Welcome back to the Bay Area News Group’s high school football preview.
Here, you’ll find the week’s top matchups and complete weekend schedule for teams in this news organization’s coverage area, which encompasses leagues based primarily in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
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On the top matchups …
CCS Open/Division I
No. 7 Valley Christian (5-5) at No. 2 St. Francis (8-2), Friday 7 p.m.: These West Catholic Athletic League rivals face off again in the section’s top bracket. Aaron Knapp and the St. Francis offense used a slew of big plays to defeat Valley Christian 35-17 in the regular season. Perrion Williams had a 45-yard touchdown run, Grant Righellis caught a 94-yard touchdown pass from Knapp and Kingston Keanaaina returned a kickoff 98 yards and took a screen pass 75 yards for his two touchdowns. Keanaaina’s brothers, Kevin and Kaimani, are among the team leaders in tackles for loss, as is freshman lineman Jayden Lewis (7.5). They’ll have to contend with a ground-and-pound attack that will be fearsome if running backs Marcel Leggett and Ekiah McLemore, who missed the regular-season finale against Serra, are healthy enough to run behind star lineman Champ Taulealea. Micah Mosley and Corban Bixby are among the VC defenders who will try to slow down big-play St. Francis. Calpreps has St. Francis winning the rematch 27-14. – Joseph Dycus
No. 5 Los Gatos (8-2) at No. 4 Serra (5-5), Saturday, 1 p.m.: This should be an excellent matchup between the PAL Bay runner-up and a tough Serra team. Los Gatos rebounded from a league-title-deciding loss to rival Wilcox with a 44-6 pasting of Palo Alto. Serra has been quietly building momentum over the last few weeks of WCAL play, most recently beating Valley Christian 29-3. Los Gatos will need a big game from senior quarterback Scotty Brennan to win this one. Fortunately for Brennan and the Cats, running back Grayson Doslak, who scored three touchdowns last week, is more than capable of helping lighten his load. Serra boasts a multi-faceted run game led by running back Nano Latu, who scored two first-half touchdowns and compiled 144 total yards against VC. – Christian Babcock
NCS Open/Division I
No. 6 California (8-2) at No. 3 San Ramon Valley (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: Will SRV stop Jhadis Luckey? That will be the big question coming into this matchup between East Bay heavyweights. Luckey is coming off a record-breaking game against Amador Valley in which he rushed for a school-record seven touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. When California and SRV played back in Week 7, Luckey rushed for 159 yards and two scores, but the Wolves won 38-26. Look for Texas A&M commit Marco Jones to play a key role in trying to stop Luckey from having a big game. SRV’s offense has been solid with quarterback Rhett Thompson under center. Thompson has thrown for 2,191 yards and 30 touchdowns this season for a team that averages just over 32 points per game. Calpreps has SRV winning this one, 35-21. – Nathan Canilao
CCS Division II
No. 8 Santa Teresa (9-1) at No. 1 Wilcox (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.: This battle of South Bay public schools should be a quality opening-round matchup despite the seeding differential. Santa Teresa posted a stellar season in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division, losing only to D-II No. 3 seed Christopher in the regular season. Santa Teresa relies on an array of playmakers, including quarterback Brenton Gaches, tall, rangy receiver AJ Rangel and dynamic running back/wide receiver Jaylen Malcom. The Saints also have one of the best kickers in the section in Casey Carr. Wilcox’s success on both sides of the ball begins and ends with senior safety/running back Brayden Rosa, the son of Chargers coach Paul Rosa. Quarterback Kai Imahara’s health will be a major question mark after he separated his AC joint in Wilcox’s game against Menlo-Atherton last week. If he can’t go, the Chargers could turn to Rosa at QB or possibly senior backup Adrian Garcia. Two-way sophomore Elijah Vallejo and senior Jeiman Delos Santos should also receive some carries for Wilcox. – Christian Babcock
NCS Division II
No. 7 Las Lomas (7-3) at No. 2 Amador Valley (6-4), Friday, 7 p.m.: It’ll be a matchup of high-powered offenses in this game as both teams average over 28 points per game. Amador Valley will be looking to bounce back after a heartbreaking overtime loss to California in which the Dons scored 48 points. Oregon State-bound quarterback Tristan Tia will be a focal point for Las Lomas’ defense as he finished the regular season throwing for 3,039 yards and 25 touchdowns. Junior receiver Anthony Harrington has been a force on the perimeter, racking up over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns through 10 games. Las Lomas has won back-to-back games after suffering a three-game skid in the middle of the season. Wide receiver Roman Mercado and running back Kaden Lagaya have been the Knights’ go-to players as they account for nearly 200 yards of total offense per game. Lagaya had a big game in an upset win over Acalanes last week, rushing for 138 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries. Calpreps projects a 35-24 Amador Valley win. – Nathan Canilao
NCS Division IV
No. 6 Livermore (6-4) at No. 3 Granada (6-4), Friday, 7 p.m.: One week after Granada completed a wild second-half comeback to defeat Livermore 28-27 in a regular-season finale, the crosstown rivals duke it out again. Granada’s led by dual-threat quarterback Jack Badger, who threw for 167 and ran for 106 yards against the Cowboys last week. Estevan Duarte ran for two touchdowns and also had 56 receiving yards. Livermore’s QB-RB duo isn’t too shabby, either. Matteo Lortie can make plays with his arm and feet, and Kamarri Robinson is one of the most prolific runners in the Bay Area. The Matadors will try to stop them again with defenders Damien Miles and Hayden Hobbs, who had big plays for Granada down the stretch. Calpreps predicts a 34-24 Granada victory. – Joseph Dycus
CCS Division V
No. 5 Gunn (10-0) at No. 4 Sequoia (5-5), Friday, 7 p.m.: Gunn has been one of the stories of the season. Yes, the Titans won a “C” league championship on their way to a 10-0 regular season. But the manner in which they did it is eyeopening. Gunn had five shutouts in Peninsula Athletic League Lake Division play and six overall, allowing just 31 points all season. DE Luke Hines and LB Cameron Owen have piled up numerous tackles, several behind the line of scrimmage. Samuel Dellenbach and Jeremiah Davis have contributed multiple interceptions. The Titans have won each of their games by at least two more and prevailed in a win-or-go-home game last week against Jefferson, 28-7. The competition figures to elevate this week. Sequoia got healthy at midseason, bouncing back from an 0-4 start to win the PAL’s Ocean Division crown. Jordan Crockett V, who missed the first four games, has rushed for 849 yards and nine touchdowns. QB Shawn Royer has thrown for 1,147 yards and six TDs. One encouraging note for Gunn: South San Francisco won the Lake Division last season, then captured the CCS Division V crown. Calpreps’ computer projects Sequoia to win, 28-7. – Darren Sabedra
Playoff schedule
Central Coast Section
Open/Division I
No. 8 Salinas (8-2) at No. 1 St. Ignatius (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Valley Christian (5-5) at No. 2 St. Francis (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Soquel (8-2) at No. 3 Riordan (6-4), Saturday, 1 p.m.
