Rincon Valley Christian School's thin football squad has perfect record

With just 13 players on the football roster, Rincon Valley Christian has to be efficient. And in shape.

Veteran coach Robert “Bear” Gray sees to both. Every player learns how to play multiple positions and they are also required to try out for the track team.

“Because we don’t have the numbers, if one drops, someone has to step up,” he said. “The offensive line has to play defense. We have three centers.

“They have to. We have no choice.”

Despite the limited squad, the Eagles are leading the North Central League III, which is eight-man football, bringing a 4-0 record (3-0 in league) to Saturday’s 1 p.m. home game against Anderson Valley.

The Panthers, 9-1 last year, are 2-1 in league, having lost to Laytonville 40-34 last week, putting them in a third-place tie behind Rincon Valley and Calistoga (3-1).

It’s as if someone took last year’s NCL III standings, threw them in the air, and wherever they landed is this year’s order. Last year’s six is in first and last year’s leader, Upper Lake, is in fourth.

“It’s definitely colorful,” Calistoga coach Mike Ervin said.

Some schools have had trouble even fielding teams, some have only junior varsity squads and some barely have enough to fill out a roster.

Round Valley and Mendocino couldn’t field teams this year and Point Arena got a late start. It had to forfeit its first two scheduled games. Potter Valley played its first two games, losing both badly, and forfeited to Calistoga last week.

Still, there is some good competition and entertaining football to be had on the 40-by-80-yard eight-man field.

Because of the uncertainty, Ervin calls it the “if league.” As in, if they play.

It’s been no doubt for Rincon Valley. Even when they’ve had injuries, they’ve pulled out wins.

“When we played Calistoga, we were down to our last eight,” Gray said. “They’re a good team. They have a lot of kids on their team. But all they can put on the field is eight.”

Rincon Valley held the Wildcats to just one touchdown, in the third quarter, for a 19-6 victory.

The Eagles started the season with a huge boost, beating Trinity Christian of Monterey 19-12. The Warriors are ranked 22nd in the state, according to the high school athletics site MaxPreps.com.

Rincon Valley has also beaten Upper Lake, 46-22, and Tomales, 34-12.

“The last couple years we’ve been young, way too young,” Gray said. “I had to put freshmen in at the varsity level. We take our licks and now it’s our time to reciprocate.”

The key this year has been leadership from several juniors and a versatile senior.

Middle linebacker Willie Maples, at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, has been a solid player since his freshman year.

“The kid is just strong,” said Gray, who uses Maples as the anchor leg on the school’s 4x100 sprint team.

“He has that tenacity about him to bring it on mean, then come back nice and pick you up,” he said.

That speed leads a swarming defense that aims to have several tacklers bringing down the opposition.

Sprint teammate Tyler Hawkins, also a junior, brings the swiftness as a nose guard.

“He has such agility,” Gray said. “He always has to be double-teamed.”

Senior Paul Bartholow is a free safety, tailback, halfback and backup quarterback, showcasing his versatility, Gray said.

“He’s a receiver, a runner, a catcher. Paul does it all. He’s the full package,” he said.

Being on top of the standings halfway through the season does surprise Gray a little: “I look at them and go, ‘Wow, what is this? Is this printing upside down?’”

But he also cautions that Anderson Valley has a talented team and more depth, with 22 on the roster.

The Panthers downed Potter Valley 76-8 in their opener, won by forfeit against Point Arena, then split back-to-back games with Laytonville.

“Any given Saturday, you can win or lose. That’s the nature of this beast,” Gray said. “It’s not about a title or a streak or being 4-0. That doesn’t mean anything.”

One game at a time, he said.

“They have a good quarterback, receiver and running back, a good nucleus to win games,” he said of Anderson Valley, adding that the Eagles will have to be extra-prepared for Saturday’s home contest. “We have to bring our A-A game to beat them.”

You can reach Lori A. Carter at 707-521-5470 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @loriacarter.