WALNUT CREEK — Northgate and Mt. Diablo both understood the stakes, that they controlled their own destiny. Win and lock up a spot in the playoffs. Lose, and their future was out of their hands.
With a chance at the dance on the line, Blayne Ballard and the Broncos handled business swiftly yet mercilessly. Behind Ballard’s three receiving touchdowns, pick-six and strip-six — five scores in total — Northgate easily defeated Mt. Diablo, 63-26, to secure the Diablo Athletic League’s second automatic playoff spot.
“I haven’t had a game like that ever,” said Ballard, who also converted seven-of-eight extra points and a two-point conversion.
“Usually, he’s an offensive guy,” said Northgate coach Ben Ballard, Blayne’s father. “But the pick-six and the strip recovery, that was just the icing on top.”
Blayne Ballard wasn’t the only Bronco who filled up the stat sheet. Senior quarterback Brady Willis completed six-of-eight passes for four touchdowns and 159 passing yards. Sophomore Deangelo Smith compiled 168 rushing yards on eight carries with a rushing touchdown. Sophomores Tristan Tolerton and Dax Gordon contributed rushing touchdowns as well.
As far as the Red Devils, which had sophomore quarterback Michael Vasquez throw for four touchdowns, they can only hope to secure an at-large bid into the playoffs. If not, they end their season with a 7-3 record, winning their first league title since 1962 in the process.
“Hopefully, we do get a chance,” said Mt. Diablo head coach Fetuao Mua. “The plan is always just to get a ticket to the big dance, right? Anything can happen in the playoffs. It’s a completely different season. We’re hoping for the best. The kids understand that not many people get to walk away from football a winner. Your last game, you usually don’t win.”
The Broncos established control within the first four minutes of game time, parlaying a punt on their first defensive possession into points on their first offensive possession. Willis found Ballard on a 27-yard dime in the end zone, then Ballard hit James Mayse through the air for the two-point conversion, giving Northgate an 8-0 lead.
Those first two drives, in effect, set the tone for the night. Deangelo Smith reeled off a 21-yard touchdown run. Willis connected with sophomore Dax Gordon for a nine-yard score, one set up by Smith’s 34-yard run. Northgate forced a fumble, then immediately turned it into seven points on the next play from scrimmage as Willis again connected with Ballard, this time for a 58-yard touchdown. Before the halfway mark of the second quarter, Northgate owned a commanding 29-0 lead.
Mt. Diablo, down by four possessions, finally had its response as Vasquez connected with sophomore Elijah Molnar on an 85-yard touchdown. The Red Devils converted the subsequent onside kick, but that only set up more points for the Broncos as Ballard picked off a pass at around midfield and returned it for six.
Mt. Diablo managed to score before the half as Vasquez hit Christian Kuuan for a 15-yard score, but Northgate entered the half with a 35-12. While the Red Devils got their offense functioning in the final minutes of the second quarter, the Broncos immediately put any premonitions of a comeback to bed coming out of the halftime break.
Four plays into the third quarter, the Broncos had a 42-12 lead after Willis, again, hit Ballard, this time for 32 yards. Nine plays into the third quarter, their lead ballooned to 49-12; Northgate’s defense forced a turnover on downs, then Tolerton rushed for a 13-yard score on the very next play. Roughly three minutes into the third quarter and Northgate had the dagger.