MISSION VALLEY/WEST ALAMEDA FOOTHILL DIVISION
(Predicted order of end)
No. 1 JAMES LOGAN
Coach: Eddie Smith
Fall 2021 document: 6-5
What to anticipate: Final season was a impolite awakening for James Logan’s first-year coach Eddie Smith. His Colts went 5-0 in the identical Foothill Division they're in now, however when the NCS playoffs have been seeded, they have been No. 8 within the Open/Division I behind Amador Valley, which was 0-5 within the EBAL Mountain. Logan’s first-round opponent was De La Salle. The Spartans received 49-13. So this season Smith front-loaded his schedule to incorporate non-league video games in opposition to Marin Catholic and Las Lomas, in addition to rematches in opposition to California and Heritage. The 5 Foothill Division video games are already robust sufficient. “The choice to stack the entrance 5 was made so if we come out 6-4, we hopefully can get to seven (wins).” Junior Robert Mendez may have a leg up on the QB place. He backed up Marcus Sanders and performed in 5 video games, going 38 for 63 for 624 yards and 6 TDs. WR/FS Jack Morton ought to present a superb goal. He stands 6-1 and has a suggestion from UC Davis, Smith stated. RB Sammy Flores is wholesome after being sidelined final 12 months. Security/OLB Larry Johnson must be a pacesetter on the protection together with senior CB/WR Anthony Delguidice and kicker Ricky Burton.
Season opener: Aug. 26 at California, 7 p.m.
No. 2 SAN LEANDRO
Coach: Brad Bowers
Fall 2021 document: 6-4
What to anticipate: The Pirates haven’t received their division since 2015, a streak veteran coach Brad Bowers wish to finish. Is it doable this season? That might be decided on Oct. 7, when San Leandro hosts James Logan within the MVAL/WACC Foothill league opener. Too dangerous the schedule-makers couldn’t have discovered a later date for this matchup. The Pirates will rely closely on the aptly-named Ferrari Miller. Final 12 months he rushed for 502 yards and 6 TDs, caught 13 passes for 282 yards, and had 34 tackles with two sacks. He has first rate dimension at 5-foot-11, 195 kilos. Senior Devan Daniels additionally is anticipated to get lots of work after speeding for 384 yards and catching 16 passes in 2021. Junior Tuma Moliga (5-11, 180) might be the front-runner at quarterback. Jeremiah Francis Foni/Fanene (6-3, 280) offers the Pirates a giant physique up entrance. The schedule is brutal, with non-league video games in opposition to Cardinal-Newman, Bellarmine and Campolindo. The Pirates will probably be dwelling for all three contests if that helps.
Season opener: Aug. 26 vs. Cardinal-Newman at Burrell Subject (San Leandro), 7 p.m.
No. 3 BISHOP O’DOWD
Coach: Hardy Nickerson
Fall 2021 document: 4-6
What to anticipate: Former Cal nice Hardy Nickerson returns to O’Dowd after an eight-year absence. He had a really profitable four-year run from 2010-2013, going 29-17. Nickerson’s second go-round with the Dragons may be much like the primary. It's going to begin slowly earlier than gaining momentum in future seasons. Essentially the most recognizable names this 12 months will probably be assistant coaches equivalent to former Cal stars Tarik Glenn and Jahvid Greatest, who will coach the operating backs after spending a 12 months as the top coach at St. Mary’s-Berkeley. Additionally on workers is one-time UCLA nice J.J. Stokes. They are going to assist tutor what Nickerson described as a superb nucleus of seniors together with some spectacular kids. The youth motion begins with sophomore Devin Wilson (6-1, 200), who's the favourite to win the quarterback job. He’ll have a few good targets in 6-foot-7, 220-pound TE Michael Cooley and senior WR Tyler Barsi, who performed some quarterback final season. Twins Zach and Benjamin Lee provide dimension on the defensive entrance, as each stand 6-4 and weigh properly over 200 kilos. Becoming a member of them on protection will probably be Jakari Weeks, a 6-1, 285-pound noseguard. Nickerson is especially enthusiastic about sophomore Deji Ajose, who ran the 100 meters in 10.8 seconds. His place has but to be decided. The Dragons will probably be challenged early with dwelling video games in opposition to Acalanes, El Cerrito and St. Mary’s-Stockton earlier than moving into league play.
