After long wait, football teams back to playing
It’s really here. Two weeks ago, high school football teams began cracking pads at practice.
A week ago, teams collided in scrimmages.
Friday and Saturday, the games begin, 15 months after the 2019 state championship games were played.
Friday marks the oneyear anniversary since most high school sports teams throughout the country were shut down by the coronavirus pandemic, including the California Interscholastic Federation basketball championships for the first time in their history.
“It doesn’t seem quite real that we’re getting going again,” said AragonSan Mateo football coach Steve Sell, whose team hosts Sacred Heart PrepAtherton at 7 p.m. Friday. “But here we go.”
Subject to change, there are 15 games scheduled in the Bay Area this week. Here are the top five:
St. Mary’s-Stockton at No. 1 De La SalleConcord, 7:30 p.m. Saturday: De La Salle features thirdyear starting quarterback Dorian Hale, a Sacramento State signee, and two experienced threats in LuMagia Hearns (Cal) and fourstar junior Zeke Berry. St. Mary’s boasts its own fourstar junior receiver in Jadyn Marshall. Stream: NFHS.
No. 13 Monte Vista-Danville at No. 19 AcalanesLafayette, 7 p.m. Saturday: The latest standout quarterback for Acalanes coach Floyd Burnsed, 73, is Brady Huchingson (2,646 passing yards, 29 TDs in 2019). Monte Vista head coach Matt Russi counters with two super players, running back Gavin Cribb and linebacker Josh Zeising. Stream: NorCalSportsTV
No. 11 San Ramon ValleyDanville at No. 24 Las LomasWalnut Creek, 7 p.m. Saturday: The host Knights (112 in 2019) feature AllMetro lineman Mason Reese. San Ramon Valley has a formidable squad featuring the passing combination of promising junior quarterback Jack Quigley and San Diego State signee JP Murphy, a 6foot4, 230pound tight end.
No. 5 Clayton Valley-Concord at Inderkum-Sacramento, 7 p.m. Saturday: Quarterback Jake Kern and running back Omari Taylor return to Clayton Valley, which closed out a magical 2019 season with five straight wins and a 2AA state championship. Inderkum was hit hard by graduation after going 111, but returns 62, 250pound defensive lineman Jalen Bryant (88 tackles, 7.5 sacks in 2019).
Burlingame at No. 16 Half Moon Bay, 7 p.m. Friday: Half Moon Bay coach Keith Holden boasts one of the most productive players in the Bay Area in fouryear, twoway starter Tristan Hofmann (22 rushing touchdowns, 104 tackles in 2019). Burlingame coach John Philipopoulos is one of the best on the Peninsula. Stream: NFHS.
Other Friday games (all 7 p.m.): Capuchino-San Bruno at San Mateo; CampolindoMoraga at FreedomOakley; American Canyon vs. Sonoma Valley at Arnold Field; VintageNapa at Casa GrandePetaluma; Petaluma at Justin-Siena-Napa.
Other Saturday games (7 p.m. unless noted): San Rafael at San MarinNovato (1 p.m.); Livermore at FoothillPleasanton; GranadaLivermore at HeritageBrentwood; Dublin at CaliforniaSan Ramon.