Two coaches. One Soma Vainuku.

PrepSports — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:18:40 +0000

Posted by Staff Writer Eric Branch:
No offense to Casa Grande, but Montgomery, with its rugged, physical defense, probably was the best team to meet Eureka in the North Coast Section Division II finals.
I’m intrigued to see if the Vikings can semi-contain Eureka’s 245-pound running back Soma Vainuku, who has rushed for – get ready for this – 1,068 yards and 17 touchdowns in his past four games.
Montgomery coach Jason Franci discussed the challenge after Saturday’s win.
“Geezo-peezo,” Franci said. “I haven’t seen this kid play yet, but I hear he’s something else. That’s our strength, stopping the run, so I guess we’re going to find out how good we are.”
By the way, Petaluma coach Steve Ellison was impressed after he saw Vainuku rush for 218 yards and three touchdowns in the Loggers’ 54-0 quarterfinal win against Ygnacio Valley.
Unfortunately for Ellison and the Trojans, the best of Vainuku (308 yards, 6 TDs vs. Petaluma on Friday) was yet to come.
“He runs over people and he can run around people when he has to,” Ellison said after the game. “He’s a great player. He lived up to everything I heard about him — even more so than last week because I saw him play in the mud. Seeing him tonight on a little faster track, we really saw what he can do.”

Jason Franci’s “other” wins

PrepSports — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:27:16 +0000

Posted by Staff Writer Eric Branch:
With a victory tonight against Santa Rosa, Montgomery coach Jason Franci will tie Ed Lloyd (Cardinal Newman, Piner, Analy) for the Empire’s all-time win record at 217.
But Franci, who has a career record of 216-103-10, has actually walked off the field as the winning coach 223 times in his career.
In 1985, the Vikings went 2-8 after forfeiting seven games for using ineligible players.

High School Sports » Jason Franci

Two coaches. One Soma Vainuku.

Jason Franci’s “other” wins