EL CERRITO — Jonathan Craft and Tristan Ti’a are destined for brighter lights than those of El Cerrito High School. Craft, a transfer from James Logan, is committed to Fresno State. Ti’a has his own slew of offers. On a picturesque Friday night in the East Bay, Craft and Ti’a opened their respective seasons by showing why they’re two of the best quarterbacks in the Bay.
They scored with their legs, both finding the end zone on the ground. Craft had three touchdowns through the air; Ti’a only recorded one, but would’ve had two if not for the hustle play of the night. Craft and Ti’a shined, but in the battle of the gunslingers, it was Craft and El Cerrito taking care of business over Ti’a Amador Valley, 38-16.
“Both kids are phenomenal football players,” said Amador Valley head coach Danny Jones. “They’re both going to have a bright future at the next level.”
“That kid is a tremendous leader,” said El Cerrito head coach Jacob Rincon said of Craft. “I’m shocked no Big Tens or SECs have come knocking on his door.”
While El Cerrito entered play as the No. 6 ranked team in Bay Area News Group’s preseason rankings, Rincon’s group needed a quarter to collect its bearings.
The Gauchos’ first offensive possession resulted in a three-and-out. Their second possession ended on a fumble in Dons’ territory. Amador Valley subsequently took advantage of turnover; Ti’a connected with running back Chudi Obiekea for an easy 31-yard touchdown, then found Anthony Harrington on the two-point conversion to give the Dons an 8-0 lead with three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Control of the game, soon, belonged to El Cerrito.
On the first play of the second quarter, Craft kept a shotgun handoff, scrambled to his right and found the end zone, his first touchdown with his new school. El Cerrito missed the PAT, but the second-quarter avalanche was on.
Jonathan Craft with the QB keep to glide into the end zone, his first touchdown with El Cerrito. PAT is blocked.
Amador Valley 8, El Cerrito 6
Q2, 11:55 pic.twitter.com/yAapfhCBHl— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) August 31, 2024
Running back Joezon Broussard reeled off a 41-yard touchdown run to take the lead. Three minutes later, Craft found Kamari Harris, who eluded a defender with a spin move and sprinted 49 yards to the house. A sizable lead already in hand, Craft connected Gary Youngblood with a perfect, 25-yard pass to the end zone with less than 30 seconds in the half. By halftime, El Cerrito’s eight-point deficit was a 20-point advantage.
“We just kind of had a long second quarter,” Jones said.
El Cerrito is in full control. Jonathan Craft finds Gary Youngblood with a perfect, 25-yard pass. Craft runs in the two-point conversion.
El Cerrito 28, Amador Valley 8
Q2, 24.7 seconds remaining pic.twitter.com/gMaXH8gzNV— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) August 31, 2024
The second quarter may have handily belonged to the Gauchos, but if not for Youngblood’s hustle early in the second, the game may have had a different calculus.
Several plays before Craft’s touchdown run, the quarterback dropped back and launched a majestic pass towards a striding Youngblood. If Youngblood made the catch, El Cerrito had a touchdown. El Cerrito’s sideline turned giddy with excitement as the pigskin reached its apex. The anticipation soon dissipated; Youngblood dropped the ball.
Youngblood, yes, had a receiving touchdown by the end the second, one of two on the night, but his true redemption was on defense.
Following Craft’s score, Amador Valley appeared to have its counter. With the Dons ahead, 8-6, Ti’a found a receiver over the middle of the field. All that lay ahead was green grass. 50. 40. 30. 20. 10. 5.
Fumble.
Youngblood never gave up on the play, tracking down Amador Valley’s receiver and knocking the ball loose at the one-yard line. El Cerrito recovered for a touchback; Amador Valley’s only other touchdown was during garbage time when Ti’a scrambled for a 10-yard score.
Amador Valley has its first points since the first quarter thanks to a 10-yard scramble from Tristan Ti’a. He scrambles in for the two-point conversion, too.
El Cerrito 31, Amador Valley 16
Q4, 5:34 remaining pic.twitter.com/7Ty6PQdX4b— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) August 31, 2024
“I always preach to the guys that it’s not about the last play. It’s about moving on to the next,” Rincon said. “I know he was frustrated with it, but with his talent and who he is, we didn’t give up on him. We’re going to continue to find ways to get him the ball.”
Craft won’t have any shortage of opportunities to have the ball in his hands over the next several months. During his one-and-only season at El Cerrito, he stands to continue dazzling with both his arm and his legs. Could more strong performances entice a Big Ten or SEC program to try to pry him from Fresno State?
“They better come get him,” Rincon said, “because they’re missing out on something.”
