Serra meets Bellarmine at 7 p.m. Friday at San Jose City College in a big WCAL opener and both coaches say avoiding turnovers will be vital.
Bellarmine (3-0, 0-0) is the consensus pick to win the WCAL and Serra is the two-time defending league co-titlist. The Padres also won a CCS Open championship in 2013. The Bells made it to the Open title game in 2014, but fell to Sacred Heart Prep 14-0.
The Padres and Bells met last season in San Mateo with a piece of the WCAL title on the line. Bellarmine took a 14-0 lead, but Serra scored 28 un-answered points to earn the victory, and a share of the league title with Valley Christian.
“It’s a real tough game,” Bellarmine coach Mike Janda said. “Serra has a good team with big, fast athletes at all positions. It’s a very difficult game for us.
“We need to play error-free and not make a lot of mistakes and make plays and tackle well and do well on special teams. They’re very physical – big and strong. We’re going to need to rise up to that to have a chance.”
Said Serra coach Patrick Walsh: “The Bellarmine vs. Serra game always lines up to be a chess match - each opponent waiting for one mistake to move in and take the game - we must avoid self-inflicted mistakes because Bellarmine will inevitably capitalize on them. In the rare occurrence that Bellarmine makes a mistake we will have to capitalize ourselves if given the opportunity.”
Walsh has great respect for this year’s edition of the Bells.
“This is one of coach Janda's best teams we have seen since we have been at Serra. Usua Amanam was a one of a kind competitor, and his teams were very, very good but this team ranks right up there with the best Bellarmine teams we have seen. The Bells play extremely hard, are disciplined and have a ton of experienced and talented seniors. (It) will be a very tough test for us.”
The schools have been playing since 1946, though they did not meet in 1949 or ’50. Bellarmine leads the overall competition 48-23-2, though Serra has won three consecutive games. The Bells won seven consecutive against the Padres before that.
Bellarmine has swept aside three consecutive non-league oppoents in Franklin (42-0), Del Oro (34-31) and Aptos (35-7).
The Bells have Troy Martig back at quarterback and he has some good backs to hand it to out of the Bells’ double-wing in Kyle Macauley, Devon Buenrostro and Antonio Garcia.
Macauley is also a standout defensive back, as are Buenrostro and Garcia. Other Bells to watch are middle linebacker/offensive lineman Jacob Bergstrom (6-3, 225), two-way lineman Wolfie Rehbock (6-3, 253) and tight end/linebacker Josh Bringuel (6-4, 225).
Macauley’s long punt return for a score in last year’s game gave the Bells a 14-0 lead before Serra came storming back.
Serra’s only loss was in its opener to De La Salle (37-21). Three Padre turnovers in the first quarter led to an early deficit in that game. The Padres have beaten Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks 35-29 and South San Francisco 40-0 in a game Serra led 40-0 at the half.
The Padres were on the verge of blowing out Notre Dame when a fumble on the Knight 1-yard line turned the game around. Serra had three late turnovers against Notre Dame and will probably need to avoid that Friday night.
The Padres are led by junior quarterback Leki Nunn (400 yards passing, five TDs, two interceptions). Nunn has also rushed for 184 yards and two TDs out of Serra’s double-wing and spread offenses.
Senior Kelepi Lataimua was the WCAL Junior of the Year last season, despite leaving the Mitty game with a separated shoulder and missing some games. He has rushed for 186 yards and one score on 42 carries and is an outstanding cornerback.
Other Padres to watch for are receivers Brandon Monroe and Rory Uniacke and defenders Jaylin Membreno and Billy Tuitavake.
Said Walsh: “We understand the challenge and know how difficult the game will be, but at the same time, we are thankful for the opportunity to play.”
Wilcox (3-0) at Los Gatos (1-2), 7 p.m.: The visiting Chargers are coming off a monster effort in defeating previously unbeaten San Benito 35-14. Both QB Eduardo Andrade and RB Manu Turituri rushed for more than 100 yards last week to lead Wilcox. The Chargers average 427.3 yards rushing per game and 113 passing in sweeping aside Branham (56-14), Pioneer (52-6) and San Benito. Andrade has rushed for 313 yards and two scores, Turituri 399 yards on 33 carries and five TDs and Richard Herrera 257 yards on 26 carries and three TDs. Los Gatos is more of a passing team, averaging 210.7 yards per game through the air and 120.3 rushing. Quarterback Hunter Bigge makes things go, completing 37 of 72 passes for 527 yards and six TDs with four interceptions. His favorite targets are Ryan Wilcox (eight catches, 146 yards and two TDs) and Miles Beach (nine carries, 226 yards and two scores). Despite a lot of offense, Los Gatos has lost twice, to Mitty (45-16) and San Benito (21-14). The Wildcats rebounded nicely with a 33-30 win last week against St. Mary’s-Stockton.
