Mitch Stephens

Content provider: San Francisco Chronicle, MaxPreps/PlayOn, HighSchoolOnSI, Livermore Independent. Promote HS coaches/critters/kindness/kids. Back at MaxPreps

[West Coast Preps @westcoastpreps_]

OMG😱😱

@James_Curoso with the hurdle over the defender on his way to the end zone for the 13-yard TD

Curoso’s second touchdown run with a little extra on it here tonight

14-0 @CNCardinals with 54 seconds left in Q2

[Fred J. Robledo 👨🏻‍💻 @SGVNSports]

Bishop Amat coach Kory Minor is certainly impressed with Amat’s 4-0 start and 65-13 victory over Culver City.

He also talked about facing JSerra next week at Kiefer

[Koa Malau’ulu 4⭐️ QB @koa1malauulu]

All Glory to God! @boscofootball

[GHSpacersFootball @grant_union]

Joe, for 38 years, you have been so much more than a sports reporter—you have been a storyteller, a historian, and a champion for high school athletics throughout the Sacramento region.

You gave countless student-athletes, coaches, schools, and communities an opportunity to have their stories told and their accomplishments recognized. Your passion for high school sports and, more importantly, the young people who play them has always come through in your work.

We at Grant Union High School have tremendous appreciation and respect for you and the journalism you have provided over the years. You have covered generations of Pacers with professionalism, fairness, enthusiasm, and a genuine respect for our school, our athletes, and our community.

38 years is an incredible legacy, Joe. While this chapter may be ending, there is no doubt that your voice, knowledge, relationships, and love for Sacramento-area high school sports still have many chapters ahead.

Thank you for telling our stories. Thank you for supporting our kids. And thank you for everything you have meant to high school sports in this region.

Much respect from the Grant Union High School Pacer Family. 💙💛

We look forward to seeing what’s next for you, Joe. You’re not done yet.

#WeAreGrant #PacerForLife @SacBee_JoeD

[Gus Morris @JustGusPD]

.@kentphotos has taken some incredible sports photos over the years but this is one of my new favorites.

@James_Curoso with a casual backflip as the Cardinals took the field tonight before their big win over Riordan. #PDPreps

[MaxPreps @MaxPreps]

Merced (CA) shook up Day 1 of the MaxPreps Flag Football showdown. The No. 25 Bears stunned No. 2 Central 20-12, snapping the nation's longest active win streak at 62 games. 🔥

Full Day 1 Recap ⬇️
https://t.co/cOMXxqPqM8

[MaxPreps @MaxPreps]

Mater Dei survives a THRILLER! 😳 The No. 14 Monarchs come from behind to beat No. 13 Centennial 10-9.

Full Story ⬇️
https://t.co/bpCsBRYoki

[Ethan Kassel @KasselMedia]

@tyler_winkles is the best QB in the Bay Area. He threw for three touchdowns, ran for a fourth and converted third and fourth downs all night.

But @SIscores has a pretty good passer in @isaacliu_8 too, who threw for five touchdowns before @LukeTribolet ran for the game-winner.

[Ethan Kassel @KasselMedia]

Final: St. Ignatius 42, Acalanes 38

@SIscores scored the final 14 to win a thriller after trailing almost all night, capped off by @LukeTribolet’s 2-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds left.

The Wildcats are 3-0. @yourdons suffer their first regular season loss since 2024.

[Barstool Sports @barstoolsports]

Bryan Woo pulled a kid out of the stands and let him throw some pitches in the Mariners bullpen

This is what it’s all about

[Scott Ostler @scottostler]

This is a great and touching story, by @ronkroichick

[MaxPreps @MaxPreps]

UCLA commit Michael Davis made one of the biggest plays of the night, recording a fourth-quarter interception that led to Mater Dei’s game-winning touchdown. 😤

[Joe Davidson @SacBee_JoeD]

Ok, Bob.
Off memory alone…best HS runners in 1987 in included the late/great Kyron Vandell of Hiram Johnson and JD Davidson of Cordova (no relation, and I was faster!)
Best QB in 1987 was Aaron Garcia of @grant_union and the best WR was Brian Brown of Yuba City.

[West Coast Preps @westcoastpreps_]

SCENES AT LIBERTY ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

@leysen2409 to @D1JordanPage8 AT THE BUZZER

LIONS WIN 28-27

[Gus Morris @JustGusPD]

@James_Curoso @Zion_Cargill2 The rout is on. @ltretamoza with the short keeper to put Newman up 28-0.

2:42 left in Q3 #PDPreps

[Cal-Hi Sports @CalHiSports]

We’re at Manteca High celebration of 100 years of football.
Sac Joaquin Section winningest school leading Chavez of Stockton 8-7 end 1st.
Two of all time greats from school Don Morgan (NFL) & Jacob DeJesus (Cal star last yr) also honored.

