Often times a consistent run of success is remembered on the grassroots level. Jesse
Bethel High in Vallejo opened its doors in the 1998-1999 school year, beginning with
only sophomores and juniors. The following school year, 1999-2000, the junior class
was added. From 2000-2001 forward, there would be all four grades.
Bethel High in Vallejo opened its doors in the 1998-1999 school year, beginning with
only sophomores and juniors. The following school year, 1999-2000, the junior class
was added. From 2000-2001 forward, there would be all four grades.
To this day, Jeff Turner is the only football coach the Bethel Jaguars have ever known.
The last three seasons the program has struggled in going 7-22 but 2001-2002 remain
great moments if you are a Jaguar fan.
The last three seasons the program has struggled in going 7-22 but 2001-2002 remain
great moments if you are a Jaguar fan.
Bethel competed in the Monticello Empire League from 2000-2002 before joining the
Solano County Athletic Conference. The SCAC is disbanding next school year with four
of the six schools moving from the CIF Sac Joaquin Section to the North Coast Section.
Solano County Athletic Conference. The SCAC is disbanding next school year with four
of the six schools moving from the CIF Sac Joaquin Section to the North Coast Section.
Bethel’s maiden voyage as a varsity program featured rough seas without seniors in
going 2-8 with only Hogan, which went winless, having a worse season. Hogan, which
is also in Vallejo, closed as a high school and has sinced become a middle school in
2011.
going 2-8 with only Hogan, which went winless, having a worse season. Hogan, which
is also in Vallejo, closed as a high school and has sinced become a middle school in
2011.
In 2001, help arrived as Dallas Bernstine (running back/defensive back) and Andrew
Green (wide receiver/defensive back) transferred from crosstown rival Vallejo to Bethel.
Both players were athletically gifted that could add explosiveness to an offense that
already had running back Carl Jiles.
They also could put their athleticism to use to make the Jaguars into at least a serviceable
defense.
Green (wide receiver/defensive back) transferred from crosstown rival Vallejo to Bethel.
Both players were athletically gifted that could add explosiveness to an offense that
already had running back Carl Jiles.
They also could put their athleticism to use to make the Jaguars into at least a serviceable
defense.
From 2001-2002, the Jaguars went 94-64-1 with 11 playoff appearances and six postseason
victories. Bethel reached the SJS Div. III title game in 2007 before falling to Rodriguez. In
2011, Bethel reached the SJS Div. I semifinals. Though it is fun watching Jaguar alum C.J.
Anderson play on Sundays for the Denver Broncos, the 2001 and 2002 Bethel Jaguars will
always be known as the group that kick-started the run of consistent success.
victories. Bethel reached the SJS Div. III title game in 2007 before falling to Rodriguez. In
2011, Bethel reached the SJS Div. I semifinals. Though it is fun watching Jaguar alum C.J.
Anderson play on Sundays for the Denver Broncos, the 2001 and 2002 Bethel Jaguars will
always be known as the group that kick-started the run of consistent success.
Besides the aforementioned Bernstine, Green and Jiles, Maurice Butler, Duane Jones,
Jacob Vegas, Julius Davis, Emmett Wright, Norman Bowier, Ronald Heywood, Jonathan
Brooks, Davon Scott, Maurice Dupont, Jesse Smith and Ray Stafford to name a few.
Jacob Vegas, Julius Davis, Emmett Wright, Norman Bowier, Ronald Heywood, Jonathan
Brooks, Davon Scott, Maurice Dupont, Jesse Smith and Ray Stafford to name a few.
In 2001, Bethel started like a house of fire in blasting Oakland (46-0) and Hogan (49-20).
From there, the Jaguars alternated weeks of wins and losses. The victories came against
Wood (26-22), Napa (39-21), Vintage (59-38) and Benicia (46-14), The losses came against
Fairfield (27-7), Armijo (21-14), Vallejo (35-14), Vacaville (65-54) and Elk Grove (21-14). The
win over Vintage served notice and turned out to be the difference between reaching the
postseason and staying at home as Bernstine turned in a performance for the ages:
From there, the Jaguars alternated weeks of wins and losses. The victories came against
Wood (26-22), Napa (39-21), Vintage (59-38) and Benicia (46-14), The losses came against
Fairfield (27-7), Armijo (21-14), Vallejo (35-14), Vacaville (65-54) and Elk Grove (21-14). The
win over Vintage served notice and turned out to be the difference between reaching the
postseason and staying at home as Bernstine turned in a performance for the ages:
Though Bethel lost to eventual SJS Div. I champ Elk Grove, the Jaguars gained more
respect after that loss than they did after any victory:
respect after that loss than they did after any victory:
In 2002, the MEL was split into two leagues with Bethel in the MEL II with Vintage, Armijo,
Hogan, Rodriguez and Benicia. That season would present a different challenge than
2001 when the Jaguars were the unknown commodity. How would they perform with
expectations?
