With three weeks remaining in the North Coast Section playoffs, nearly every matchup contains some level of appeal, some story within the game to keep an eye on. While each game is worthy of a preview, we try to highlight a few of the best.
Liberty at California, Saturday, 7:00 pm: Where do we even start with this one? Let’s go with the fact that this will be the first-ever meeting between these schools. In fact, heading into Saturday, the Grizzlies are the only team from the EBAL that Liberty has never played.
These two programs also bring with them very different post-season histories. California is seeking its fourth berth in the section semifinals since 2010, while Liberty is fresh off its first playoff win in school history, with only four playoff appearances total for the program. And despite multiple undefeated seasons in their lengthy history, the Lions have never won 10 games in a season, another milestone that could be achieved with a victory against the Grizzlies.
Then there is the stark difference in the way both programs move the ball offensively. Both teams feature physical, hard-hitting defenses that have made it difficult on opposing offenses all season long. But offensively, fans will be treated to a contrast in approach.
“It is definitely a clash of styles,” says California head coach Eric Billeci. “They tend to feed off the big play, while we just want to maintain consistent drives. Basically, we just want to pound you.”
Billeci did quickly note, however, that the Lions’ defense presents a stiff challenge for his team, and that the Grizzlies will need to execute at the top of their game in order to move the ball on the ground in this quarterfinal matchup.
“We’ve been stressing all week that we have to get to their linebackers,” said Billeci. “They go untouched far too often, and can definitely disrupt things and make a lot of plays.”
Speaking of making plays, that is exactly what Billeci wants to see his defense limit from Liberty’s playmakers, after being on hand last Saturday night to see the Lions score three touchdowns of 38 yards or longer against Amador Valley.
“We need to be smart in our secondary and on special teams,” said Billeci. “We need to keep our backers underneath routes and keep our safeties over the top of any deep routes. We need to wrap up, tackle, and make them try to maintain consistent drives against us.”
While Billeci expresses his concern about the Lions’ physical defense and play-making ability on offense, there is mutual respect for the Grizzlies from the Liberty coaching staff, which is familiar with the success they have had in recent years.
“(Billeci) runs a model program over there,” said Liberty head coach Jeff Walters. “They are at a place most teams would love to be, with that year-to-year consistency. You know that they are going to play fundamental, physical football, and that you have to play your best to have a shot at them.”
Acalanes at Analy, Saturday, 7:00 pm: Acalanes snapped a two-game losing streak by rolling past Bishop O’Dowd, 49-20, last weekend, but now heads to Sebastopol to face a Tigers squad seeking its third consecutive section semifinals appearance.
Analy earned its 10th win of the season last week by overwhelming El Cerrito, 68-7. The Gauchos had defeated Analy in the 2012 semifinals. Quarterback Will Smith threw for 283 yards and six touchdowns in the win, and Kerr Johnson, Jr. had five catches for 157 yards and four scores. The entire second half was played with a running clock as the Tigers led 62-7 at the break.
Acalanes, meanwhile, intercepted O’Dowd quarterback Chris Hagmaier three times, and used 300 yards and four touchdowns passing from Casey Harrington to pull away for the win. The Dons also reached the quarterfinals last year, where they lost to league rival Campolindo.
Freedom at Pittsburg, Friday, 7:00 pm: Since 2002, when current head coaches Kevin Hartwig and Vic Galli took over at Freedom and Pittsburg, respectively, these two programs have been circling each other on the schedule.
The Falcons got the better of the Pirates in the first meeting between the two coaches that are now the longest-tenured in the Bay Valley Athletic League, but have won just two of the games since then. They have met with the league title on the line half a dozen times, but just once in those situations has Freedom come out on top.
Last year, they met in the quarterfinals for the first post-season meeting in the history of the series, a game that Pittsburg held on to win when the Falcons’ star running back Joe Mixon fumbled near the Pirates’ goal-line late in the game. With Freedom’s win over Monte Vista last week, they get to make it two consecutive quarterfinal match-ups.
“With (the BVAL) getting four teams to the quarterfinals, you’re bound to get a rematch somewhere,” said Hartwig. “It just shows the strength of our league this season, and I don’t think anyone can take any game or opponent lightly at this point.”