No. 5 Los Gatos (8-2) at No. 4 Serra (5-5), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Note: The first-round winners in the top half of the bracket will play for the Open Division championship in Week 2 of the playoffs. The loser of the Open Division championship will play the winner of the bottom half of the bracket for the Division I championship in Week 3 of the playoffs.
Division II
No. 6 Menlo (7-3) at No. 3 Christopher (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Palma (5-5) vs. No. 2 Sacred Heart Cathedral (4-6) at Kezar Stadium, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Monterey (6-4) at No. 4 Menlo-Atherton (6-4), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Santa Teresa (9-1) at No. 1 Wilcox (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Division III
No. 6 Half Moon Bay (8-2) at No. 3 Palo Alto (5-5), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Aptos (5-5) at No. 2 Willow Glen (10-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Capuchino (8-2) at No. 4 Hollister (4-6), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 8 San Mateo (8-2) vs. No. 1 Carmel (10-0) at Monterey Peninsula College, Friday, 7 p.m.
Division IV
No. 6 King’s Academy (5-5) at No. 3 Sacred Heart Prep (4-6), Saturday, 1 p.m.
No. 7 North Monterey County (7-3) at No. 2 Branham (7-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 5 North Salinas (7-3) at No. 4 Burlingame (6-4), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Live Oak (3-7) at No. 1 Piedmont Hills (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Division V
No. 6 Stevenson (7-2) at No. 3 Leland (7-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Overfelt (5-5) at No. 2 Alisal (5-5), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Gunn (10-0) at No. 4 Sequoia (5-5), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Gunderson (7-3) at No. 1 South San Francisco (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
North Coast Section
Open/Division I
No. 8 San Marin (7-3) at No. 1 De La Salle (10-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Clayton Valley (6-4) at No. 2 Pittsburg (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 6 California (8-2) at No. 3 San Ramon Valley (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Cardinal Newman (9-1) at No. 4 Marin Catholic (8-2), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Note: The first-round winners in the top half of the bracket will play for the Open Division championship in Week 2 of the playoffs. The loser of the Open Division championship will play the winner of the bottom half of the bracket for the Division I championship in Week 3 of the playoffs.
Division II
No. 3 Windsor (7-3) at No. 6 Casa Grande (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Las Lomas (7-3) at No. 2 Amador Valley (6-4), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Monte Vista (5-5) at No. 4 Bishop O’Dowd (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Vintage (6-4) at No. 1 Liberty (7-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
Division III
No. 6 San Leandro (5-5) at No. 3 Northgate (7-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Berkeley (5-5) at No. 2 Campolindo (5-5), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 5 James Logan (4-6) at No. 4 Heritage (6-4), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Dublin (3-7) at No. 1 Acalanes (7-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
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Division IV
No. 6 Livermore (6-4) at No. 3 Granada (6-4), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 7 College Park (3-7) at No. 2 American Canyon (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Redwood (6-4) at No. 4 Antioch (5-5), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Alameda (8-2) vs. No. 1 Ukiah (7-3), Friday at Alameda, 7 p.m.
Division V
No. 6 Hayward (6-4) at No. 3 Sonoma Valley (10-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Mt. Diablo (7-3) at No. 2 Salesian (9-1), Saturday, 1 p.m.
No. 5 Tamalpais (3-7) at No. 4 Maria Carrillo (7-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Arroyo (8-2) at No. 1 St. Vincent de Paul (9-1), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Division VI
No. 6 Benicia (4-6) at No. 3 Piner (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Newark Memorial (6-4) at No. 2 Miramonte (4-6), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Petaluma (4-6) at No. 4 Montgomery (4-6), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Bethel (3-7) vs. No. 1 Arcata (9-1) at McKinleyville High School, Friday, 7 p.m.
Division VII
No. 6 Fortuna (4-6) at No. 3 Piedmont (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Vallejo (7-3) at No. 2 Ferndale (9-1), Saturday, 1 p.m.
No. 5 Kelseyville (9-1) at No. 4 Del Norte (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 8 St. Bernard’s (6-4) at No. 1 Moreau Catholic (6-4), Friday, 7 p.m.