One of the few normal things about the spring 2021 football season is the placement of rivalry games at the end of the schedule. Teams are set to conclude their brief seasons over the weekend against the same rivals they always do, finishing the season with memorable games against neighbors, even if those games won’t be played in front of the usual overflow crowds.
Serra (4-0, 2-0 WCAL) @ St. Ignatius (3-0, 2-0), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
After last year’s dramatic finish, with a late Serra comeback thwarted when the Wildcats stopped the Padres on a potential game-winning two-point conversion, the rivalry between St. Ignatius and Serra is as fierce as ever. Known for intense basketball games in recent years, attention shifted back to football as SI finally topped the Padres for the first time since 2005, splitting the WCAL title in the process. Serra did go on to win a CCS title over the same Valley Christian team that eliminated the ‘Cats and rode that wave all the way to a state title game appearance, but the hunger to beat SI has never left.
Bellarmine (1-2, 0-1 WCAL) @ Mitty (0-2, 0-2), Saturday, 1 p.m.
With both the Bells and Monarchs suffering lopsided defeats last week, Saturday provides a chance for both teams to bounce back in a major way. Mitty has won three straight against Bellarmine, dating back to a 14-7 win in 2017 on a late Shamir Bey touchdown. Bey was just a sophomore at the time, and the Monarchs have succeeded him with another QB likely to run the offense for three years in Wills Towers.
18th Valparaiso Bowl: Menlo (4-0) @ Sacred Heart Prep (4-1), Saturday, 2 p.m.
Sacred Heart Prep leads series, 10-7
The last three Valpo Bowls have gone the way of the Gators, including the last two in blowout fashion, but Menlo has bounced back this season under first-year head coach Todd Smith. Saturday's matchup should be full of great quarterback play with Menlo junior Sergio Beltran and SHP senior Teddy Purcell leading their respective offenses.
59th Battle of the Fleas: Hillsdale (3-1, 3-1 PAL Ocean) @ Aragon (2-3, 2-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Aragon leads series, 36-19-3
What was an incredibly lopsided matchup for two decades has become one of the Central Coast’s most intriguing in recent years, with Hillsdale and Aragon trading blows over the last seven meetings. Four of those meetings have gone the way of the Fighting Knights, including last year’s 42-7 blowout, but the three most recent games played at Aragon have all been thrillers. Hillsdale has won two by a single point, including 2014’s overtime game, while the Dons won 37-27 in 2016, scoring the final two touchdowns after squandering a lead in the third quarter.
St. Francis (2-1, 1-0 WCAL) @ Valley Christian (2-1, 2-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
With no playoffs for the teams to rematch in this year, Friday night will be the lone duel between the Lancers and Warriors. It’ll be a classic battle of run-heavy offenses and stout defenses that harkens back to football’s early days, but both teams have shown the ability to rip off big plays through the air when needed. Johnny Tarantino, also a baseball star for St. Francis, established himself as a big-play threat in last week’s win over Mitty, and Valley Christian has sensational sophomore Jurrion Dickey.
66th Battle for the Terremere Trophy: Carlmont (3-0, 3-0 PAL Lake) @ Sequoia (3-1, 3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Sequoia leads series, 34-31-1
While neither Sequoia or Carlmont have had incredible accolades in recent years, the Battle for the Terremere Trophy always seems to be one of the most closely contested rivalries in San Mateo County, both in terms of how frequently the trophy changes hands and in terms of how tight the games are. The road team has won the last three meetings, including a Sequoia overtime victory in 2017.
94th Little Big Game: San Mateo (0-5) @ Burlingame (2-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
Burlingame leads series, 57-32-4
A game traditionally played on Saturday morning will shift to Friday night as the Panthers try to post an 11th straight win over the Bearcats. San Mateo has been hounded by injuries throughout the season, losing the likes of quarterback Dane Anderson, center Shadi Qobti and wide receiver/cornerback/kicker Olle Mandorf, but the Bearcats still have a strong line led by Soane Kolokihakaufisi that should be a solid counter to Burlingame’s rushing attack of Elijah La Guardia and Isaac Frankel.