Freedom led at halftime during the first game between the teams this season, but saw the Pirates hold them scoreless in the second half, something Pittsburg did to every team in the BVAL during league play. This time, the Falcons will hope to maintain their offense for four quarters.
“We just have to continue to look for ways to move the ball against that defense,” said Hartwig. “We know we need to stop their run game, we need to keep our own run game going like it was last week, and find the right opportunities to make some plays in the passing game.”
Casa Grande at Maria Carrillo, Saturday, 7:00 pm: Their regular-season game may have been the turning point for the Casa Grande Gauchos, who entered their earlier matchup with a 1-6 record, needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Gauchos prevailed on that October night, 19-14, sparking a four-game winning streak that included a 48-6 drubbing of Miramonte in their playoff opener last week. Casa Grande, in fact, has won 10 straight games against the Pumas.
Maria Carrillo, however, will look to use an explosive ground game to turn the tables on Casa Grande. The Pumas ran for 478 yards in their 49-13 win over American last week, including 267 yards from Alex Netherda and 134 yards from Josh Groesbeck. In addition, Carrillo’s post-season history against the Gauchos is more favorable than their regular-season meetings.
The Pumas' last win over Casa Grande came in the 2005 playoffs. After falling to the Gauchos 33-0 that season, they exacted revenge with a 28-18 playoff victory. Similarly, after losing by 18 points in the regular season in 2009, Carrillo battled to a one-point loss in the playoffs that year.
Cardinal Newman at Campolindo, Friday, 7:00 pm: These two highly-regarded Division III programs meet in the playoffs for the third time in the last five seasons, having split the previous two meetings.
Campolindo defeated Cardinal Newman in the 2011 semifinals, propelling the Cougars to a section title and a state bowl berth, while also avenging a first-round loss to the Cardinals in 2010. Campolindo is seeking back-to-back semifinal appearances with a win.
Cardinal Newman, meanwhile, is looking for a return to the semifinals after three straight years of making it that far, from 2010-2012. The Cardinals won a section title in 2010, before falling in the semifinals the next two seasons.
Both teams feature dynamic offenses in what could shape up as an entertaining shootout. Campolindo’s Jack Stephens has completed 65 percent of his passes this year, with 23 touchdown passes. Tight end Tyler Petite and receiver Max Flower are both over 600 yards receiving, while running back and kick returner Nick Fadelli has nearly 1,400 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground.
Cardinal Newman boasts one of the top power read running games in the Bay Area, with senior running back Craig Lucey and sophomore quarterback Jordan Brookshire combining for over 500 yards rushing last week against Novato. Brookshire is given the ability to make reads on nearly every play in head coach Paul Cronin’s system, and has gotten better throughout the season at gashing opposing defenses.
Best of the Rest
Normally a No. 2 vs. No. 10 seed would not garner much attention, but it does when the second seed, Foothill, allowed over 270 yards on the ground in a season-ending loss to Amador Valley, and now faces Antioch, which boasts Najee Harris. Harris went off for 371 yards rushing in the Panthers’ 50-26 rout over San Leandro last week.
In contrast, however, the Antioch secondary has allowed big games from multiple quarterbacks this season, and now faces SMU-commit Kyle Kearns and the Falcons’ offense. If neither defense has found a way to shore up its weaknesses, the team that commits the fewest mistakes and has the ball late could have an advantage.
Las Lomas blew past Mt. Diablo in the first round, but faces a Rancho Cotate team that gained extra confidence by going on the road and dominating Kennedy last week. Both teams find ways to achieve offensive balance, and play solid defense.
Alhambra struggled at times in DFAL play, but seems to have emerged battle-tested and ready to respond to adversity. The evidence was there as it took control, scoring the final 20 points in their 34-14 win over Petaluma. Marin Catholic has been a tear to finish the season, but has not faced the level of competition in recent weeks that the Bulldogs have been facing.
If the Wildcats establish an early lead, their defense can certainly make it tough to come back. But if this game stays close, expect Alhambra to feel right at home.
