Pittsburg High School (California)
Encyclopedia
Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg
, Contra Costa County, California
is a suburb
an school serving all of Pittsburg. It has been in operation since 1924. Over 2,200 students attend the school, which used to be divided into three campuses: East Campus, Main Campus, and North Campus, but since the construction of the school the East campus was torn down. Students of each grade (9-12) attend both North and Main campus. Each grade has its own assistant principal. Pittsburg's marching band, which has more than 130 students, has also had extended an invitation to the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City
.
final several times consecutively, losing to rival De La Salle
. Pittsburg High School's football team was the last team to beat De La Salle High School's football team prior to their national record winning streak; that game was played in 1991, in which Pittsburg High won the NCS championship at the Oakland Coliseum. Many alumni are now competing for Division I programs, e.g. Jason Crawley (Fresno State), WR; Michael Togafau (University of Idaho
), DE; Albert Toeaina (University of Tennessee
), OT; Ra'shon Harris (University of Oregon
), DE; Matt Lemley (Sacramento State), OG; Denton Tuiasosopo (Sacramento State), OL; Deric Davis (Portland State), WR; and many have gone to the NFL.
The school also offers several other sports including soccer, baseball, track and field, softball, cross country, basketball, golf, tennis, wrestling, swimming, and cheerleading.
Pittsburg, California
Pittsburg is a city located in eastern Contra Costa County, California, the outer portion of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 63,264 at the 2010 census....
, Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
is a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an school serving all of Pittsburg. It has been in operation since 1924. Over 2,200 students attend the school, which used to be divided into three campuses: East Campus, Main Campus, and North Campus, but since the construction of the school the East campus was torn down. Students of each grade (9-12) attend both North and Main campus. Each grade has its own assistant principal. Pittsburg's marching band, which has more than 130 students, has also had extended an invitation to the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Athletics
Pittsburg High School (PHS) is well-known for their football team which has reached the NCSNorth Coast Section
The North Coast Section is a part of the California Interscholastic Federation, governing the eastern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area, up along the northern coast of the state of California, from Fremont in the south to Crescent City in the north. It also governs the private schools in the...
final several times consecutively, losing to rival De La Salle
De La Salle High School (Concord, California)
De La Salle High School is a Roman Catholic Private school for boys in Concord, California, United States. Located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland, the school was founded in 1965 as a Lasallian institution. De La Salle currently enrolls just over 1,000 students, and roughly 99% of each...
. Pittsburg High School's football team was the last team to beat De La Salle High School's football team prior to their national record winning streak; that game was played in 1991, in which Pittsburg High won the NCS championship at the Oakland Coliseum. Many alumni are now competing for Division I programs, e.g. Jason Crawley (Fresno State), WR; Michael Togafau (University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
), DE; Albert Toeaina (University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
), OT; Ra'shon Harris (University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
), DE; Matt Lemley (Sacramento State), OG; Denton Tuiasosopo (Sacramento State), OL; Deric Davis (Portland State), WR; and many have gone to the NFL.
The school also offers several other sports including soccer, baseball, track and field, softball, cross country, basketball, golf, tennis, wrestling, swimming, and cheerleading.
Notable alumni
- Eddie Hart (born April 24, 1949) is a former American athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay at the 1972 Summer Olympics1972 Summer OlympicsThe 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
. Born in Martinez, CaliforniaMartinez, CaliforniaMartinez is a city and the county seat of Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 35,824 at the 2010 census. The downtown is notable for its large number of preserved old buildings...
, Eddie Hart won, as a University of CaliforniaUniversity of CaliforniaThe University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
student, the NCAA championships in 100 yd dash in 1970. Mr. Hart is a Pittsburg High School graduate and active community member. Another notable alum is John Henry Johnson a member of the golden backfield on the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
and was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Regan UpshawRegan UpshawRegan Charles Upshaw is a retired American football lineman who played in the National Football League between 1996 and 2004...
(born August 12, 1975 in Berrien Springs, MichiganBerrien Springs, MichiganBerrien Springs is a village in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,862 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Oronoko Charter Township. Berrien Springs is best known for its Seventh-day Adventist community and Andrews University...
) is a retired American football lineman who played in the National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
between 1996 and 2004. He was selected by the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft1996 NFL DraftThe 1996 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 20–21, 1996...
out of the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. Reagan Upshaw played for the Pittsburg Pirates (Pittsburg, California), helping defeat the previously undefeated De La Salle in the 1991 NCS championship game played at the Oakland Coliseum. The final score was 35-27. This was the last defeat De La Salle suffered before setting a national high school record of 151 continuous victories. As a member of the Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
he played in Super Bowl XXXVIISuper Bowl XXXVIISuper Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
; a game in which the Raiders were defeated by the Buccaneers by a score of 48-21.
