California went 6-0 last season in the East Bay Athletic League champ and is staunch on the sideline as well with coach Eric Billeci. Billeci was named 2013 East Bay Coach of the Year by the Bay Area Newspaper Group.
Billeci led California to its first perfect league record last season. The Grizzlies also made it to the NCS Division I title game where they fell 49-17 to De La Salle. Playoff wins came against Dougherty Valley, San Ramon Valley and Pittsburg.
San Ramon Valley and Foothill appear to be California's strongest challengers.
"California High will be big and Foothill will have a good team," Monte Vista coach Craig Bergman said. "San Ramon Valley has a lot of guys coming back. We're young, but talented. Granada, Amador Valley and Livermore will all be pretty good."
Said new San Ramon Valley coach Aaron Becker: "You have those three or four teams who are always up there and it just comes down to who beats who. There's California High who is too good not be up there and Foothill with the quarterback who has a good track record with that receiver and Monte Vista which will be on the rebound. I think that we'll be in the hunt. We have a lot of offensive and defensive line depth and a good receiving corps."
Jamborees aren't necessarily all that revealing but there is an interesting one Aug. 22 as California, San Ramon Valley, Foothill and Dougherty Valley meet.
AMADOR VALLEY (5-6): Amador had a losing record in 2013 and it's unclear how much help juniors off a 3-7 JV team will be. Linebacker Harrison Mayo (6-2, 210) looks solid.
The Dons open non-league play against visiting Washington-Fremont on Aug. 29.
CALIFORNIA (11-3, 6-0): The Grizzlies excelled last season on both the varsity level and JVs (7-3). They also return 11 starters, led by senior 6-4, 280-pound offensive lineman Tyler Whisenhunt and senior 6-5, 235-pound tight end Matt Snyder.
California has made two section finals' appearances since 2010.
The Grizzlies' running game and secondary looks good, but they'll be inexperienced at QB. Leading the ground game will be Simi Hingano who rushed for 482 yards last year.
Pacing the defense will be Zac Guardino who had 62 tackles last season.
The Grizzlies open with visiting Pittsburg on Aug. 29. California split with the Pirates last season.
FOOTHILL (8-3, 4-2): Foothill is also well set in 2014 with a winning record last season, 10 starters returning and young players rising from a 7-3 JV team.
Players to watch include senior QB Kyle Kearns, senior running back Isaiah Langley, junior linebacker Cash Connolly and senior kicker Dan Rodriguez.
Two tough non-league games are against visiting Freedom on Sept. 5 and at De La Salle on Oct. 24. Freedom defeated Foothill 55-17 last season.
GRANADA (7-5, 3-3): Granada had a winning record in 2013 and went 6-4 on the JV level.
Top players include Aaron Andrews (6-0, 220), Brian Barnett, Jonathan Davis.
Outside of the De La Salle game, the Matadors were in every game last season. They play an out-of-section team Sept. 12, hosting Golden West-Merced.
LIVERMORE (2-8, 0-6): The Cowboys had a losing record on not only the varsity level, but junior varsity (3-7) as well.
Senior running back James Silva is a player to keep an eye on.
Livermore has a stiff test at home Sept. 5 against NorCal finalist El Cerrito. Other non-league games are at home Aug. 29 against Newark Memorial, with road games against Northgate on Sept. 12 and Arroyo on Sept. 19.
MONTE VISTA (2-8, 1-5): Monte Vista struggled in 2013, but has players from a 7-3 JV team emerging.
Bergman's squad has seven returning starters -- three on offense and four on defense.
Top players include sophomore quarterback Jake Haener, senior linebacker Scott Shirreffs, junior receiver/defensive back Noah Sol (6-2, 200), senior running back Zach Cribb (5-9, 190), junior receiver/defensive back Trae Banda and Eric Dopperpuhl (6-0, 185).
Circle Berkeley on Sept. 5 on the Monte Vista schedule; Monte Vista defeated the Yellow Jackets 20-6 last season, but Berkeley should be improved in 2014.
"I think each week we'll get better," Bergman said. "We're going to have five sophomores, so we'll get better each week."
SAN RAMON VALLEY (7-3, 5-1): The Wolves appear ready for 2014 with nine returning starters. The SRV junior varsity also went 7-3.
Dru Samia (235 pounds) will pace the offensive line, along with Christian Cannon (6-3, 230) and juniors Jake Javier and Connor Sinclair.
The Wolves have an impressive group of receivers in Austin French, J.J. Koski, Carter Nichols and Christian Fuca. French already has a scholarship to play lacrosse at the University of Denver.
Other standouts include Mitchell Allan and junior linebacker Nick Kane (6-3, 220). Nichols and French will also play defense.
An interesting non-league game is Sept. 12 against visiting Logan, a team it fell to 21-18 last season.
