Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 280

CCS Division III football finals: Carmel chasing perfection in title game against Aptos

CARMEL >> There is a humbleness to Carmel High’s football team that speaks volumes to its discipline on the field, as well as its demeanor off it.

Such as when an opponent was screaming obscenities at them during halftime, there wasn’t so much as a word echoed back, just a second half beatdown.

Through a run of going 24-1 in their past 25 games, emotions have been kept in check as the Padres chase their first Central Coast Section football title in 15 years.

“This is rare and really hard to do,” Carmel coach Golden Anderson said. “We understand it’s not common to just win playoff games. We’re humbled to be in this situation.”

For the fifth time in Anderson’s tenure, the Padres are in the section finals as they’ll face Aptos in the Division III title game at 7 p.m. Friday at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas.

“We don’t care how other people perceive us,” Anderson said. “We talk about the history of the program and historical data when it comes to how rare these moments are. Most of my coaches never had this opportunity as players.”

Carmel High quarterback Hudson Rutherford, shown here last season, completed 17 of his last 20 passes in the rain last week for 196 yards and four touchdowns. (Raul Ebio – Herald Correspondent)

Over their past 25 games, the top-seeded Padres (12-0) only loss was to eventual State Division 4AA champion Soquel in last year’s CCS Division II playoffs.

Yet, no one looked at this season as redemption. The objective all year for Carmel has been to get better and identify its flaws. Of course, there are goals. And a section championship became one of them after clinching a playoff spot.

“We remember the experience,” Anderson said. “We just didn’t make enough plays to win. What’s special about this program are the former players that have come by this week. The seniors from last year’s team are the ones texting us, telling us how excited they are for us.”

For the fourth time in Anderson’s 15 seasons – not including pandemic-shortened spring – the Padres are going into the section title game undefeated.

During its 12-0 start this fall, Carmel is averaging 44.5 points a game. Its 532 points is the sixth most points in school history, having produced 676 points in 2011.

“We want to keep the pace of the game at our tempo,” Anderson said. “Whatever allows us to go at the speed we want to go, we’ll do it.”

Yet, in two of Carmel’s past three games, it has shown the ability to grind the ball and run out the last five minutes of the game, as it did against Pacific Grove and Hollister.

A big part of the Padres’ success this season has been an offensive line anchored by 6-foot-7, 285-pound Alabama-bound tackle Jackson Lloyd.

“Our line has played well as a unit,” Anderson said. “It’s an unselfish group. They will sacrifice anything for the team. They solve a lot more problems than people think and sort it out. Whether some wanted to be linemen or not, they’re volunteers, not hostages.”

That, in turn, has enabled receiver-turned-tailback Ashton Rees to become arguably the most valuable asset in Carmel’s arsenal in a pass-first offense.

What began last year as an experiment in putting the 6-2 Rees into the Wildcat position (where the running back takes the snap from center), has resulted in 31 touchdowns over his last 23 games.

“He’s a very instinctive runner,” Anderson said. “He’s gotten a little more comfort level. He’s an upright runner. He takes hits. He’s durable. You can put him at any position and he’ll excel at it. We’re trying to showcase what he can do.”

Which goes beyond running the ball as Rees can still be used as a receiver. He’s also returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns and intercepted a pass to seal Carmel’s win over San Mateo in the playoffs two weeks ago.

As dynamic as Carmel’s offense has been over the past two years, Aptos has caught fire in its two playoff wins, averaging 48 points a game, with the average margin of victory being 13 points.

Upsets over No. 2 seed Willow Glen and No. 3 Palo Alto have the No. 7 seeded Mariners (7-5) making their first finals appearance since 2018.

“They want to run the ball and control the pace of the game,” Anderson said. “When they have been able to do that they’ve been on the right side of things. It doesn’t mean that they can’t throw it.”

Yet, it’s not the Mariners preference, as evident by them averaging 6.5 passes a game, often what Carmel compiles in one drive.

Fourth-place finishers in the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Gabilan Division, the Mariners haven’t had to air it out with a ground game that has combined for nearly 2,500 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Carmel wide receiver Ty Arnold is one of a large group of dangerous receivers. (Donald Fukui — Herald Correspondent)

A running back by committee approach has seen Gavin McDonald, Dylan Guisado, Casey MacConnell, DeSean Gomez and quarterback Ryan Solorio all take turns moving the chains.

That in turn has chewed time off the clock and limited opponents’ possessions, which is critical for a defense that has given up 30 or more points in eight games.

“What concerns me about their quarterback is he’s a dangerous runner,” Anderson said. “It’s a new coach. He’s tweaked a few things. But the concepts are similar.”

The two teams have met just once before, that coming when Carmel spent one season in the Gabilan Division in 2019, with Aptos prevailing 35-34.

“It’s an offense that applies a lot of pressure on you the way they come out of the huddle and snap the ball,” Anderson said. “It does not allow the defense to settle in.”

The Padres defense rose to the occasion last week in shutting out Hollister in the second half, the first time that has occurred this season.

Defensive lineman Indy Gabrielson and freshman lineman David Spencer have solidified the front seven along with linebacker Carter Lloyd and safety Skyler Brown.

As dynamic as Simeon Brown has been as one of the Padres receiving targets, the senior has seven interceptions this season.

