Aside from the game between Palo Alto and Wilcox, there’s no major titanic clash this Friday, but there are tons of appealing matchups all over the Central Coast Section. Football fans contemplating which game to go to will certainly have a handful of good choices available, but they’ll want to keep their phones at the ready to be able to follow the other exciting clashes and maybe even watch a stream of the end of a tight game. With some of the better matchups so close to each other in proximity, fans at a quick early game could even head over to catch the climax of a later contest.
No. 18 Los Gatos (4-1, 1-0 SCVAL De Anza) @ Milpitas (2-3, 0-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
The other big De Anza clash this week features the teams that have combined to win at least a share of the last five league titles. For Milpitas, after facing Jackson Chryst last week, it doesn’t get much easier with Jack Lewis Miller, who has connected on 46 of 71 passes for 609 yards. No, the Trojans won’t have to cover Jamir Shepard, but Los Gatos has three receivers over 100 yards on the season and Jarred Mazzaferro not far behind at 94. If the 5-foot-7 Mazzaferro finds himself next to 6-8 Milpitas lineman Justin Scrempos, there could be a chance for a sight not unlike the image of Jose Altuve standing next to Aaron Judge.
Piedmont Hills (1-3, 1-0 BVAL Mt. Hamilton) @ Oak Grove (2-2, 1-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
One of the better early-season matchups in the Mt. Hamilton Division features a pair of strong quarterbacks in Gabriel Reclusado and Justin Munday. The Pirates’ fortunes have certainly improved since Reclusado returned to the quarterback position, and he’s up to exactly 1,000 passing yards on the season. He only threw 21 times last week, but completed 18 of those passes for 339 yards as Piedmont Hills hung 46 points on a solid Santa Teresa defense. Oak Grove largely stayed on the ground in last week’s blowout win over Westmont, but Munday is quite the athletic specimen at 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds, and while he’s mainly stayed in the pocket, he can certainly scramble if his protection breaks down.
Pioneer (3-1, 0-1 BVAL Mt. Hamilton) @ Lincoln (2-1, 1-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
It’s been a few years since Lincoln eschewed a playoff berth to play the traditional Big Bone Game on Thanksgiving, but with a win on Friday, that could certainly be a possibility for the first time since 2015. The Lions turned some heads with a 48-28 win over Leland, and they did it while throwing just two passes. Isaac Juarez found the end zone four times in a monster performance (21 carries-259 yards) and Adam Arenas ran 23 times for 216 yards as Lincoln made a major statement after winning just four league games total over the last two years. Pioneer is coming off a loss, but Live Oak is one of the top teams in the league, and Lincoln’s strong performance last week gives the Mustangs an instant shot for redemption if they can slow the Lions’ roll.
No. 17 San Benito (1-3, 0-1 PCAL Gabilan) @ No. 15 Christopher (3-1, 1-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
The Haybalers have struggled defensively so far in 2018, and taking on a dangerous Christopher offense won’t be any easier. It should be noted, though, that the Balers have performed their best when everyone counts them out, as was the case in a win over Los Gatos three weeks ago. In order to succeed, San Benito will need to find a way to stop Ben Sanford and Tyler Davis. Sanford is 90-for-125 passing on the season, good for a 72% completion rate, and he broke the 1,000-yard mark on the season with a 349-yard performance in last week’s win over Seaside. As for Davis, he’s already got 520 yards on 65 carries, though the Spartans completely held him in check last week. Christopher’s lone loss so far this season was at home, and the Cougars will be looking to avoid a repeat Friday night in just their second home game of the season.
No. 22 Independence (4-0, 1-0 BVAL Santa Teresa) @ No. 25 Silver Creek (3-1, 0-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
Silver Creek’s first two league games have been as tough as most A-league teams, falling to Overfelt last week and preparing to host the 76ers on Friday. Independence cleanly dispatched Willow Glen on the road last week, outgaining the Rams 324-78 on the ground, but they’ll need to be sharp against the Raiders’ passing game. Alejandro Flores has already completed 63 passes for 906 yards and six touchdowns, and he has a top receiver in Nnamdi Obilor, who made a stellar one-handed catch at Overfelt last Friday. It’ll be a total clash in styles on Friday, considering that the Sixers have gained 73% of their total offensive yards for the season on the ground while Silver Creek is always a threat to go through the air.
