With all action for Week 4 in the books, it’s time for a quick look at the weekend that was around the Central Coast Section.
- Win number 500 is in the books for San Mateo, and it could not have come on a more historical night for the Bearcats. The milestone victory for the program came in a 16-6 win over Mission-SF, in the first game ever played for San Mateo at historic Kezar Stadium, with Sports Illustrated’s Peter King in attendance. It was a fitting night all around.
- Wilcox changed the landscape of its entire season with one big performance on Friday night, shutting out San Benito for a 35-0 win. The big number which stood out in the Chargers’ 0-2 start had been minus-seven in the turnover department. Coach Paul Rosa still won’t be happy after two lost fumbles in the win, but over 400 yards on the ground kept the ball away from the Balers for most of the night and kept the defense in a favorable position.
- High on the Hill: From 0-19 combined the last two seasons, to 3-0 so far this year. That’s the story being written for Andrew Hill, following its 41-18 win over previously unbeaten Gunn on Friday. This Friday represents the biggest test thus far for coach Mike Holt’s group, opening BVAL-West Valley play against Sobrato.
- Burlingame and Hillsdale looked for a while like they might both fall victim to an upset bug, but each rallied to keep strong starts to the season going in that direction. Burlingame shook off a big challenge from South San Francisco, prevailing 22-16, while Hillsdale pulled away from a pesky Capuchino team, winning 31-15.
- The PAL-Bay went 5-1 this past weekend, with Sacred Heart Prep’s loss to Northern California power McClymonds serving as the only blemish on the slate. The Gators are also the only team in the league below .500 right now, but have played a strong schedule. Three teams remain unbeaten, as Aragon throttled an injury-riddled Palo Alto team, and Half Moon Bay blanked El Camino, the second straight shutout for the Cougars’ defense.
- If it wasn’t clear before this past weekend, it is now – the MBL-Pacific title will likely be decided on October 6, when Gilroy and Christopher meet in a cross-town rivalry game.
Gilroy cruised past Harbor, opting not to play junior running back Joseph Barnes in the game, while Christopher posted its second straight 41-14 win, this time over Woodside. Both teams are 4-0, while the other team in the league which had previously been undefeated – Watsonville – fell in intersectional play to Irvington.
- Milpitas crushed American and Berkeley in its first two games, but neither win could really be considered credible. Well, the Trojans now have one of those, shutting out a good Salinas team that returned virtually every offensive weapon from last year.
- Three Mount Hamilton teams are unbeaten headed into the start of league play this week, but the names might surprise a few people. Leigh, Piedmont Hills, and Westmont each have yet to suffer a loss, while the teams usually in the conversation are currently winless Oak Grove and 1-2 Live Oak.
Lincoln is now 0-3 after losing to West Valley division member Overfelt, a full two divisions beneath the Lions in the BVAL pecking order. Oak Grove, meanwhile, is still searching for some offense after losing 49-0 to La Habra down at Mission Viejo on Saturday. The Eagles have scored six points in their first three games.
- The heartbreak of the weekend had to belong to The King’s Academy. The Knights are now 0-3 under Pete Lavorato, and the game against El Capitan-Merced had to sting the most. TKA led 28-0 in the first quarter and 28-7 at halftime, before the Gauchos roared back with 21 fourth-quarter points to force overtime, ultimately winning 41-35.
- Arguably, the most wide-open league at this point could be the MBL-Gabilan. Palma’s win over Menlo on Saturday was the first for the Chieftains this season, while San Benito suffered its first loss on Friday. Every team in the league has at least one win, and the only unbeaten team right now is Seaside, up from the Pacific Division.
- Following tradition, every team in the WCAL was out of action last weekend, as they start league play this week.
