washington. Read Article →
Cardinal Newman's Scooby Wright.

Signing Day: VIP treatment doesn’t dull Scooby’s focus

Cardinal Newman's Scooby Wright will sign letter of intent to play college football on Wednesday Read Article →

Football: Area standouts earn all-region, all-state nods

Six players from area high schools were selected to all-region and all-state teams by Cal-Hi Sports and MaxPreps. Read Article →
Keith Simons has 111 coaching wins at SRJC, second-most in school history. (Crista Jeremiason / The Press Democrat)

PADECKY: Simons looks back on great career that became painful

“I should have gotten out (of coaching) a couple years ago,” Simons said. “My health became my priority, not the team. That wasn’t fair to the program. My health affected everything. Everything.” Read Article →
Mendocino's Reed Carter carries the ball in the Cardinals' NCL III title-clinching win over Laytonville. (Photo by SCOTT MANCHESTER / For The Press Democrat)

North Central League III all-league football team, 2012

Mendocino's Reed Carter is offensive MVP, while Mendo's Cody Lewis and Laytonville's Brandon Sutherland share defensive honors. Read Article →

North Central II/Bay Football League all-league team, 2012

St. Vincent de Paul quarterback Mitch Sheppard and California School for the Deaf running back Brian Freeman are co-MVPs. Read Article →
Analy's Aaron Maher, seen in the Tigers' playoff win over Tamalpais, is the Sonoma County League's Player of the Year. (Press Democrat photo)

Sonoma County League all-league football team, 2012

Analy's Aaron Maher is the player of the year. Read Article →
Rancho Cotate's Jalon Luque, seen carrying the ball against Northgate, is one of three North Bay League co-MVPs. (Press Democrat photo)

North Bay League all-league football team for 2012

Rancho Cotate's Michael Courchaine and Jalon Luque share MVP honors with Cardinal Newman's Phil Wright. Read Article →