M-A’s Ngalu, Heimuli are the real deal

It’s not an easy thing to do when one of my sole jobs is covering the play-by-play of the game and can’t really focus on just one player. But it doesn’t take much watching to know that Ngalu and Heimuli, both three-year varsity starters, are the real thing. While I don’t keep defensive stats during a game and Friday night’s game stats have not been loaded to MaxPreps, I do know that both names were called a bunch of times by the public address announcer. When I did specifically keep my eye on either player, they were simply wreaking havoc. While he didn’t record a sack, Ngalu was in the Chieftains’ backfield all game long. On one play, I watched the 6-2, 280-pound Ngalu use a simple, straight-ahead bull rush and pushed the Palma offensive lineman straight back into the Chieftains’ backfield.

Having compiled 121 tackles for losses through his first two seasons, which accounts for roughly a quarter of all the tackles he has recorded, it’s easy to see why Ngalu was one of the most highly sought-after college recruits in Northern California.

Heimuli was just as impressive, filling gaps to make tackles or chasing down ball carriers trying to get to the outside. Heimuli’s play of the game, in my opinion, came when he buried his shoulder into the midsection of Palma running back Anthony Villegas, driving him into the turf at the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter.

Heimuli has also been a tackling machine in his time with the Bears, having recorded 9.5 sacks and 175 tackles coming into 2018. Whichever college he chooses, that school will be getting one heckuva player.

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For the second year in a row, a Peninsula volleyball team knocked off the queens of the court, Mitty, when Notre Dame-Belmont topped the Monarchs 2-0 in a match at the Milpitas Spikefest Sept. 1.

Last year, it was Carlmont that accomplished the feat and it was something that stuck with the Scots — good or bad — for the rest of the season.

Any time a Peninsula team beats Mitty volleyball, it’s usually a sure sign that that team is in store for a strong season. Last season, Carlmont won the Central Coast Section Division I title and advanced all the way to the Division II Northern California championship game.

NDB is certainly no stranger to volleyball success, having won the Division IV CCS and state title in 2015. It appears the Tigers might be in line for another deep run into the playoffs. The win over the Monarchs validates NDB as a team with which to reckon.

To be fair to Mitty, however, both its losses to Carlmont and NDB have come in tournament games, where matches are a best-of-3. A regular-season match is best-of-5.

The Tigers, who are off to an 8-1 start to the season, will get another tough test at the Durango Classic tournament in Las Vegas this weekend.

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Well, Jimmy Garoppolo’s first start since signing a five-year, $137.5 million contract left a lot to be desired as he had a major hand in the 49ers’ 24-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Not only did he throw three interceptions — including a third-quarter pick-6 — but he completed less than 50 percent of his passes (15 for 33, 261 yards) and finished with a quarterback rating of 45 — the best is 158.3.

Now, there were several balls dropped that were not Garoppolo’s fault, and he was under immense pressure for most of the game, especially when the 49ers lost their top two offensive guards. But for the kind of money he’s making, he needs be better.

In no way am I saying that Garoppolo is a bust. It was one only start and, despite all the errors, the 49ers still had a chance to win that game. But maybe it’s time 49ers fans get a little more realistic about what he and this team can do. When people started mentioning “San Francisco 49ers” and “Super Bowl” in the same sentence in regards to this season, it was time to pump the brakes. This team is still very much a work in progress. Better to hope for improvement from 2017, than to begrudge the team for not making the Super Bowl this season.

The 2018 San Francisco 49ers are most likely not a Super Bowl team. Fans should hope the team can make the playoffs first — which is no sure thing, either.

Nathan Mollat can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: 344-5200 ext. 117.