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.
Check back every Thursday morning during the season for the preview.
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On the top matchups …
Friday
No. 7 San Ramon Valley (3-0) at No. 9 McClymonds (1-2), 7:15 p.m.: When these teams met at Mack two years ago, the game was a thriller. Mack held on to win 45-42. SRV was more dominant in the rematch last season, prevailing at home 35-7. The series returns to the Machouse on Friday as SRV will put its undefeated record on the line against a Mack team coming off an emotional victory last week at Bishop O’Dowd. SRV QB Rhett Thompson, who has taken over from the graduated Luke Baker, has thrown for 618 yards and five touchdowns through three games. Matthew Garibaldi has added four rushing TDs. Mack’s Sharky Tamale ran for 221 yards in 17 carries and Dominic Davis had 101 yards in 12 carries against O’Dowd. Mack opened the season with losses to Archbishop Riordan and St. Francis. – Darren Sabedra
No. 22 Menlo School (3-0) at Capuchino (3-0), 7 p.m.: A matchup of teams from different levels of the Peninsula Athletic League. With firepower on both teams, this could be a high-scoring game. Capuchino quarterback Bobby Gomez leads an offense that has no shortage of weapons. Running back Lucas Zayac is the reigning PAL Ocean Division player of the year. Receivers Cameron Chin and Travis Ciardella are two top targets in what coach Jay Oca calls the “Fly” offense. Menlo School quarterback Jack Freehill is a dual-threat who has thrown for 10 touchdowns and rushed for four more. Chuck Wynn is averaging 116 yards per game on the ground as part of a prolific and balanced attack that has scored at least 49 points in each of its three games. DT David Mhatre is the Knights’ top lineman with nine tackles for loss. Ryan Jabal has two interceptions for Menlo School. – Joseph Dycus
Hillsdale (2-1) at No. 23 Santa Teresa (3-0), 7:15 p.m.: The Saints narrowly kept their undefeated season alive with an overtime win over Pioneer last Friday. This week, they’ll host Hillsdale, which is coming off a 40-30 win over Woodside. Hillsdale has played three close contests – the Fighting Knights took down Livermore 29-22 in Week 1 and lost a road heartbreaker to Half Moon Bay 21-14 in Week 2. Dante Allendorf had a banner game for Hillsdale last week, rushing for 244 yards and four touchdowns within the first three quarters of game action. On the Santa Teresa side, Jaylen Malcom scored four touchdowns, including the game-winner in OT, as the Saints took down Pioneer 41-35. – Christian Babcock
Gunn (3-0) at Monta Vista (3-0), 7 p.m.: This matchup of surprise unbeaten teams is the second game of the Peninsula Athletic League Lake Division schedule for both sides. The home Matadors are coming off a 35-6 win over MacDonald, a team in its first season as a varsity program. Graham Ischo scored three touchdowns for Monta Vista, rushing for two and returning a punt for another. Finnegan Hassy scored a short rushing TD, and Trevor Chan returned an interception for a touchdown. Gunn has allowed eight points all season defensively, has notched two shutouts and is coming off a 41-0 league victory over Mills last Friday. – Christian Babcock
Terra Linda (2-0) at Heritage (2-1), 7 p.m.: These two offenses couldn’t be any more different. Through its first three games, Heritage has relied on its run game to lead it to victories. Running back Mekhi Adanandus has been on a tear to start the season, rushing for a score in each of Heritage’s three games. In the Patriots’ win against Dublin last week, the senior rushed for 115 yards and a score on 13 carries. Quarterback Phillip Babbitt has been consistent, passing for at least 150 yards in each game this year. Terra Linda has won its two games through the air. Quarterback Joshua Milani threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-0 win over Skyline last week. Through two games, the senior has thrown six touchdown passes and rushed for another. CalPreps’ computer projects Heritage to win this game 24-17. – Nathan Canilao
Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 19
SOUTH BAY/PENINSULA
Non-league
Christopher at Gilroy, 7:15 p.m.
