I thought it was a TD. It looked like a TD. But maybe it wasn't? I had someone from Sportzwurl email me (Monday morning) a link to a photo they took. A different perspective. Still a close call... http://pix1.i247.com/pix/dom/3010/acc/11032/app03/6240/6240_1509726_swz20091205221017mcus_2_xw5x.jpg And in regards to a photo gallery of the game, it will be a while before I put one together. I think you understand... Continue reading

Is Rocklin ready for the Pacers? From the Pacers first game with the Montgomery Vikings. I guess this is what you might say was "setting the tone" for what was to come the next three months. Is the Thunder ready for more in-your-face football on Saturday night? We'll find out! Continue reading

I see the Pacer lightning, but the question is "Where's the Thunder?" Continue reading

I like these two photos I took of some of the team up in Seattle by the Space Needle when they played Bellevue. I figure this blog is a good place to feature some of the photos I've taken over the last twelve (12!) games this season that might get overlooked, "buried" in past albums. What I see when I look at these photos are a group of guys who have come a long ways,who are confident but not cocky, and more than worthy of carrying forward the spirit and legacy of the Grant Pacers in 2009. Rocklin, I think... Continue reading

The above title of this post was the title of the article highlighting the Pacer's "romp" over Fairfield in the Sacramento Bee on Saturday morning. Of course it takes an incredible team effort to do what the Pacers do, but watching 55 is a pretty amazing experience, and I'm really, really, glad I'm not on the other side of the line from #55. Continue reading

You have to give me a little credit again. I wrote in a post last week that "I'm looking forward to the Rocklin game... sorry Fairfield." And so Fairfield was just another blip on the road, really more like a squashed bug on the windshield as the Pacers keep driving towards the big game. In this game I photographed a lot along the Fairfield side and one of the benefits as a Pacer has been to be serenaded by the die-hard group of Pacer fans (above) who always reserve their own corner on the opposing team's side. They're passionate, loud,... Continue reading

Great tackle by #7, Faga Tuamasaga. #7 has been injured, but is now back at full speed and just adds to the incredible depth of the Pacer defense. Rarely does the Pacer defense let their prey escape out of their tenacious grasp! Continue reading

Heh, you have to give me a little credit with the graphic I created before the game about the train crash metaphor. I'm looking forward to the Rocklin game... sorry Fairfield. Continue reading

OMG! Where's Booker? Watch out Tokay. The Pacer Train is coming and you're on the tracks (Sac-Joaquin Section playoff game, Friday, Nov. 20 @ Grant) Continue reading

Taking photos without my Canon 70-200 2.8 IS is challenging to say the least. I actually feel a little silly using a flash, but such is life... But I had to get this photo up. One of my favorites so far this season. You didn't know that the Pacers can defy gravity? The only limitations are in one's mind, and if there aren't any limitations... welcome to Pacer Football! And now it's on to the Sac-Joaquin Section play-offs and Tokay at Grant on Friday. I did a little search on "Tokay" on Google and see there are Tokay Geckos and... Continue reading

Watch out Burbank! From the SacBee's latest Sac-Joaquin Section Top Ten Football Rankings1. Grant (9-0) The Pacers are roaring toward the program's third 10-0 regular season finish since 2006, with dangerous rival Burbank looming Friday to decide the Metropolitan Conference championship. Grant steamed McClatchy 62-6 - yes, allowing a touchdown, of all the nerve. McClatchy scored on a bomb late against the Grant reserves when it appeared the receiver pushed off. Vei Moala miss most of the game with a sprained ankle and Dezmon Epps missed the second half with a shoulder injury Quality wins (with records excluding loss to... Continue reading

From the SacBee Prep Blog "A closer look at The Bee's Top 20, with record and comments: 1. Grant (8-0) Outscored teams 363-7 with 7 shutouts and pulling starters early in running-clock routs of late; Mike Alberghini won his 200th. Clear leader of Metro Conference." Continue reading

Although I may stand alone as a photographer, it's definitely true that all the individual players on the team think and believe that they don't stand alone and know that they can always count on each other. At home on the weekend I had captioned this photo "No man is an Island," but when talking to a player at school he told me that yes, he knew what "No man is an island" means when I asked him. He told me it means "No Pacer Stands Alone." He said this so quickly and matter-of-factly I could tell it was a... Continue reading

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Player of the week Published: Friday, Oct. 16, 2009 - 12:00 am | Page 7C To think the player had been plodding along for much of the season with a balky knee makes you wonder how good Devontae Butler would be at full strength. Rosemont High School found out the hard way Friday. Off to a promising 3-1 start, the Wolverines were run over by Butler and his Grant teammates 56-7, with the senior tailback rushing for 221 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries in barely a half of action. He is The Bee's High School Football Player of... Continue reading

About a half an hour before the voting ended yesterday afternoon Butler was ahead by 200 votes so I assume he is the Player of the Week though I can't find the results on the Preps page of the SacBee. Maybe they'll have it in the Bee tomorrow... Continue reading

Vote for The Bee's Prep Football Player of the Week from Friday night's action. Voting ends Wednesday at 3 p.m. And of course who else would a Pacer vote for than: Devontae Butler, Grant - Rushed for 221 yards and scored four times in 56-7 win over Rosemont James Lee, Capital Christian - Threw four touchdown passes in 42-13 win over Encina Tyler Trosin, Folsom - Caught 7 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns in 54-33 win over Casa Roble Antonio Bumpers, Inderkum - Rushed for 200 yards and scored four touchdowns in 39-14 win over Woodcreek Danny Thomas,... Continue reading

From the SacBee Top 10 Rankings 1. Grant (6-0) The Pacers are human on defense after all. The nerve of allowing a point - finally - after six weeks of action. Actually, it was bound to happen as the only teams in state history to really post major stretches with shutouts are small schools. Still, what Grant did was remarkable - five wins, five shutouts - and then Friday came a 56-7 rout of Rosemont in a Metropolitan opener where the only way the Wolverines could score was off of a double-reverse, toss back to quarterback pass. That served to... Continue reading

By: Matthew Spencer • Posted on: 9/22/2009 6:00:00 PM By Matt Spencer CoachesAid.com California Content Coordinator "In each one of these players beats the heart of a champion. They have speed, power, an impenetrable defense, an inspiring coach in Mike Alberghini, and most important, these talented athletes have something you’ll never find in any in playbook — this Grant High football team has a burning desire to win. It simply refuses to lose. Their veteran coach Alberghini has been heading this Pacers program for 19 years and he is a master motivator, teacher and often a father figure. He is... Continue reading

"No. 1 Grant 62, Johnson 0 - After back-to-back 14-0 wins, the unscored-upon Pacers (5-0) got on track offensively in their Metro Conference opener against the host Warriors (0-4). Devontae Butler rushed for 278 yards on 13 carries and had five touchdowns, including two 80-yarders. Shaq Thompson (15-yard interception return) and Darryl Paulo (10-yard fumble return) scored for the Pacers, whose starters sat early in the third quarter." - SacBee Continue reading

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