I don't know what my Halloween costume will be -- I really don't. Zorro, a pirate, Barack Obama? So many choices. But I do know this about the prep football scene:
BRING YOUR POPCORN, GET THERE EARLY: While Halloween showdowns Friday of Serra vs. Mitty at Foothill College and St. Ignatius at Valley Christian are mightily attractive, the game of the week is Prep2Prep No. 1 Milpitas hosting No.2 Los Gatos. The way was paved for that showdown by Milpitas' 28-0 victory last Friday over Wilcox.
This is the SCVAL-De Anza game that's been noted on area prep fans' virtual calendars for weeks. And it should be a doozy with Milpitas and its galaxy of stars such as Cros Chavez, Christian Rita, Jason Scrempos and John Keller meeting Los Gatos and its stalwarts Dru Brown, Joey Wood, Matt Wilcox, Hunter Bigge and Jack Jarnigan.
Los Gatos won last year's game 55-34 and has captured five of the last 10 contests against the Trojans, with Milpitas taking four and a 35-35 tie in 2004.
The Wildcats' only loss this season was a 35-32 setback to St. Mary's-Stockton; Los Gatos has outscored opponents by a combined 175-28 since then.
Milpitas has quality wins against Riordan (27-0), Valley Christian (31-17), Homestead (27-3 and Wilcox (28-0) and has outscored foes by a combined 166-6 since the VC game.
"Our guys have not talked a lot about it but this is a game they've been waiting for all season," Los Gatos coach Mark Krail said. "It's been a good rivalry for a long time and the we're excited to play the game. Milpitas has some (impressive) bodies and it is a tall order, but it's not un-doable."
Said Milpitas' Scrempos: "It's going to be a hard game. They have a good team. But I know we got what it takes to do it. With a great week of practice we'll play great I believe."
Tweeted Los Gatos star running back Joey Wood who returned last week after missing two games with a sprained ankle: "Los Gatos vs. Milpitas is bigger than any other game in CCS this year."
Oh, and it's senior night at Milpitas.
BELLS, WARRIORS STILL IN IT: There are only three games left in the WCAL season for each team and Serra (5-2, 4-0) holds a one-game lead over Valley Christian (5-2, 3-1) and Bellarmine (6-1, 3-1), but the title is still up for grabs.
The Warriors remained in the race with their 21-14 double-overtime victory against St. Francis last Friday night and the Bells did the same with their 20-17 win against Mitty.
All three contenders have at least two tough games left with Bellarmine facing St. Francis and Serra, Valley Christian meeting St. Ignatius and Mitty and Serra taking on Mitty and Bellarmine. And, after Riordan's effort in leading Serra 3-0 at halftime Saturday, figure anything can happen when the Crusaders travel to San Jose City College to meet the Bells on Friday night.
Riordan (1-6, 1-3) is hungry for another win, that's for sure.
Said Crusader receiver Jake Cochrane to Prep2Prep: "We need to step it up. We're ranked No. 21 in CCS but we're 1-6. We need to get some victories."
There are many possibilities but it looks like it could all come down to those familiar rivals Bellarmine and Serra battling November 15 in the regular-season finale at Brady Family Stadium. Depending upon what happens we could have any of the three teams with one loss or less winding up with a co-title, a tri-championship or Serra winning it outright for the first time since back-to-back unbeaten seasons in 1968 and '69 -- the latter with Lynn Swann having moved from receiver to quarterback.
Pop quiz: Do you know what number Swann wore in high school and college? Answer below.
FORGET THE RODEO: The best show in town last week in Hemingway country was Salinas and Palma at Rabobank Stadium. Palma won a shootout 45-35, benefiting from five touchdowns by sophomore running back Emilio Martinez.
Now three wins separate the Chieftains (7-0, 3-0) from an MBL-Gabilan title -- although they're tough ones to get in host Monterey (7:30 p.m. Friday), San Benito and Alvarez.
Salinas senior QB Zach McDermott couldn't be blamed. He had nearly 500 yards in offense and had a hand in five scores. It was the highest scoring game ever between the teams, reported the Salinas Californian's George Watkins.
With 80 points scored, it must have had the 60-year old Watkins scurrying up and down the sideline.
DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER: Late Friday night I sat in the parking lot at Mitty following this one on Twitter ... Valley Christian's double-OT victory over host St. Francis. The Warriors won it with two TD passes in extra time by Michael Machado.
This had to be a heck of a game with St. Francis rallying from a 7-0 lead to tie the Warriors with 3:21 left in regulation on a fourth-down pass to Trill Hebert. That's a couple of tough losses in a row for the Lancers who led Serra 2-0 going into the fourth quarter the week before and fell 14-2 -- proving just how competitive the WCAL is.
FOLEY A GAMER: Mitty quarterback Brett Foley didn't have impressive numbers in the Monarchs' 20-17 loss to Bellarmine on Friday night (6-of-18 for 91 yards with one TD and one intercepted). But statistics rarely tell the whole story in football or any walk of life. Several long passes were accurate and just not gathered in and he bedeviled the Bells with his legs, bulling from the 1 on fourth down in the second quarter to bring the Monarchs to within 14-9 and bouncing off tacklers in the game's final minute for a 2-point conversion for 20-17. Just before the 2-pointer, Foley's 11-yard pass to Dakari Monroe got Mitty back into the game before it's eventual failed onside kick. Eye-popping stats or no, Foley's a gamer.
PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF: Gunderson, under new coach Rene Asencio started the season with six straight losses, but defeated Evergreen Valley 40-7 Friday night.
A half-dozen straight losses under a new coach is a tough situation and Grizzlies' standout De'Jon Packer seems to have had his ups and downs over the years, as well. But last week Gunderson put it all together as Packer erupted for five rushing touchdowns and 191 yards. Nice to see.
GOOD TO BE HOME: Burlingame (7-0, 3-0) finally played a home game Friday after six straight roadies to start the season due to its unfinished bleachers. The Unland Stadium stands are done now and the Panthers celebrated Friday night by defeating visiting Terra Nova 42-22. Griffin Intrieri and Laipeli Palu ran roughshod over Terra Nova, combining for more than 300 yards and four touchdowns. Cooper Gindraux had four catches for 92 yards on offense and nine tackles on defense.
Terra Nova's Anthony Gordon had three TD passes but was without star receiver Jordan Genato (hip). Tigers' coach Tim Adams said on Monday that Genato is "day to day."
Burlingame has three more home games to end its regulation season, including the Little Big Game against rival San Mateo on November 15. There are rumblings there could be a stadium dedication that day after the recent naming of the venue after Peter Umland and his wife Dolores who gave generously to the school including $750,000 for the stadium. Nothing official yet.
Needing no hoopla will be a game the previous week at Umland matching Burlingame against Sacred Heart Prep, a contest potentially matching unbeaten teams.
GOT IT TOGETHER: Live Oak won the BVAL-Santa Teresa title last season due in part to a a riveting win at Lincoln. But the Acorns seemed really dependent last season on the now-graduated Trevor Bearden who set the CCS rushing record. Outside of Bearden, Live Oak seemed limited.
They're doing something right down in Morgan Hill, though, because last Friday the Acorns (5-2, 4-0) took down previously unbeaten Westmont 6-0 on the strength of Erik Ornduff's 29-yard TD pass to Mitch Conforti. Now coach Mike Gemo and his team sets sights on a second consecutive Santa Teresa title. The Acorns are at Silver Creek on Friday night.
TOLD YOU SO: When Oak Grove finished its non-league season 0-3, there was no need to man the lifeboats or for mass revolt and I said as much. After all, those losses were to powers St. Francis, Valley Christian and San Benito -- a Murderers' row for most public schools.
Now Oak Grove (4-3, 4-0) is in a first-place tie with Pioneer (6-1, 4-0) in the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton following the Eagles' 55-48 double-OT win last week against Willow Glen. Jacob Harvey had two TD runs for the Eagles, including the game-winner from 3 yards.
The stage is being set for a showdown between Oak Grove and host Pioneer on November 14 -- also my mom's 100th birthday. Hmmm, I wonder how mom would feel taking in the Eagles and Mustangs?
Pop quiz answer: Lynn Swann, who wore the familiar No. 88 for the Pittsburgh Steelers, rocked No. 22 in high school and for USC.
John Murphy is Web Content Manager of Prep2Prep. Please follow him on Twitter @PrepCat