“Aptos reminds me of most Gabilan Division programs,” Anderson said. “It is a year-round program. You can tell their kids have played a lot of football. The guys that don’t look the biggest are tough.”

What Anderson has is a group of multiple sports athletes who give him four months of their lives each season.

Among them his quarterback Hudson Rutherford, who completed 17 of his last 20 passes in the rain last week for 196 yards and four touchdowns.

Rutherford has an abundance of targets, including Brown, Ty Arnold, Stanford-bound baseball pitcher Matt Maxon and Brooklyn Ashe, all of whom have caught at least one touchdown pass in two playoff games.

“He (Rutherford) understands the line protection and being consistent with reads, getting out of bad plays and adjusting on the fly,” Anderson said. “Like most of these kids, Hudson plays three sports and he’s in competition year around. We believe that’s a plus for our athletes.”

CCS playoff football breakdown

Central Coast Section Football Championships

Division III

Friday’s game

No. 7 Aptos (7-5) vs. No. 1 Carmel (12-0) at Rabobank, 7 p.m.

For as much attention and deservingly so as the Padres offense gets, it was their defense that set the tone in the second half of last week’s come-from-behind win, shutting out Hollister in the second half.

With 6-foot-7, 285-pound Alabama bound offensive tackle Jackson Lloyd spending time in the trenches on defense as well, Carmel has seen freshman defensive lineman David Spencer rise to the occasion in the postseason, along with linebacker Carter Lloyd.

The front seven will be challenged with an Aptos offense that averages just 6.5 passes a game. Five different players have rushed for over 400 yards, including quarterback Ryan Solorio.

As run heavy and methodical as the Mariners offense is, they are averaging 48 points a game in two postseason games, knocking off top-seed Willow Glen and No. 3 seed Palo Alto.

The only remaining team in the Central Coast Section that is undefeated at 12-0, the Padres have won 25 of their last 26 games dating back to 2022, with the one loss coming from 2023 State Division 4AA champion Soquel.

Over the course of the season, Carmel is averaging just under 45 points a game, having scored 96 points in wins over San Mateo and Hollister.

Quarterback Hudson Rutherford has thrown nine touchdown passes in two postseason games, completing 17 of his last 20 passes last week in the rain over Hollister.

The three-sport standout has connected with four different receivers for touchdowns in the playoffs for Carmel, with Ty Arnold and Simeon Brown having multiple touchdown catches.

As effective as the Padres have been in throwing the ball for the last 15 years, Ashton Rees rushed for 168 yards last week and has scored 31 touchdowns in 23 games.

Rees and Brown have been effective on special teams as well, with each returning a kickoff for touchdowns in the playoffs. Both also have interceptions in the postseason.

As well as the Padres special teams return units have performed, the kickoff team struggled last week, giving up two lengthy returns that set up Hollister’s first two touchdowns. Carmel has recovered five onside kicks this year.

This will be Carmel’s fifth trip to the CCS finals and fourth time it has started a season 12-0. Its last title came in head coach Golden Anderson’s first season in 2009.

Aptos has won four section divisional titles in the last 21 years, with its last coming in 2018. The only time these teams have faced each other came in 2019 when the Mariners posted a 35-34 regular season win.

Division II

Saturday’s game

No. 7 Palma (7-5) vs. No. 1 Wilcox (10-2) at San Jose City College, 7 p.m.

While the two teams used to scrimmage each other between 1990-2010, the Chieftains and Wilcox have never met in an actual game.

The Chargers are making their fourth straight CCS finals appearance, having won the Division II title in 2021, before falling in the Open Division title game to Serra in 2022 and the Division I championship to Los Gatos in 2023.

The defending CCS Division III and State 4A champions, Palma has won its last seven postseason games — five of which have come on the road.

The Chieftains defense has held Sacred Heart Cathedral and Menlo to a combined one touchdown in the second half, with Caden Scherer anchoring the unit at linebacker.

The biggest improvement throughout the course of the season has been Palma’s offensive line, anchored by senior Job Barroso, as evident by Eli Dukes approaching 2,000 rushing yards.

The sophomore tailback has put together his best games in the postseason, having rushed for over 1,100 yars in seven playoff games for Palma, scoring 14 touchdowns.

Dukes is also spending time on defense, where he had an interception, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in Palma’s playoff opening win over Sacred Heart Cathedral.

The return of tight end Aidan Williams has been huge in the running game, as Dukes has rushed for over 200 yards in three of the five games since his return.

If Palma is going to repeat as CCS champions, it has to slow down Brayden Rosa, who has nearly 1,500 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns this fall for Wilcox. Teammate Elijah Vallego adds 701 yards on the ground.

Kai Imahara was effective in throwing the ball for Wilcox in last week’s 10-7 win over Menlo-Atherton, completing 7-of-11 for 111 yards. Rosa has also spent time behind in the ‘Wildcat’.

Rosa is also dynamic on defense with a team high 92 tackles coming up from his safety position. As a team, the Chargers have 21 sacks.

Special have been big all season for Palma, with Dominic Chaidez returning two kickoffs for touchdowns, while Weldon Chisum has returned a pair of blocked punts for six — in the same game.

Palma has had a lot of success in title games at San Jose City College, having gone 5-1.