Milpitas at Homestead, 7 p.m.
Mountain View at Los Gatos, 7 p.m.
Palo Alto at Fremont-Sunnyvale, 7 p.m.
San Mateo at Los Altos, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 20
EAST BAY
Non-league
Alameda vs. Mt. Diablo at Thompson Field in Alameda, 7 p.m.
Alhambra at Las Lomas, 7 p.m.
American at Washington-Fremont, 7 p.m.
American Canyon at Hayward, 7 p.m.
Benicia at Miramonte, 7 p.m.
Berkeley at Granada, 7 p.m.
Bethel vs. Vintage at Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Bishop O’Dowd at Cardinal Newman, 7 p.m.
California at Antioch, 7 p.m.
Campolindo at El Cerrito, 7 p.m.
Castro Valley at Deer Valley, 7 p.m.
College Park at Acalanes, 7 p.m.
Encinal at Piedmont, 7 p.m.
Kennedy-Fremont at Dougherty Valley, 7 p.m.
Liberty at Amador Valley, 7 p.m.
Livermore at Moreau Catholic, 7 p.m.
Logan at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
Northgate at Clayton Valley, 7 p.m.
Pinole Valley at Ygnacio Valley, 7 p.m.
Rancho Cotate at Freedom, 7 p.m.
Redwood Christian at San Lorenzo, 3:30 p.m.
San Leandro at Foothill, 7 p.m.
Tennyson at Mt. Eden, 7 p.m.
Terra Linda at Heritage, 7 p.m.
Windsor at Dublin, 7 p.m.
SOUTH BAY/PENINSULA
PAL Lake
El Camino at Jefferson, 7 p.m.
Gunn at Monta Vista, 7 p.m.
Lynbrook at Mills, 7 p.m.
Saratoga at Cupertino, 7 p.m.
Non-league
Aragon at Branham, 7:15 p.m.
Burlingame at Wilcox, 7 p.m.
Del Mar at Evergreen Valley, 7:15 p.m.
Hillsdale at Santa Teresa, 7:15 p.m.
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Leigh at Pioneer, 7 p.m.
Lincoln at Leland, 7:15 p.m.
Live Oak at Menlo-Atherton, 7 p.m.
Menlo School at Capuchino, 7 p.m.
Mt. Pleasant at Independence, 7:15 p.m.
Sacred Heart Prep at The King’s Academy, 7 p.m.
South San Francisco at Carlmont, 7 p.m.
Terra Nova at Santa Clara, 7 p.m.
Woodside at Half Moon Bay, 7 p.m.
INTERSECTIONAL
Arcata at Oakland, 7 p.m.
Balboa at Overfelt, 7:15 p.m.
Burton at Hill, 7:15 p.m.
Castlemont at Hercules, 7 p.m.
De Anza at Fremont-Oakland, 7 p.m.
De La Salle at St. Mary’s-Stockton, 7:15 p.m.
Eureka at Willow Glen, 7 p.m.
Lincoln-San Francisco at Vallejo, 7 p.m.
Mission at Kennedy-Richmond, 7 p.m.
Pittsburg at St. John Bosco-Bellflower, 7 p.m.
San Ramon Valley at McClymonds, 7:15 p.m.
Sequoia at Newark Memorial, 7 p.m.
Skyline at Del Norte-Crescent City, 7:30 p.m.
Washington-San Francisco at Richmond, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 21
EAST BAY
Non-league
Arroyo at St. Mary’s-Berkeley, 1 p.m.
Concord at Williams, 2 p.m.
Oakland Tech at Salesian, 1:40 p.m.
St. Patrick-St. Vincent at Berean Christian, noon
SOUTH BAY/PENINSULA
Non-league
Oak Grove at Gunderson, 1 p.m.
INTERSECTIONAL
Galileo vs. Irvington at Washington-Fremont, 7 p.m.
Novato at San Jose, 7 p.m.