Benicia, Mt. Diablo each favored to win DAL division races
FOOTHILL DIVISION
(Predicted order of finish) No. 1 BENICIA Coach: Craig Holden
Spring 2021 record: 3-2 What to expect: Picked in a coaches survey to finish atop the Foothill Division standings. Will be led by senior RB/LB Janari Boone (6-0, 200) and TE/DE Miles Bailey (Fresno State commit, nine Division I offers). He’s 6-4, 262. Both received second-team all-Bay Area News Group honors in the spring. WR/DB Simeon Harris and WR/DB Croix Stewart also have nine Division I offers. Stewart has committed to UCLA. Senior QB Tyson Wallace is in his third varsity year. Panthers have gone 21-8 over the past three seasons. Losses in the spring were to Campolindo and Acalanes.
Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Pinole Valley, 7:30 p.m.
No. 2 ACALANES
Coach: Floyd Burnsed
Spring 2021 record: 5-1
What to expect: Two first-team all-Bay Area News Group honorees from the spring have graduated, QB Brady Huchingson and DL Joey Carrillo. But the Dons were still picked to finish near the top of the division standings. Senior QB Luke Souza has a chance to be a breakout player, taking over from Hutchingson. RB/LB Evan Malmquist, LB Logan Ketchum, receivers Dante Montgomery and Will Berrien and OL/DL Tyler Murphy also are expected to make significant contributions for a program that won nine games in 2017 and 2019.
Season opener: Aug. 28 at Sierra, 7 p.m.
No. 3 CAMPOLINDO Coach: Kevin Macy
Spring 2021 record: 6-0
What to expect: The Cougars have won at least 10 games every season since 2011 except last spring, when they went 6-0 in the pandemic-shortened season. Yet in a survey of coaches, Campo was picked to finish third in the Foothill Division this fall. Senior lineman Elijah Klock (6-1, 290) is dominant on offense and defense. He is a two-star prospect, according to 247Sports. “Thick, strong and mobile for a big man,” Macy said. Senior Tyrone Tuavale can play multiple positions on defense -- linebacker, line, end. Bradley Nestal returns at safety but also will play receiver. TE Connor Fritch and WR Robbie Mascheroni also are players to watch. “Robbie is tall, strong, and fast. He is the wild-card to our offense,” Macy said. “If he develops, he will be an offensive force for the next two years.”
Season opener: Aug. 27 at Moreau Catholic, 7 p.m.
No. 4 LAS LOMAS
Coach: Doug Longero
Spring 2021 record: 1-4
What to expect: The Knights had a hiccup last spring after winning 11 games in 2019 and 12 in 2018. But there is hope that a swift turnaround is in order. Senior RB Jermaine Land rushed for more than 800 yards in the spring. “Super talented and explosive,” Longero said. Senior RB Frank Payne is a D1 talent, the coach added, as is
junior WR/DB Emmanuel Karnley. Longero said Karnley will be one of the area’s better athletes. Senior WR/DB Jabre Bevineau is another college prospect. WR/LB Alex Lisi has been productive through the spring and summer, Longero said. Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Rancho Cotate, 7 p.m.
No. 5 MIRAMONTE Coach: Jack Schram
Spring 2021 record: 1-4
What to expect: Will aim for its first winning season since 2018 behind the likes of LB/WR Sam Ross (6-4, 225), a three-star prospect with about a dozen college offers. “Can rush off the edge and dominate the (line of scrimmage),” Schram said. WR/FS Tyler Dutto (6-3, 205) has “outstanding hands and vision,” the coach added, and junior QB Luke Duncan (6-5, 180) has the tools to be a good one. The Matadors won 25 games between 2016 and 2018. Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Piedmont, 7 p.m.
No. 6 ALHAMBRA
Coach: Alan Hern
Spring 2021 record: 1-4
What to expect: The Bulldogs return their top two receivers as they seek to bounce back from a one-win spring. Senior DB/slot receiver Brad King was a two-way starter in the spring, finishing with 13 catches for 160 yards. He was the team’s most valuable back. Drake Costaflis also returns after catching 13 passes in the spring.
