Miramonte head football coach Nick Safir wants Orinda's Friday nights to belong to the Matadors.
A new YouTube docuseries called "Hard Work Beats Talent" is giving residents a behind-the-scenes look at the defending North Coast Section (NCS) champion program. Directed by videographer Dominic Russo, the series follows players through practices, workouts and game prep. Athletes are mic'd up and filmed throughout the 2026 season.
"I want the community to make the football field the number one place to be in the city of Orinda on Friday night!" Safir told The Mirador, the school's student newspaper. "I would love to see the stands packed with students and families who have come out to support our team and watch us play."
Episode 1 dropped on YouTube on Aug. 14. Episode 2 streamed live on Thursday, Sept. 17, and is available on the platform.
Russo has produced content for Miramonte athletics for more than three years across men's water polo, men's basketball, baseball, softball and women's lacrosse. He drew inspiration from his professional work with the West Coast Conference (WCC), where he served as an assistant director of video production and content. In that role he produced a documentary called "The Coast to the Court" that tracked WCC women's basketball programs across the Pacific Northwest.
Russo told The Mirador his main goal is to tell the team's story and give viewers an inside look at the preparation that goes into the season long before the first kickoff.
Senior captain Harrison Feusier said the cameras haven't disrupted the team's routine. The biggest adjustment, he said, is knowing the public is watching, so players stay aware of their behavior and leadership on the field.
Safir said the documentary hasn't been a distraction. He called it business as usual for his players day in and day out as they prepare to win games.
Marquee home stretch ahead
The timing lines up with a run of big home games. Miramonte hosts Northgate on Friday, Sept. 18, for Homecoming. Safir described that matchup as a potential Diablo Athletic League (DAL) Foothill Division championship game in an Aug. 26 Orinda News preview. Windsor, ranked 11th in NCS preseason, visits Sept. 25. Campolindo comes to town Oct. 9. The Matadors haven't beaten the Cougars since 2010.
The program has grown under Safir, now in his third year. The Lamorinda Weekly reported in a Sept. 9 season preview that the Matadors opened 2-0 with wins over Oakland Tech, 32-12, and Granada, 17-7. Safir credited Russo's video work with building the program's visibility, calling the quality "second to none."
The roster tells its own story. Safir told The Orinda News in August that the team now fields 40 varsity players, up from fewer than 30 in his first season. Only one player, George Gilbert, starts on both offense and defense.
