With all action for Week 2 in the books, it’s time for a quick look at the weekend that was around the Central Coast Section.
- Bouncing back: A number of teams rebounded from losses in the first week of play to notch big wins this past weekend. That included a huge 30-23 win for Mitty over Menlo-Atherton, a one-sided win for Valley Christian against Wilcox, and a heat-shortened rout for Sacred Heart Prep over Sobrato.
Los Altos also erased the sting of its season-opening loss with a win over Soquel on Saturday, Menlo took out its frustrations against Stevenson, and Gunn raced past Lick to even its record. And then there was Serra’s big win over Elk Grove.
- It’s still early, but there are already some 2-0 teams definitely worth keeping an eye on. Christopher is certainly among that group after knocking off Live Oak in overtime, while cross-town Gilroy matched the Jaguars by erasing a 21-point deficit in its win over Carmel. Westmont looks to get back to a section title game this year, and the Warriors have started strong with wins over Monta Vista and Prospect.
Burlingame’s run game has been dominant in its first two wins, while San Mateo has knocked off a pair of upper-division teams. Of course, there is also Saint Francis, which has yet to receive a challenge with dominant wins over Oak Grove and Palma under the Lancers’ belt. And Bellarmine proved its win over M-A was no fluke by taking down Clovis North to move to 2-0.
- The most impressive 2-0 start, however, might belong to Half Moon Bay. The Cougars were hit with the usual questions when a team moves up in divisions, as HMB has this year, going from the PAL-Ocean to the Bay Division. But they have been dominant in blowout wins over Saratoga and Palo Alto, outscoring their opponents 111-14.
- Feels good to get on the field: Terra Nova and Salinas both played their first games on this week, with huge successes. Terra Nova routed Scotts Valley, who had opened with a win over Los Altos, while Salinas stormed past Oak Grove. Fittingly, the two teams will meet this week.
- Determined to be a factor in the PAL-Bay this year, Aragon made a statement with its 28-27 win over Aptos in the season opener for the Dons. The upcoming stretch looks favorable, so a hot start is certainly there for the taking.
- With a new head coach at the helm, Sacred Heart Cathedral is off to a flying start. The Fightin’ Irish have ushered in the Barry McLaughlin era with a pair of solid victories, blowing past overmatched Justin-Siena on Friday night. SHC could certainly be off to a 3-0 start, facing Homestead this week.
- Defending Division IV champion Soledad is now off to a 0-2 start, but don’t write them off. Those losses have come to a pair of 2-0 teams, Seaside and Antioch. Antioch is one of the top teams in the NCS.
- Monte Vista Christian kept Bruce Dini unbeaten in his first two games as head coach, with an easy win over North Monterey County, but the Mustangs face a much bigger challenge against Scotts Valley this week.
- When Hillsdale dropped from the PAL-Bay to the Ocean, they were immediately pegged as a title contender, and the Fighting Knights have lived up to that early billing to start the year, with one-sided wins over Laguna Hills and Independence.
- The Lake Division of the PAL is making some serious noise to start the year. Not only does San Mateo have a pair of wins over teams from higher division, Carlmont has been dominant in wins over Arroyo and Woodside, an Ocean Division team, while Capuchino has beaten a pair of Ocean teams, Woodside and South San Francisco. The Mustangs have new coach Miguel Nava off to a 2-0 start.
- Have’s and have-not’s? The top three teams in the MBL-Pacific right now – Christopher, Gilroy, and Watsonville – are all 2-0, while the rest of the league is a combined 0-8. Alisal has had the most difficult slate of the remaining four teams, with losses to Live Oak and Alvarez.
