Hornet History
Over a Century of Football Tradition

Alameda High's Hornet football program has a rich and glorious history.  From its origins back in the late 1800's, to its 1960's heyday, to the current team, Hornet Football and Hornet Pride have been synonymous.  
1948 Hornets

Records for those early years are scarce, but an article from 1919 refers to a "30-year football tradition" in Alameda.  Football back then was a much different game, closer to rugby than the game we're familiar with today.  Football as we know it, didn't really take hold at Alameda High until 1920.

Varsity Football Through the Years - Click here for a year-by-year recap.

A Pictorial History - Alameda High Football History through pictures.

The Rivalry - From it's inception in 1955, Encinal High and cross-town rival Alameda High, have had some great gridiron bouts.  Even when one team was dominant in the league, the annual "Alameda Bowl" was always a spirited and hard-fought affair.  Read more about the Alameda/Encinal rivalry and the "Island Trophy" here.

The Glory Years - Alameda High Football has had a number of great teams and won a number of Championships (16 League titles, plus a State Rugby crown), but the period from 1949-1980 marked a 30-year span where Alameda became a regional powerhouse.  And though there were a number of outstanding teams in that era, one team stands out among that tradition of excellence:  The 1968 squad not only won the ACAL crown, but also the Northern California Championship, the California State Championship, and also received its first national ranking.  Here's a look back.

A Brief History of the Game - A quick overview of the evolution of the game of football, from it's classic Greek origins, to its British re-organization, to its jump across the Atlantic and development in America.  Find out more.

Varsity Football Through the Years... 

- 1900's - 10's - 20's - 30's - 40's - 50's - 60's - 70's - 80's - 90's - 2000's - 

        

YEAR

RECORD *

 TITLES OTHER

1900 -

1901 -

1902 -

1903 -

1904 -

1905 -

1906 -

1907 -

1908 -

1909 -

n/a
0-3-1
4-2
2-2
3-5-2
4-0-2
0-6
1-2
8-0-1

5-2-3









AAL Champions
 AAL Champions





Not a single point scored all season by AHS (ouch!!)

Voted #1 in Bay Area by SF Examiner.
Coach McAndrews voted CalState "Coach of the Year"

1910 -

1911 -

1912 -

1913 -

1914 -

1915 -

1916 -

1917 -

1918 -

1919 -

7-0
7-3-1

5-2-2

6-5-2

5-3-1

4-3

5-4-2

8-6

7-1

2-1

NorCal and MidCal Champions

rugby

rugby

rugby

rugby

rugby

rugby

rugby

AAL Champions - rugby
rugby (2-0 American Football)

 

Switched from football to rugby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

State Rugby Champions

Yearbook mentions a "30-yr. football tradition" at AHS. 

1920 -

1921 -

1922 -

1923 -

1924 -

1925 -

1926 -

1927 -

1928 -

1929 -

1-2

4-5

3-5-2

3-5-1

4-3-1

2-4

2-6-1

2-5-2

3-2

3-4-3

football

 

 

 

Switched back to football

 

 

 

 

Moved into current AHS campus.

 

 

 

Adoption of "Hornet" as team mascot

1930 -

1931 -

1932 -

1933 -

1934 -

1935 -

1936 -

1937 -

1938 -

1939 -

4-6-1

1-8

1-6-1

1-5-1

1-5-1

2-4-1

2-5-0

2-4-2

1-2-2

3-3-1

 

 

 

 

 

First African-American player:  Herman Pete

"Herman Pete finished 4 years of competition, 

was brilliant at all times, and again 

was awarded a position on 

the All-League team."

 

 

Berkeley was dominant in the ACAL throughout the late 20's and 30's.

1940 -

1941 -

1942 -

1943 -

1944 -

1945 -

1946 -

1947 -

1948 -

1949 -

5-2-1

6-3

5-1-1

n/a

1-5

6-2-1

4-1-1

4-6

6-2

5-0-1

 

ACAL - 3rd place

ACAL - 2nd place

 

 

ACAL - 2nd (tied w/Piedmont)

ACAL - 2nd place

 

ACAL - 2nd place

ACAL - Champs (tied w/Berkeley)

Ended the "Berkeley Jinx", winning 12-6.

Highest league finish To-Date.

 

 

World War II ends !!!

 

 

 

 

First Football Title - Coach Socolofsky

1950 -

1951 -

1952 -

1953 -

1954 -

1955 -

1956 -

1957 -

1958 -

1959 -

2-1-3

1-3-1

2-4

5-2-2

8-1

7-2

9-0

3-3-2

3-2

9-0

 

 

 

ACAL - 2nd (tied w/Richmond)

ACAL - Champions 

ACAL - 2nd place

ACAL - Champions 

 

ACAL - 2nd (tied w/Richmond)

ACAL Champions

 

 

 

 

First undisputed Title - Coach Chuck Butler

Encinal joins the league.

