After a few surprising results in the De Anza Division over the past couple weeks, that league takes center stage in this week's match-ups, along with a couple elite offenses squaring off in a big PAL-Ocean contest.
And also be sure to check out our NorCal Games of the Week feature, which includes the top game to watch in each section.
No. 4 Milpitas at No. No. 16 Wilcox, Friday 7 p.m.
Milpitas (6-1, 2-1 SCVAL De Anza) travel to Wilcox (4-4, 3-1 SCVAL De Anza) in a crucial De Anza division clash, as the Chargers attempt to rebound from a shocking loss to Palo Alto (3-5, 2-2 SCVAL De Anza). The Trojans are coming off a bye. In what is essentially an elimination game for the SCVAL De Anza division title, the Chargers must win to claim even a share of the De Anza division crown.
The Chargers, who had dominated three straight De Anza contests by a combined 191-90, were stunned by a refreshed Palo Alto squad 25-21 last week, drastically shuffling the De Anza division standings.
The Chargers' 289 points scored is second in the CCS with their potent rushing offense leading the CCS with 2,657 yards (379.6 yards per game and 10 yards per carry) and 35 TDs. Senior Richard Herrera leads the ground-and-pound offense with 791 yards and eight touchdowns, with junior David Hernandez adding 781 yards and five scores.
Vastly different from the Chargers offense, the Trojans are led with a high-octane passing attack, led by junior QB Tyree Bracy, who is 10th in the CCS with 1,315 yards passing and 13 touchdowns. Despite having only played seven games, Milpitas ranks ninth in the CCS with 239 points scored.
A stiff challenge for the Chargers will be the Trojans' defense, which is second in the CCS with 30 sacks, with senior Alii Matau racking up 76 tackles. The Trojans are also second in the CCS with 12 interceptions.
No. 13 Half Moon Bay at No. 25 The King's Academy, Friday 7 p.m.
The undefeated Half Moon Bay Cougars (7-0, 3-0 PAL Ocean) face a tough challenge traveling to The King's Academy (5-2, 1-2 PAL Ocean). Both teams are coming off very tight road wins.
The Cougars, one of four unbeaten teams in CCS coming into this week's action, stayed undefeated last week after a 30-second, four-play TD drive led by junior QB Gavin Tomberlin at the conclusion of the game to score a 41-40 win at Sequoia (3-4, 2-1 PAL Ocean).
Meanwhile, Knights sophomore QB Michael Johnson, Jr. ran for 268 yards and five touchdowns and threw for 247 yards and a pair of scores in a 48-41 win at Woodside (4-3, 0-3 PAL Ocean) last week. Johnson ranks third in the CCS with 1,709 yards and 18 TDs passing, while also ranking 22nd in the CCS with 735 yards and 12 TDs on the ground. Junior place kicker Chris Sieski is 28-for-32 on PATs.
The Knights' 251 points ranks seventh in the CCS. The Knights are tied for second in the CCS with 12 interceptions and have also compiled 16 sacks.
No. 9 Oak Grove at No. 15 Live Oak, Friday 7 p.m.
Oak Grove (5-2, 4-0 BVAL Mount Hamilton) battles Live Oak (6-1, 3-1 BVAL Mount Hamilton) in a huge BVAL Mount Hamilton division game. Both the Eagles and Acorns have been piling on the points, with Oak Grove having accumulated 231 points and Live Oak having compiled 244 points.
After starting the season 0-2 with losses at St. Francis and Granite Bay, Oak Grove has been dominating the BVAL-Mount Hamilton with a 62-14 win over Lincoln (3-3, 1-3 BVAL-Mount Hamilton) last week as the Eagles rushed for a total of 352 yards. Senior QB Tyler McGovern has accumulated 931 yards and 11 touchdowns passing. In their past five games, the Eagles have won by a combined 210-41.
Live Oak senior Jacob Ryder ran for 209 yards and three scores as the Acorns outscored Santa Teresa (5-2, 2-2 BVAL-Mount Hamilton) 42-32 to remain tied with Leigh (5-2, 3-1 BVAL-Mount Hamilton) for second place in the Mount Hamilton division. Acorns sophomore QB Jonathan Singleton is 12th in the CCS with 1,218 yards and 13 TDs passing. Ryder now has 735 yards rushing and 12 TDs. Senior Morgan Salzwedel is perfect on PATs going 32-for-32 thus far. Live Oak's only loss was a 28-7 loss to Leigh.
Both teams have formidable defenses as well, with Oak Grove senior Grady Ryan amassing 83 tackles and the Eagles having 14 sacks and nine interceptions. Live Oak senior Tyler Souza has 75 tackles while the Acorns have 18 sacks.
No. 11 Los Gatos at Palo Alto, Friday 7 p.m.
