Concord's Sizzling Rivalry Stays Red Hot

By Chace Bryson | Editor

Brian Hamilton’s demeanor did not match the situation.

His Concord High football team was playing its biggest game of the season to date — against its most hated rival, Clayton Valley Charter — and it trailed 21-0 after barely more than 12 minutes of action. Most coaches would be manic in such a moment, storming up and down the sidelines trying to get his team right.

Hamilton showed calm. And in turn, many of the Minutemen players did too.

Concord scored on its next possession.

“It’s a tough bunch of kids,” Hamilton said of his 32-man roster. “Watching tape, a lot of teams get down 21 to these guys and they kind of turn it in. That’s not who we are.”

But Clayton Valley Charter kept throwing punches. The Eagles, behind a relentless rushing attack led by senior Miles Harrison, kept piling on. Harrison scored on a 65-yard run on the first play following Concord’s first touchdown. And after a 30-yard scoring run by Devin Banks, Clayton Valley led 34-8 wit 5:58 left in the first half.

But anyone who may have declared Concord down and out, didn’t know Concord and hadn’t watched enough of this rivalry. The battle for the Claycord Cup has turned into one of the most heated and competitive rivalries in the East Bay, and the 2014 version was every bit the proof.

Concord scored for the second time on the last play of the half and went into the break trailing 34-14.

Read the full article on SportStars Magazine: Concord’s Sizzling Rivalry Stays Red Hot