Heading into what is generally the final week before league play starts across the Central Coast Section, we are beginning to get a clearer picture of where some of the top teams stand. We offer a rundown of some of the key action in Week 3.
Los Gatos 35, San Benito 14: We’re not quite ready to proclaim that the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League is the top division in CCS, but certainly the top two teams are representing in a big way.
The Wildcats have already taken care of three perennial CCS powers – Archbishop Mitty, Menlo-Atherton and now San Benito – and have done so in impressive fashion. Coming into this game, the Haybalers had not allowed a point through their first two contests, but Los Gatos, on the strength of the Dru Brown-to-Matt Wilcox combination, exploded for 35 points to improve to 3-0.
Wilcox not only caught a pair of scoring strikes from Brown (13-of-20, 174 yards, 2 TDs), he also picked off a San Benito pass and blocked a punt to key the victory.
“The whole team played really well,” Wilcox told Prep2Prep’s Ryan Silapan. “Sometimes the ball just finds you and tonight it found me.”
Brown was nearly perfect in the first half and has taken the pressure off standout running back Joey Wood, who has been the focal point of opposing defenses since his breakout sophomore season. Wood still managed 117 yards and a touchdown, but was more than happy to share the spoils.
“We tried pounding it in and they stacked the box on me,” Wood said. “I couldn’t do much but that’s why we have Dru Brown. He’s a phenomenal quarterback and he just dropped it over the top of them and started throwing touchdowns.”
San Benito quarterback R.J. Clark threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score, but he was held to just 72 total yards by a stingy Los Gatos defense.
Milpitas 31, Valley Christian 17: Pulling off arguably the biggest upset of the season is one thing. Doing so by two touchdowns on the Valley Christian campus is quite another.
The Trojans have moved all the way up to No. 2 in the latest CCS rankings by virtue of their impressive win over one of the West Catholic Athletic League’s favorites.
Milpitas has now matched the feat pulled off by Los Gatos in the opening weekend of the season, when the Wildcats stunned Archbishop Mitty, which entered the season as the No. 1 team in CCS in several rankings.
“Honestly, I’m going to be real with you – I think we’ve been under-ranked this whole season,” Milpitas LB/RB Christian Rodriguez told Prep2Prep’s John Murphy. “We just came out and showed everybody we are the No. 1 team.”
Valley Christian came into the game as the No. 1 ranked team in the Prep2Prep CCS rankings, but five turnovers sealed the Warriors’ fate. That and a Milpitas defense that held Texas-bound running back Kirk Johnson to just 66 yards rushing.
Big-play man Christian Rita sparked the win with a 99-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter and then a long touchdown reception from quarterback John Keller which extended the Trojan lead to 28-14 in the third quarter.
St. Ignatius 27, St. Mary’s-Stockton 24 (OT): The Wildcats staked a claim to WCAL contender status with a big double-overtime win over Sac-Joaquin power St. Mary’s-Stockton.
Senior kicker Andrew Ferrero was bailed out by his teammates after missing a crucial extra point in the third quarter that would have tied the score at 14-14. But he was able to return the favor by kicking two field goals in overtime, including the game-winner.
“I’ve been waiting for that for four years –I’ve been dreaming about it,” Ferrero told Prep2Prep’s Ethan Fore. “My teammates really picked me up. I just got trust in (holder) Peter Katz and (snapper) Will Sweeney. Those guys do a great job.”
Senior quarterback Ryan Hagfeldt was steady as usual, completing 20-of-26 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown.
Now the Wildcats (3-0) can gear up for WCAL play, with a date against Bellarmine on the horizon.
“We want to sit down and really look at them,” St. Ignatius coach John Regalia said. “We’ve been playing them for years and they are very much the same they’ve always been. They’re strong, they’re fit and they’re fast. They execute very well and they’re really well coached.”
Bellarmine 56, Piedmont Hills 20: Coach Mike Janda earned his 250th career victory as the Bells rolled past the Pirates.
Bellarmine amassed six rushing touchdowns in the rout, led by Kyle Macauley, who rushed for a pair of scores and made an acrobatic catch for another TD.
"It just reminds me how old I am," Janda told Prep2Prep's Eric He when asked about the milestone victory. "I enjoy being with the players and coaches every day."
Quarterback Marcus Romero threw a pair of fourth-quarter TD passes - to Isaiah Stewart and Aaron Tillak for the Pirates.
Sacred Heart Prep 27, Salinas 21: Junior quarterback Mason Randall came to the rescue for the Gators, leading them on a 99-yard drive late in the fourth quarter to foil the Cowboys’ hopes for an upset.
Randall completed 27-of-34 passes for a school-record 384 yards and three touchdowns, hitting junior Andrew Daschbach (7 receptions, 120 yards) for a pair of scores.
Sacred Heart Prep trailed 21-19 before taking over on its own 1-yard line with under two minutes to play. Randall completed seven passes on the decisive drive, including the go-ahead pass to Nick O’Donnell with 11 seconds remaining.
“Mason was unbelievable,” O’Donnell told the San Jose Mercury News. “He was throwing some of the best balls I’ve ever seen. I’ve known him for eight years. He’s my best friend. I’ve never seen him play this well.”
Salinas quarterback Zach McDermott rushed for two touchdowns in the heart-wrenching loss.
In other action … junior quarterback Samuel Adams hit on 23-of-36 passes for 482 yards and six touchdowns to lead Prospect to a thrilling 32-28 win over visiting Lynbrook … Christopher QB Matt Adamkiewicz threw for 394 yards and three touchdowns but it wasn’t enough as the Cougars lost at home to Carmel, 34-31 … senior Robert Wang completed 14-of-25 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns to lead Woodside to a 42-15 win over rival Sequoia … junior Jamar Williams-Sheppard rushed for 233 yards and two touchdowns as Sacred Heart Cathedral rolled to a 38-7 win at Saratoga.