- John Henry JohnsonJohn Henry JohnsonJohn Henry Johnson was an American football fullback. He played from 1954 to 1965 for the San Francisco 49ers, the Detroit Lions, and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League...
(born November 24, 1929 in Waterproof, LouisianaWaterproof, LouisianaWaterproof is a town in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, United States with a population of 834 as of 2000 census. Waterproof is approximately seventeen miles north of Ferriday, one of the two principal communities of Concordia Parish...
) was an American football fullback who played professionally from 1954 to 1965 for the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, and Houston Oilers. When he retired after the 1966 season, his 6,803 career rushing yards ranked him behind only Jim BrownJim BrownJames Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News...
, Jim Taylor, and Joe PerryJoe Perry (American football)Fletcher Joseph "Joe" Perry was a professional American football fullback for the San Francisco 49ers from 1948 to 1950 , then 1950 to 1960 when the 49ers were absorbed into the NFL, the Baltimore Colts from 1961–1962, and finally back to the 49ers for his final year in football,...
as the top ground gainers of all time. Johnson also was an excellent pass receiver with 186 receptions for 1,478 yards. He scored 330 points on 55 touchdowns in his career. He was an integral part of the "Million Dollar Backfield” that included future Hall of Famers Hugh McElhennyHugh McElhennyHugh Edward McElhenny is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played from 1952–1964, for the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Detroit Lions. He was noted for his explosive, elusive running style and was frequently called "The...
, Y. A. TittleY. A. TittleYelberton Abraham Tittle , better known as Y. A. Tittle, is a former football quarterback in the National Football League and All-America Football Conference who played for the Baltimore Colts, San Francisco 49ers, and the New York Giants...
, and Perry. Johnson was traded to Detroit in 1957 and then to Pittsburgh in 1960. It was with the Steelers that John Henry enjoyed his finest seasons. In both 1962 and 1964, he broke the 1,000-yard rushing barrier, the first Steeler to achieve that lofty level. It was with the Lions, however, that he participated in his only NFL title game, the 1957 contest that saw Detroit overwhelm the Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 59-14. Johnson was a key figure in the Lions’ title drive that year and wound up as the club's leading rusher with 621 yards. Johnson was selected to play in the 1955, 1963, 1964, and 1965 Pro Bowl Games.
- Ken SimontonKen SimontonKen Simonton III is an American football running back who last played in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders after a brief career in the NFL and the NFL Europe.-Early life:...
(born June 7, 1979) was a two-sport (football and baseball) star for the Pittsburg High School Pirates. As a sophomore, Simonton rushed for 1,135 yards in 10 games on 105 carries for an average of 10.8 yards per carry. In his junior year, he rushed for 785 yards in eight games on 47 carries for an average of 16.7 yards per carry. For his senior season, Simonton rushed for 960 yards on 92 carries for a 10.4 yard average and scored 23 touchdowns. Simonton was a three-time all-league selection as a running back and he was also named all-league as a defensive back in his senior year. He was a first-team All-Northern California selection, a first-team all-region selection by the Contra Costa TimesContra Costa TimesThe Contra Costa Times is a daily newspaper based in Walnut Creek, California, U.S.. The paper serves Contra Costa and eastern Alameda counties, in the eastern part of the San Francisco Bay Area...
and was named Offensive Player of the Year in the region by Sports Focus. Simonton played outfield for the Pirates baseball team and was all-league as a sophomore, junior and senior. He was listed in Parade Magazine in 1996 as one of the top 100 college baseball prospects in the nation. He attended Oregon State where he led them to a 41-9 victory over Notre DameUniversity of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
and an 11-1 record. He holds the all-time rushing record at Oregon State with 5,044 yards. He was an undrafted rookie who played in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and with the CFL's Calgary StampedersCalgary StampedersThe Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
.
- Richard PoeRichard PoeRichard Poe is an American actor. He has worked in movies, television and on Broadway....
(born January 25, 1946) After graduating from PHS in 1963, Richard went on to appear in many movies, TV programs, and on Broadway. He may be best known for his role as the CardassianCardassianThe Cardassians are an extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. First introduced in the 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Wounded", the species originating on the fictional Alpha Quadrant planet Cardassia Prime...
Gul Evek on Star Trek: the Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
(1987), Star Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
(1993) and Star Trek: VoyagerStar Trek: VoyagerStar Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
(1995).