With two weeks in the books, a few teams have already begun to surge onto everyone's radar with some big early wins. Others, meanwhile, came into the season with high expectations, but have yet to see the desired result on the scoreboard. A few such programs from different ends of the spectrum clash this week in our CCS Games of the Week.
And don’t forget to also check out Harold Abend’s NorCal Games of the Week feature.
No. 10 San Benito (1-0) at No. 8 Los Gatos (1-1), Friday, 7 pm
Two of the section’s most decorated programs clash in a matchup that could repeat itself in the playoffs if the teams end up in the same enrollment division. The Haybalers have won the last two meetings, including a 35-14 road victory in 2016. While both teams are used to playing rugged nonleague schedules, last week was above and beyond for Los Gatos, as the Wildcats traveled down south to take on Corona del Mar, a game that the host Sea Kings won 43-28.
Los Gatos has been aggressive through the air, with QB Robert Nelson having completed 27 of 52 passes for 512 yards and five touchdowns. He has, however, thrown four interceptions, something that the offense will need to clean up in order to beat San Benito. In a season-opening win, the Balers held Sacred Heart Prep to 108 yards through the air. This has the makings of a game that could come down to the final possession, and it may be decided by a showdown between Nelson’s arm and the San Benito pass defense.
Palo Alto (0-2) vs No. 6 Mitty (1-1), Friday, 7 pm at Foothill College
The Vikings haven’t shied away from top competition so far in 2017, but the results have yet to come. On Friday, they’ll look to avenge last season’s 41-7 home loss to Mitty and pick up their first win of the season. If the Vikings are to pull off the road upset, they’ll have to stop Shamir Bey. The sophomore quarterback had a coming-out party in Mitty’s win over Menlo-Atherton last week, accounting for 257 yards and all four Monarch touchdowns.
Facing Mitty will be a stark contrast to the scrappy Half Moon Bay team that Palo Alto faced last week. While HMB utilizes smaller players, Mitty’s boys are much larger, especially on the line. Quarterback Jackson Chryst and his line will need to be smooth against an opportunistic Mitty defense that plays its best at the ends of the field. Last week, the Monarch defense picked up a safety on the first play of the game and recovered a fumble at their own 2-yard line in the final minutes.
No. 7 Menlo-Atherton (0-2) vs No. 9 Palma (0-1), Friday, 7:30 pm at Salinas Sports Complex
The Bears and Chieftains will square off Friday night as two of the most battle-tested teams in the CCS. While they’re a combined 0-3, all three losses are to WCAL competition. The two sides have played extremely different games so far. Menlo-Atherton has lost down-to-the-wire contests against Bellarmine and Mitty, while Palma was beaten soundly last Friday by St. Francis.
Both M-A and Palma have had to replace major contributors from last year’s teams. So far, M-A has been the far more successful team in that regard. Miles Conrad has shown excellent skill and composure in the starting quarterback role. While Conrad did start as a sophomore, replacing a player as talented as Aajon Johnson isn’t easy. As a senior, Conrad is 30-for-58 for 504 yards. Jhavante Hill and Kilifi Leaaetoa have filled the void for Jordan Mims at running back. There’s no shortage of talent at receiver for the Bears, but freshman Troy Franklin is no longer a secret weapon. The youngster has 10 catches for 193 yards in his first two games. Palma, on the other hand, had little success in replacing record-setting rusher Emilio Martinez against St. Francis, but that was against an elite defense. Still, facing M-A’s front seven won’t be much easier, as five of those starters have received D1 scholarship offers.
No. 15 Salinas (1-0) at Terra Nova (1-1), Friday, 7 pm
Both teams are coming off lopsided wins against stout opponents. Salinas walloped Oak Grove behind a balanced attack in Steve Zenk’s first game as head coach of the Cowboys. The Salinas defense allowed just 235 yards and held Oak Grove’s rushing attack to just 66. Salinas also took of a whopping 16 penalties for 170 yards.
Terra Nova took the field for the first time last Friday, having forfeited its opener due to an altercation in a scrimmage. The Tigers made up for lost time, putting up 35 points in the first quarter in a 63-21 rout of Scotts Valley. QB Nate Gordon brought back memories of his brother Anthony under center, completing 17 of 26 passes for 309 yards. Both programs gave encouraging signs of a return to glory with their dominant performances last week, and this clash will make for an opportunity for one side to accelerate its growth.
Hillsdale (2-0) at No. 17 Sacred Heart Prep (1-1), Saturday, 3 pm
Hillsdale moved back to the PAL’s Ocean Division for 2017, but the Fighting Knights are off to a roaring start and will look to keep that going against a Bay Division opponent. Hillsdale has scored 73 points in two games. Quarterback Jeremy Teteak hasn’t thrown the ball much, but when he has, he’s been efficient, racking up 342 yards on just 15 completions, seven of which have gone for touchdowns. Joey Sabel has been his top target, with nine catches for 243 yards and all seven of the team’s receiving touchdowns.
SHP has no shortage of experience and is coming off a lopsided win over Sobrato that was shortened because of the intense heat. Much of SHP’s roster remembers last year’s 16-13 loss at Hillsdale that was decided on a late field goal. So far, 2017 has gotten off to a much smoother start for the Gators, who lost a tight one at San Benito before last week’s win over Sobrato, in Mark Grieb’s first year as head coach. Quarterback Brad Yaffe is responsible for two touchdowns through the air and three on the ground in the first two games.
Best of the Rest
Capuchino (2-0) has impressed in Miguel Nava’s first two games as head coach by beating Ocean Division foes in Woodside and South San Francisco, but Week 3 will be an entirely different animal as the Mustangs head to the coast to battle No. 11 Half Moon Bay (2-0). The Cougars have trampled SCVAL De Anza opponents in two games this year. As expected, Chase Hofmann has been brilliant, rushing for 166 yards and eight touchdowns, but most didn’t expect the HMB defense to hold stiff competition to just 14 points combined in two games.
No. 14 Burlingame (2-0) will head down 101 to take on Alvarez (2-0) in a battle of two teams that have put up gaudy offensive numbers against lower-division opponents. Burlingame has averaged 51 points in two games behind the ground attack of Alec Meredith and Savaun Brown, while the Eagles have averaged 36 behind the arm of Matt Martinez. The Panthers have outscored Alvarez 78-7 over the past two years, but a much improved Eagles team will try to reverse that trend.
Scotts Valley (1-1) will be looking for consistency against Monte Vista Christian (2-0). The Falcons blew past Los Altos in Week 1 before last week’s beatdown at the hands of Terra Nova. MVC, on the other hand, will be looking for more of the same, as Bruce Dini is unbeaten as the Mustangs’ new head coach. While Cody Paresa has just one rushing touchdown for the Mustangs, he has already racked up 237 yards. The scoring plays have come through the air, as Sean White has thrown for eight touchdowns, five of which have gone to Nicholas Bautista.