[West Coast Preps @westcoastpreps_]

Final: Cardinal Newman 31, Riordan 0

First year head coach Kenny McMillan earns is first win—a statement made by the Cardinals in their home opener

Postgame coverage coming soon to https://t.co/xAdqtZUpTE

[Joe Davidson @SacBee_JoeD]

Another example of why this gig matters; the people.
This is @Go_DCA_Football coach Antuan Simmons, a SacBee All-Metro star for the Valley Vikings of Sacramento in the 1990s.
Starred at USC as a DB, overcoming illness to excel as a senior.
Lost his parents of late to illness.

[Mitch Stephens @MitchMaxSI]

Stop the presses! Wait, there are no more presses (sigh), rather few and far between. But if you’re a California high school or any other sports fan, you’ve probably heard our favorite best sportswriter in the land Joe Davidson was laid off by McClatchy following 38 years of superior journalism, devotion to community, storytelling, friendships, coaches, players, administrators, ticket takers, referees, moms, dads, janitorial staff, military, police officers, street vendors. OK, perhaps a bit carried away there with the referees.

The tributes are truly truly heartfelt, sincere and abundant. They have come from every nook and crannie of not a neighborhood or community but Northern California region.

His greatness and passion has been expressed and exposed. Simply, his positive contributions can’t be overstated.

As I relayed to him a short time, it all reflects a life truly well lived.

And the best part: these aren’t eulogies.

Not even close.

This is a celebration of life for the living. A live wire, in fact. There’s still so much spark left in that tank - how’s that for mixing metaphors? - that honestly McClatchy did him a deep unintentional favor.

Opportunities are bursting at the seam, at his doorstep, the inbox, phone chat, social media posts. His cup runneth over because of all that damn devotion, enthusiasm and true care to the product. Which 95 percent of the time is people. Unsung coaches. Kids. He’s bypassed the big time pros and money-makers to spotlight the everyday man, woman, boy and girl. Probably featurized some pets too.

As a colleague and more so a cherished friend, I have benefitted at sporting events - not to mention dives and eateries - and though these photos of him representing the Bee are sentimental.

Many more are in store for the future. Can’t wait.

Perhaps we’ll finally get to work together though that’s how our friendship started back in 2000 when I hired him and some fresh pup named Sam Amick at https://t.co/V11A75mPu9. Hilarious to think of now. That was a short-lived but worthy proposition.

Who knows how things will work out. Perhaps the Bee or McClatchy will come to their senses. I mean, Joe really is THE BEE at this point. But we shall see. The world and opportunity converge in remarkable ways.

For instance, today, I am giddy to announce that I am returning to MaxPreps, now also known in part as PlayOnSports.

It is a total part time role I am so grateful to rejoin bothers and sisters in prep content with the likes of Jason Hickman, Zack Poff, Aaron Williams, Steve Montoya, Chris Stonebraker, Kevin Askeland, Josh Carson, Sean Dupree and super talented content providers and Thomas Frey and Nick Pecoraro.

I’m a total pinch hitter and role player, but again so thankful, misty-eyed even, to rejoin the squad after 17 years with the big club and four years away.

Should be noted that the aforementioned Mr. Davidson has written for MaxPreps on the side for close to a couple decades as well.
Just saying!
And whistling!
And grinning!
Like some of these goofy pictures show.
Go Joltin’ Joe

[Mitch Stephens @MitchMaxSI]

I really hated them starting year in Australia.

From moment plan was hatched.

How the two teams approached their business - one going down a week early- the other trying to make it like any other week - obviously looks like 48ers took the smarter path.

But truly the 49ers just outplayed the Rams and would have won in Inglewood, Santa Clara and all points in between. King City. SLO. Santa Maria.

They were better Thursday in every capacity and all the talk about Rams being the CLEAR Super Bowl favorite was misguided.

I understand why they were but now clearly the distinction goes to the 49ers.

Injuries play such massive part of NFL and perhaps if healthy the 49ers would have been in Suoer Bowl last season.

Injured players who returned were fantastic. So was new DC Morris, who knows Rams inside out.

Shanahan called masterful game. Players executed.

Every aspect of the Thursday game they were better.

But it’s a long season.

Liked Rams just earnestly took responsibility and also gave it up to the 49ers.

The Rams weren’t horrible.

They’ll still win at least 12 games as long as they stay healthy.

But 49ers were close to unbeatable.

They made every play, caught every ball and Purdy looked like one of the top 3 QBs in league.

Evans caught every 50-50 ball. Rams were in position. 49ers just looked little hungrier. Better. On a Thursday morning in Australia.

McVey players, staff will adjust accordingly. Smartly. It’s not a young cocky group. Smart seasoned vets.

But even old guys can lose an edge. Maybe the edge Verse has is/was more important than Myles Garrett raw talent. He was admittedly nowhere.

He’ll be back. Stronger. Unless he’s hurt. It’s possible. It happens. It’s the NFL. Why there’s no sure things.

It’s why Vegas. NFL. Draft Kings holding all the cards. Bad business.

That off-season Super Bowl favorite talk probably hurt Rams and fueled the 49ers.

The Rams will be back stronger but right now the Seahawks and 49ers are ahead of the Rams.

Literally and figuratively.