Football

A history of championships »

Interscholastic high school football began at Bishop O’Dowd in 1970, nearly twenty years after the school was opened in 1951. The school played an independent schedule before joining the Catholic Athletic League (CAL) in 1971. The first few years saw little success until 1974 when the Dragons captured the program’s first title. It was another fifteen years before the Dragons captured another league championship.

With future NFL player Eric Bjornson leading the way, the Dragons completed an undefeated season in 1989 and earned the East Shore Athletic League (ESAL) title. The Dragons repeated as champions in 1990 and shared the crown with St. Mary’s in 1991. A balanced Dragons team went undefeated in 1993 to win another league title but the season ended in disappointment with a stunning last-second loss to Foothill High School in the North Coast Section (NCS) semi-finals. The Dragons returned to the NCS playoffs in 1995, beginning a current string of 16 consecutive years of playoff appearances (1995-2010), a feat shared only by De La Salle, Foothill and James Logan High School. Over these 16 years, the Dragons have captured three NCS titles (1997, 1998, 2004) and played in five NCS title games. From 1997-1999 the Dragons posted a record of 35 wins, 3 losses and 1 tie. Only De La Salle had a better record (39-0) during that three year period as the Dragon football program established itself as one of the most outstanding high school programs in Northern California.

The Dragons are proud of the ten student-athletes who have made it into the National Football League: Charles Butler (’80), Gardiner Williams (’80), Freeman Baysinger (’88), Tarik Glenn (’93), Eric Bjornson (’90), Langston Walker (’97), Kirk Morrison (2000), Gabriel Franklin (2000), Joshua Dean (2000), and Burl Toler III (2001). In addition, we are proud of the 130+ Dragons who have played at the collegiate level, most on some form of athletic scholarship.

Program Information

Teams, Games, Practice

Three levels of football with each team comprised of over forty players. Our philosophy is to place each athlete at the level of football that best suits his/her prior experience in relation to ability, physical size, commitment, and comfort level. The freshmen and junior varsity teams are the building blocks of our program at Bishop O’Dowd.

Varsity (includes seniors, juniors, and selected sophomores)

This team competes with in the West Alameda County Conference – Foothill League (WACC – Foothill). This team is comprised of seniors, junior, and selected sophomores. Those who play at this level are required to give a large time commitment and dedication to off-season and summer weightlifting and conditioning. Athletes who are not involved in a winter or spring sport are encouraged to participate in the off-season weight training and conditioning program beginning in early February. Those participating in a winter and spring sport are encouraged to maintain and improve their physical strength, agility, and conditioning during the months of December through May (when spring football begins).

Junior Varsity (includes juniors and sophomores)

This is our middle level of the football program. This team competes against other schools in the West Alameda County Conference – Foothill League (WACC – Foothill). The team is generally comprised of mostly sophomores, some juniors, and occasionally a exceptional freshmen. Freshmen who play at this level generally have had previous experience with organized tackle football (Pop Warner, P.A.L. leagues, etc) and possess the physical and mental maturity to handle this level of play. Players at this level are expected to have had some football experience with an idea how to block and tackle, and familiar with the physical nature of football. During the season, practices are held daily after school, Monday thru Friday beginning the second or third week of August. Practice length is between two hours and two hours and thirty minutes beginning at 3:45pm and concluding by 6:15pm. Games are generally the preliminary game to the varsity contest.

Freshmen (entirely freshmen)

No prior experience is needed to participate at this level. In fact, most who participate at this level have no prior experience. Freshmen football starts with the basics of how to properly put on equipment. Practices time is focuses on the basic fundamentals and skills necessary to play the game. Players will be taught correct blocking, tackling, and ball catching techniques. Coaches will introduce and teach the “base” offensive and defensive plays and schemes. All players will have the opportunity to play in games. During the season practices are held daily after school, Monday thru Friday beginning the second or third week of August. Practice length is between two hours and two hours and thirty minutes beginning at 3:45pm and concluding by 6:15pm. Games are generally played on Thursday and Friday afternoons.

Season

Football is a fall sport with the season beginning in early August and ending in mid-November for Freshmen and Junior Varsity teams while varsity traditionally participates in playoffs until the end of November or early December.

Equipment

The school will provide all protective equipment (helmet, shoulder pads, thigh/knee/hip pad, practice and game pants) for all team members.

However, all team members will need to purchase a mandatory Football insurance policy along with various equipment and sportswear in order to play. Contact the head coach for more detailed information.  Financial assistance is available for qualifying families to purchase the necessary equipment.

The following are optional equipment items that can be purchased at a specialty sporting good supplier:

* Cleats
* Cup
* Athletic supporter
* Compression braces

Dragons in college