Daniel Teicheira never got to play in the stadium that now bears his name, but it was a dream of his for Sierra to have a football home of its own.
The youngest of four Teicheira brothers, Daniel died in a single-car accident during the summer of his junior year, about two weeks before his 17th birthday.
Ryan Teicheira was close to “Baby T,” and he commemorates his brother by continuing the family’s influence on the Sierra High football. The Timberwolves have celebrated several milestones at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium since it opened in 2003, and tonight Ryan and his cousin Scott will be part of another as the program competes for a Sac-Joaquin Section championship for the first time. No. 3 Sierra (7-5) faces No. 4 Liberty Ranch (8-4) for the Division IV title at Elk Grove High starting at 6.
“My oldest brother (Frankie) was part of the first graduating class and my younger brother was a great athlete for the school,” Ryan said after Sierra toppled second-seeded Calaveras 34-20 in semifinals on Nov. 20. “He’s one of the main reasons why I wanted to be part of Sierra football again. The tradition of our family is here with this team along with the memory of my brother. I want to keep going what he started.
“I want to see this team do well, whether I am a part of it or not,” he added. “Being a part of it is so much better. I bleed blue.”
There was no stopping 5-foot-10, 215-pound Daniel Teicheira, not even as an underclassman starring for the varsity squad in his two years with the program. He rushed for 1,536 yards and 22 touchdowns as a sophomore, and both marks stood as program records until Jarrod Daniels eclipsed them in 2009.
“They always talk about Daniel and say how great of a player he actually was,” said Scott Teicheira, Sierra’s starting center and linebacker. “I’ve looked up to him. I always wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
Scott has played his own part in the Teicheira legacy at Sierra. Last year, he was part of the school’s first section championship basketball team.
“I want to do the same thing for football,” he said.
Ryan Teicheira is in his sixth season on the Sierra coaching staff but first as its offensive play caller. He began coaching at East Union but jumped at the opportunity to return to his roots.
“I’m happy to be part of it,” Teicheira said during practice Wednesday. “I’ve always wanted to coach here, I want my career to be here. I’m thankful for the opportunity that (head coach Jeff Harbison) gave me.”