The Wilcox High School football team may need to show its visitors around on Saturday when four schools converge on Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara for the fourth annual High School Football Series presented by Foster Farms.
Last year was the first time the presumptive host Chargers did not appear in the showcase event, but they did come away with resounding wins in the first two years of the series, knocking off archrival Santa Clara in 2014 and Pioneer in 2015.
“It’s a great opportunity to be able to play in an NFL stadium,” said Wilcox head coach Paul Rosa. “Most kids don’t ever get to go to a pro stadium. Our kids get to play in one – very exciting and something our kids will remember the rest of their lives.”
Of course those results will have no bearing on this year’s game, a date with newly promoted Los Altos in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League-De Anza Division opener for both teams (3:30 pm). National powers St. Mary’s-Stockton and Mater Dei face off in the nightcap (7 pm).
“We have to remember we are there to play and play well,” Rosa said. “Los Altos gives a lot of multiple looks on both sides of the ball and they will be pumped up for the game, so we have to stay mentally sharp.”
Wilcox (1-2) comes in on the strength of its first win of the season, a stunning 35-0 victory over previously undefeated San Benito. The Chargers, who play one of the most challenging non-league schedules in the Central Coast Section, feature a power running game led by senior quarterback David Hernandez (39 carries, 315 yards, 5 TDs), sophomore running back Paul Rosa (45, 319, 3) and junior Gabe Herrera (34, 186, 1).
“We need to stop Wilcox’s powerful running game – we need to take away the things they do well,” said Los Altos head coach Trevor Pruitt. “The Los Altos school and community are very excited for this opportunity.”
Los Altos (1-2) moved into the “A” Division after finishing second in the SCVAL-El Camino Division a year ago. The Eagles are led by junior quarterback Rocky Hidalgo, senior running back Erik Skov and senior wide receiver Vincent Colodny.
The nightcap features two of the top programs in the country as Mater Dei, ranked No. 1 in the nation by some services, travels north to take on Sac Joaquin Section power St. Mary’s-Stockton.
Mater Dei (4-0) is led by junior quarterback JT Daniels, who has completed 67 of 95 passes for 1,041 yards and 11 touchdowns against just one interception. His favorite targets have been senior Nikko Remigio (21 rec, 409 yards, 5 TDs) and junior Horace McCoy III (16, 252, 1).
St. Mary’s (3-1), which defeated CCS power Serra, 41-13, in its season opener, is led by outstanding senior tailback Dusty Frampton, who has already rushed for 689 yards and nine touchdowns against stiff competition.
“It’s just pure unabridged excitement,” St. Mary’s head coach Tony Franks said. “Opportunities like this don’t come along very often and its two-fold. The first is we’re playing Mater Dei and they’re one of the finest programs in the country. And second we get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at Levi’s Stadium. The combination is a little overwhelming but we’re excited.”
