Sports: CHS football team demonstrates leadership, close team bond

The football team shows dedication and commitment to the game and to each other

By Keira Silver

With disciplined practices, empowering coaches, and a strong bond, the Christopher varsity players are showing crowds what it means to be a team, on and off the field.

The team closed out the regular season with a 9-1 record after losing to their Morgan Hill rival, Live Oak High School. Christopher will now move on to the Division 2 playoffs, where they are ranked as the eighth seed overall.

Darren Yafai has been the head coach for Christopher High for three years, while coaching high school football for 33 years. He believes the team’s success is because of how much talent the team has from the junior and senior classes.

Photo by Keira Silver

“We’ve had some continuity that these juniors and seniors have all played football all through high school,” he said. “We’ve had the same coaching staff, pretty much, for the past three years.”

Yafai knows the team focuses on working hard and having sportsmanship, even in the classroom. These attributes of football, along with having fun, have contributed to the team’s overall success, he said.

As a history teacher, Yafai is passionate about helping teenagers both in and out of the classroom. His priority for the youth is for them to have quality experiences with learning how to develop good character, he said.

Yafai advises young freshmen and sophomores hoping to join varsity someday to focus on good grades, sports, and weightlifting, just as their older teammates have done.

“If you’re (going to) be a football player, (then) be dedicated to your team, to the program, and to the sport,” he said. “If you want to continue this tradition of success and winning, you got to make sure you’re doing what these guys before you have done. That’s be dedicated, be committed, be passionate.”

The team has had several players suffer injuries this year. But Yafai believes the rest of the team has shown leadership.

Photo by Keira Silver

“Our guys have done a great job of stepping up,” he said. “A lot of them have come through. I think that’s a big part (of) what we do as a team. It’s not just about the stars or about the starters. It’s about everybody . . . I think that’s all a part of growing up and life is overcoming adversity and stepping up when someone needs to count on you. These guys are quality guys with good character and good hearts, and that’s what they’ve done.”

William Rizqallah wears jersey number seven and is the running back on the team. Now a senior, he’s been on the team all four years of high school. The team’s senior leadership has led to a brotherhood, he said.

“Each year, we’ve (become) closer and tighter as a friendship,” he said. “And now, being seniors, we can lead the team and pass it on to the next upcoming class.”

Rizqallah shows support for the community and sports by volunteering with local youth teams. He also helps new junior varsity players and freshmen around campus and on the field, he said.

“The older guys will always take part in being the bigger guy and showing them around,” he said.

Rizqallah knows that his closest friends are from playing on the football team, and this has led to their success.

“If I didn’t play on the football team, I would not have the friends I do now,” he said, “It’s a brotherhood on the field and off the field, and it’s always smiles. During the (games), we’re laughing, we’re having a good time . . . We know each other so well we can adapt (to) each other and play well as a unit.”

Rizqallah spends about 450 hours playing on the team. The nonstop yearly commitment is something he doesn’t plan to give up for anything, he said. He believes football has taught him how to be a leader and has shaped him to be the person he is today.

Photo by Keira Silver

“It’s about family,” he said. “It teaches something you’ll never forget.”

Danny Camilleri is No. 53 and is the defense tackle/defensive end. After playing since his freshman year, the senior believes the sport teaches him to be a leader for everyone around him.

“Even if I’m a leader on the team, I always have to contribute in everything, no matter what I’m doing,” he said.

Camilleri has been inspired to continue playing football after his graduation in June. He appreciates how much his teammates have inspired him to keep going, he said.

“I have a big love for the sport, and I have a big love for these brothers out here,” he said. “They always help me mentally and physically . . . Every time I want to quit, they’re always there for me. They actually show me what it’s like to be a young man, to actually keep going and not give up.”

Camilleri encourages people to not quit on their goals in life and to keep going even when the going gets tough.

“Don’t quit in whatever you want to do,” he said. “If it’s something you want to do in the future, just don’t give up on it and actually give it your all. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Bobby Bluford is the assistant defensive coordinator and defensive back coach, as well as the strength and conditioning coach. Now in his third season of coaching, he teaches leadership to the team, encouraging the players to strive for excellence.

“The only thing (we) have to do everyday is be the best version of ourselves,” he said. “I walk the walk. I don’t go anywhere and not represent the best version of me . . . Everyday I expect my student-athletes to work hard in the weight room, to work hard on the field, (and) do well in the classroom. It’s about everyday being the best version of you.”

Bluford played football at the University of California, Davis. He believes that he has stayed the same person since then, believing that everyone has a gift inside of them.

Photo by Keira Silver

“It’s my job as a mentor (and) role model to help these kids understand you don’t have to be anybody else,” he said. “I will never change that.”

As a motivational speaker, Bluford’s mantra is Better Than Yesterday (BTY). He believes the team must honor who they are and what they are doing that day.

“In whatever you’re doing in life, you have to honor that part of the journey,” he said. “If you honor the moment and live BTY, you can’t lose.”

Jaxen Robinson wears No. 20. He’s been playing since he was a freshman. Now a junior and quarterback, he believes seniors have been leaders to him and have positively impacted him.

“It’s who I am today,” he said. “Leaders (like them) just really being great (teammates) to me all throughout high school and just helping me out.”

Robinson knows the CHS program works hard. The atmosphere has been positive because of the players and the coaching staff, he said.

Robinson’s individual goal for the rest of the season is to be a good leader. He believes the team is fun to watch.

• At Division 3 playoffs, there could be a different ending depending on how far they go in the league. Their progress is on MaxPreps.com.

Keira Silver is a senior at Christopher High School. She wrote this story with mentorship from publisher Martin Cheek.