High school football preview: Blossom Valley Athletic League
MOUNT HAMILTON DIVISION (Predicted order of finish) No.1LELAND Coach: Kelly King Jr. Spring 2021 record: 2-3 What to expect: In a survey of coaches, Leland was projected to finish first in the Mt. Hamilton Division. Here is why: The Chargers return the division’s junior of the year, RB Mark Eby, who ran for 677 yards and scored eight TDs in five games last spring. Cade Whitson was the Bay Area News Group’s first-team kicker. He made a 45-yard field goal in the spring. Jack Ryan, a rising senior, garnered first-team all-league honors after contributing 38 tackles, three sacks and an interception. Rising senior Banipal Yaro (6-4, 320) anchors the offensive line, and 6-6 WR/TE/DE Nick Ames is a three-year varsity player. Season opener: Aug. 27 at Pioneer, 7 p.m. No. 2 LIVE OAK Coach: Mike Gemo Spring 2021 record: 4-0 What to expect: Live Oak loses league co-MVP RB/ LB Mosiah Saulala to graduation but is still expected to contend for the Mt. Hamilton championship. The notables include LB/RB/K Nathan Williams, a first-team all-league selection in the spring, and RB Jordan Fuentes, the league’s reigning sophomore of the year. WR/DB Brandon Hooks returns after missing much of the spring because of a broken collarbone. QB Trent Cousens got experience filling in for an injured starter, and WR/DB Xavier Catano had two interceptions in the three games he played last spring. Season opener: Sept. 3 at Christopher, 7 p.m. No. 3 OAK GROVE Coach: Marcus Reese Spring 2021 record: 3-0 What to expect: Oak Grove was hit hard by graduation. RB/LB Elias Herrera was the Mt. Hamilton’s co-MVP and Izaya Sabedra was its co-lineman of the year last spring. QB Jessie Miller and WR Devyn Parker have moved on, too. But Oak Grove has lost only three Mt. Hamilton games since 2015, which means a reload is more likely than a rebuild. Junior Mattias Dominguez and seniors Cristian Farias and Brenson Kanongataa will provide strength and experience on the lines. Reese said there is a good chance Dominguez can develop into one of the top centers in the section. LB Daniel Cruz and TE/DE Viliami Latu also are expected to contribute. Season opener: Aug. 27 at Los Gatos, 7 p.m. No. 4 SILVER CREEK Coach: Aaron Noriega Spring 2021 record: 2-2 What to expect: The Raiders bid farewell last spring to Elijah Thomas, who was the Mt. Hamilton’s co-utility player of the year. RB/DB Mathias Carrillo moves into Thomas’ role this fall. “Can’t wait to see him on the field,” Noriega said. The Raiders bring back WR/DB Isosa Amas, a first-team all-league pick, and QB Derek Taylor, who gained valuable experience last spring after never having played football. “With one year under his belt and athletic as he is, he is going to be a real threat this year,” Noriega said about Taylor. LT/DE Ryan Dewerk and LB Jeremiah Lacson also are players to watch. Season opener: Aug. 27 at Woodside, 7 p.m. No. 5 OVERFELT Coach: Carlo Maningo Spring 2021 record: 1-4 What to expect: The Royals aim to rebound from a one-win spring season and might have the talent to get it done. Junior Quinton Toga’i had eight sacks in five games last spring and was second on the team in tackles. Free safety Ale Martinez had five interceptions, and team captain Omar Aaroile was an imposing sight for opposing quarterbacks. Athlete Rajeev Kumar is a three-year varsity player, and middle linebacker John Stowers made an impact as a freshman in the spring. Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Yerba Buena, 7 p.m. No. 6 SANTA TERESA Coach: Steve Papin Spring 2021 record: 2-2 What to expect: Papin takes over the Santa Teresa program after a one-season return to Independence, where he had coached for five seasons before spending a year at Menlo-Atherton. He inherits a team that has potential. Senior FS/WR Kai Matthews is a “tremendous two-way player” and defensive leader, Papin said. Junior QB Jayden Arevalo can make all the throws, Papin added, and junior WR/DB Jeffrey Kerr is a Swiss army knife because of his versatility. Senior OL/DL Jorge Ortiz is the team leader, and RB Ezekiel Herena has “exceptional speed, good vision and balance,” Papin noted. Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. San Benito, 7 p.m. No. 7 PIEDMONT HILLS Coach: Matt Kiesle Spring 2021 record: 2-0 What to expect: The Pirates played only two games last spring, narrow victories over Santa Teresa and Overfelt. Their leading rusher and receiver were both juniors. Isaac Nirza had 38 carries for 215 yards and a touchdown, and Roland Legaspi caught 12 passes for 139 and a touchdown. Both combined for 517 all-purpose yards. Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Willow Glen, 7 p.m. No. 8 LINCOLN Coach: Kevin Collins Spring 2021 record: 0-5 What to expect: Given that Lincoln had won no fewer than four games in any season over the past decade, its winless mark last spring was probably an aberration. The Lions won six games in 2019 and eight when they won the Mt. Hamilton Division title in 2018. Collins, the program’s longtime coach, called WR/QB Tayden Phillips his best all-around athlete. The team also will rely on RB/ LB Rayden Costillo, a three-year varsity player, ILB Sonny Johnston, FB Amari Glass-Dillard and potential two-way player Thomas Crawford. Season opener: Aug. 27 at Leigh, 7 p.m. SANTA TERESA DIVISION (Predicted order of finish) No. 1 LEIGH Coach: Kyle Padia Spring What to 2021 expect: record: The 5-0 abbreviated spring season was special an unbeaten for Leigh finish. as As the the Longhorns coaches navigated see it, more their success way to is Jayden on the Tchir, way. a Back first-team from the all-league spring team honoree, is senior and senior WR/CB OL/DE of Jason the year. Schwartz, RB/LB Sam the Santa Betz, a Teresa’s senior, played offensive every lineman snap Padia, in “has the spring worked at very middle hard linebacker to have a and, great according senior year to on teams both with sides his of arm the and ball.” legs QB and Aidan OL/DL Williams Jacob can Empringham hurt is a tireless presence. Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Lincoln, 7 p.m. No. 2 PIONEER Coach: Eric Perry Spring 2021 record: 3-2 What to expect: Picked in a coaches survey to finish near the top of the standings, the Mustangs will be led by QB Axel Garcia, a dynamic player who can throw and run. ILB Jeremiah Lolohea is back after leading the team in tackles last spring. OT Joseph Speno had a great summer, Perry noted, and lineman Ryan Given is being promoted from a JV team that went undefeated. RB/DB Bryce Johnson is healthy after missing the spring season because of an injury. Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Leland, 7 p.m. No. 3 BRANHAM Coach: Stephen Johnson Spring 2021 record: 2-3 What to expect: The Bruins return DE/TE Mateo Poso, a three-year varsity standout and last spring’s Santa Teresa Division sophomore of the year. He has an offer from Arizona State. Branham coaches also expect big things from WR/RB Jason Vu, whom Johnson called “a dynamic utility player who excels in space and has the frame and potential to dominate on the offensive side of the ball this season.” Season opener: Aug. 27 at Gunderson, 7 p.m. No. 4 SOBRATO Coach: Jubenal Rodriguez Spring 2021 record: 1-4 What to expect: The Bulldogs won’t be last in the leadership department as Rodriguez had high praise for three of his seniors. He noted that RB Trey Bringuel “has attended every single off-season workout and practice. He is an excellent leader and has great skill on the football field.” OL/DE Mark Collins “not only is he a great player but he is a greater person!” the