Santa Clara (3-0) at Monta Vista (2-2), 7 p.m.: Santa Clara is off to a rare great start, defeated Alisal 40-21, Gunderson 31-0 and San Lorenzo Valley 21-20. Quarterback Chris Brown has completed 46 of 89 passes for 600 yards and eight TDs, with only one interception. Andrew Del Rosario has rushed for 242 yards on 46 carries. Receiver Darius Jones-Dorsey has caught 16 passes for 242 yards and one TD. Monta Vista defeated Westmont 27-15, fell to Seaside 28-14, defeated Jefferson 35-34 and lost to Santa Teresa 47-14. Golan Gingold leads the Mustangs’ offense, completing eight of 14 passes this season for 136 yards with no scores and two interceptions; he’s also run for 276 yards on 46 carries with six TDs. Radwan Hamwi has rushed for 217 yards on 31 carries and has scored two TDs. Receiver Ryan Granzella has caught four passes for 110 yards and two TDs. The Mustangs average 216 yards rushing per game.
San Benito (3-1) at Salinas (2-2), 7:30 p.m.: San Benito was gouged on the ground and also gave up some yards through the air last week in a stunning loss to Wilcox. Before that the Haybalers had excelled, defeating Hilmar (49-20), Palo Alto (49-34) and Los Gatos (21-14). San Benito averages 339.3 yards rushing per game and 67 passing. RJ Clark has completed 11 of 21 passes this season for 190 yards and one score and has rushed for 271 yards on 28 carries with four TDs. Hunter Nye is the go-to back with 639 yards on 69 carries and seven TDs. Also, Kyle Cameron has rushed 39 times for 294 yards and five TDs. The Haybalers’ top receiver is Will Gularte with six catches for 116 yards and one TD. Hunter Raquet replaced an injured Clark at QB mid-way through last week’s game and completed eight of 11 passes for 78 yards and one TD, with one intercepted. Salinas lost is non-league opener to Aptos (17-12), defeated Pioneer 48-0 and North Salinas (34-6), but then fell to Milpitas last week, 40-6. The Cowboys won an MBL-Gabilan co-title last season and are led by QB/FS Matt Castaneda, FB/MLB Kyle Martorella, WR/CB Ryan Jensen, WR Kevin Crosby and RB/SB Jacob Rivera. Speed is the hallmark of the Cowboys who operate out of the spread, in contrast to their wishbone of the early 1980s.
Willow Glen (1-2) at Piedmont Hills (3-0), 7 p.m.: Willow Glen has defeated San Jose (47-26) and fallen to Terra Nova (43-42) and Lincoln-San Jose (39-13). Quarterback Tyler Warren has completed 35 of 61 passes for 460 yards and 11 TDs with three interceptions. Warren has also rushed 29 times for 125 yards and one score. Also for the Rams, Travis Brown has 201 yards rushing and one score. Warren’s favorite targets are Clay Wilson (nine catches, 93 yards and two scores) and Justin Perea with 11 catches for 147 yards and five TDs. Piedmont Hills has been an offensive juggernaut, throwing for an average of 332.7 yards per game and rushing for 138.3. Quarterback Marcus Romero has completed 68 or 94 yards passes for 969 yards and 11 TDs with only one intercepted. Donovan Taylor leads the ground game with 213 yards on 29 carries and three TDs. Romero has two talented pass-catchers in Richard Fedelin (24 carries, 324 yards and five TDs) and Gabriel Martinez (17-282-2). The Pirates’ wins are against Independence (61-19), Saratoga (34-14) and Gilroy (51-26).
SATURDAY
Riordan (3-0) at Mitty (3-0), 3 p.m.: Riordan is the surprise of the WCAL, managing a perfect non-league record, a year after going 1-9. Kevin Fordon, a former De La Salle player, is the new Crusaders’ coach. Riordan averages 246.7 yards per game rushing and 126.3 passing. QB Jacky Luavasa got banged up last game but should be ready on Saturday. Luavasa has completed 21 of 35 passes for 252 yard and one TD, with one intercepted. A top threat for the Crusaders is RB Raymone Sanders (326 yards rushing on 38 carries and four TDs). Jason Green is also a talented runner, rushing for 275 yards on 37 carries with five TDs. Receivers Cedric McAfee and Daniel Norman have both caught six passes for just over 100 yards apiece and one TD. Wideout/special teams ace Aidan Verba-Hamilton is a blur; he has three kickoff returns for touchdowns this season including one for 99 yards. The Crusaders have some stout defenders as wekk in Rocco Russell (credited with 12 tackles per game, 12.5 for losses), Payton Ilalio (10 tackles per game, five for loss) and Lasa Tofi with five tackles per game, five for losses. Mitty has taken its game to a higher level under new coach Keith Burns. The Monarchs now run a spread and have defeated Los Gatos (45-16), Aptos (34-21) and Palo Alto (52-28). Sam Serra has returned at quarterback after not playing football last season; he is also a starter on the Mitty basketball team. Serra has completed 40 of 61 passes for 478 yards with seven scores and one interception. He has also rushed for 220 yards and five TDs on 26 carries. Fremont transfer Phillip Tran is a more-than-capable back-up at QB. Leading the Mitty ground game are Derek Bauerle (324 yards rushing on 56 carries for 304 yards) and Serra. Bauerle, Andrew Cairns and Austin Kause all have at least eight catches, led by Cairns with 114 yards and four TDs. Blake Flovin has been credited with 12.7 tackles per game and Nick LaBruna with four sacks. Matt Marani has seven sacks for the Monarchs' high-pressure defense.
