From the very beginning of launching this new feature three weeks ago it was stated that the CIF Central Coast Section’s West Catholic Athletic League could have a spot as the top game almost every week. This week they get the top spot for the second time in three weeks and the second WCAL game on the list of Other Games to Watch isn’t too shabby either. There are also three games from the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section and some rivalry games from the CIF North Coast Section on the Others list as well.
Valley Christian-San Jose (6-0, 3-0 WCAL) hosting Bellarmine-San Jose (4-2, 2-1 WCAL), Saturday, 7 pm
The Bells got a rude awakening as to how wild-and-wacky the WCAL might be two weeks ago when an 11-game winning streak against St. Francis got snapped and put St. Francis in the top spot in the Prep2Prep CIF Central Coast Section rankings. Then, last week St. Francis felt the bug bite when Serra knocked them from the top perch in a 41-40 double overtime loss that elevated unbeaten Valley Christian into the catbird seat.
In the WCAL you most often don’t get much of a rest and that’s exactly the case for both a Valley Christian team looking to solidify its hold on first place and a Bellarmine team that could upset the apple cart and possibly help create a big tie-up at the top of the heap.
Valley Christian comes into the game off a 38-7 walloping of Archbishop Riordan-San Francisco in a game that saw quarterback Miles Kendrick lead the way with three TD passes out of six completions in only eight attempts. All three of the TDs went to Anthony Flores who had four catches for 152 yards.
Running back Javon Sturns gave Coach Mike Machado a solid outing after rushing for 125 yards on 12 carries with two scores including a 78-yard romp to paydirt.
Valley Christian has a 35-28 win over a Serra team that just edged St. Francis and they also have a 17-14 road win over a pretty good Pleasant Valley-Chico but that team just got knocked out of the top spot in the CIF Northern Section by unbeaten Paradise.
Bellarmine got fat on a San Francisco team last week just like Valley Christian after a 48-7 win over Sacred Heart Cathedral. The Prep2Prep CIFCCS No. 3 ranked Bells barely broke a sweat as Brendan Manigo rushed for three TDs on just six carries.
This game will have a lot to say as to whether there will be a re-emergence once again of Valley Christian as a WCAL contender since a win would give them a two-game lead over Bellarmine and at least a one game lead over St. Francis, Archbishop Mitty and Serra depending on what those other 2-1 teams like Bellarmine do this week, and St. Francis is hosting Mitty.
Bellarmine has won the last two meetings but each has been a 3-point game with the Bells prevailing 24-21 last year and 21-18 in 2014. Valley Christian won in a 3-point game, 38-35 in 2012, and in the only game that’s been a blowout in the previous five meetings Bellarmine was a 48-6 winner in 2011 when the Bells lost 42-37 to Santa Margarita Catholic-Rancho Santa Margarita in the CIF Division I Bowl Game championship.
This year likely will be similar to the last three and it should be rocking in South San Jose on Saturday night.
Other Games to Watch
Central Catholic (4-2, 3-0 Valley Oak League) hosting Manteca (6-0, 3-0 Valley Oak League), Friday, 7 pm
Prep2Prep CIF Sac-Joaquin Section No. 14 Manteca played P2P CIFSJS No. 11 Central Catholic tough two years ago in a 29-28 OT loss and last year they lost 28-6 at home. This year’s Central Catholic team has a deceptive record. Throw out the game with St. Mary’s where they had players out and look at the game where they only lost 28-25 in The Honor Bowl to a Cathedral Catholic-San Diego team that is now No. 7 and ahead of No. 8 De La Salle-Concord in the latest Cal-Hi Sports rankings.
Pittsburg (6-0, 1-0 Bay Valley Athletic League at Heritage-Brentwood (6-0, 1-0 Bay Valley Athletic League), Friday, 7 pm
P2P CIFNCS No. 2 Pittsburg has a 41-14 win over Archbishop Mitty, a win over Serra and a 42-31 win over P2P CIFSJS No. 16 Vacaville. What makes the game intriguing is upstart P2P CIFNCS No. 9 Heritage is unblemished like the Pirates but they haven’t seen anywhere near the level of competition. Pittsburg will be a huge favorite even if Montaz Thompson is not at full strength.
Del Oro-Loomis (6-1, 2-1 Sierra Foothill League) at Rocklin (4-2, 1-1 Sierra Foothill League), Friday, 7:30 pm
The visiting Prep2Prep CIF Sac-Joaquin Section No. 4 Golden Eagles will be looking to take the rock out of Rocklin after they came in with high hopes last week and got shellacked in a 42-7 loss to P2P CIFSJS No. 2 Folsom. The host Thunder has their own axe to grind as they lost their game last week in a 27-15 defeat at the hands of P2P SJS No. 8 Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills.
Clayton Valley-Concord (5-1, 1-0 Diablo – Valley League) at Concord (5-1, 1-0 Diablo – Valley League), Friday, 7 pm
The annual Claycord battle of arch rivals has a twist this year as Clayton Valley quarterback Zia Rahmany will have to sit out the game after getting ejected in the 43-13 win last week over Miramonte. As long backup Kenny “KJ” Gardner doesn’t fumble snaps from center the powerful running game of the Ugly Eagles should prevail. Last year Clayton Valley won 42-22 at home.
St. Francis-Mountain View (5-1, 2-1 WCAL) hosting Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (4-2, 2-1 WCAL, Friday, 7:30 pm
This game starts with two of the four teams tied at 2-1 for second place but will end with a number of different scenarios with one being either Prep2Prep CIFCCS No. 2 St. Francis or No. 7 Mitty either tied for first or second place. St. Francis is a solid favorite but in the WCAL nothing is a given.
Grant-Sacramento (5-1, 2-1 Delta League) at Monterey Trail-Elk Grove (5-1, 2-1 Delta League), Friday, 7:15 pm
The Delta League is even wackier than the WCAL as five teams, including Prep2Prep CIFSJS No. 6 Grant and No. 17 Monterey Trail. Obviously one of these teams will emerge with likely share of the lead since P2P SJS No. 5 Elk Grove (5-1, 2-1) will be a big favorite against Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove (0-6, 0-3) but bear in mind despite being winless they only fell by a point last week in a 21-20 win by Grant.
Campolindo-Moraga (4-2, 1-0 Diablo – Valley League at Miramonte-Orinda (5-1, 0-1), Friday, 7 pm
Prior to re-alignment P2P No. CIFNCS No. 8Campolindo ruled the roost in the old Diablo Foothill League the past few years with arch rival P2P NCS No. 12 Miramonte right behind, but with Clayton Valley now in the league along with Concord new light has been shed as was witnessed last week when a 5-0 Miramonte got thumped in a 43-13 loss to visiting Clayton Valley. Based on Campolindo’s showing so far this season they are a slight favorite but the game is on the other side of the hill and that could be a factor.
