Taking the 2024 ‘880 Title’ trophy, the James Logan Colts football team beat the San Leandro Pirates 34-22 on the road in a league game Oct 25 with well over several hundred in attendance on homecoming night. The Colts have improved to 3-1 in Western Alameda County Conference (WACC) Foothill play and 3-5 overall, while the Pirates fall to 4-4 overall, 2-2 in league. James Logan has now won back to back games after a win against Tennyson the week prior. Three of their last four games were wins. They are looking to push this momentum to end the regular season preparing for playoffs.
“The focus preparing for this game was mostly on execution,” said Colts Head Coach James Barnes. “That first touchdown set the tone for us tonight because we were able to spread the ball to loosen them up underneath so we [could] get our run game going.”
Starting Colts quarterback David Mercado ran for a big first down in Pirate territory on James Logan’s first offensive possession. That set up a Danzel Mercado touchdown catch for the first points of the game, making it a 7-0 Colts advantage. David completed a pass to junior wide receiver Steven Swamy for a touchdown to give James Logan a 14-0 lead to end the first quarter. The Pirates offense could not convert on third downs at the beginning of the game, with James Logan commanding the entire first half. Finding the endzone again for the Colts was running back Keian Davis who rushed for a two-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give their team a dominating 21-0 lead at the intermission.
James Logan received the second half opening tip but fumbled at the 9:30 mark in the third quarter to give San Leandro the ball. Under the Friday nights lights in front of a roaring home crowd, the Pirates rallied the beginning of a comeback behind a 50-yard touchdown run by Deyar Crayton to put San Leandro on the board making it a 21-7 ball game in the third quarter.
“As a running quarterback I decide every play whether I see my chance to run and help my team any way that I can,” said David Mercado.
The hyped-up Logan quarterback Mercado ran the ball in himself for a quarterback sneak walk-in for his eighth total touchdown of the season, bringing the Colts’ lead to 27-7, though the PAT was no good. However, San Leandro didn’t give up their comeback which deserves credit because they rallied in the final period making it a one possession game at one point. Pirates’ Jaymieon Bradley found his run game going strong running 25 yards for a San Leandro touchdown followed by a 2 PAT conversion by Justin Ammons to make the score 27-15.
“This is a big rivalry game because we all know each other so it adds to the pressure, but at the end of the day we’re all in this life together knowing that this is one community that’s bigger than just football,” added Danzel Mercado.
San Leandro recovered a fumble by James Logan with less than 11 minutes to go in regulation on the Colts three-yard line. The Pirates made it a one possession game when starting quarterback Radman Beatty completed a pass to Nicholas Chavez for a San Leandro touchdown making the score 27-22 after a converted two point-after. James Logan’s offense then went to work on a six minute offensive drive that found Lamar Ellis rushing one yard on a red zone stance in for a touchdown, making it a 34-22 victory for the Colts.
“The mentality that I want everyone to know that I have is that no one can stop me,” added Ellis. “That last touchdown I had in the fourth quarter was big for our team to seal to win tonight.”
Mercado’s passer rating is now through the roof at 122.1 on MaxPreps.com as the Colts look this Friday, Nov 1 to take down WACC Foothill leader Bishop O’Dowd Dragons, who have won four straight. The Dragons are currently 6-2 overall and undefeated at 4-0 in league play. San Leandro fell to 4-4 overall, 2-2 in league, as Coach Bowers handed over the heralded ‘880 Trophy’ to Colts’ Coach Barnes. This Friday Pirates take on crosstown rivals Castro Valley Trojans, who are 2-7 overall and 1-4 in league. San Leandro has already doubled their total wins last season when they went 1-9 overall and 0-5 in league.
In his first year as head coach at James Logan, Barnes is en route to possible back-to-back state title runs, this time at the D1 level with the Colts. Their win against the Pirates solidifies the enormous talent they have now as they prepare for O’Dowd in their biggest game of the season.
“We needed a game like this,” added Coach Barnes. “It gives us a boost of confidence moving forward into our next game at Bishop O’Dowd.”