Jefferson (3-1) @ Woodside (3-1, 2-1 on field), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
The first week of PAL Lake play features what should be a better game than most “C” leagues ever see, with a showdown between quarterbacks Joaquin Alvarez and Brody Crowley. Alvarez has already thrown for 861 yards, and even with just three games because of a forfeit win, Crowley has 719. There’ll also be a great clash of linemen with Division I interest in Jefferson’s Paul Matavao-Poialii and Woodside’s Christian Ochoa.
Ochoa is Woodside’s lead tackler, while Matavao-Poialii has racked up nine tackles for a loss, including six sacks. The nine TFLs have him tied for fourth in the section, and he has sole possession of the #4 spot in saccks. Keeping momentum moving forward will be critical for the Wildcats against a Jefferson team that has already racked up 40 tackles for a loss on the young season.
St. Ignatius (0-4, 0-1 WCAL) @ No. 4 Valley Christian (3-1, 1-0), Saturday, 6 p.m.
Homecoming is a huge deal at Valley Christian, and on Saturday, the Warriors will welcome in a Wildcat team that will certainly be ready for the talent level of the hosts. SI’s 0-4 record is largely a product of facing multiple state title contenders, and the Wildcats were within two scores at halftime in last week’s loss to St. Francis. Valley only led 10-7 at halftime against Sacred Heart Cathedral, but wore out the Fightin’ Irish in the second half en route to a 45-7 win, and the Warriors did so without completing a single pass.
Isaiah McElvane ran for 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while the defense scored twice in the second half, once on a fumble and once on an interception, and used another interception to set up great field position for yet another touchdown. If St. Ignatius can take care of the ball, the Wildcats will have a chance to spoil the homecoming party and have one heck of a time on the long bus ride back home.
Best of the Rest
Expectations for Aragon (0-4) may have been tempered after a slow start, but the Dons still have a pair of outstanding rushers in Paul Lautaimi and Camron Grant. Unfortunately, quarterback Sean Budiman fractured his wrist in last week’s loss to King’s Academy, meaning Aragon may rely on junior Colby Stevens and run a mix of wildcat formations with Lautaimi and Grant. Visiting 11th-ranked Menlo-Atherton (2-2) is no stranger to injuries, as quarterback Jack Alexander has yet to see the field this season. Feleti Malupo will likely serve as QB on Friday night, as Justin Anderson, primarily a wide receiver who has also seen time in the pocket, was banged up in last week’s loss to Valor Christian-Colorado. While this PAL Bay opener may have lost some of its luster, it should still be one of the better games this weekend.
It’s hard to consider a game a must-win just two weeks into league play, but with Branham (2-2, 0-1) and Willow Glen (2-2, 0-1) both losing their BVAL Santa Teresa openers, a victory is crucial in order to stay in the hunt for the title. An 0-2 league start would also put serious dents into playoff hopes amidst such a grounded Santa Teresa Division. Branham nearly matched Del Mar in yardage last week, only being outgained 384-375, but the Bruins failed to turn the offense into points. Willow Glen’s run game was completely shut down in a loss to Independence, with Isaiah Basurto’s 263 passing yards serving as the sole source of life for the offense.
Two teams that won their BVAL Santa Teresa openers will meet on Friday night as Del Mar (4-0, 1-0) will take its ironclad defense on the road to face Leigh (3-1, 1-0). No team has scored more than 13 on the Dons, but Leigh has broken 30 points in each of its three wins. The Longhorns will try to ride the legs of Eric Elizondo (59 carries-461 yards) to victory, while Del Mar beat Branham behind a 94-yard touchdown pass on a trick play and a 101-yard performance from Isaac Black.
Scotts Valley (3-2, 0-1 PCAL Mission) is certainly smarting after a lopsided defeat to Carmel, but the Falcons can get back on track with a strong showing against 25th-ranked Alisal (3-2, 1-0). The Trojans were expected to beat North Salinas last week, but most didn’t expect Alisal to race out to a 21-0 halftime lead and win 42-19. The nearly hour-long bus trip is certainly something that can work to Scotts Valley’s advantage, and it’s something the Falcons will often have at their disposal in the newly-formed power league.
Monte Vista Christian (1-3, 1-0 PCAL Mission) certainly dealt with a difficult nonleague schedule, but the Mustangs should certainly be ready when Carmel (4-0, 1-0) rolls into town on Friday night. The MVC defense has allowed 108 points this season, but the unit Christopher to 17 and got a sense of great competition when facing the likes of Aptos and King’s Academy, which means the hosts should be more than prepared for the attack of Kai Lee and Dakota Mornhinweg. Carmel averages exactly 50 points per game so far this season.
