James Burns: Deep playoff runs got early start

ELK GROVE -- Every story has a preface, a starting place where events begin to take shape. Like a ripple in the ocean.

On Friday night, in a stadium just off the highway in Elk Grove, a casual embrace between two coaches revealed a story and its start.

Before there were screaming fans, must-win games and long playoff drives into Sacramento County, before there was the sting of a season-ending loss, there was this:

A corner booth at Chili's in Los Banos.

Eight or nine menus.

And just enough water and drinks to cool the flames of testosterone.

There, at a table built for a family, sat two coaching staffs separated by league, division and about 60 miles of rural land. They met like this every Monday evening throughout the summer, starving for information, advice and house fries.

They were a family.

They just didn't know it yet.

On one side was the Los Banos coaching staff, anchored, of course, by head coach Dennis Stubbs.

On the other, Le Grand head coach Rick Martinez, offensive coordinator Raul Alvarez and assistants, looking very much like out-of-towners in their green and gold.

They talked about the intricacies of the 3-4 defense, which Stubbs was attempting to integrate. They talked about how to scheme against this defense, or how to attack that offense.

Soon, their talks moved away from the football field and onto new topics. Family. Kids. Work. Weekend plans. Holiday parties. Summer vacations.

For Stubbs, Martinez and Alvarez, this was old hat. Martinez and Alvarez were Dennis Stubbs disciples, having worked previously with the coach at Le Grand and Golden Valley.

"Those are my guys," Stubbs said. "I'd do anything for them. They're my guys. We talk about game plans, what we like to do against certain defenses, or what we'd do differently."

But for the rest, the strangers around the table, this was new ground -- defying the stereotype that football coaches don't cross-mingle. Ever. These meetings would become ritualistic. Sometimes at Chili's. Sometimes in the PE room at Los Banos.

And though no one can remember who footed the bills, they can tell with laser-point certainty who made off like thieves.

Everyone.

Everyone profited from those pow-wows.

Just look at the calendar.

Only two Merced County football teams entered the first weekend of December with a shot at a Sac-Joaquin Section championship.

Le Grand will play for the school's first football section title today against Capital Christian in the Division V championship game at Oakmont High in Roseville.

Los Banos had its season come to a cold, chilly end in Elk Grove on Friday, one step shy of the final.

For three months, their seasons ran like racecars down the backstretch, neck and neck, side by side. Parallel lines streaking through the football season.

Le Grand started shaky but rebounded, cruising to a Southern League title and a No. 2 playoff seed.

Los Banos' journey was much the same, dusting off injuries and early disappointments to close with a Central California Conference championship and a playoff berth.

Then it all fell apart, Los Banos and its run, crumbling two hours north in South Sacramento County. Monterey Trail 49, Los Banos 14.

The 3-4 defense, the genesis of those summer meetings, struggled to contain MT's Veer offense, which ripped off positive yardage on every play.

Like a knife through butter.

Los Banos looked good -- for a moment. Erik Martin hooked up with Greg Williams on a long touchdown to make it 7-0 early in the first quarter, but it only stirred the beast.

Monterey Trail unloaded its arsenal, scoring 14 points in 15 seconds, 21 points in 1:05 and 49 unanswered.

Los Banos limped into halftime feeling defeated, pleading with one another to "get some respect."

If every story has a beginning, it must also have a final chapter.

The parallels between Los Banos and Le Grand came to an abrupt end on Friday night, signed off with a handshake between two coaching staffs.

Stubbs to Martinez.

Martinez to Stubbs.

But the story doesn't have to end here. And it won't.

Le Grand still has business to take care of today, and there will be a special guest somewhere in the stands. Or on the sidelines. He'll be wearing Los Banos' familiar cardinal and gold.

Yes, Stubbs will be there, a little heart broken to be sure, but he'll be there.

Wouldn't miss it for the world.

Those are his guys.

That's his family, too.

James Burns is sports editor of the Sun-Star. He can be reached at jburns@mercedsun-star.com.