With the December 7 date to begin practice in earnest now a wishful memory, when and if we can even have a season would seem to lie in the hands of state health officials that are guiding the governor. Be as it may, we’re not going to shortchange the players, teams, schools, fans and communities that are hoping beyond hope that not only football but all high school sports in California has a future for this school year. Because of that, we continue the route to No. 1 and at this stage the funnel narrows.
6. Pittsburg 11-2
The Pirates finished No. 6 in Northern California and No. 25 overall in the final Cal-Hi Sports rankings and while we considered moving them up, we initially decided to wait and see what would happen in the originally scheduled matchup on January 8 when Coach Vic Galli and his Pirates were to host Serra, but that’s a non-starter. Will the game even be played at this point is anyone’s guess.
The bottom line is Pittsburg would appear to have an abundance of talent, but a lot of it is underclass. So the talent is mostly unproven, although several of those younger players are on the NorCal recruiting scene.
The sophomore getting the most ink is dual-threat quarterback Jaden Rashada. Rashada, who was the Quarterbacks MVP at the National Prep Collegiate Showcase last month in Vacaville, and who changed his mind about transferring to IMG Academy in Florida after playing his freshman year at Liberty-Brentwood, enrolled at Pittsburg due to his living situation when he came back to East Contra Costa County.
Brandon Huffman, the National Recruiting Editor of 247Sports rates Rashada as the top dual-threat signal-caller in the nation from the Class of 2023. Rashada already has offers from Arizona State, Auburn, Cal, Oregon State, San Diego State, San Jose State and Utah.
Despite the hype, Rashada will not just be handed the starter’s job.
The quarterback situation will be one that Galli has never had before with Whitney-Rocklin transfer Eli Brickhandler and last year’s JV starter Khamani Blakney also competing for the job.
Brickhandler passed for 2,259 yards and 18 TDs last season and helped lead a Whitney team that went 0-10 two seasons ago to a 7-7 record last year and an appearance in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II title game.
“All three (quarterbacks) are up for the challenge and working their butts off,” Galli said. “It’s going to come down to what they do on the field but right now how can anyone win a job when you can’t touch the ball. They’re all going to have the opportunity to win the job but as we get closer it will come down to two and then one, but then again all three could play, if we play. It’s all unpredictable but this is the best quarterback situation I’ve ever had in all my years at Pittsburg.”
That quote from Galli came in mid-November and since then the water is even muddier.
Another sophomore that Galli really likes that is way up there on all the recruiting lists is wide receiver Rashid Williams. The leading returner at receiver (27 catches, 272 yards, 5 TDs) already has offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Cal, Oregon State, San Jose State and Utah.
The other two sophomores on the recruiting radar screen are WR/DB Israel Polk, who recently received his first offer from Cal, and Keynan Higgins, who reportedly has an offer from Arizona State.
The defense will be anchored by UNLV-bound linebacker Maurice Jamison. Galli also likes his secondary that will welcome Freedom-Oakley senior transfer Bryant Weekly. Another transfer from Freedom that could make a huge impact is Matt Quesada. The senior was one of the top wide receivers in the Bay Valley Athletic League last season with 61 catches for 853 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“We have some dudes,” Galli said in conclusion.
If they can play this season we’ll find out what Galli’s dudes are made of, but if not we’ll have to see his underclass laden team perform when it can finally take the gridiron.
