Shawn Jansen: Buhach Colony eyes perfect ending

It's not easy being perfect.

The Buhach Colony football team has been just that this season.

The Thunder bring an unblemished 10-0 record into the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs on Friday against Vallejo Bethel (6-4).

It's easy to gloss over how rare an accomplishment that is.

This may help put it into perspective:

Golden Valley has never gone through the regular season 10-0 since the school opened in 1994. The Cougars went 9-1 in 1999 when they reached the section title game against Grant.

Merced was the last team do it in 2007 with a team that included Cal tight end Jarrett Sparks.

Atwater last went 10-0 in 1997 with a team that included receivers Bernard Berrian and Eddie Macha.

Hilmar went 10-0 with Nathan Costa in 2004, but lost in the first round of the playoffs to Calaveras.

Dos Palos had one of the easier 10-0 seasons in 1999 with players like Rodney Davis and Mike Van Worth. The Broncos closest margin of victory was 14 points against Sierra.

There are 152 schools that play football in the Sac-Joaquin Section. Buhach Colony is just one of four teams going into this year's playoffs with a perfect 10-0 record.

So, what does it take to be perfect? Who better to ask than BC coach Kevin Swartwood.

"If you had to make a recipe, I think, No. 1, it takes talent," he said. "We have plenty of kids that can play football. We have a lot kids who are big, fast and strong.

"I think, No. 2, you have to have Lady Luck on your side. Look at Alabama, they've already lost two games. It's hard to go undefeated in any sport.

"Against Turlock, we were an extra point away from going to overtime. Once you get to OT, it's 50-50. We were down one point with 1:42 left against Merced. We could have easily stalled out and not have scored.

"Against Enochs it was the same deal. We had to stop a two-point conversion or we would have gone to overtime."

Talent and luck are definitely a big part of the recipe, but so is health.

Buhach Colony has been relatively healthy this season.

Running backs Dallon Muse and Jarrell Davis have both been banged up, but have been healthy at the right time.

Certainly, they were at full strength in the big games against Turlock and Merced.

The Thunder have had reason to be proud of what they've done so far.

Remember, this is a team that made the playoffs for the first time last year.

They've never won more than six games in a season.

The program has come a long way since Swartwood took over five years ago.

"It really is a very satisfying feeling," Swartwood said. "Wow, you think of all those years of grinding it out, trying to put together a program.

"It's interesting because this school was in the (Valley Oak League). When I came here we were moved to the CCC. We were a Division I school with 1,700 kids. It was, like, 'Knock yourself out. Good luck.'

"We had a great group of kids who wanted to do well. But we were physically overmatched. Merced was loaded. Golden Valley had Chris Randle that year. We would have kids that were literally knocked out on the field."

It's because of those early struggles that Swartwood hopes his former players take pride in what this year's team has done and continues to do in the playoffs.

Much like the San Francisco Giants wanted to include former players such as Will Clark, Willie Mays and some of their former stars during their run to the World Series championship.

"I was part of some Merced teams that went 10-0 in 1988, 89 and 90," Swartwood said. "But this is a totally different situation. This school didn't have a football identity, so to go 10-0 is an amazing feeling.

"It's not just for this group, but it's a tribute for all the football kids that have come through here."

Dos Palos' 56-0 win over Avenal clinched at least a share of the West Sierra League title.

The championship brings the Broncos' state record total to 47 league titles in school history.

Hilmar will get a key weapon back in the playoffs this week against Argonaut.

Quarterback Andrew Olson has been cleared to play and will be in uniform.

The junior broke his left arm against Enochs on Sept. 10.

Shawn Jansen is a Sun-Star sports reporter. He can be reached at 385-2462 or via e-mail at sjansen@mercedsun-star.com