Jason Franci doesn?t have a rooting interest in tonight?s Poinsettia Bowl, but the Montgomery High football coach hopes two of the school?s all-time great players cap their collegiate careers with good games.
Koa Misi is an all-league defensive end at Utah and Marcus Ezeff has been solid at defensive back for Cal.
Not that long ago the pair was leading Montgomery to the North Coast Section Class 3A Redwood Empire title (see photo above). Five years later, Misi and Ezeff hope to help their college teams finish on a winning note.
?It?s amazing. They were great players in high school and they?re great players now,? Franci said. ?I just wish them both the best and may the best team win.?
MISI LEADS
UTE?S DEFENSE
While Cal is a slight favorite in tonight?s game, Utah is ranked No. 23 nationally.
Anchoring the Ute defense is Misi, a first team all-Mountain West player who leads all defensive linemen in the conference with 65 tackles. Misi?s play earned him an invitation to the Senior Bowl.
?He?s as good as he wants to be,? Franci said. ?I thought he would do very well. He?s done a great job over there at Utah.?
The 6-foot-3 Misi is bigger at 263 pounds, moving from linebacker in high school to the defensive line in college.
In three years at Utah, he has 24.5 tackles for losses and 10 sacks. Misi is the fastest and most agile Ute lineman, playing in all 26 games and starting 24 since arriving in Utah after a year at Santa Rosa Junior College.
?He was just so athletic. He was one of the best kids I coached in my entire life,? Franci said.
Utah has won eight bowl games in a row ? the nation?s longest bowl winning streak ? and Misi has been there for the past two. Utah won last year?s Sugar Bowl over Alabama, and defeated Navy in the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl.
EZEFF BOWL
PERFECT AT CAL
Cal has gone bowling each of Ezeff?s three seasons with the Bears. Cal beat Miami in the Emerald Bowl last year, defeated Air Force in the Armed Forces bowl in 2007 and took care of Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl three years ago.
Tonight?s game, though, is special because the two former Vikings are going against one another, Ezeff said.
?It?s probably one of the best experiences I?ve had so far being here at Cal,? he said. ?I?ve been in a lot of great bowl games.There?s nothing like playing one of your closest friends since high school.?
The teams have been in San Diego since Saturday, but Misi and Ezeff couldn?t get together until Tuesday?s luncheon for the teams.
They talked about trying to work out together ahead of pro football?s scouting showcases before next year?s draft, Ezeff said.Ending his college playing days with a strong bowl game effort is important to Ezeff. A starter most of his career, Ezeff lost the spot this year because he missed some practices and game planning due to a conflict with a class he needs to graduate this semester.
?It was kind of tough because I?ve been a starter. But at the same time I came here for the degree. That?s everything that I could dream,? Ezeff said. ?I know I made the right decision.?
After redshirting his freshman year, Ezeff saw regular action beginning three years ago. Ezeff established himself as a critical player in the defensive secondary the following season and started all 13 games last year, ranking fifth on the team in total tackles.
?Starting at a Pac-10 school is pretty darn good,? Franci said.
With seven starts at safety this year, Ezeff has also become a team leader, including helping Cal?s younger defensive backs.
?He was a very talented man and also our leader when he played for us. He wouldn?t let anybody else quit,? Franci said. ?He was a very rare commodity.?
As a Cal defender, Ezeff has 181 tackles, three interceptions and a fumble recovery. He hopes to add to those totals tonight.
?We will win. At the same time I wish Koa the best,? Ezeff said.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: