Teams face obstacles to normalcy in 2021 season
The hope for the 2021 high school fall football season is normalcy. Back to the way it was before the pandemic. In the fall. … with playoffs.
With 96 games scheduled in the Bay Area on Aug. 27-28, all signs are pointing to a return to pre-pandemic play, including fans and cheerleaders.
But serious obstacles still can derail the plans.
Smoke from the Dixie Fire has caused unhealthy air quality throughout the region. There are still COVID-19 concerns, testing and tracing, even with vaccines. Throw in low player turnout and high coaching turnover due in part to the fast turnaround from the unusual spring season, and 2021 isn’t looking typical.
“It’s definitely looking and feeling a lot better than the spring,” De La Salle-Concord coach Justin Alumbaugh said. “But to call it normal would not be accurate. There are still a lot of hoops to jump through to get us started safely — for understandable precautionary reasons.”
When it does start, the teams at the top of The Chronicle’s rankings will look quite familiar. De La Salle, Serra and Pittsburg hold down the top three spots — in the same order they finished in the spring, when all went unbeaten during shortened campaigns.
De La Salle is ranked 17th nationally by MaxPreps and hasn’t lost to a Northern California team since 1991, a span of 316 games. The Spartans will face California top-25 teams St. Mary’s-Stockton (Aug. 27), Cathedral Catholic-San Diego (Sept. 17) and Folsom (Oct. 8), not to mention nationally ranked St. Frances AcademyBaltimore (Oct. 1). The Spartans have an unproven offensive backfield, though senior quarterback Luke Dermon did see considerable action last season and his backup, sophomore Carson Su’esu’e (6-foot-5, 180) has loads of promise.
Former Riordan head coach Kevin Fordon takes over as quarterbacks coach from Mark Panella, who moved to Tennessee. Former De La Salle and NFL standout Maurice JonesDrew also joins the staff. Unlike most Bay Area teams, participation is up for the Spartans: 70 on varsity roster, 55 on JV and 95 freshmen tried out.
“Even with the quick turnaround, there’s an excitement to the season,” Alumbaugh said. “We’re all excited for the kids.”
Campolindo-Moraga coach Kevin Macy, in his 26th season, said the excitement was palpable around campus Friday for the team’s intrasquad scrimmage. “It was great to see loads of people in the stands,” he said. “The kids have to wear masks in the classrooms, but for now we are free of masks outdoors. There were plenty of smiling faces at our scrimmage.”
Along with the excitement is some apprehension: “With two years of no spring practices, camps and limited weight room, I’m sure all coaches feel panicked to bring their kids up to speed the best they can,” Macy said.
San Francisco Section coaches just want their players to get on the field, period. The SFS was California’s only section not to play football last school year, via orders from the San Francisco Unified School District.
The fall season is scheduled to start on time, but participation numbers are way down. At 2018 and ’19 state champion Lincoln, the healthiest of all Academic Athletic Association programs, coach Phil Ferrigno said Saturday only 26 players are in the program, about 30% of normal.
Ferrigno said the section is asking the SFUSD to amend attendance and grade requirements with a probation period to raise numbers.
“Love the group I have and we’ll go with what we got,” Ferrigno said. “A year off hurt but we’ll make the most of it.”
The Pittsburg challenge: Lonetime Pittsburg coach Vic Galli has never backed down from a tough opponent. The Pirates host De La Salle on Friday in a scrimmage, then play No. 2 Serra, go to state No. 8 Folsom, host No. 7 Valley Christian, are at No. 16 Wilcox-Santa Clara and at No. 4 McClymonds-Oakland.
Galli’s team has all the firepower needed, with quarterback Jaden Rashada and wide receiver/safety Rashid Williams, a pair of four-star junior recruits, leading the way along with receiving recruits Israel Polk, Jadyn Hudson, Zack Card and Khai Taylor. All are juniors except Hudson, a freshman.
Serra’s tandems: The Padres pass the eye test with perhaps the biggest and most talented line in school history — led by
Drew Azzopardi (6-5, 317) and
Nathan Elu (6-5, 295). They’ll clear the way for game-breakers Hassan Mahasin (a 5-10, 185 running back) and quarterback Dominique Lampkin (6-1, 180).
Mack attack: McClymonds hasn’t lost to an Oakland Athletic League opponent since 2009 (74 straight games) and has run up 574 points over its past 10 OAL games. With 19 of 21 starters returning, it figures to be another cakewalk in the league. So coach Michael Peters beefed up the schedule with games against No. 3 Pittsburg, No. 8 Menlo-Atherton, No. 9 Marin Catholic-Kentfield and No. 23 De Anza-Richmond. First-team All-Metro quarterback Dreyan Paul (1,850 total yards, 30 TDs in five games in spring) leads the way.
“It’s definitely looking and feeling a lot better than the spring. But to call it normal would not be accurate.” Justin Alumbaugh, De La Salle coach, on the upcoming football season