With first-ever executive director, Monterey Audubon Society hopes to take flight

MONTEREY >> Hoping to build on the momentum of a surge in the popularity of birdwatching, the Monterey Audubon Society has named its first-ever executive director.

Shannon Connor, who most recently worked as an educator at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, will lead the local chapter of the Audubon Society. Since its inception in 1940, the nonprofit organization has worked to conserve birds and wildlife in the greater Monterey Bay region and has been volunteer-led since the beginning until 2021, when it had its first employee.

“It’s such an exciting time for the Society. It’s growing in numbers and what’s so amazing is that there are more young folks and people of color joining our field trips now,” says Amanda Preece, chair of the Conservation Committee and the first employee of the Society. “The pandemic already made people go outside into nature more, but it’s nice to see that our society’s influence is reaching more people out there.”

The Society has gained 231 members since last year and now stands at around 1,500 members. There has also been an increase in lifetime memberships, with 19 more members enjoying the benefits in 2024. Furthermore, the Society had a successful year in fundraising and donations, with about  $41,000 raised and an additional $23,000 garnered from membership renewals. The Seawatch program, previously self-funded by the Society, received a $5,500 donation while Preece acquired two grants for new projects.

The Monterey Audubon Society puts on events such as Seawatch, where counters monitor migratory birds. (Photo by Kristel Tjandra)

“The Society needed a leader to help implement public policy that will expand the outreach, education and conservation of birds and who can inspire the youth and public to volunteer for this cause,” says Blake Mattheson, president of the Board of Members.  Conner’s goal will be to strengthen the organization’s presence, implement strategic fundraising initiatives and work to strengthen collaborative relationships within the community, according to Mattheson.

Connor has a background in conservation education and nonprofit administration as well as other previous experience working with wildlife. She moved to Seaside in 2006 to study at Cal State Monterey Bay and work at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. While learning to scuba dive, she fell in love with science and all the ocean life. She then did a graduate program at Miami University at Oxford, Ohio where she traveled to Australia and Belize to learn how to conserve coral reefs, black monkeys and manatees. This year, she also earned a masters of science in nonprofit administration from Louisiana State University, Shreveport with a focus on fundraising and organizational leadership.

“I developed a love for birds while working for a nonprofit called ‘Bird School project,’” says Connor, “I knew of the Audubon Society and their efforts to conserve Heermann’s gulls that have the only breeding population in  Seaside, where I live. I am super excited to lead this organization through this period of growth and change.”

The Monterey Audubon Society’s annual Point Pinos Seawatch project actively monitors the number and species of migratory birds flying across the Monterey Bay for six weeks in November. Point Pinos is a unique location for this study, as birds are blown inland due to strong northern winds, resulting in a rich biodiversity of seabirds crossing over at this point.

Along with the Young Birders Club, where elementary kids get their first foray into birds and wildlife and Beginning Birding, where those new to birdwatching are taught the skill, the society also monitors the Black Oystercatchers. These are shorebirds that nest along the rocky coast of Monterey and are very popular due to their vibrant yellow eyes and red beaks. Annual essay writing contests, educational talks at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History and bird-watching field trips are core activities that engage and educate the community in avian life and habitat conservation, as well as appreciation for the rich biodiversity in Monterey, say Audubon Society members.

Mattheson hopes the society can hire more employees in the future to increase the society’s impact of protecting avian life and habitats. “We are always looking for more volunteers because it takes a lot of people to run and manage the various projects we have and to advocate for birds in the community,” he says.

To find out more about the Monterey Audubon Society and its various activities, visit : https://www.montereyaudubon.org/. Shannon Connor can be reached at shannon.conner@montereyaudubon.org.

Preseason Top 10 girls’ basketball rankings

Preseason Top 10 girls’ basketball rankings

1. Santa Cruz: Returns the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s co-Most Valuable Player in Tiera O’Connor, as the Cardinals chase a third straight league title.

2. Aptos: The co-Most Valuable Player last year in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League as a freshman, Gabby Wickham averaged just under 15 points a game, knocking down 53 3-point goals.

3. Alisal: Lost just two starters off its school record 23-win team, as Nayeli Gil-Silva could be a double-double machine this winter for the defending co-Gabilan Division champion Trojans.

4. Hollister: Co-champions of the Gabilan Division, the core is in intact, although replacing a two-time league MVP and four-year starter will be an adjustment.

5. Salinas: Lost just one starter off a 16 win team, as the Cowboys look to inch closer to the top of the pack in the Gabilan Division, as half of their losses last season came from Hollister and Alisal.

6. Soledad: Bumped to the Gabilan Division after capturing just its second ever league title, the basketball program is the first girls’ sports program at Soledad to land in Gabilan.

7. Watsonville: Fernanda Lazo tore up the flag football season this past fall. On the hardwood, she’s a three-year starter and leader for the Wildcatz.

8. Monterey: Four starters are back in the fold for the Toreadores, who ran off four consecutive wins before falling in the CCS Division III quarterfinals last year.

9. Pacific Grove: A roster littered with all-league athletes from other sports, the Breakers will be a sleeper team in the Mission Division this winter.

10. Scotts Valley: The entire roster from last year is back for a Falcons program that closed last season by going 7-3 in their final 10 games, reaching the CCS Division IV quarterfinals.

On the bubble: Alvarez, St. Francis, Monte Vista, North County, Greenfield.