coach noted. WR Nathan Ortiz can play QB, RB, LB and DB and also is a “great leader,” Rodriguez said. Season opener: Aug. 28 vs. Christopher, 3:30 p.m. No. 5 INDEPENDENCE Coach: Ali Bhatti Spring 2021 record: 3-2 What to expect: Bhatti takes over from Steve Papin, who left to become the coach at Santa Teresa. Bhatti had been Papin’s defensive coordinator. The new coach will count on players such as C/DT Malakai Baleros-Wade, WR/FS Kristopher Rosete and dual-threat QB Adrian Espinoza — all seniors. Two-way lineman Ashton Rojo and RB/LB Colin Trang, both juniors, also are expected to stand out for a program that won 10 games as recently as 2018. Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Los Altos, 7 p.m. No. 6 WESTMONT Coach: Mark Kaanapu Spring 2021 record: 2-2 What to expect: Adolfo Carrasco, the Santa Teresa’s most outstanding offensive back in the spring, has graduated. But the Warriors return their second-most productive offensive player, RB/WR Elijah Monroe, who accounted for 268 all-purpose yards. Kaanapu said Monroe as an “explosive and big-play athlete.” Senior FS Quinn Hoang is the leader of the defense, and senior LB Justin Temple is an “aggressive long athlete who can make plays,” according to Kaanapu. Senior Zayn El-Khatib anchors the offensive line. Season opener: Aug. 26 at Monta Vista, 5:30 p.m. No. 7 WILLOW GLEN Coach: Oscar Caballero Spring 2021 record: 1-4 What to expect: The Rams have a solid mix coming back as they aim to rebound from the spring season. Caballero said senior OL/DL Gabe Mancuso is “one of the smartest and hardest working players we have. We will count on his grit and experience to anchor both sides of the line for us!” The coach added that senior WR/DB Bobby Davidson is “very quick and has a knack for big plays. His great footwork and leap ability has shown throughout spring and summer.” OL/DL Hingano Hautau is 6-6, 330. “He’s by far the biggest and strongest player we will have take the field for us,” Caballero said. Other notable players include senior RB/LB Preston Bursch and senior WR/DB Jovanni Chavez. Season opener: Aug. 27 at Piedmont Hills, 7 p.m. No. 8 PROSPECT Coach: Mike Cable Spring 2021 record: 5-0 What to expect: The Panthers had a terrific spring, going undefeated in the West Valley Division. The reward was an elevation to the Santa Teresa Division and a schedule that includes stronger opponents. The team returns WR Andre Jackson, who was the West Valley’s most outstanding offensive player of the year. RB Ethan Horio has tremendous footwork, Cable said, adding, he “has the ability to make defenders miss, and the speed to take it to the house.” Season opener: Aug. 27 at Mt. Pleasant, 7 p.m. WEST VALLEY DIVISION (Predicted order of finish) No. 1 ANDREW HILL Coach: Earl Locke Sr. Spring 2021 record: 2-2 What to expect: The Falcons return two of the West Valley’s top players from the spring season. Daniel Tham was the division’s receiver of the year and QB Anthony Martinez was its junior of the year. MLB Edward Gutierrez is a team leader and has a great understanding of the strategy, Locke noted. Marcus Vargas, whom Locke said has good speed and vision, returns at RB. WR Solomon Bocage could have a breakout season after playing on varsity as a freshman in the spring. “Our goal is to finish at the top of our league,” Locke said. Season opener: Sept. 3 vs. Cupertino, 7 p.m. No. 2 DEL MAR Coach: Robert Chapman Spring 2021 record: 2-2 What to expect: Chapman takes over as head coach from Shin Kong. The notable players include QB Emmit Hugill, RB/LB/SS Jakerion Thurman, lineman/P Trent Carrizosa, WR/OLB Michael Gomez and RB/LB Jaxson Villasenor. Chapman said that Thurman is a versatile player who will be counted on to fulfill numerous roles on offense and defense. Carrizosa is an anchor on the lines and one of the