Both Encinal and Alameda high school football teams qualified for the North Coast Section (NCS) Div. III playoffs. The teams will compete in the first round of the playoffs this weekend.  

The Jets were awarded the eighth seed out of 14 teams. They will take on Petaluma High Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Nail House. The Hornets were seeded 12th in the tournament. They will face fifth-seed Miramonte of Orinda Friday, Nov. 2.

The Jets finished its 2018 regular season in third place in the West Alameda County Conference (WACC) Foothill league after back-to-back losses to the eventual champion and runner-up.

After giving up a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter in its 18-13 defeat to San Leandro High on Oct. 19 on the road, the Jets faced Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland Friday, Oct. 26 at home. 

Encinal quarterback junior David Romero-rienholz and Bishop O’Dowd quarterback Moe Flynn both threw for less than 120 yards and two interceptions. The difference between the two teams was the run offense. The Hornets managed to gain just 17 yards on the ground on 23 carries. The Dragons, however, rushed for 141 yards. They were led by Stanford University-bound running back Austin Jones who rushed for 134 yards on 18 carries.

Flynn opened the contest by throwing one of his three touchdown passes. On the Dragons’ next drive, Flynn’s pass attempt on third-and-24 was intercepted by Encinal junior Teddy Oliver. Oliver returned the ball deep into Dragon territory. Encinal capitalized off the turnover with a four-yard touchdown run by Jezaiah Naigulevu. The Jets trailed 7-6. It was the Jets’ only score of the contest. 

Flynn rebounded off his first interception with a touchdown pass to junior Ethan Ford before the end of first quarter. 

The Dragons were able to add insurance points in the fourth quarter on a touchdown pass from Flynn to Jones. 

The Dragons won the contest 21-6. Romera-rienholz finished 8-of-19 for 115 yards passing. Flynn was 6-of16 for 111 yards passing. 

The Jets finished the season 7-3 overall and 3-2 in the Foothill League. The Dragons went 8-2 overall and 5-0 in the Foothill League.

The Hornets will enter the NCS on a hot streak after winning its last four games, all WACC Shoreline League games. The Hornets 4-1 league record gave them a three-way share of the Shoreline League title. 

The Hornets began the streak with an 18-14 win over Shoreline co-champion Hayward on Oct. 5. The Hornets allowed just one completed pass the entire game. The Hornets then drubbed Arroyo of San Lorenzo 55-14 on Oct. 12. Next, the Hornets blanked Mt. Eden of Hayward 40-0 on Oct. 19. In the regular season finale, the Hornets beat San Lorenzo 42-19. Alameda High shared the league title with Hayward and Tennyson High of Hayward. All three went 4-1 in league contests. The Hornets went 8-2 overall.