The PAL-Lake looks wide open this season, with San Mateo, Jefferson, Capuchino and perhaps Carlmont having what it takes to finish on top.
“I think it’s going to be like last year,” Jefferson coach Will Maddox said. “Any team can win. There are four teams – San Mateo, Carlmont, Cap and Jeff that are tough. San Mateo was loaded last year on JVs going (8-1). Cap was young last season and is always a force to be reckoned with and Carlmont has a new coach and was young and athletic last season. Whatever team can stay healthy and fight through adversity can win it.”
Said Cap coach Ben White: “We played San Mateo in passing league and they’re pretty good. We also played Carlmont and they’re not bad; they’ll be better than last year. Jefferson I have not seen but it lost its quarterback so that has to hurt.”
Capuchino (6-5) – The Mustangs went 5-0 in the division last season to finish first.
It has a dangerous quarterback in Teisina Fifita and a good offensive line led by Moses Olive (6-1, 260) and Ryan Rosales (6-0, 250).
Abnan Grajeda ran well for Cap in its scrimmage last week against Fremont-Sunnyvale.
Players to watch on defense include Keith Thomas at linebacker, Olive at tackle, and Grajeda and Raynaz Halim at defensive back.
Cap scored an average of 29.2 points per game and yielded an average of 18.5.
The Mustangs have three recent titles, capturing their division in 2015, 2012 and 2011.
Cap opens at home Friday against Woodside.
San Mateo (5-5) – The Bearcats have 15 returning starters. Players to watch include senior offensive lineman George Qobti (6-1, 225), senior quarterback Austin Salvail and senior running back Anderson Perdomo.
San Mateo’s JV team went 8-1 last season.
The passing game could be a concern for the Bearcats.
San Mateo hosts South San Francisco on Friday.
Jefferson (7-3) – The Grizzlies have 11 returning starters.
Jeff’s JV team went 6-4 last season.
Players to watch for Jeff are senior receiver/free safety Roshawn Livingston, senior offensive lineman/outside linebacker Luti Lago’o, senior two-way lineman Patrick Liawanag (6-1, 260), junior quarterback Aaron Cruz, offensive lineman Ako Tamasese (6-0, 320) and junior defensive end Ulysses Ramon who has attracted the interest of UC Davis and San Jose State.
Jeff was dominant last week in a scrimmage against Lincoln-San Francisco.
Jeff averaged 36.8 points per game last season and gave up an average of 24.1.
The Grizzlies open Friday at home against a Mission-San Francisco team that showed some flashed of potential last Friday night in scrimmages with Mountain View and Half Moon Bay.
Carlmont (3-7) – The Scots return six starters and have players rising off a 4-6 JV team.
Players to watch are running back/defensive back Damari Blanks, senior two-way lineman Ari Farantos (6-2, 230) and offensive lineman/linebacker Jason Loyd (6-2, 220).
Carlmont scored an average of 14.7 points per game last season and yielded 25.3.
The Scots open the season Friday at Aragon.
Mills (3-7) – Defense was a problem last season as the Vikings yielded an average of 31 points per game (while scoring 20.7).
The Vikings finished 0-5 in the division last season.
Mills is now led by Michael Dozier, a former Capuchino football and girls basketball coach.
“The league looks pretty balanced this year,” Dozier said. “San Mateo and Cap should be strong and Jeff should be good, too. I think things will be competitive.”
Mills is led by quarterback Antonio Valencia, running back/linebacker Sau Stanley, offensive lineman/linebacker Chris Jack (5-11, 210) and fullback/defensive end Fioni Langi.
Valencia has a sore shoulder and will not start at quarterback in Mills’ opener; Stanley will replace him at QB.
Mills’ last division title was in 2006.
The Vikings open the season Friday against visiting San Jose.
El Camino (1-8) – The Colts went 1-4 in the division last season and finished in fifth place.
The Colts scored just 10 points per season in 2015 and gave up 36.2.
El Camino played a decent schedule in 2015, facing teams with a combined 51-45 record. The schedule included Half Moon Bay (a 39-0 loss) and Aragon (a 55-0 setback).
The Colts open at Gunn on Friday.
