BENICIA, Calif. — During a recent Benicia High School football practice, quarterback Elijah Nelson throws a touchdown pass and C.J. Anderson raises his arms in celebration.
“Like taking candy from a baby,’’ Anderson yells. “I called a good play.”
Soon, there is another touchdown pass and Anderson again celebrates.
“I called another good play,’’ he says with a laugh.
The energetic Anderson, a former Broncos 1,000-yard running back, is clearly having fun in his new job as head coach at Benicia, a school in the North Bay region 35 miles north of San Francisco.
Anderson, 34, was named the Panthers’ head coach in February, their fourth one in four years. He is trying resurrect a once-proud program that has had three straight losing seasons while going 9-23 during that span.
“I’d say shamb