The Bay Area is gearing up for an exciting 2025 high school football season, with standout linebackers emerging from St. Francis, Clayton Valley, Los Gatos, De La Salle, and Pittsburg.

 

At St. Francis, senior Marco Jones leads the way, tallying an impressive 315 tackles across two seasons and ranking among California’s top recruits.

 

Clayton Valley’s Jonathan Blanchard anchors his defense as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in the Santa Teresa Valley Division, posting 72 tackles and two sacks last year.

 

Junior Kaleb Pleis shines for Los Gatos, drawing college offers for his size and versatility at both linebacker and edge.

 

De La Salle features Bradley Ruffin, whose strong stats earned him first-team accolades in the Bay Valley Athletic League.

 

Meanwhile, Pittsburg’s Isaia Vandermade returns as a rising defensive star, expected to make a major impact this season.

Clayton, California experienced a magnitude 3.5 earthquake on Monday afternoon, causing noticeable tremors across Contra Costa County and neighboring areas.

 

The quake struck around 3:00 p.m., with its epicenter approximately 5 miles east of Clayton and 6 miles southeast of Pittsburg, at a depth of 4 miles.

 

Shaking was reported in Antioch, Concord, Oakley, and even as far as Sacramento and Santa Clara Counties.

 

No injuries or structural damage have been reported, but the USGS considers this a reminder of the area's active seismic nature.

 

Residents are urged to review earthquake safety plans and utilize resources from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, like the Earthquake Brace+Bolt program for home retrofitting.

 

Updated seismic hazard maps now identify vulnerable zones in Contra Costa County.

 

Staying proactive and prepared is vital for safety in this earthquake-prone region.