Monte Vista Football Origins

The building of Monte Vista's football program evolved, in many ways, like the building of the school.  1965 was the first year for the high school, and it was coupled with a decision to allow the students and the school to grow together.  This was done by starting with a freshman class directed to the new Monte Vista high school, and then adding a new freshman class each succeeding year as the initial class progressed. 

But when it was time for the freshmen to begin the fall semester of 1965, the new high school facility in Alamo had not yet completed construction.  So, the Mustang freshmen were all herded into a special section of the San Ramon Valley High School campus that was used until the initial section of the new school could be opened during Christmas break.

Meanwhile, from a football perspective, the Mustang's hired Cal Gower as the freshman head coach, with a young Ray Crawford to serve as his assistant, and charged them with building the program.  Crawford is thought to also be the first teacher offered a teaching contract for the new school.  The new Mustang team competed with a freshman league schedule.  In 1966, the school fielded another freshman team, and a junior varsity team made up completely of sophomores.  As Coach Gower moved on, Coach Crawford became the head coach of the team. 

1967 was a transitional year.  The team still had no seniors but played a mixed schedule of varsity squads from tiny independent schools, and junior varsity squads from a few of the Foothill Athletic League schools (today's DVAL).  The Mustangs compiled a 5-1 record against varsity teams from San Lorenzo Valley (Felton), Ripon, Hughson, Hilmar, and the California School for the Deaf.  They went 3-0 against the JV squads from Alhambra, Los Lomas, and San Ramon.  As a view of things to come, the Mustang's JV tilt with San Ramon Valley was attended by over 2,000 fans.

Monte Vista’s first game in a season with a full varsity schedule was played in 1968 vs. Half Moon Bay.  The Mustangs jumped on the Cougars early and often.  On the very first play from scrimmage - with Monte Vista finally having senior players, QB Mike Olson hit Perry Simmons with a 65-yard touchdown pass, and the Mustangs went on to win 37-0.  The team then went on to complete its first full varsity league season in the Foothill Athletic League. 

There was great excitement leading up to the first "official" game for the Danville Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Monte Vista/San Ramon Valley game.  The trophy was designed to be a traveling trophy which could be retired if the winners won the trophy for three years in a row.  Late in 1968, the very first game with the Wolves of San Ramon Valley was played, with the Mustangs setting the tone for the future with a 6-0 win.  Coach Crawford's teams went on to post three consecutive shutouts of the Wolves in the team's first three games, all on the SRV turf, retiring the trophy and ending the "tradition."  The trophy was then turned into a "permanent" traveling trophy.