NBC honors John Madden on Thanksgiving by taking the original Madden Cruiser on one last trip

By JOE REEDY | Associated Press

John Madden’s love of football and family came through the most on Thanksgiving.

On Thursday, NBC will continue to honor Madden’s legacy when it opens its broadcast before the nightcap between the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers.

The two-minute open features the original Madden Cruiser traveling from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, to Lambeau Field last week. It has remained in Green Bay and will also be featured during the game.

Lambeau Field was always one of Madden’s favorite stadiums, which made this year’s Thanksgiving game on NBC game even more special.

“It’s been unbelievable to see the way John’s legacy is still so important and prevalent,” said Ellie Wright, who produced the opening and was on the trip last week.

The idea of bringing the bus out of retirement first came up during NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” production meetings in early June. Madden donated the Madden Cruiser to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

The Hall was all in on the idea of the cruiser taking one final ride around the Midwest. It is a featured attraction during enshrinement week activities, but most of the year, it is stored in a warehouse in northeast Ohio.

On its trip through the Midwest, the cruiser also went through Chicago, where it made a brief stop at Soldier Field and a Boys & Girls Club in Wisconsin before reaching Lambeau Field.

J.J. Johnson, who drove for Madden for the final six years of his broadcast career (2003-08), drove the cruiser last week and narrated the opening.

“As I was driving between locations, the crew would ask me questions, or I’d share stories, and it just brought back so many fond memories. And, for me, it’s honoring John in this way,” Johnson said.

After having a panic attack on a flight before calling a game at Tampa Bay in 1979, Madden would travel to games via train before Greyhound donated the first bus in 1987.

The first Madden Cruiser traveled more than 600,000 miles. It was replaced with an upgraded one in 1994 when Madden went from CBS to Fox.

There ended up being five Madden Cruisers. The Madden family has access to the last two, while the whereabouts of the other two are unknown.

Madden will be honored during all three games on Thursday. It is the third year the NFL has had the “John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration” after the Hall of Fame coach and iconic broadcaster died in December 2021.

Madden called 20 Thanksgiving games on CBS and Fox from 1982 through 2001. He went to ABC for “Monday Night Football” in 2002 and joined NBC in 2006 when “Sunday Night Football” started, but neither network had a game on Thanksgiving.

CBS has the first game, between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, and Fox has the late afternoon matchup between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.

The NFL expanded to three Thanksgiving games in 2006. NBC took over broadcasting the night game in 2012.

This is the second time Green Bay has hosted the night game and the first since 2015.

Even though Madden retired from broadcasting after Super Bowl 43 at the end of the 2008 season, his impact on NBC’s games continues to resonate.

“Sunday Night Football” coordinating producer Rob Hyland, who was Madden’s replay producer when NBC got back NFL rights in 2006, said Madden had a significant role in his development in terms of being a storyteller, not only with football but in producing the Kentucky Derby and prime-time coverage of the Olympics.

“John Madden was the most curious person I’ve ever worked with, and I think his curiosity has definitely rubbed off on anyone that’s worked with him,” Hyland said. “How a player’s ankles are taped may look different than the previous week. He would question a lot, and I discovered a lot because of his curiosity.”

In keeping with other Madden Thanksgiving traditions, NBC will award turkey legs to the game’s most valuable players and turduckens to the winning team.

Hall of Fame safety Leroy Butler, who played for the Packers for 12 seasons, has become an accomplished chef and will prepare the turkeys and turduckens, with some being done on the bus.

“One of our production trucks has a dedication to John on the outside of it. And when it comes to Thanksgiving, when we step out the door, we’re going out to do our jobs on game day, we think of one person, we think of John, and it’s Thanksgiving, and you have to smile,” said Johnson, who drives one of the “Sunday Night Football” production trucks. “Love of football and the love of Thanksgiving and now we’re here in Lambeau Field, one of his favorite locations. I mean, this is a game he would love to broadcast. And we just go out with pride to do the best job we can in honor of John.”

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

‘He went for broke’: Warriors’ loss to Thunder serves as reminder of Jonathan Kuminga’s value

SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Kuminga was steaming at his locker that he missed a couple chances at the rim in the second half after Golden State’s 105-101 loss to the Thunder.

What he didn’t know was that the Warriors as a team went 19-for-46 in the paint, including 33.3% at the rim. He went 5-for-11, meaning the rest of his teammates shot 40% from inside the lane.

In a defensive struggle, Kuminga scored 10 of the Warriors’ 38 paints in the point, including a thunderous jam over Jalen Williams in the first half. He shook off rust after missing the previous two games with a stomach bug, finishing with a team-high 19 points.

The 22-year-old is the only Warrior outside of Steph Curry who can consistently put pressure on the rim. He’s not a perfect fit within the Warriors’ system — he might never be — and head coach Steve Kerr doesn’t see him as a starter. But as a scorer who provides an element no one else on the roster can, he’s vital.

That showed both on Wednesday night and in the two games he missed — losses to San Antonio and Brooklyn.

“We need him against (the Thunder), we need him against everybody,” Kerr said before Wednesday’s loss. “JK has played a really important role for us this year. I know he would prefer to start, but the way that the team is built, what we’re trying to do defensively — what we’ve done defensively to this point — it makes perfect sense for JK to come off the bench and be our scorer off the bench.”

