With six weeks now complete in the regular season, it is time for a look back at the weekend that was in the North Coast Section. There may not have been as much action this past weekend, with many teams off for the week, but there were still some significant results.
- What was already assumed is now crystal clear in terms of league strength north of San Francisco. There is a huge gap between the top team in the Sonoma County League and those in the North Bay and Marin County leagues.
Analy’s win over Petaluma the previous week made it clear that the Tigers are again in the driver’s seat for the SCL, but Analy has been unable to even keep up with the top teams in those other leagues, especially after Friday’s 56-0 loss to Marin Catholic. Rancho Cotate and Cardinal Newman each raced past the Tigers earlier this year. If any teams from the NBL and MCAL can put up closer scores against those top teams from each respective league, they could have a leg up on the other teams from the SCL when it comes time for post-season seeding.
- The home team had not won a Brentwood Bowl game between cross-town rivals Heritage and Liberty since 2011, and visiting Liberty extended that streak to a sixth year when the Lions held on for a 17-14 win over Heritage.
It was the first time that Liberty won the rivalry game without needing a fourth-quarter comeback, after rallying to 14-7 and 8-7 wins in 2013 and 2015. The Lions’ three wins in the 11-game series have come by a combined 11 points.
- The pecking order beneath San Ramon Valley in the EBAL took better shape on Friday when Foothill shutout California, the third straight win for the Falcons following a blowout loss to the Wolves. Not coincidentally, the winning streak has followed with the return of quarterback Ben Wooldridge from his shoulder injury.
Amador Valley also took down Monte Vista on Friday, giving the Dons key wins over Granada and the Mustangs, though AV still has yet to face San Ramon Valley or Foothill. The Dons lost earlier to California.
- After going 0-5 in MVAL action last season, Newark Memorial picked up a league win over American on Friday, keeping the Eagles winless this season. Meanwhile, Moreau Catholic continued to show that its winless four-game stretch to start the season was simply due to strength of schedule. The Mariners routed Irvington on Friday, their second one-sided win in as many league games.
- Fortuna and Eureka appear headed for a showdown in the Humboldt-Del Norte League’s Big 5 Division, after Fortuna topped Del Norte on Friday and Eureka stayed unbeaten with a 35-28 win over Enterprise-Redding.
- Harker stayed unbeaten with a 30-0 win over Marina. Considering the Eagles’ final four games, an unbeaten regular season continues to become more of a possibility. The regular season finale against Irvington might be the largest remaining test, playing a Division I program.
- Rancho Cotate and Cardinal Newman continue to race towards that regular season finale, which could be the toughest ticket in the section. Their combined margin of victory this week was 106 points, which now seems to be about average.
Exactly how big is the gap between these two and the rest of the league? Consider the fact that Montgomery, who lost 63-0 to Rancho Cotate the week before, turned around and beat Windsor this weekend. Windsor had opened league play with a win over Maria Carrillo, who beat Santa Rosa on Friday.
That also breeds some optimism for Casa Grande, which has gotten the two big heavyweights off its schedule early. In fact, the Gauchos, who are 0-5 right now, have played opponents with a combined 20-3 record. The second half of the schedule is much lighter.
- Hercules stayed unbeaten with a 37-20 win over Pinole Valley, while the Titans’ primary contender for the TCAL-Stone title, Kennedy-Richmond, had its game with El Cerrito suspended at halftime due to crowd control. Hercules and Kennedy meet on October 13 in a game that will likely decide the division crown.
- Concord earned its first win of the season, taking down Mt. Diablo, 26-12. It comes just in time, as the Minutemen start rugged DAL-Foothill play this coming Friday, against unbeaten Acalanes.
- There seems to be a clear split in the North Central League, especially after Lower Lake bounced back from a loss to Middletown by taking down St. Helena, 33-14.
Clear Lake and Middletown remain unbeaten in league play, with those teams meeting on October 13. Middletown already has wins over Lower Lake and Kelseyville, the next two teams who form that top four. Clear Lake has yet to play either of those two, having beaten up on the lower half of the league to this point.
