In the world of high school football, bonds are created, tested, and strengthened. And every so often, the gridiron narrative weaves a story that transcends the touchdowns and tackles.
Such is the case at Heritage High School, where two coaching buddies, Coach Dave Fogelstrom and Coach Kevin Hartwig, found themselves on opposing sidelines as Heritage shut out Freedom High School 35-0, earning a ticket to the NCS Playoffs.
Coaching Buddies Turned Rivals
In an intriguing turn of events, Coach Fogie faced his former Offensive Coordinator and long-time friend, Coach Hartwig, on the opposing side on October 27.
Coach Fogelstrom shared his approach to this match-up, saying, “I coached against Kevin way back at Deer Valley in the 2004 season and for the first six varsity seasons Heritage was open. He always has his teams well prepared and it will be a unique challenge as he knows our players as well as our system.”
Freedom Head Coach Kevin Hartwig was thrown into the Head Coaching role mid-season as the previous head coach, Zach Sims, was put on administrative leave. This coming in the midst of leading the girls flag football team to an 4-6 record as of today.
“One practice ends, and I’m off to the next one. It’s a demanding schedule, no doubt. However, it wouldn’t be possible without the support of some incredible individuals.” Hartwig said, explaining the difficulties of juggling both roles. “As for the boys, Scott Sbranti, my co-head coach, takes charge of practices when I can’t be there and has stepped up for various administrative duties. Teamwork among the coaching staff is key.”
When asked about how the team was dealing with this difficult transitions, he explained, “The kids have done an amazing job with the transition. Kids love discipline and structure. We are just try to instill it in them and help them have a great end to their season.”
“Sometime the end results do not show the progress this team has made. Excited for the last deck with this group of young men. Go Falcons!” he added.
Coach Hartwig declined to comment if he’d be returning to the role next season.
Qualification for NCS Playoffs
With this crucial victory under their belt, Heritage High School officially punched their ticket to the NCS Playoffs for the first time since 2017 and the team may be getting hot at the right time.
Looking Ahead: The Annual Brentwood Bowl
The celebration doesn’t stop here. Heritage now sets its sights on the annual Brentwood Bowl on November 3, where they’ll square off against Liberty High School in a time-honored rivalry that promises fireworks on the field.
For Coach Fogie, it’s an opportunity to take another victory in a long-time rivalry that Liberty has dominated the last six seasons, outscoring the Patriots 244-98.
“We are focused on being physical and doing what we do.” said Coach Fogelstrom. “The players who play the most physical and execute will win the game no matter the coaches call.”
In the world of high school football, where friendships are forged and rivalries burn bright, Heritage High School’s journey to the NCS Playoffs is a testament to the enduring spirit of the game. As they look ahead to the Brentwood Bowl, the players, coaches, and fans alike are in for a thrilling spectacle that embodies the heart and soul of football.
But the Lions’ playoff hopes are in jeopardy after falling to Pittsburg High School last week, and they no longer control their own destiny in the Bay Valley Athletic League.
This week’s Athelte of the Week is Patriots Running Back Mekhi Adanandus:
The Athlete of the week is a student athlete that not only excels on the by performance and showing great character on the field, court, etc. But illustrates honor, dignity, and respect off the field, helping our community.
Adanandus ran for 161 yards on 20 carries, getting in the end-zone twice. We asked him after the game about his performance:
Q: First off, congratulations on your impressive performance with 161 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. What do you attribute your standout performance to in the recent game?
A: Well first a lot of the credit for this game goes to the o-line. They opened up wide open gaps for me to hit and made my job way easier. But I knew how much this game meant for our team with playoffs right around the corner so I made sure to do my assignment at a high level too.
Q: High school football often presents its challenges and adversities. Can you tell us how your team has faced adversity this season and how you’ve collectively dealt with injuries or setbacks?
A: Our team has dealt with losing a lot of our senior leaders this season, and losing players to injuries. We’ve dealt with this by having new leaders step up like Austin and Jesse, along with players stepping up when others were hurt.
Q: Making it to the NCS Playoffs is a significant achievement for any team. How does it feel to have secured your spot in the playoffs, and what are your team’s goals moving forward in the postseason?
A: It feels great to have finally made the playoffs after a while. Our team’s goal for this postseason is the same as any other team is: make it far throughout the playoffs.
Q: The Brentwood Bowl is a highly anticipated annual event. Can you share your thoughts on this upcoming rivalry game, and what does it mean to you to compete in the Brentwood Bowl next week?
A: My thoughts on the Brentwood bowl game is that I’m pretty excited for it. I watched it from the stands last season and it was a great experience, a tight game that game down to the last play, and to know I get to play in that now and experience that Is pretty exciting.
Q: Community service is a vital aspect of personal growth. Can you tell us about your experiences with community service and how giving back has shaped you as a person and as an athlete? Can you share some of the things you’ve done to make a positive impact in your community?
A: I’ve done my fair share of it, such as feeding those in need on holidays, and organizing and helping with children’s sports events. Doing this helps me realize how blessed I am with all my opportunities and everything I have, and to never take a moment for granted.
Brayden Haena is a new sports writer looking for stories around Contra Costa County covering local teams and athletes. If you have a story idea, an athlete you feel should be featured, please reach out to him at [email protected]
1 comment
Freedom was doomed with the dread head coach. These kids need more discipline not the woke, culture coach. Structure and discipline have disappeared from society. The minority population feels it the most. Football coaches were the last of the line. Now they are hanged for disciplining a segment of society that wont get it anywhere else.
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