It’s a thin week in terms of the number of games being played across the North Coast Section, with most of the teams who play in six-team leagues taking their bye this week. But there are still some compelling match-ups across the section, so we preview them here in our weekly feature.
In addition, you can check out our NCS Game of the Week preview by student-reporter Jesus Cano.
San Ramon Valley (3-1, 2-1 EBAL) at Amador Valley (2-3, 2-1), Friday, 7 pm
Amador Valley picked up a huge win last week, shaking off a 1-3 start to beat Granada, 21-14. Not only did the Dons have to shake off their rough start to the season, but they also had to overcome a 14-0 deficit in the first half of the game.
San Ramon Valley started slow last week, trailing 6-0 to Livermore, before scoring the final 17 points of the game. The Wolves had thrown for at least 220 yards in each of the first three games, but junior Clark Baker was limited to 95 yards through the air last week. Senior running back Billy Barsi came through, however, with 18 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown.
With both teams a half-game behind idle California for second place, a win for either team will provide some serious momentum heading into the back half of the league schedule.
Prep2Prep student-reporter Jacob Resendiz will be providing game-day coverage.
Granada (3-1, 1-1 EBAL) at Monte Vista (4-0, 3-0), Friday, 7 pm
Early on last week, it looked as if this game was going to be a battle for first place in the EBAL, as both teams jumped to early 14-0 leads in their respective games. Amador Valley came back to beat Granada, but though Monte Vista fell behind late to California, the Mustangs were able to rally for the 27-24 victory and sole possession of first place.
Now, the veteran leaders for Monte Vista must keep the focus and avoid an emotional letdown following last week’s thriller. Having a few consistent weapons on both sides of the ball certainly helps.
Quarterback Jake Haener has completed 71 percent of his passes for 975 yards and 12 touchdowns with no interceptions. Running back Shane Perry has added 455 yards and seven touchdowns in the four games, while four different receivers have topped the 100-yard mark and five have caught scoring passes.
Granada’s passing game got started fast last week, as quarterback Jason Frost hit Grant Riddiough with a pair of touchdown passes in the first half, before things bogged down over the final two quarters. Running backs Tai Phan and Benny Valdez will need to be productive against the Mustangs, to free up Frost and the play-action passing game.
Ukiah (4-0, 1-0 NBL) at Cardinal Newman (3-1, 1-0), Friday, 7 pm
The visiting Wildcats are off to their best start in eight years, but face league favorite Cardinal Newman, whose lone loss was a competitive game against St. Mary’s-Stockton.
The Cardinals have an explosive offense, directed by dual-threat senior quarterback Jordon Brookshire. They have scored 42 or more points in all three of their victories.
Ukiah, meanwhile, received a strong game last week from quarterback Brett Hofstetter, who threw for 258 yards and five touchdowns in the win over Santa Rosa. The Wildcats’ defense will have to improve against the run, though, after Santa Rosa had 241 yards on the ground last week.
El Cerrito (2-2) at Kennedy-Richmond (5-0)
El Cerrito has shaken off a pair of season-opening losses to McClymonds and Inderkum to even its record after wins over Oakland Tech and Castro Valley. Now, they face an unbeaten Kennedy team which has outscored its opponents 210-41 over the first five weeks of the season.
The host Eagles escaped their closest game of their year last week, downing Arroyo 23-16, after scoring 16 fourth-quarter points. Junior Micah Barnes threw for 138 yards, while Ryan ‘Juice’ Robinson had another big game on defense, with three sacks and two tackles for a loss. Robinson has 14 sacks for the year.
El Cerrito’s offense got fully untracked last week’s win over Castro Valley, exploding for 552 yards, including a 177-yard rushing performance by junior Lanique Wilkes. Damon Cole had six catches for 141 yards through the air, as quarterback Devoreah Allen was an efficient 10-of-14 passing for 168 yards.
American (3-2, 1-0 MVAL) vs Kennedy-Fremont (4-0, 0-0) at Washington, Friday, 7 pm
American routed Newark Memorial last week, 42-0, to get off to a fast start in Mission Valley play, but the schedule gets tougher this week with unbeaten Kennedy, which has wins over San Marin and Berean Christian.
Kennedy has scored at least 34 points in each of its four games, and now faces an American defense which has allowed just eight points in its last two games combined. The Titans’ Wing-T offense has been led by senior running backs Darius Moses and Vincent Larsen, who are each over 620 yards through the first four games. As a team, Kennedy is averaging 423 yards per game on the ground.
American has been led offensively by senior quarterback Lukas Borba and senior running back Jaren Taylor. Borba has thrown for 795 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Taylor has 368 yards and three scores on the ground.
Best of the Rest
Eureka’s defense has played well all season, but will need more offense this week after falling 21-7 to Scotts Valley last week. The Loggers travel to Redding this week, where they will face 1-3 Enterprise. Eureka has played one other Northern Section opponent, falling in overtime to West Valley-Cottonwood.
Lower Lake will look to snap a two-game losing streak, as it faces St. Helena in a game that will determine middle of the pack pecking order in the North Central League. The Trojans have lost back-to-back games against Fort Bragg and Middletown, but were competitive in both, and face a Saints team coming off consecutive wins over Cloverdale and St. Vincent.