Hogan, Rodriguez and Benicia. That season would present a different challenge than
2001 when the Jaguars were the unknown commodity. How would they perform with
expectations?
The Jaguars went 8-3-1 on the way to winning the MEL II but not without driving over a
couple potholes. The season started 2-0 with wins over Oakland (50-0) and Ukiah (8-6).
One week later, the Jaguars encountered a 21-20 setback to Armijo, which started that
season 5-0 before losing its final five contests.
couple potholes. The season started 2-0 with wins over Oakland (50-0) and Ukiah (8-6).
One week later, the Jaguars encountered a 21-20 setback to Armijo, which started that
season 5-0 before losing its final five contests.
Suddenly, Bethel’s margin for error decreased. Fortunately for the Jaguars, their remaining
hiccups (27-14 loss to Vallejo and 27-27 tie to Davis) were nonleague foes. The Jaguars
won their final four MEL II games (27-3 over Vintage, 73-18 over Benicia, 34-8 over Hogan,
41-0 over Rodriguez).
hiccups (27-14 loss to Vallejo and 27-27 tie to Davis) were nonleague foes. The Jaguars
won their final four MEL II games (27-3 over Vintage, 73-18 over Benicia, 34-8 over Hogan,
41-0 over Rodriguez).
The Jaguars made history with their first football playoff win in school history before losing
at Granite Bay one week later:
at Granite Bay one week later:
My beyond the boxscore memories: Between the players and coaches, these Jaguars
were characters. There were some colorful nicknames like AC Slater (Vegas), Dub-Silly
(Bernstine), C-Jizzy (Jiles), Bad Luck (Green), JuDeezy (Davis), MacReece (Butler) and
Freaky (Brooks).
were characters. There were some colorful nicknames like AC Slater (Vegas), Dub-Silly
(Bernstine), C-Jizzy (Jiles), Bad Luck (Green), JuDeezy (Davis), MacReece (Butler) and
Freaky (Brooks).
The coaching staff had an interesting mix that could be like oil and water. You had the
at-times hard-edged approach with Turner. Then you had the mild-mannered types like
Clay Muster and Philip Shelley. Then, there was the outwardly boisterous Dave Salias.
The players and coaches would get a kick out of my impersonation of Salias. At first,
they looked at us as if to say, “Who are these Jabronis?” Then, they laughed with us as
opposed to at us.
at-times hard-edged approach with Turner. Then you had the mild-mannered types like
Clay Muster and Philip Shelley. Then, there was the outwardly boisterous Dave Salias.
The players and coaches would get a kick out of my impersonation of Salias. At first,
they looked at us as if to say, “Who are these Jabronis?” Then, they laughed with us as
opposed to at us.
Just an aside: The online publication I worked for was known as GetLocalNews.com.
I had two tremendous co-workers in Brian Cornelius and Chris Navalta.
I had two tremendous co-workers in Brian Cornelius and Chris Navalta.
We had a lot of fun being part of a startup news organization. We did creative things such
as create rosters with bios. Since I was new to covering the team, I did not know the
players. So I told the players to write their names in my notebook in the order I took their
picture. So this young man identifies himself as Maurice MacReece. So I identified him
as such. Half the season goes by and I start getting needled by a father: “why ain’t you
be identifyin’ my kid!” I go, “Well, who’s your kid?” He replies: “Maurice Butler, No. 1.” So
putting two and two together, I ask, “The only No. 1 I have on the roster identified himself
as Maurice MacReece.” The father replies: “Damn, that kid!” He and I laughed for about
64 minutes.
as create rosters with bios. Since I was new to covering the team, I did not know the
players. So I told the players to write their names in my notebook in the order I took their
picture. So this young man identifies himself as Maurice MacReece. So I identified him
as such. Half the season goes by and I start getting needled by a father: “why ain’t you
be identifyin’ my kid!” I go, “Well, who’s your kid?” He replies: “Maurice Butler, No. 1.” So
putting two and two together, I ask, “The only No. 1 I have on the roster identified himself
as Maurice MacReece.” The father replies: “Damn, that kid!” He and I laughed for about
64 minutes.
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