Kuminga started against the Thunder, but only because Curry (knees) and De’Anthony Melton (ACL; out for season) were unavailable. He began the season in the starting lineup, but the team quickly shifted to a two-big look with Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Because of Kuminga’s lack of an outside shot, playing him alongside two non-shooting bigs is untenable.

Since Kuminga and the Warriors failed to make progress toward a contract extension before the deadline, the wing is in a contract year. He hasn’t complained about the bench role, but was admittedly glad when Kerr informed him he’d start Wednesday’s game.

At first, Kuminga was rusty because he hadn’t played in a few days. Not coincidentally, the Warriors fell behind by 19 early in the first half. Like in their losses to the Spurs and Nets, they weren’t playing with enough energy.

Then reserve Pat Spencer entered — after three days of intense practices in a row, including a full lift before the game — and injected some life into the game. Kuminga returned and followed suit.

“He was at the 4 his first stint, and he wasn’t good because he wasn’t aggressive,” Draymond Green said postgame. “He came back into the game and he went for broke. And when you go for broke with that level of talent, that level of skill, it usually works in your favor.”

As Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein thwarted Warriors drivers in the lane, Kuminga at least had some success. He threw down a dunk when a runway cleared for him and walked down smaller defenders into the post.

“I feel like I just settled down,” Kuminga said. “Knowing angles to attack, too. Put a lot of pressure on the rim, that kind of helped. … Even just to kick it out and the rest of our guys got easy shots. I think that’s just my main focus. I always work on finding a way to get there.”

Later, in the fourth quarter, Kuminga got back-to-back stops against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the perimeter. He still has defensive lapses, especially off the ball, but has been locked in at the point of attack when given challenging assignments. He has arguably the most athletic player on the team, and the team needs him to leverage it however possible.

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One of the biggest see-saws in the Warriors’ season is how often Kuminga plays power forward or his preferred spot of small forward. Without a stretch center, Kerr has correctly decided that Kuminga is a full-time power forward. But that may require Green to play more center in small-ball lineups, which the organization is hesitant to do.

Green personally prefers playing next to another big who can let him roam as a help defender, but he’s happy to do whatever the team needs.

What the Warriors need and what Kuminga needs to get paid aren’t necessarily the same thing. But the Warriors certainly need to unlock Kuminga as much as possible, because without him, they’d be without any dribble penetration, stuck passing around the perimeter and running split action every possession.

Green, one of Kuminga’s biggest boosters, knows it.

“I don’t care what position he’s at, we need him being aggressive at all times,” Green said. “We’ll all fit around him. We’ll figure it out. That’s the thing he needs to understand, is what he needs to be: That pressure he started putting on the rim, we need that all night. And everyone else will figure it out.”

49ers await ‘psycho’ Christian McCaffrey’s return to form with Bills up next

SANTA CLARA — There’s a running back renaissance taking place in the NFL and Christian McCaffrey has yet to take part in it.

Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley is picking up steam as a Most Valuable Player candidate with 1,392 yards and 12 touchdowns. Derrick Henry of Baltimore, who while at Alabama beat out Stanford’s McCaffrey for the Heisman Trophy in 2015, isn’t far behind with 1,325 yards and 13 touchdowns.

At their current pace, Barkley and Henry would both break 2,000 yards rushing. There have been eight previous 2,000-yard rushers in NFL history, and never two in the same season.

And that doesn’t even include Green Bay’s Josh Jacobs, whose 944 yards heading into Sunday night’s Packers game ranked third in the NFL and who the 49ers’ Nick Bosa believes is the best back in the NFL.

McCaffrey, felled by bilateral Achilles tendinitis for the first eight games of the season, has gone right back into the lineup with his usual workload a year after rushing for 1,459 yards, catching 56 passes for 564 more.

But it’s been a slog the likes of which McCaffrey is unfamiliar. He has 149 yards on 43 carries, a 3.5-yard average that is down from 5.4 in 2023 when he was the . Most telling, the 49ers’ most frequent visitor to the end zone since Jerry Rice — McCaffrey had 39 touchdowns in 33 regular and postseason games going into the season — has has played three games and hasn’t scored a touchdown.

McCaffrey’s last touchdown was last Feb. 11 on a 21-yard reception from Jauan Jennings in a 25-22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. McCaffrey finished with 80 yards rushing and 80 yards receiving.

The 49ers (5-6) visit the Buffalo Bills (9-2) Sunday night. Getting McCaffrey on track would go a long way toward fueling an upset a week after a demoralizing 38-10 road loss to the Packers, with McCaffrey carrying 11 times for 31 yards and losing a fumble.

The 49ers, seventh in the NFL in rushing at 138.4 yards per game, are averaging 83.3 yards rushing in the three games since McCaffrey’s return. Jordan Mason, who was among the NFL rushing leaders early in the season, has just six attempts since McCaffrey came back. Rookie Isaac Guerendo has one.

“I feel like I’m getting a lot better,” McCaffrey said Wednesday. “My mindset is always the same whether I have success or failure. I think when you lose maybe you don’t jump out on the stat sheet and your failures get highlighted. But there’s stuff that happens when you have huge games that I’m upset at. That mindset has been the same my whole career and nothing is going to change there.”

Coach Kyle Shanahan has no interest in sitting McCaffrey just to balance the rushing ledger with Mason and Guerendo.