56th Skull Game: Terra Nova (0-2, 0-2 PAL Ocean) @ Half Moon Bay (2-3, 1-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
Terra Nova leads series, 33-18-5
After last week’s loss to Sacred Heart Prep, the second straight heartbreaking defeat for the Cougars, Half Moon Bay head coach Keith Holden reminded his team of the rare opportunity in front of them. The Cougars have a chance to win games in consecutive seasons against Terra Nova for the first time since the 1975 through 1977 seasons. HMB did win two games against the Tigers in 2017, including the CCS Division III Championship, but Terra Nova struck back the following year with a 28-15 victory.
49th Bell Game: El Camino (1-2, 1-2 PAL Lake) @ South San Francisco (0-3, 0-3), Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
South San Francisco leads series, 37-11
Ever since Dion Evans took over the program at South San Francisco, he has placed tremendous emphasis on bringing the Bell back to the school’s campus. El Camino ended the Warriors’ 14-year winning streak in the rivalry with a 41-15 win in 2018, then retained the Bell in 2019 in a 39-0 blowout.
Palma (2-1) @ Hollister (1-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Normally a game with PCAL Gabilan title implications, the latest meeting between the Chieftains and Haybalers will simply be a good football game between two strong programs trying to finish their seasons on a winning note. Hollister has opened up the passing game this year with quarterback Michael McShane, a rare sight for a team that tends to run the ball with jumbo backfields to wear down defenses. Palma will need to avoid a letdown after the emotional high of last week’s win over Salinas, which snapped a three-year losing streak to the Cowboys.
King’s Academy (1-2, 1-2 PAL Bay) @ Menlo-Atherton (4-0, 4-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
A matchup slotted at the end of the season last year to give M-A more equitable competition, the Bears and Knights will finish off their schedules against each other for a second season in a row. It’ll be the final high school game for Noah Short, TKA’s Army commit who has constructed an illustrious career as a linebacker and running back. He was an instrumental part of last year’s CCS Division III Championship run, and while there’s no postseason for him to thrive in this year, he could certainly go out with a bang. In three games this year, he’s rushed for 357 yards and hauled in 14 Antonio Gonzalez passes for 95 receiving yards.
29th Stanfel Cup: Riordan (1-2, 0-2 WCAL) @ Sacred Heart Cathedral (0-3, 0-2), Friday, 7 p.m. at Kezar Stadium
Riordan leads series, 34-16 (15-13 in Stanfel Cup era)
With the late introduction of a new coaching staff, the whirlwind of a season has been even more hectic for Sacred Heart Cathedral, but the Fightin’ Irish have shown tremendous progress over their three games. After getting knocked around by Riordan in a nonleague affair to open the season, SHC trailed Serra by just seven points at halftime and led in the fourth quarter against a St. Ignatius team that had dealt the Crusaders a 42-0 beatdown. It’ll be the final game for excellent seniors on both sides, including Irish quarterback Cian Dowling and Riordan wide receiver Aden Jackson.
Palo Alto (2-2, 2-2 SCVAL De Anza) @ Los Gatos (4-0, 4-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Despite a lack of proximity between the two schools, Palo Alto and Los Gatos have become massive rivals over recent years as the two have been at or near the top of the SCVAL in almost every sport. There won’t be any issues with crowd control as fans will be limited to players’ families, but the Vikings will certainly still be foaming at the mouth with the opportunity to end the Wildcats’ hopes of a perfect season. Actually doing so won’t be as easy as talking about it, though. Los Gatos has been excellent this spring, even showing off a strong passing attack last week as Alex Grado led a remarkable comeback against Wilcox.
Silver Creek (2-2, 2-2 BVAL Mt. Hamilton) @ Piedmont Hills (2-0, 2-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Both the Raiders and Pirates have had a propensity to play tight games this spring, so there’s no reason they shouldn’t be in for one more thriller as they cap off their seasons. It’ll be the final game for Silver Creek’s Elijah Thomas, who has rushed for 213 yards and recorded 22 tackles on defense.
Leigh (4-0, 3-0 BVAL Santa Teresa) @ Branham (2-2, 2-1), Saturday, 7 p.m.
With just 27 players on the roster, Kyle Padia’s Longhorns have been the class of the BVAL’s middle division so far this year, with Max Griffiths posting an incredible 592 rushing yards in just four games. Leigh’s hopes of an unbeaten season will culminate in a showdown with a Bruins team that split the league title last year. It’ll be the final game for Branham quarterback Nick Bandanza, who has managed to throw for 1,393 yards in just four games, including a school-record 493 yards in last week’s thrilling 42-35 defeat to Westmont.
