Bruce-Mahoney matchup is exciting
There’s no better way to spend a bye week than getting ready for the Bruce-Mahoney football game.
More than 7,000 fans are expected at Kezar Stadium on Friday for the annual game between Sacred Heart Cathedral against St. Ignatius, a series that began in 1893.
Besides the excitement of the rivalry, this also marks the West Catholic Athletic League opener for both squads, giving each team a measure of hope.
Each has had just two winning seasons in the previous 10.
“This is a very exciting and enjoyable couple of weeks for our kids,” SHC first-year head coach and longtime assistant Barry McLaughlin said. “They can enjoy the early success and look ahead to one of the best rivalry games and leagues anywhere.”
The Irish (3-0), led by quarterback Will Irons (689 yards passing, 10 touchdowns) and all-around back Anthony Heard (481 total yards, 11 TDs), are the WCAL’s only unbeaten team. They’ve outscored opponents 132-47.
SHC has lost five straight and nine of 10 to St. Ignatius, including a 41-21 decision last season. SI holds a 61-25-7 series edge.
St. Ignatius (1-2) has held the Bruce-Mahoney trophy the past five years, six of seven and 15 of the past 17.
In 1945, the schools established a trophy named after Bill Bruce (1935 St. Ignatius graduate) and Jerry Mahoney (SHC 1944), who were both killed in World War II.
The Bruce-Mahoney trophy goes to the school that wins at least two of three games each year in football, boys basketball and baseball.
St. Ignatius, a balanced squad led quarterback Charlie Katz, receiver David Woodruff and lineman Kiaran O’Keeffe, has played a rugged nonleague schedule, which featured a win over Clovis East (7-0) and losses to No. 16 Campolindo-Moraga (47-28) and No. 10 Marin Catholic-Kentfield (35-21).
Takeaways: Two Academic Athletic Association football teams, Mission and Lowell, took away a lot of positives from nonleague losses Friday.
Mission (1-2), which fell 16-6 to undefeated San Mateo, got 10 tackles and two interceptions from Jamal Dixon. Coach Greg Hill also praised the all-around play of Jelani-AlMalik, Cheeko Wells and Robert Lee.
Lowell (0-1), which has had trouble fielding a team because of a lack of players, showed well in a 34-20 loss to Tennyson-Hayward. Brennan Nguy rushed for two touchdowns and Treyvor Turmon another one.
The schedule: AAA play doesn’t open until next week. Nonleague games Friday: California School for the DeafFremont (3-1) at Washington (1-1) at 3:15 p.m., Burton (0-2) at Richmond (2-1) at 6:30 p.m., and Mission at American Canyon (1-3) at 7:30 p.m. Defending San Francisco Section champion Lincoln (2-1) hosts El Camino-South San Francisco (2-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Riordan (1-2) hosts Serra (1-2) in other WCAL action, 1 p.m. Saturday at City College of San Francisco.