“We’re not trying to get Christian off the field more,” Shanahan said. “We want to keep him fresh and keep him at his best, but Christian’s also a guy who gets better as he goes. He’s a guy who feels a lot more comfortable being out there. I also don’t think the way these games have gone, we didn’t run the ball much last week at all in general.”

The 49ers had just 14 rushes against Green Bay, ran 18 plays in the first half and three in the first quarter. In the three games since McCaffrey came back, the 49ers have been unable to convert enough third downs and pile up the rushing attempts that Shanahan covets as one of his keys to victory.

General manager John Lynch cited the game circumstance and is convinced McCaffrey is on the verge of breaking out.

“My eyes tell me a lot,” Lynch told KNBR-680. “I think it’s just a matter of time before we get him going. But it takes more than Christian. It takes the entire unit being in sync.”

McCaffrey’s absence during the season has played a factor in his slow start. Just as important, McCaffrey — a practice dervish who takes every rep seriously and whose effect on his teammates is profound in that way — also missed the offseason program.

During that time, McCaffrey received a two-year contract extension which ensured he would remain the NFL’s highest-paid running back, got married, and then at some point began having Achilles issues in both legs. His father Ed McCaffrey told the Ross Tucker Podcast he believed the flareups came from overtraining, while McCaffrey has declined to be specific about the injury and to discuss his trip to Germany for treatment.

Shanahan and the 49ers pretty much dodged the question of whether all that missed time would have a big impact — especially considering McCaffrey’s obsession with practice and training. With McCaffrey struggling at the outset, Shanahan came clean Wednesday.

“The speculation on Christian, I think, is a little bit unfair to him,” Shanahan said. “Christian’s playing very well. But to think a guy who misses the entire offseason is just going to be the exact same the day he gets back would be unfair to any player in the world . . . to just think coming back in Week 8 and not being able to do anything for the last nine months, to think he’s going to be in MVP form is a very unrealistic expectation.”

McCaffrey’s practice schedule has been altered in that he’s rested the last two Wednesdays in hopes of avoiding a recurrence of the Achilles tendinitis. He appeared visibly upset after the Green Bay game, which Shanahan said was entirely in character.

Running back Christian McCaffrey greets coach Kyle Shanahan before Super Bowl LVIII.

“Christian, he’s a psycho in the best way possible,” Shanahan said. “He had a fumble there at the end of the game. No matter what I say to him, he’s not going to forgive himself fo ra fumble for probably the rest of his life. He’ll still be mad at himself for that. That’s just how he rolls. You should see him in OTAs if he drops the ball and how he acts, apologizing later in the day. That’s what makes him great and it  means a lot to him.”

McCaffrey accepted Shanahan’s “psycho” characterization in the spirit of which it was offered.

“Him and my wife would probably agree on that,” McCaffrey said. “Look, I love football to death, man. I’ve dedicated my life to this game. I have so much fun playing football, no matter what’s going on. . . And I want to be great. I know I can be and it’s something that just drives me every day.”

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The thought of possibly playing in the snow Sunday night in Buffalo struck a chord of nostalgia with McCaffrey, who recounted a story he told this news organization in 2023 about the day he fell in love with football as a 7-year-old.

McCaffrey’s team, the Parker Hawks, beat the Cherry Creek Bruins in his youth league “Super Bowl” that was played in a blizzard.

“Tipped a pass in the end,” McCaffrey said. “I remember crying that game. I think that’s when I decided I wanted to play football.”

Horoscopes Nov. 28, 2024: Jon Stewart, preparation and planning are the keys to getting things done

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, 40; Jon Stewart, 62; Ed Harris, 74; Paul Shaffer, 75.

Happy Birthday: High energy and emotional situations can clash this year if you don’t pace yourself accordingly. Preparation and planning are the keys to getting things done and getting them done your way. Refuse to let anyone bait you into something that can make you look bad or ruin your chance to achieve what’s important. Think big, but implement only what your budget and health can handle. Your numbers are 5, 11, 19, 24, 35, 43, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Set high expectations and do whatever it takes to maintain the momentum necessary to reach your target. Opportunity knocks where meetings, travel and learning come into play. Get into the mainstream, network, push forward and promote what you have to offer. Protect your health and your reputation. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Control your emotions. Regardless of the situation that crops up, you are best to hang back and observe rather than take a position that can slot you into a group that doesn’t represent your values or long-term concerns. You may crave change, but change only what’s necessary. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You’ll face temptation and uncertainty. Refrain from overreacting or promising more than you can deliver. Stay calm, watch how others respond and verify facts before you designate your time, skills or cash to someone or something pushing for your support or endorsement. When in doubt, take a pass. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Follow the rule book and avoid discrepancies. Use your imagination coupled with facts to put a spin on what you devise to attract like-minded people. Your courage and strength to uphold your beliefs and to bring about positive change will invite controversy but lead to stability. Partnerships are favored. 5 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Diversity, creativity and trusting your instincts will lead to change. Not everyone will approve of or join your team, but those who do will lift and encourage you to lead the way. Put your energy to good use and make your mission one for all and all for one. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Settle in and refuse to let someone’s persistence and manipulative ways dominate your attention and twist your thinking. Stick to what you know, pay attention to detail and do whatever is budget-friendly and encourages personal gain, physical improvement and a positive outcome. Social and romantic events are favored. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You cannot buy love or happiness. Stretch your imagination and intelligence. Explore and express your thoughts and wishes, and use your charm and grace to present what you want using incentives to attract hands-on help. A physical change to how or where you live looks promising. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Deep breaths in and out. Now be realistic, see things as they are and budget accordingly. Take a walk down memory lane and learn from your experiences to safeguard against making a repeat performance. You may want change but, first, you must implement a foolproof plan. Romance is favored. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Set boundaries and limits before entering a joint venture. Get expert advice to avoid pitfalls. A domestic change will need more validity and equality. Have an alternative idea to counter any offer that comes your way. Trust your instincts, not what someone leads you to believe. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Revisit what you’ve done and tweak your work to maximize the outcome. Your proficiency will dictate how others respond and who gives you the go-ahead to do as you please. Network and surround yourself with the right people, and you will have an impact and make a difference. 4 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Turn up the volume and drive in high gear. Make a splash and promote what you can do and the changes you want to pursue. Communication will attract the help and response you want and need to get things done. Redefine your space to accommodate your needs. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Make sure to fact-check before passing along information or making a move. Keep your money and secrets safe and simplify your life by decluttering and selling off what you no longer need or use. Words matter, and sticking to the truth will keep you out of harm’s way. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are insightful, well-connected and forceful. You are dedicated and self-sufficient.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

