Yes, Antioch looks to build momentum after it's win over Deer Valley in the annual Mayor's Cup last week. And Liberty is hanging onto its playoff hopes, facing a Deer Valley team this week that is looking to snap a 13-game losing in league play. The Wolverines last win in league play came in the 2013 regular season finale against Heritage.
But, in all fairness to the other teams, all eyes will be on Pittsburg for the clash of the unbeatens between the host Pirates and the visiting Freedom Falcons, in the NCS and BVAL Game of the Week. Let's take a look at each match-up this week in the Bay Valley Athletic League.
Freedom (8-0, 3-0) at Pittsburg (8-0, 3-0)
If you want to talk about monster games, then this might be the Godzilla of them all. Pittsburg and Freedom both enter this game undefeated, and have been the more consistent teams over the past decade for the BVAL. The Pirates have successfully defeated the Falcons in their last five meetings, including twice in the playoffs.
Two of the top scoring teams in the section and the state will be on display for this game. Neither team has scored fewer than 41 points in a game this year, and Pittsburg has scored 62 or more points on four different occasions.
Pirate Stadium will be scene of this epic showdown, and the host Pirates will be led by senior quarterback Seu Kuka. Kuka had been splitting time with sophomore Trey Turner, but in light of a recent injury to Turner, coach Vic Galli has decided to hand the pigskin to the senior. Kuka has 543 yards in the season with eight touchdown passes. His biggest game came against Heritage, when he threw for three touchdowns.
Junior A’jae Boyd, meanwhile, is arguably the most versatile player in the section. Last week against Liberty he scored in all three phases of the game, hauling in a touchdown reception on offense, returning an interception for a touchdown on defense, and also taking a punt return to the house for another score.
The fate of running back Montaz Thompson remains a mystery, as Galli stated that he will be a game time decision. Thompson did carry the ball a few times last week, however, and scored his 31st career touchdown in the process, tops all-time among Pittsburg players.
The Pittsburg defense has been excellent, no doubt about it. However, the highlight of this year has been the defensive line. They have a combined seven forced fumbles and have made big stops at the goal line. That being said, the focus going into this game is on a better start for the Pirates, who have fallen behind early in all three league games, and taking care of the little things on offense.
"We have to execute our game plan, and we can't dig ourselves an early hole against a talented team like (Freedom)," Galli said. "We also can't turn the ball over. They are too good to get away with those things."
Senior quarterback Jonathan Pierce will be handling the ball for Freedom, and he has been a steady force all season, taking control of the starting job during the second week after splitting time with Dominic Mather in the season opener. He has thrown for 1,478 yards and 25 touchdowns, with just one interception.
Receivers Giles Jackson and Baylei Coston have been an excellent duo for Pierce in the passing game, having combined for 1,263 yards and 20 touchdowns through the air. Ronnie Rivers, meanwhile, has been one of the top backs in the section, and recently added an offer from Hawaii to go with other Mountain West college offers. He has 1,449 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground this season.
Linebacker Kyle Harmon leads the defense, and the senior standout student-athlete with more than a dozen Division I offers has added to his school-record career tackle totals with 67 in the first eight games, plus nine tackles for a loss, three sacks, and three interceptions. He has also scored three times on offense.
This game also offers plenty of intrigue in the historical department. Freedom's 8-0 start is the best in school history, and the last two times the Falcons entered league play unbeaten, it was the Pirates who ended that streak. Freedom has never finished a regular season unbeaten, and amazingly, the last time it happened for Pittsburg was 1966, when the team went 7-0-2. The last unbeaten and untied season for the Pirates was 1964, when Pittsburg finished 9-0 in the regular season under coach George Galli, Vic's uncle.
From a league perspective, the last time two teams from the BVAL met with an unbeaten record this late in the season was 1993, when De La Salle beat previously unbeaten Pinole Valley in the regular season finale. The last time two teams in the BVAL finished with 10-0 and 9-1 records was 1995, when Pittsburg's only loss in the regular season was to De La Salle. Of course, both teams also finish with difficult rivalry games next week, with Pittsburg facing Antioch in the Big Little Game and Freedom facing Liberty in the Bell Game.
The game also represents one of the top coaching match-ups in the Bay Area. Galli and Freedom coach Kevin Hartwig are the two longest-tenured coaches in the BVAL, each in their 15th season at the helm, beginning in 2002 for both coaches. Both are also each school's career win leader as a head coach.
"It's going to be a fun game," Hartwig said. "It's a great atmosphere for a high school game, two great teams. What else could you ask for?"
Heritage (6-2, 1-2) at Antioch (5-3, 2-1)
After starting the season 6-0, and routing cross-town rival Liberty, Heritage’s fortunes have changed, and they now sit on a two-game losing streak. Antioch, meanwhile, has bounced back from a loss to Freedom, and is still seeking a shot at the BVAL title, since the Panthers get to face Pittsburg in next week's regular season finale.
Whenever the ball leaves the hand of Heritage senior quarterback Nick Zell, it is always a threat. With 1,779 yards and 23 touchdowns, it is not a surprise he is the league leader in passing yards. Tyriq Mack has 511 receiving yards but he is also a standout defensive back, as he leads the league with five interceptions, which is also tied for fourth-most in the entire section.
For Antioch, the ball will likely be handed to Najee Harris, the Alabama commit who has 1,757 yards and 24 touchdowns. He is always a key factor in any game, and proved that again last week by scoring three touchdowns in the final quarter and a half against Deer Valley. Sophomore Willem Karnthong has established himself well as the Panthers' starting quarterback this season, with 1,148 yards through the air.
Deer Valley (1-7, 0-3) at Liberty (3-5, 0-3)
Both these teams are still seeking their first win in league play, while Deer Valley also looks to snap its seven-game losing streak, dating back to a season-opening win over Amador Valley.
The Wolverines have a dual threat quarterback in junior Dior Walker. He leads the team in both passing and rushing yards. Patrick Robinson has added 343 rushing yards this season, so him and Walker are always players to keep an eye on in the backfield. Daniel Lado has 50 total tackles and has had a quick reaction to the ball, as he has recovered three fumbles. Jaamar Hardy has been an anchor on defense, as he has a total of three forced fumbles and 27 total tackles.
Liberty is coming off a loss to Pittsburg, where Ryan Dutt showed off his arm, like he has all season. He has 1,576 yards and an excellent set of receivers. Trejon Hawkins and Zane Hinojosa have combined for 1,315 yards. While the Lions offense appears to be loaded, their defense possesses defensive back Max Lawrence, who has quietly been making noise. He has four interceptions, second in the league.
Liberty to win its final two games in order to become playoff eligible.