Season opener: Aug. 26 at Tracy, 7 p.m.
No. 4 CASTRO VALLEY
Coach: Denny Molzen
Fall 2021 document: 6-4
What to anticipate: The large information at Castro Valley this season isn’t more likely to be what happens on the sector this fall. It’s that CV will discipline all three ranges of groups – varsity, JV, freshman. “Our numbers are up,” stated coach Denny Molzen, who's starting his seventh season at Castro Valley. “For us to be aggressive, we’ve received to have three ranges.” Molzen is 19-35 with the Trojans, however their 6-4 mark final fall was their first successful season since 2011. It was the varsity’s greatest document since going 7-3 in 2006. This fall? The step as much as the Foothill from the Mission Division means a considerably more durable schedule. Castro Valley is 14-40 all-time in opposition to its new division rivals. However the Trojans have some strengths, starting up entrance with returning offensive linemen Finnigan Chilton, Odin Malby and Emon Dost. all three weigh a minimum of 240 kilos. Dost, a junior, is the one underclassman among the many trio. The quarterback place is unsettled, however whoever wins the job could have 6-3 senior wideout Jacob Rothwell to throw to. Final 12 months he caught 27 passes for 487 yards and 5 TDs. The Trojans open in opposition to Foothill, Dublin and Granada, three opponents that Molzen figures are akin to the opponents they may face in league play. It would imply a slight step backward record-wise, however it now seems that Castro Valley’s soccer program is headed in a constructive route.
Season opener: Aug. 26 vs. Foothill, 7 p.m.
No. 5 TENNYSON
Coach: John Pangelina
Fall 2021 document: 10-1
What to anticipate: The Lancers have received 15 straight regular-season video games courting again to 2019, with the one two losses throughout that stretch having been within the NCS playoffs. However with their leap from the Shoreline Division to the Foothill, the schedule is far more durable. Tennyson’s document in opposition to its 5 new league opponents is 10-31 since MaxPreps started retaining monitor in 2004. It received’t come as a shock if the Lancers exceed expectations, as they did beat Foothill champion James Logan final 12 months. “We’re not backing down from a problem,” coach John Pangelina stated. Senior Jordan Hernandez returns at quarterback. He appeared in 9 video games final season, finishing 46 of 67 passes for 1,247 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’ll have Taeshaun Lyons, a 247sports three-star recruit, to throw to. Lyons continues to be a Washington lean, however not as robust as earlier than. Pangelina calls Drevion Inexperienced a “bruising runner and exhausting employee.” Senior CB Jomar Brown, a second-team all-leaguer within the Shoreline, can play everywhere in the discipline. Larrie Noble and Rico Salazar are two extra athletic defenders within the secondary. The Lancers may go 5-0 to begin the season, however their first three league video games are Bishop O’Dowd, San Leandro and James Logan, all more durable than any of the groups they may face beforehand.
Season opener: Aug. 26 at Castlemont, 7 p.m.
No. 6 ENCINAL
Coach: Derrick Lyons
Fall 2021 document: 9-2
What to anticipate: Derrick Lyons comes over from Piedmont, the place he was the assistant head coach. He inherits a troublesome act to comply with in Keith Minor, who left for Moreau Catholic. In 5 years with the Jets, Minor was 39-13. 4 of these defeats got here through the COVID-shortened spring season in 2021. However Lyons isn’t missing in confidence. He expects his group to compete. “We now have a younger however proficient roster,” Lyons stated. “We'd not come out on prime, however we’ll be taught from enjoying the most effective.” Requested about enjoying their first two video games in opposition to De Anza and Miramonte, Lyons stated, “They’re robust openers, however they’re winnable video games.” The headliner for Encinal is senior Marques Singleton, an all-league defensive again and return specialist who caught 52 passes for 799 yards and 11 TDs. He added 602 yards in returns. The quarterback will probably be senior Kyle Lorenzo. He additionally has a troublesome act to comply with in Garrett Deatherage, who handed for over 2,000 yards final season. One of many receivers Lorenzo could have is his brother Kenneth. On protection, Aaron Leung is a robust tackler. He additionally was all-league. However as usually occurs when colleges lose coaches, they lose gamers, too. Nah’shon Geeston-Vick, one of many league’s higher two-way gamers final season (WR/CB), has transferred to McClymonds.
Season opener: Aug. 26 at De Anza, 7 p.m.
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