The Modesto Christian High football team has left the Trans-Valley League and will play an independent schedule, athletic director Brice Fantazia confirmed with The Bee on Wednesday morning. Fantazia said there’s a possibility of extending the move to 2025, pending approval.
In a meeting with the TVL on Tuesday morning, Fantazia spoke about how Modesto Christian will move forward with playing a full 10-game schedule while building the school’s football program.
“The TVL is as strong as it’s ever been and we’re rebuilding,” Fantazia said. “It’s the worst time to be rebuilding — we have injuries and numbers are low — but our guys are fighting.”
Fantazia, who also is the head coach of Modesto Christian’s powerhouse basketball program, took the job as athletic director just before Week 1. He said he decided the Crusaders will go independent because it’s what is best for the future of the school’s football program.
“Our guys didn’t want to leave the TVL, the (Modesto Christian) coaches didn’t want to leave the TVL. I kind of had to make an executive decision,” Fantazia said. “It’s not fair to the TVL schools for us to possibly have to forfeit a game a week before. So I decided to let the TVL schools have the option of finding games. We haven’t had big consistency. It’s our third coach in three years, so that’s the decision I made.”
At the Modesto Quarterback Club lunch Monday, football head coach Michael McFadden was confident the Crusaders would play their first three TVL games against Orestimba, Ripon and Ripon Christian over the next three weeks. But Fantazia said Wednesday that the Crusaders will play their first TVL game this Friday against Orestimba for sure.
Every other team has the opportunity to replace the Modesto Christian game on its schedule. Fantazia said if any school is not able to find a replacement in time, the Crusaders will “do our best to show up and play the game.” For instance, Fantazia and Ripon Christian head coach Phil Grams said the Crusaders and Knights intend to play their Oct. 4 game at 7 p.m.
“We have tons of respect for the TVL and what it represents as the best small-school league in the state,” Fantazia said. “We just wanted to do what’s right, allowing teams the option to find another game that is more competitive.”
Some schools slowly finding games
Ripon, Ripon Christian, Escalon, Hilmar, Sonora and Hughson are free to search for other opponents to fill the Crusaders’ scheduled Friday night slots.
“It’s a decision that probably should have been made before the season, but I was just made the AD when football season started,” Fantazia said. “The decision wasn’t made. I take full responsibility for it and now we’re just trying to make the best with what we can, and trying to be as fair as possible.”
Ripon replaced its Sept. 27 game against the Crusaders with a home game against Modesto High. The Panthers needed a game after Valley of Sacramento did not field a team this season due to low interest. It will be a good test for Modesto before beginning CCAL play Oct. 4.
Hughson and Escalon posted on their X accounts last week that they were looking for games, triggering a chain reaction of speculation about what would come of Modesto Christian’s football season.
Neither the Cougars nor Huskies have found opponents to replace the Crusaders on Oct. 10 and Nov. 1, respectively. Escalon coach Andrew Beam said they have reached out to schools in Reno and are waiting to hear back. Escalon was scheduled to host the Cougars-Crusaders game. Beam says though they would like to host whoever they play, “at this point, we can’t be picky.”
Hughson, the preseason TVL favorite, still has not found an opponent and head coach Shaun King is not optimistic the team will be able to fill the slot. It is tough to find opponents for the final game of the regular season. If the Huskies earn a first-round playoff bye and cannot not find a Week 11 game, they are looking at over two weeks between their final regular season game and their first postseason game.
Hilmar will replace the Oct. 18 Modesto Christian game with a road game against Summerville. It will be their second trip to the area in three weeks as they play Sonora Oct. 4.
Modesto Christian has losses to River Islands, Berean Christian and Stone Ridge Christian through the 2024 season’s first four weeks. In those games, the Crusaders have been outscored 129-0.
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