best punters in the section, the coach added. Season opener: Aug. 27 at Cupertino, 7 p.m. No. 3 MT. PLEASANT Coach: Frank Lopez Spring 2021 record: NA What to expect: The Cardinals return to the field with a group that includes sophomore WR/LB Brayan Ramirez, whom Lopez said “catches anything within his grasp,” and senior RB/LB Chauncey Greeley. “Football smarts and does not shy away from hitting,” Lopez added about Greeley. Senior RB/LB Martin Martinez is a “role model player” who carries a 4.0 GPA in the classroom, Lopez said. RB/SS Dennis Phillips is a hard hitter and senior OL/ DE Joshua Romero has three years of varsity experience. Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Prospect, 7 p.m. No. 4 GUNDERSON Coach: Jason Harrison Spring 2021 record: 2-2 What to expect: Two playmakers from the spring season, RB Darren Heinzer and QB Alex Jacoby, have graduated. Julian Cabrera-Hidalgo, now a junior, got experience last spring, scoring his first varsity touchdown in a close victory over Andrew Hill. Junior Josiah Rangel and sophomore Jackson Wurz are the two quarterbacks listed on the roster. Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Branham, 7 p.m. No. 5 EVERGREEN VALLEY Coach: Gabe Resendez Spring 2021 record: 3-2 What to expect: The Cougars no doubt will aim to build off their winning season last spring. RB/SS Chris Wright, now a senior, emerged as a leader in the abbreviated season and was named the West Valley Division’s offensive back of the year. Senior Ritvik Gudlavalleti was a firstteam all-leaguer at ILB and started at QB the last two games while still fulfilling his duties on defense. Junior WR/CB Fares Rezeik blossomed into the team’s top CB, and Brandon Thai, who had not played football until last season, was a reliable defender. RB/SS Sam Littlejohn was a difference-maker in the spring season. He missed two games because of an injury. In the three that he played, Evergreen Valley won them all. Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Fremont-Sunnyvale, 7 p.m. No. 6 JAMES LICK Coach: Chris Pope Spring 2021 record: 2-3 What to expect: The Comets are young. Juniors Eduardo Perez-Navarro (RB/S), Timothy Leech-Mueller (QB) and Dominick Maldonado (RB/LB) and sophomore Rolando Prado-Flores (WR/DB) are among the team’s notable players. Another expected contributor is OL/LB Jerardo Nieto, the team’s only senior. He hasn’t played since his sophomore year. Pope, who is in his first season as head coach, said Perez-Navarro is a “tough hard runner with sneaky speed. He’s determined to rush for 1K yards and you can tell by the work he’s put in.” Leech-Mueller is “smart and fearless,” the coach added. Prado-Flores “has the size, speed, and talent to be a phenomenal player on both sides,” Pope said. Season opener: Sept. 3 at Harbor, 7:30 p.m. No. 7 YERBA BUENA Coach: Adrian Pedroza Spring 2021 record: 0-4 What to expect: Pedroza, the team’s new head coach, takes over a program that is a couple of seasons removed from a six-win year. The team certainly rely on WR/DB Jaime Torres, whom Pedroza said is capable of scoring every time he touches the ball. WR/DB/QB Octavio Ceja is an explosive and hard-hitting runner, Phat Duong is a hard-hitting linebacker. RB/LB Andy Lai is a strong leader, and QB/DB Kurt Estacio is an “intelligent athlete with a strong arm who can throw the ball all over the field,” the coach said. Season opener: Aug. 27 at Overfelt, 7 p.m. No. 8 SAN JOSE Coach: Nakai McGowan Spring 2021 record: 0-2 What to expect: San Jose went winless in the games it played last spring, losing to Prospect 39-0 and James Lick 32-6. Those results continued a bad stretch for the Bulldogs, who haven’t had a winning season since going 9-1 in 2012 and have won only twice since 2017. Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Harker, 7 p.m.