Warriors rediscover fire but fall short without Curry to Thunder

SAN FRANCISCO —The Warriors didn’t have their best player, but they did re-establish the intensity they’d been missing over the past few games.

After falling behind by 19 early, Golden State got a surprising sparkplug performance and won the middle quarters 60-45, turning what looked destined for a blowout into a Thanksgiving eve showdown.

But as time expired, Andrew Wiggins couldn’t convert a contested layup that would have sent the game into overtime.

Without Steph Curry, who’s considered day-to-day with soreness in both knees, the Warriors put a real scare in the Thunder.

Draymond Green (8 points, 6  assists, 12 rebounds) and Jonathan Kuminga (19 points) helped lead Golden State’s comeback, but they ultimately didn’t have enough scoring to win a back-and-forth final quarter. The Warriors (12-6) scored just five points in the last 5:45, succumbing to the No. 1 seed in the West, 105-101.

“I love everything I saw in the last three quarters: the energy, the defense, the rotations,” Steve Kerr said postgame. “Guys were flying around, we had a lot of good individual contributions. That’s our team, that’s who we are, and that’s exciting for me to see the defensive excellence that I watched in the last three quarters.”

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reacts on the sideline in the first quarter of their NBA game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 35, adding nine rebounds and five assists in 39 minutes. The Warriors got up 50 3-pointers — an equalizer when you’re overmatched — but only scored 18 points in an intense fourth quarter. They’ve now lost three straight for their first losing streak of the season.

The Warriors started the game with the kind of energy they’ve had in the past few games — not much. After Andrew Wiggins scored the team’s first nine points, they went on a four-minute dry spell. Oklahoma City ripped off runs of 12-0 and 10-2 as the Warriors couldn’t get stops and shot 31.8% from the field.

Short-handed and possibly demoralized by the Thunder’s early storm, Steve Kerr inserted reserve guard Pat Spencer to start the second quarter. Without Curry and De’Anthony Melton, who’s out for the season, Spencer was the backup point guard to Brandin Podziemski.

It wasn’t all Spencer, but he helped flip the game.

Spencer (6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists in a career-high 15 minutes) gave the Warriors the juice they’ve been looking for. Playing with intensity and pace, he notched two quick assists. After getting fouled on a fast break, he popped up from the floor and pumped up the Warriors’ bench. Later, after officials didn’t call a blocking foul that would’ve put Spencer back on the free-throw line, he picked up a technical foul for arguing — and Kerr called a timeout to stick up for him alongside Curry and Draymond Green.

“Satisfying, but you want to win,” Spencer said postgame. “We’ve dropped three games in a row now. So it feels good to get minutes, but I think we have a whole team that can play. Might be back out of the rotation, might be in the next game. The goal for me when I come in is to impact winning.”

Golden State Warriors’ Pat Spencer #61 and Moses Moody #4 vie for a rebound in the third quarter of their NBA game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State won Spencer’s first five minutes by seven points. His magic was fleeting, but Spencer appeared to ignite the Warriors, whose starters returned and clawed within 12 at halftime. Jonathan Kuminga knocked down a pair of 3s and added a thunderous slam in their strong kick.

“When Pat Spencer came in the game, he changed the game for us,” Green said. “When JK came back in the game, he changed the game for us. When BP came back in the game, he changed the game for us. Those guys, they really picked up their intensity and their force, and everybody followed.”

Kuminga added a corner 3 and an and-1 through Isaiah Hartenstein to start the second half. Then he forced a carrying violation while picking up Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt.The Warriors missed his athleticism and scoring punch as he sat the past two games with an illness.

A Podziemski and-1 — and flex celebration — cut Oklahoma City’s lead to seven. Jalen Williams, who scored 13 points in the first half, didn’t return after taking a shot to the face on Kuminga’s dunk.