Senior OL/DL Jake McLaughlin, Alhambra’s most valuable lineman, is back, too. Cameron Smith provides a physical presence in the trenches, as does his twin, Caden. They both play guard on the offensive line.
Season opener: Aug. 27 at Hercules, 7 p.m.
VALLEY DIVISION
No. 1 MT. DIABLO
Coach: Donald James
Spring 2021 record: 4-0
What to expect: Mt. Diablo had won three games in its previous four seasons combined before the pandemic-shortened season started last spring. The Red Devils eclipsed that total in just four games in March and April. Back from that undefeated team is D’Antonio Jerome, who is starting his third season at quarterback. “D’Antonio is a young man who shows great leadership on and off the field,” James said. Sophomore OL/DL Adian Vanhoose started as a freshman. He’ll be joined on the line by three-year varsity starter Angel Hernandez. Sophomore WR/ DB Willie Ward has the potential to play at the next level, James said, if he “continues to do his thing on the field and handle the classroom.” Senior WR/DB Oscar Loya is another player to watch. Season opener: Aug. 27 at Lathrop, 7 p.m.
No. 2 NORTHGATE
Coach: Ben Ballard
Spring 2021 record: 4-1
What to expect: The Broncos built momentum for this season with a solid spring. They return senior OL/DL Anthony Billeci, who had a team-leading three solo sacks and six tackles for loss in
addition to a number of crucial blocks on offense. Junior QB John Pelletier shared snaps behind center in the spring. In four games, he completed 22 of 30 passes for 376 yards, four TDs and an interception. He returns as the starter. WR Brandon MacCarter, a senior, is back after a superb spring in which he had 490 yards and seven TDs receiving and rushing. Senior WR/DB Ben Pulver is healthy after missing the final three games of the spring because of an injury. “We look for him to have a big year this season,” Ballard said. Senior WR/DB Nate Slarve will move into a starting role this season after being Mr. Utility in the spring. Season opener: Aug. 27 at Deer Valley, 7 p.m.
No. 3 CONCORD
Coach: Paul Reynaud
Spring 2021 record: 1-3
What to expect: Two of Concord’s three losses in the spring were against Mt. Diablo. Junior RB/LB Sean Murphy moves back to his position on offense after playing QB in the spring because of an injury. Reynaud said he is the team’s leader on offense and defense. Junior WR/OLB Brandon Islas is a returning two-way starter. Justin Hegarty, a junior, is back after leading the team in receptions in the spring. Sophomore Monte Beam started at RB as a freshman.
Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Dougherty Valley, 7 p.m.
No. 4 COLLEGE PARK Coach: Travis Raciti
Spring 2021 record: 1-4
What to expect: The Falcons hope for brighter days this fall after a rough spring. Junior OL Max Snowden will no doubt help.
Raciti called him “the surefire best all-around lineman in Northern California and a major D-1 prospect.” The coach added, “We expect him to dominate for the next two years.” Marshall Miclea, a senior, is “the second half of our dominant line duo,” Raciti said. Senior RB/LB Jerred Delatorre and junior WR/DB Wilson Nguyen also are expected to contribute. Season opener: Aug. 28 at Redwood, 2 p.m.
No. 5 BEREAN CHRISTIAN Coach: Tim Schultz
Spring 2021 record: 2-2
What to expect: The Eagles surpassed their win total from the 2019 season in just four games in the spring, shutting out Concord and Ygnacio Valley before losing to Mt. Diablo and the rematch against Concord. Lineman Luke Seelye, now a senior, scored a touchdown in the win over Concord. Berean Christian will be aiming to finish above .500 for the first time since going 8-4 in 2016. Season opener: Aug. 28 at Archie Williams, 2 p.m.
No. 6 YGNACIO VALLEY Coach: Guadalupe Ontiveros Spring 2021 record: 0-2
What to expect: Ontiveros takes over from Bryan Shaw as head coach. He inherited a program that played only two games in the spring, losses to Mt. Diablo 12-0 and Berean Christian 13-0, but went 7-4 in 2019 and 5-5 in 2017. Defense clearly wasn’t an issue in the spring. If the Warriors can find a little offense, maybe they’ll do much better than this preseason forecast.
Season opener: Sept. 3 vs. St. Patrick-St. Vincent, 7:30 p.m.