I don't know much about global warming or how to keep the 49ers from committing stupid penalties, but these seven things I am clued into after Week 3 of the CCS prep football season:
THE WCAL IS STILL WIDE OPEN: Now, more than in the pre-season, the section's best league looks like a free-for-all with no clear-cut favorite.
Before the non-league games started, Valley Christian and Serra were the two teams mentioned most often by handicappers as the favorite. Both should be in the mix, but Valley Christian was stunned last Friday by Milpitas and Serra lost it best player for the second season in a row (last year it was Matt Dickerson) in Game 2 when running back Kava Cassidy broke his collarbone.
So now what? Bellarmine, St. Ignatius and Sacred Heart Cathedral are all 3-0 and solid and St. Francis is still St. Francis and has not been hurt at all by transfers Thomas Toki or Kamalalii Akina. Mitty is merely the defending league co-champ and Riordan is improved this season.
Should be an intriguing league season with the champ or co-champs or even tri-champs having one or more losses.
THE JESUITS ARE RISING: As mentioned, St. Ignatius and Bellarmine are unbeaten and so there's no more overlooking these two proud Jesuit schools.
The Bells bolted to a 43-point halftime lead against Piedmont Hills on Friday night en route to a 56-20 victory. Along the way Bellarmine coach Mike Janda picked up win No. 250.
"It's a function of getting older," Janda told the San Jose Mercury. "It's a great credit to all the players and coaches I've worked with all these years."
Running back Kyle Macauley, tight end Josh Bringuel and quarterback Troy Martig lead the Bells.
St. Ignatius held off St. Mary's-Stockton 27-24 in overtime for its third consecutive victory. The Wildcats tied the game near the end of regulation with a touchdown and two-point conversion and won it when placekicker Andrew Ferrero who had misfired earlier on a PAT kicked two clutch field goals in overtime including the game-winner.
Said S.I. coach John Regalia to Prep2Prep's Ethan Fore: “We have the ultimate confidence in Andrew and all our guys... He did a great job of just getting in there and finishing the way we know he can, so we’re proud of him."
MILPITAS IS ALL THAT: Last season the Trojans won an SCVAL tri-title and the CCS Division I title and yet fell to the WCAL also-ran Valley Christian by a few touchdowns in non-league. Not this season.
The Trojans invaded the hilltop and left the Skyway Campus with a 31-17 victory, paced by a 99-yard punt return for a touchdown and 78-yard pass reception for a score by Christian Rita.
Also pacing Milpitas were running back/linebacker Christian Rodriguez (a transfer from Andrew Hill), quarterback John Keller and two-way standouts Uate Mataele (6-4, 345), Tevita Musika (6-2, 340) and recent Washington commit Jason Scrempos.
Said Mataele to Prep2Prep of Friday's win: "It feels great, but we still have another season ahead of us and we'll probably see these guys again in the playoffs."
LOS GATOS HASN'T GONE ANYWHERE: While WCAL teams like Serra and Valley Christian have absorbed bumps, bruises and breaks against the likes of De La Salle, Notre Dame Sherman Oaks and Milpitas, Los Gatos has been handling local competition with victories against Mitty, Menlo-Atherton and San Benito -- all worthy opponents but not state ranked.
But the Wildcats have proven with their section title win last season against St. Francis and another win against a WCAL team this year in Mitty, that they're No. 1 for now in the Prep2Prep poll. Well deserved.
Running back Joey Wood and quarterback Dru Brown have been unstoppable so far and big hitters like Jack Jarnigan and a crack coaching staff led by Mark Krail are tough to beat for most area public schools and at least a few top private schools as well.
DON'T READ TOO MUCH INTO WARRIOR LOSS: Milpitas did beat Valley Christian at Warrior Field in impressive fashion. So is this a case of Valley Christian proving it's human or Milpitas being superhuman?
First off, Milpitas is very good with playmakers like quarterback Keller, receiver Rita and tight end Scrempos doing their thing and huge linemen like Musika and Maetele manhandling most oppenents. Coach Kelly King also had the Trojans well-prepared for the Warriors.
But the team many thought would win the WCAL, Valley Christian, did not play well -- turning the ball over numerous times. Milpitas may have won anyway, but Valley also was not at full strength on Friday night, missing big center Chance Batinich-Garcia (6-2, 270) and junior tight end Cameron Woodard (6-4, 260) due to injury. They were replaced by eager but undersized juniors.
In addition to Milpitas' excellence, it just didn't seem to be Valley Christian's night as Trojan fumbles repeatedly eluded Warrior hands.
"There were four fumbles on their side and they came up with every single one," Valley Christian coach Mike Machado said. "Sometimes it bounces your way and sometimes it doesn't."
What does it all mean, moving forward? It was a great win for Milpitas, who will most likely still have to beat Los Gatos for the SCVAL-De Anza title. Meantime, not a bad wake-up call for Valley Christian which next enters the minefield that is the WCAL schedule.
DON'T FORGET THE MONTEREY BAY: The Central Coast Section does not end at Los Gatos and there are some stellar teams down south, namely Palma, Monterey, Aptos and Alvarez -- all 3-0. Palma is the best of the bunch, already with a victory against St. Francis-Mountain View on its resume. Defensive lineman Eduardo Barbosa leads a defense that has yielded 25 points in three games.
Monterey and Alvarez are led by outstanding quarterbacks in Carter Aldrete (Toreadores) and Edric Gamble (Eagles) and Aptos simply has the best overall program in the Santa Cruz area with solid teams from the freshman to varsity level under coach Randy Blankenship.
BURLINGAME NOT JUST NICE PLACE TO SHOP: The leafy, comfortable community just north of San Mateo boasts more than just upscale shops and fine eateries. Burlingame is a one-high school town that is typically better than all surrounding public school competition except possibly Aragon in some years.
The Panthers are off to another hot start at 3-0 after beating Los Altos 56-17 last week. Quarterback Avery Gindraux leads a Burlingame offense that also includes tough runners in Leipeli Palu and Griffin Intrieri.
Due to Burlingame's bleacher issues, its first six games are on the road with a good test waiting October 10 against host Menlo-Atherton.
