Violence, Katrina doesn't stop McClymonds High School's LaVance Warren from being thankful

OAKLAND, Calif. — LaVance Warren has completed part one of a working memoir entitled "People in Patterns."

"It just needs part two," said the 17-year-old standout senior running back at McClymonds (Oakland).

Part one is a road paved — and watered down — with struggles, perseverance, accomplishment and tragedy.

A native of New Orleans, Warren's father was murdered in a drug-related shooting, Warren said. He was 7.

"Sad," Warren said. "Everyone should have a father, if not a father figure in their life."

The following year his family, including mother Letitia, grandmother and two older brothers, was split apart and uprooted by Hurricane Katrina. They were stuck on the second floor of an apartment, submerged in water.

A passing boat rescued five family members, including Warren. The remaining six were whisked days later. All were reunited two weeks later 350 miles West in Houston, Texas.

Close to a year, seven moves and 1,900 miles further West, the family finally settled in Oakland with an uncle.

"You just come out physically and mentally stronger," Warren said of the ordeal. "It took away everything that could be replaced — possessions — but not our pride or will. We never hit bottom.

"I came away from it all reminding myself that it only gets better."

Dodging trouble

But navigating the streets of Oakland, ranked the third most dangerous U.S. city by Forbes, is no picnic.

Letitia recognized the best chance for her youngest son, though bright and resourceful, was through athletics. Football was his No. 1 love.

Though undersized, Warren flourished on the East Bay Warriors Pop Warner team. So did the team.

"We were the champs every year," Warren said. "And we had the coolest uniforms."

He moved equally well on the field and in the streets, dodging trouble and tacklers with a combination of speed, vision, strength and smarts.

"You have to approach situations on the streets very tactfully," he said. "I've seen a lot for my age. I'm a project kid."

On the field, he was no project. Despite being just 5-foot-7 and about 150 pounds, he started for McClymonds as a freshman at safety. He earned first-team All-Oakland Athletic League honors and helped McClymonds to a second straight Silver Bowl (Oakland Section) title.

"He's small but he plays fearless," then McClymonds head coach Curtis McCauley said. "Like he's 6-4 and 240 pounds."

He split time between offense and defense as a sophomore and last year, at still 5-7 but a powerful 180 pounds, Warren was primarily a full-time game-breaking running back, rushing for more than 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Both years he led the Warriors to Silver Bowl titles and to CIF regional Division IV title games.

Both years, McClymonds came up short to Central Catholic (Modesto).

The first year was lopsided and in 2013, six turnovers and an early game-ending injury to Warren led to an excruciatingly tough 17-14 defeat – one game short of a state bowl championship game.

The loss hurt badly, but pain is quite relative to Warren.

"Just another road block," Warren said. "More hard work."

Remarkable in every way He hit the weight room even harder — Warren bench presses 315 pounds — and improved his speed in track, running the 100 meters in 10.78 seconds.

Despite those numbers, a 3.0 grade point average, a school-record 378 yards rushing and four touchdowns against Skyline, senior season totals of 2,136 yards and 28 touchdowns in 11 games (all victories), Warren has yet to receive a scholarship offer.

Lots of interest, but no offers, which has dumbfounded second-year head coach and longtime defensive coordinator Michael Peters.

"The kid is remarkable in every way," Peters said. "He's a leader. He's bright. He's a workaholic. All the kids like him. He's short but strong and fast, like Maurice Jones-Drew. If he's 5-10, everyone in America would be after him."

Warren, who has ebbed and flowed gracefully through a turbulent life, admits that the lack of recruitment has stood him in his tracks.

"At a certain point this season I thought the offers would come pouring in," he said. "What more do they want?"

More anxiety for Warren is the fate of his Warriors (11-0), who may be the school's most dominating team ever. They outscored opponents 517-66 and are the state's No. 1 ranked small-school squad.

But midway through the year, junior quarterback Kevin Davidson, a transfer from San Ramon Valley-Danville, was ruled ineligible for the rest of the season by the Oakland Unified School District for residential issues. Davidson, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound Division I recruit, threw for more than 1,100 yards and 16 touchdowns in four games.

Davidson's family has appealed the decision to the CIF but unless overturned, it's likely the Warriors will have to forfeit the four wins he played in.

So, even if it wins a fifth straight Silver Bowl Friday against Fremont (Oakland), McClymonds might not get be picked to play in the regional finals. The CIF commissioners, who handpick the regional participants, have historically not chosen teams with multiple forfeit losses.

"We just want them to overturn it so our quarterback can play again," Warren said. "He's a great person. He's a kid. Let him play. … If we win Friday, we'll be perfect. How could they not let us go on?"

Warren said a perfect beginning to part two of his memoir would be another Silver Bowl crown, followed by a regional victory and a state bowl title, finished off with the ultimate, a scholarship offer.

Well, not quite the ultimate.

"A parade would be nice," he said.

If none of it happens, Warren said he'll be prepared.

It only gets better.