With just three weeks remaining in the regular season, we take a look back at the weekend that was across the Central Coast Section, as teams took the field in full force, looking to lock down playoff spots.
- There won't be a bigger game anywhere in Northern California than San Mateo this coming Saturday, after Serra and Valley Christian both preserved their unbeaten records in WCAL play, with wins over Sacred Heart Cathedral and Bellarmine, respectively.
St. Francis stayed in the hunt, one game back of the leaders, with its win over Mitty. The Lancers still have a big game with Serra remaining. Riordan also picked up a big win over Saint Ignatius, meaning that the Riordan vs Sacred Heart Cathedral in two weeks could determine a playoff berth.
- Salinas and Aptos remain on a collision course in the MBL-Gabilan, as the teams cruised past Monte Vista Christian and San Benito, respectively. Both teams are heavy favorites this coming Friday, before a November 3 showdown that will decide the league title.
Palma and San Benito are now tied for third place, after San Benito's loss to Aptos and Palma's win over North Salinas. They also play on November 3.
- Yes, Aragon and Half Moon Bay are definitely for real in the PAL-Bay, and that score will be settled this coming Friday, in another one of the top games anywhere in the region. The Dons survived a gritty Burlingame team, which is now a hard-luck 0-3 in league play, while HMB pulled away from Menlo-Atherton for the 28-10 victory. It was the closest game this season for the Cougars, whose defense has allowed just 39 points in seven games.
- Milpitas remained in full control of the SCVAL-De Anza division, blanking Palo Alto. This division featured three blowouts this past weekend, as Wilcox easily rolled past Saratoga and Los Gatos routed Los Altos. Milpitas and Los Gatos meet this week, in what is likely the final regular season test for the unbeaten Trojans, who figure to be the top team in the Open 1 playoffs.
- What to make of the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton . . . Let's see, the team that handed Oak Grove its only loss in league play so far - Santa Teresa - just lost its second straight game to fall into a tie for last place, this time getting blanked 35-0 by Live Oak.
The Acorns and Oak Grove are now tied atop the division at 3-1 each, and meet this Friday at Oak Grove in another huge game on the section's slate. Piedmont Hills, Pioneer, Westmont, and Lincoln are all tied for third place, one game back, and are still alive in the hunt for the title.
- After losing quarterback Tommy Stephens to injury prior to the season, King City finds itself atop the Mission Trail, after Soledad knocked Scotts Valley from the ranks of the unbeaten in league play this past Friday. King City has a win over Soledad, but a loss to Scotts Valley.
The Mustangs finish with Carmel - who is still hoping to climb back into a share of the lead, one game back - and Greenfield in a non-league game. San Lorenzo Valley is another wild card to keep an eye on, finishing with both Soledad and Scotts Valley.
- Yes, another game with massive league title ramifications will be on tap this week in the PAL-Ocean, after Menlo and Hillsdale stayed unbeaten with easy victories. Menlo rolled past Woodside, while Hillsdale cruised past South San Francisco.
- Having already notched big wins over Christopher and Alisal, Gilroy is firmly in control of the MBL-Pacific as the lone unbeaten program. The Mustangs have games with Monterey and North Monterey County - they will be heavy favorites in both - before finishing with a Watsonville squad who figures to be upset-minded and has enough talent to keep things interesting.
- Cupertino's win over Lynbrook, coupled with Santa Clara's loss to Mountain View, has the Pioneers now alone atop the El Camino standings. Monta Vista is the other one-loss team in the division, heading into this Friday's game at Santa Clara. The host Bruins need a win to keep their title hopes, facing Cupertino in the regular season finale on November 10.
- Leland stayed unbeaten for the season, and atop the BVAL-Santa Teresa, with its 42-8 win over San Jose, but faces its biggest test of the season to-date this Friday against Willow Glen, who cruised past Del Mar on Friday. Willow Glen, Branham, and Independence all trail the Chargers by a game in the standings.
- The path to the West Valley title seems to belong to Sobrato at this point, after the Bulldogs notched another rout on Friday, this time against Prospect, while Andrew Hill beat Evergreen Valley to knock the Cougars out of a tie for first place.
- Carlmont and Jefferson remained unbeaten in the PAL-Lake, something which will end this Friday, when the two teams meet for supremacy.
- Santa Cruz blanked Soquel on Friday, 14-0, meaning that the Cardinals game against St. Francis-Watsonville on November 3 could decide the MTAL-Coastal title, as both teams remain unbeaten in league play.
