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WILCOX: ROSAS GET THEIR FATHER-SON MOMENT
Senior Brayden Rosa wasn’t too big to admit that he had been “owned” by Los Gatos in his previous seasons of varsity football.
Wilcox had lost six consecutive games to its Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division rivals. The Chargers had not defeated the Wildcats since Rosa’s older brother, Paul Rosa Jr., suited up for Wilcox.
But Friday night was Brayden Rosa’s moment to shine in the storied local rivalry. For the first time since 2019, Rosa Jr.’s senior year, the Chargers knocked off Los Gatos. The final score was 19-14. Rosa scored all three of Wilcox’s touchdowns and forced a Los Gatos fumble early in the second half.
“It means a ton,” Wilcox coach Paul Rosa Sr. said. “Our goal all year is to win our league, and we at least clinched a share of that. My other son was pretty successful against Los Gatos. So there’s always been a little bit of household talking s—, and Brayden’s got them now, so he feels good about that.”
Wilcox coach Paul Rosa looks on as his team defeated Sacred Heart Prep on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Brayden Rosa broke his collarbone ahead of his freshman season in 2021 and did not play against Los Gatos in a matchup Wilcox lost 41-18. In 2022, the Chargers lost 28-7 as Rosa compiled six tackles.
In 2023, Wilcox faced Los Gatos twice. The first time, in the regular season, Los Gatos prevailed 24-21. Rosa posted a sack and 10 tackles, including two for a loss.
The teams matched up again in the playoffs, resulting in a 49-14 win for the Wildcats. Rosa rushed for 46 yards on four carries and fumbled once, one of four giveaways by Wilcox.
Friday was finally Rosa’s night. Along with the three TDs, Rosa rushed for 128 yards and racked up several key tackles defensively, plus the forced fumble that ended Los Gatos’ first drive of the second half.
After running the ball in for a touchdown, Wilcox’s Brayden Rosa (2) celebrates with Justin Forster (5), Semaj Clark (7), and Richard Cerecerez III (57) in the fourth quarter of their football game at Los Gatos on Friday. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
“It feels great,” Rosa said. “It’s hard living up to the expectations of (Paul Jr.) being your older brother, but he’s one of the reasons why I am the way I am, and I go get what’s mine. He was with me when I was getting raised, and he’s really grown me up into who I am.”
Brayden Rosa’s grown into someone his dad will miss a lot next year when he’s gone.
“It’s hard to think about now, because I’ve been coaching so long with kids coming through,” Rosa Sr. said. “But it is bittersweet. I’m glad he’s moving on, and hopefully, he’s going to do big things. But I’ve loved coaching both of them. I couldn’t be prouder of both of them.”
– Christian Babcock
BISHOP O’DOWD: RUNNING BACKS STEP UP
James Logan’s defense keyed in on Bishop O’Dowd star running back Saliou Sow early on during Friday’s game, but two players stepped up big to continue the Dragons’ potent rushing attack.
Running back Elliott Lewis and fullback OC Lehner made every big play down the stretch of O’Dowd’s 35-27 league title-clinching win over Logan, combining for 108 yards of total offense and a touchdown.
Bishop O’Dowd’s OC Lehner runs the ball against James Logan in a West Alameda County Conference Foothill Division football game in Oakland on Friday night. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Lewis, who also plays rugby, gives O’Dowd’s offense a different dimension as a bruising power back and is a force as a linebacker on defense.
“He’s got the name ‘The Terminator,’” O’Dowd coach Hardy Nickerson said of Lewis. “He makes tackles on the kickoff. He makes multiple tackles on defense. We put him in the backfield and he just runs through tackles. He’s one of the toughest kids I’ve been around, and he sets the tone for us that everybody just feeds off of.”
– Nathan Canilao
FREMONT-OAKLAND: LIPSCOMB IS ‘TRUE TROOPER’
Aaron Lipscomb is a two-time all-Oakland Athletic League running back who has spent his four years as one of the few bright spots at Fremont. Playing under three different coaches, Lipscomb knows how to adapt to changes.
This year has been challenging with the Tigers starting the season 0-7. But Lipscomb never moped or stopped caring.
“Aaron has been a true trooper,” first-year coach Tyler Newell said. “He’s never gotten down on himself and has always maintained a great and hardworking mindset. He comes ready to work every day with his chin strap up.”
Lipscomb rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s 23-16 victory over Skyline. His coach hopes that a college will take a chance on the hardworking back.
“He’s definitely got the grades to be recruited, but he just hasn’t gotten the opportunity,” Newell said.
– Joseph Dycus
JAMES LOGAN: LEARNING LESSONS FOR YOUNG TEAM
Logan coach James Barnes has had a whirlwind first season.
The Colts had multiple starters from last season’s team transfer out of the program – most notably quarterback Jonathan Craft, who left for El Cerrito. Logan started the year with a tough nonleague schedule that saw the Union City school lose its first four games.
But despite the circumstances, Logan was right in the mix of a league crown and has shown flashes of what the future holds for a young, athletic team.
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“The future is bright,” Barnes said. “We’re not going anywhere. The guys believe in the system. It’s going to take one more year to get over that hump. We take our bumps now, so then going forward, we know what it feels like to be prepared and experienced to play those games.”
– Nathan Canilao
PEEK AHEAD TO WEEK 11
Thursday
Jefferson (7-2) at Gunn (9-0), 7 p.m.: It’s a winner-take-all game for the PAL Lake Division title, as undefeated Gunn hosts a red-hot Jefferson team that has won its last seven games.
Leland (7-2) at Willow Glen (9-0), 7:15 p.m.: The winner of this South Bay matchup will be crowned the Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa-Valley Division champion.
Friday
No. 1 De La Salle (9-0) at No. 13 Clayton Valley (6-3), 7 p.m.: De La Salle will be heavily favored to finish the regular season undefeated in a rivalry game against Clayton Valley.
Las Lomas (6-3) at No. 12 Acalanes (7-2), 7 p.m.: Acalanes can lock up the DAL Foothill Division title outright with a win against Las Lomas.
No. 17 McClymonds (4-4) at Oakland Tech (6-3), 7 p.m.: A McClymonds win could give the Warriors their 15th consecutive OAL title.
Livermore (6-3) at Granada (5-4), 7:15 p.m.: The annual cross-town rivalry will have league title implications, as this year’s winner will be crowned the EBAL Valley Division champion.
Mt. Diablo (7-2) at Northgate (6-3), 7:20 p.m.: Both teams won their respective divisions in the DAL and will be vying for the league’s second automatic qualifier for the NCS playoffs.