Voted "Best NorCal Team" ever - Coach Butler

(also set fewest-pts-allowed record: 2.2 pts/game).

 

Coach Butler

1960 -

1961 -

1962 -
.

1963 -

1964 -

1965 -

1966 -

1967 -

1968 -

1969 -

9-0
7-2
9-0
.
8-0-1
8-1
7-1-1
6-2
9-0
9-0
9-0

ACAL Champions

ACAL - 2nd place

ACAL Champs, #1 in NorCal
 .

ACAL - 2nd place

ACAL - 2nd place

ACAL - 2nd place

ACAL - 3rd place

ACAL Champions

ACAL Champs,  #1 in State

ACAL Champs, #1 in NorCal

Coach Forrest Klein

 Coach Klein - Jim LeMoine (later in the NFL) was voted outstanding lineman in NorCal. John Read was the leading ground gainer and scorer in the league.




Coach Klein
Ranked #23 in the Nation - Coach Klein

3rd straight perfect season - Coach Klein
          Coach Klein voted CalHi "Coach of the Year"

1970 -

1971 -

1972 -

1973 -

1974 -

1975 -

1976 -

1977 -

1978 -

1979 -

7-3
9-2
6-4
6-4
3-8
6-2-1
5-4
4-5
10-0-1
3-4

Southern Division Champs

ACAL Champions
 ACAL - 3rd place
ACAL - 2nd place
ACAL - 3rd place

ACAL - 3rd place

ACAL Champs, #1 in NorCal

Longest win streak in state ends at 35
Dennis Hennessee takes over as Hornet Head Coach
Dan Reynolds rushes for 1,127 yards
QB George Calandri voted "most improved"

Robbie Kahuanui rushes for 1,472 yds & 21 TDs


Coach Greg Fox; Mike Floyd rushes for 1,318 yards

1980 -

1981 -

1982 -

1983 -

1984 -

1985 -

1986 -

1987 -

1988 -

1989 -

9-1
4-2
4-6
6-4
7-3
9-1
7-3
2-8
6-4
6-4

ACAL Co-Champs
ACAL - 2nd place
ACAL - 3rd place


ACAL - 2nd place

Coach Fox; Bob Arnold rushes for 1,201 yards




Ranked as high as 8th in the State.



1990 -

1991 -

1992 -

1993 -

1994 -

1995 -

1996 -

1997 -

1998 -

1999 -

5-5

5-6

5-5

3-5

3-5

2-6

6-4

6-4

3-7

0-10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dan Nguyen sets school season rushing record at 2,181 yards. Voted All-State.

 

2000 -

2001 -

2002 -
2003 -

 

 

 

2004 -

 

2005 -

 

2006 -

 

2007 -

 

2008 -

 

2009 -


2010 -

2011 -

5-5
3-6
7-3
9-2

 

 

 

7-3

 

7-4

 

7-4

 

7-4

 

3-7

 

5-5-1

4-7

3-7

 


ACCAL Champions

Kevin Hennessee takes over as Hornet Head Coach.

 

Losing season streak halted.

Tavis Ve'e rushes for 1,475 yards (2025 all-purpose).
   Hennessee named "Coach of the Year".
   QB Mike Gillman passes for 1,559 yds.
   League MVP Tavis Ve'e rushes for 1,600 yds.
Jonathon Ve'e (15 TDs, 744 yds) & Xavier Miller 
   (11 TDs, 962 yds) lead the Hornets.

Jonathan Ve'e set new school 404-yd single
   game rushing record; named league MVP

QB Jeff Murphy passes for 1,689 yds and 18-TDs, 
   leading the Hornets into the NCS playoffs
Coach Rochlin; Wes Moyer does it all at linebacker, running back and QB,
   leading the Hornets to their 6th consecutive winning season

With a squad loaded with underclassmen, 
   the Hornets winning record streak ends.
Behind 6 first team all leaguers, Hornets return to the playoffs
   where they lose a barn-burner to Ygnacio Valley
John Ruck, Roro Lyons and Ian McLens - 1st Team All League

Coach Kemp Moyer; Antonio Manibusan - Unanimous 1st Team All-League Utility

* Records were compiled based on entries in Alameda's Acorn yearbooks.  Some years had detailed records, some years had virtually nothing.  Additionally, some years tallied league records only; others counted all games (including preseason).  So if you see any information that appears inaccurate, please feel free to notify us so we can correct it.  Thank you.