Multiple league titles can be decided this week, including all three divisions of the PAL. We may also finally have some clarity in the BVAL Mount Hamilton, and the WCAL title may come down to this week’s game between Serra and Valley Christian, which is detailed in our NorCal Games of the Week feature.
No. 5 Half Moon Bay (7-0, 2-0 PAL Bay) at No. 6 Aragon (7-0, 3-0), Friday, 7:30 pm
Half Moon Bay proved it can play with the big dogs in last week’s win over Menlo-Atherton and will face a similar challenge this week at Aragon. The Cougars will once again be facing a team with a physical size advantage and a numbers advantage in terms of the roster, but that didn’t deter them last week. Except both teams to stay on the ground, with Chase Hofmann and company leading the way for HMB. Hofmann ran for just 75 yards last week, but found the end zone three times. Dom Padua, Jake Quosig and Gavin Tomberlin round out a deep Cougar rushing attack that uses quick handoffs and pitches to mesmerize defenses.
Aragon’s attack is a two-headed monster led by Paul Lautaimi, who ran for 237 yards last week as the Dons grinded out a 14-8 win at Burlingame. He’ll be complemented by two-way player Camron Grant. A Cougar win would all but wrap up the Bay Division for HMB, while an Aragon win would reopen a chance for Menlo-Atherton to force a three-way tie, as the Dons will face the Bears on November 10.
No. 18 Menlo (5-2, 3-0 PAL Ocean) at No. 20 Hillsdale (7-0, 3-0), Friday, 7:30 pm
This clash of the Knights should determine the Ocean Division champion. It’ll also feature two of the top running backs in the league as Menlo’s Aidan Israelski and Hillsdale’s Nick Hulman battle it out. Neither team has had to sweat much in its first three league games, with Hillsdale’s 19-point win over Sequoia being the closest game either team has played in the Ocean Division, and Hillsdale led that game 35-3. Hillsdale has scored at least 31 points in every game this season, while Menlo has allowed more than 16 just once.
Jefferson (6-1, 3-0 PAL Lake) at Carlmont (7-0, 3-0), Friday, 7:30 pm
It’s hard to believe a game between two teams with a combined 13-1 record could decide a playoff spot, but the PAL Lake typically gets just one postseason bid, adding some extra intrigue to an already huge game. Two of the section’s most dominant running backs will meet as Jefferson’s Angelo Velez and Carlmont’s Demarii Blanks will duke it out. Velez has ran for 1,111 yards this year in just six games (Jefferson has one win via forfeit). He’s part of Jefferson’s three-headed monster, with QB Joaquin Alvarez and WR Daniel Benjamin also factoring in as big-play threats.
Since quarterback Timmy Palthe went down injured, Carlmont has asked for more and more from Blanks, and he’s delivered every time. In a 21-14 win over San Mateo, the Scots’ closest win of the year, Blanks accounted for all three Carlmont touchdowns.
No. 4 Milpitas (8-0, 4-0 SCVAL De Anza) at No. 19 Los Gatos (3-4, 2-1), Friday, 7 pm
The final major test on Milpitas’ schedule comes Friday night at Los Gatos. Milpitas has blown away competition so far this year, outscoring teams 346-37. That includes a 42-17 win over Wilcox, and Wilcox owns a 40-14 win over Los Gatos. The Wildcats have responded since that defeat, outscoring their last two opponents 82-14. Los Gatos differs from the other big dogs of the SCVAL in that the Wildcats rely on depth and technique, rather than the explosiveness that characterizes teams like Milpitas.
Tariq Bracy has ran for 768 yards and 13 touchdowns on just 69 carries this year for the Trojans, and his brother Tyree has thrown seven touchdowns to Tuni Fifita. While opponents know exactly which weapons will lead the way for Milpitas, stopping them is an entirely different animal. Salinas is the only team to keep the Trojans under 40 points this year, and Milpitas has scored 50 five times.
No. 23 Live Oak (4-3, 3-1 BVAL Mount Hamilton) at No. 22 Oak Grove (3-4, 3-1), Friday, 7 pm
For the first time this season, the Mount Hamilton will have an outright leader after this week. Live Oak and Oak Grove are tied for first place, and the winner will have sole possession of the pole position with two weeks of league play remaining. Live Oak has won its last two games by a combined score of 84-13, and the Acorns are coming off a 35-0 win over a Santa Teresa team that handed Oak Grove its first league loss since 2013. Oak Grove’s defense has responded since that rivalry loss, allowing just 13 points total in wins over Pioneer and Lincoln.
No. 21 Leland (7-0, 4-0 BVAL Santa Teresa) at Willow Glen (5-2, 3-1), Friday, 7 pm
Leland has two games remaining against teams that sit one game behind in the Santa Teresa Division, including Friday’s trip to Willow Glen. Willow Glen has scored at least 34 points in three of its last four games. Leland hasn’t had a close call yet this season, winning every game by at least 14 points and all four league games by at least 25.
King City (5-3, 4-1 MTAL Mission Trail) at Carmel (4-4, 2-2), Saturday, 2 pm
King City’s hunt for its first league title in 35 years will culminate Saturday. Although there are two more weeks of regular season play left, the Mustangs have a nonleague game against rival Greenfield next week and were one of the few CCS teams to play their game the week of October 13, meaning they won’t have a game to make up on Veterans’ Day weekend. Should King City win, the only remaining question would be if the Mustangs will win the title outright or if they’ll share it. Soledad and Scotts Valley also have one loss in league play and will be undoubtedly rooting for Carmel, which lost its first two league games but has won two straight by a combined 90-19 margin.
Best of the Rest
Menlo Atherton (4-3, 2-1 PAL Bay) and Terra Nova (4-3, 0-2) will each look to rebound on Friday night in Pacifica. It’s a must-win for M-A if the Bears want to stay afloat in the league title race, while Terra Nova needs a win to boost its chances at a postseason berth.
Sacred Heart Prep (2-5, 1-2 PAL Bay) will welcome Burlingame (4-3, 0-3) for its lone home night game of the year, with both teams in a similar position to Terra Nova. Don’t be fooled by SHP’s record, as the Gators’ five losses have come to opponents with a combined 30-6 record. Of Burlingame’s three losses, two have been by one score.
The final of the four bids in the MBL Gabilan division may come down to the winner of Friday’s game between Palma (4-4, 3-2) and Seaside (5-3, 2-3). Both come in riding two-game win