Los Gatos (4-3, 3-0 SCVAL De Anza) travels to Palo Alto (3-5, 2-2 SCVAL De Anza) for a SCVAL De Anza division showdown that truly has playoff implications. The Wildcats are coming off a 41-7 win over Santa Clara (2-5, 0-3 SCVAL De Anza) while the Vikings are coming off a huge 25-21 win over Wilcox (4-4, 3-1 SCVAL De Anza). The Vikings are back at full strength, after starting the year with a myriad of injuries.
Junior Will Fordyce and sophomore Collin Gregg each rushed for a TD as the Wildcats rolled past the Bruins to take sole possession of first place in the De Anza division with their third straight victory. Fordyce has 488 yards and five TDs while Wildcats senior QB Kyle Reid has thrown for 1,147 yards and 10 TDs, adding three TDs and 280 yards on the ground. Sophomore Kyle Smith leads the defense with 75 tackles. Senior Jake Tonges is a two-way threat, with five sacks and an INT on defense, adding 20 receptions at Tight End for 356 yards and three TDs. Senior Ryan Wilcox leads receivers with 28 receptions for 440 yards and four TDs.
The Vikings are turning things up recently after losing five games to upper echelon CCS programs (San Benito, Mitty, Oak Grove, Saratoga and Milpitas). Sophomore Jackson Chryst leads a balanced offense for the Vikings with 629 yards and five TDs passing. Junior Paul Jackson III has 787 yards and eight TDs rushing.
Fremont at Los Altos, Saturday 1:30 p.m.
In an SCVAL El Camino division battle, the Fremont Firebirds (4-3, 2-1 SCVAL El Camino) travel to the Los Altos Eagles (5-2, 1-2 SCVAL El Camino) in another game that has huge playoff implications. Both the Firebirds and Eagles trail division leader Cupertino (7-1, 4-0 SCVAL El Camino) in a division with only one guaranteed CCS playoff berth.
After two El Camino division wins, the Firebirds suffered narrow losses to Bradshaw Christian (8-0, 3-0 Sierra-Delta) 49-39 and 41-37 at Homestead (5-2, 3-0 SCVAL El Camino). Fremont is the top scoring offense in the CCS with 291 points. Junior QB Roman Stein is second in CCS with 2,123 yards and 28 TDs while the Firebird defense has accumulated 11 interceptions and seven sacks.
After opening with five wins, the Eagles lost tight wins to 18-13 to Homestead and 14-7 to Cupertino. Junior Erik Skov (392 yards) and senior Jordan Jenab (305yards) each have three rushing TDs.
Best of the Rest
Woodside at South San Francisco, Friday 7 p.m.
Woodside (4-3, 0-3 PAL Ocean) travels to the South San Francisco Warriors (2-5, 1-2 PAL Ocean) in a Peninsula Athletic League Ocean division matchup with both teams' CCS playoff outlook needing a big win this week.
After starting 4-0, the Wildcats has lost three straight and are coming off a harrowing 48-41 loss to The King's Academy in which senior RB Marcelous Chester-Riley rushed for 328 yards and six scores. The Warriors are coming off of a 45-0 loss at Menlo (6-1, 2-1 PAL Ocean).
Chester-Riley is No. 4 in the CCS with 1,059 yards and 18 TDs rushing. Wildcats' Sophomore QB Joseph King has 1,152 yards and 10 TDs passing. Woodside is seventh in the CCS with 22 sacks and also has eight interceptions.
Branham at Sobrato, Saturday 2 p.m.
Branham (4-3, 3-1 BVAL Santa Teresa) travels to Sobrato (2-5, 1-3 BVAL Santa Teresa) in an important division clash. Silver Creek (4-3, 3-1 BVAL Santa Teresa) ended a four-game winning streak with a 13-0 win over the Bruins last week. Sobrato has three straight division losses.
Bulldogs junior QB John Bell is ninth in CCS with 1,317 yards passing for 11 TDs, though he also has 15 INTs. Junior Jared Jones leads a multi-pronged rush attack with 343 yards and four TDs while junior Ryan Monahan adds 287 yards and three TDs. Sobrato has six different receivers with over 100 yards receiving.
No. 20 Salinas at No. 21 Monte Vista Christian, Friday 7 p.m.
In a battle for what may be a CCS playoff berth eventually, Salinas (4-4, 2-2 MBAL-Gabilan) travels to Monte Vista Christian (6-2, 2-2 MBAL-Gabilan) with both teams coming off losses to top-ranked teams.
The Cowboys are coming off of an 18-7 loss to San Benito (8-0, 4-0 MBAL Gabilan) while the Mustangs, who started the season 5-0, were crushed by Palma (5-2, 3-0 MBAL Gabilan) 35-0 last week.
Cowboys junior QB Brett Reade has 924 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions passing, as well as five scores on the ground. Junior Richard Cerda has compiled 637 yards and four touchdowns rushing.
