Kline, Lockie Headline Battle of Danville

San Ramon Valley High quarterback Zach Kline called it a "ginormous rivalry." Monte Vista quarterback Jeff Lockie said it was the "biggest game of the year for both teams."

The San Ramon Valley-Monte Vista game is more than a football game in Danville. It's the biggest social event of the year.

Try and think a place where more Danville residents gather at one point at any other time of the year. You won't be able to come up with an answer.

San Ramon (7-2) and Monte Vista (5-4) meet tonight at 7 p.m. at San Ramon in the regular-season finale for both teams. 

"I remember going to see Sam Keller and Kyle Wright when I was a little guy," Kline said of the famous 2002 game, which established Danville unoffically as QB-Town, USA.  "Since then, I've always wanted to beat Monte Vista."

In that game future Miami Hurricane Kyle Wright led the Mustangs past the Wolves and Keller, who would go on to play at Arizona State and Nebraska.

Neither team has been short on QB talent since. San Ramon produced Joe Southwick (Boise State), Corbin Louks (Utah/Nevada), Chris Comes (North Dakota) and will send Kline off to Cal. Monte Vista counters with Drew McAllister (USC), Brett Nottingham (Stanford) and Lockie, who is headed to Oregon.

Why has there been so much QB talent in one town?

Some might say its because of private QB coaches, but San Ramon coach Mark Kessler has his own theory.

"I guess you could kinda say QB is leadership position and this community has a lot of leaders in business and other areas," he said. "They definitely provide that home atmosphere that encourages kids to work and compete."

An interesting take — which certainly deserves be acknowleged — but, in reality, coaching probably has more to do with it. Private coaches, yes, but more so the on-campus guys. 

Monte Vista coach Craig Bergman and former San Ramon coach Dave Kravitz both built reputations for being able to develop prep quarterbacks unlike anyone else in Northern California. Now Kessler and SRV assistant coach Aaron Becker are headed down that path too. 

"I think it’s the youth football that helps players grow, then it’s the coaching staffs," Kline said. "The coaching staffs at both schools are amazing."

Kline has completed 128 of 190 passes for 2,011 yards with 21 TDs to just 4 INTs this year. 

Lockie's numbers are very similar. He's completed 157 of 254 attempts for 2,265 yards with 22 TDs and 6 INTs. 

Calling one better than the other is impossible to do. Partly because they are both very, very good. Partly because they are different.

Kline has the bigger arm, Lockie is the better athlete and both are headed to Pac-12 schools.

Both teams have qualified for the playoffs and will be playing to improve their seeds. 

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For live updates from the game, follow Kyle Bonagura on Twitter