Late in the third quarter, after Buddy Hield (17 points) sank his fourth of five 3s to bring the Warriors within three, Hartenstein picked up his fifth foul. With him in foul trouble, Chet Holmgren still sidelined and Jalen Williams out, the Thunder were about as depleted as the Warriors.

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The Warriors had a window to make a move.

Kuminga made two impressive defensive stands against Gilgeous-Alexander. Then Spencer, back in to relieve Podziemski, finished a lefty layup to make it a one-point game. The best third-quarter team in the league, the Warriors won the period 33-22 and entered the fourth down one.

Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga #00 dunks past Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jalen Williams #8 in the second quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Kyle Anderson hit a corner 3 to give the Warriors their first lead since the opening minutes. His and-1 two minutes later put them back on top as the score teetered.

Green, sensing the moment, ramped up the defense. On one possession, he trapped Gilgeous-Alexander in a pick-and-roll, then showed-and-recovered on a second attempt, then trapped Isaiah Joe on the other side of the floor for a steal.

The Thunder looked exhausted in the fourth quarter. The Warriors denied Gilgeous-Alexander the ball and hounded him whenever he got it. Both teams went scoreless for over two minutes late in the game, the score locked at 97-96.

Gilgeous-Alexander drilled a step-back 3 with a minute left to put the Thunder up by four, but missed free throws from Oklahoma City kept the Warriors alive. A Wiggins wing 3 made it a one-possession game, and Ker had a chance to draw up a game-winning or tying play with 7.7 seconds left.

The team had been working on that play, and although Oklahoma City defended it well, Anderson inbounded it to the corner, where Green flipped a lob to Wiggins, who was just too off-balance to finish.

Wiggins got a good look, but his finger-roll was rushed. The Warriors gave it all they had but didn’t have quite enough to pull off the upset.

Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins #22 shoots past Oklahoma City Thunder Isaiah Hartenstein #55 in the first quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 celebrates a 3-point basket on the bench in the fourth quarter of their NBA game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder’s Luguentz Dort #5 in the fourth quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Kevon Looney #5 reaches for a loose ball past Oklahoma City Thunder’s Dillon Jones #3 in the third quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder’s Isaiah Joe #11 in the second quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Kyle Anderson #1 shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder Aaron Wiggins #21 in the second quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 grabs a loose ball from Oklahoma City Thunder’s Isaiah Joe #11 in the fourth quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Kyle Anderson #1 makes a basket and draws a foul as he’s guarded by Oklahoma City Thunder’s Cason Wallace #22 and Ajay Mitchell #25 in the fourth quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 lays on the court as he reacts in the final minutes of the fourth quarter of their NBA game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Kyle Anderson #1 looks to pass as he’s double teamed by Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 and Ajay Mitchell #25 in the fourth quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis #32 and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kenrich Williams #34 battle for a rebound in the first quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 boxes out Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jalen Williams #8 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 for a rebound on a free throw in the second quarter of their NBA game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Kyle Anderson #1 and Draymond Green #23 battle for a rebound with Oklahoma City Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein #55 in the fourth quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 and Kyle Anderson #1 celebrate a basket that drew a foul in the fourth quarter of their NBA game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis #32 dunks past Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 in the first quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 reacts in the fourth quarter of their NBA game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

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Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins #22 shoots past Oklahoma City Thunder Isaiah Hartenstein #55 in the first quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

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College football: MPC’s Ellison, Pereira named conference MVP’s

MONTEREY — Reigning four-time American Golden Coast Conference champion Monterey Peninsula College swept the individual football awards at the conference meeting.

Headlining the list was receiver Devin Ellison, who was named the conference’s Offensive Most Valuable Player after leading the state in touchdown catches with 16, with tailback Kieryus Boone earning the second most votes.

Teammate and defensive lineman Kefa Pereira was chosen as the conferences Defensive Most Valuable Player, recording a team high six sacks for the 10-0 Lobos, while head coach Ronnie Palmer was named the Coach of the Year.

Ellison will go into the American Division Bowl on December 7 against De Anza with 45 catches for nearly 900 yards. He has also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.

Boone led the state in rushing at 131.8 yards a game, rushing for over 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also caught a handful of touchdown passes for the Lobos, who finished second in the state in scoring at 47.9 points a game.

Joining Ellison and Boone on the all-conference first team for MPC included quarterback Eric Gibson and his 27 touchdown passes, and offensive lineman Nate Olivas of Greenfield High, Chineme Mgbechi-Ezeri of Hollister and Samisoni Molitika of Seaside.

Selected to the first team defense alongside Pereira were defensive lineman Roger Guillory, linebacker Noah Garry of Pacific Grove, and defensive backs Jayden Friedt of Hollister and Maurice Mathis, who has an offer on the table from Temple University.

Honorable mention selections included running back Ethan Williams, defensive back Ameir Pickett, defensive end Taylor Rice, kicker Isaac Mancera and punter Joey Fernandez.

Hartnell offensive lineman Misael Silva of Greenfield and punter Abraham Maciel of Alisal were both named to the first team.

Honorable mention selections went to receiver Isaiah Durate, defensive backs Jonathan Gray, Elijah Perkins and Isias Morin, linebacker Jacob Peinado and offensive lineman Konnor Barrett.

Former Seaside defensive back and Cabrillo sophomore Jeter Olivares was also a first team selection.