Season Record: 162-51-1
Last week: 7-5
CCS Open Division
#2 Junipero Serra (10-2) vs. #5 Archbishop Mitty (11-1) at San Jose City College, Friday 7:30
Both teams have terrific ground attacks and the better rushing performance could decide Friday night’s title between two programs looking for their first Open championship and a NorCal bowl berth.
Both defenses are also strong, though, and this is looking more and more like a defensive battle as Serra is allowing 14 points and Mitty is allowing less than 13 per game.
Three weeks ago, it was Serra’s defense that held Mitty to just 195 yards in a 31-7 Padres win. Also, Hamilton Anoa’i had his best game of the season with three touchdown catches but he might be banged up for this title fight.
The Padres are 8-0 when Kava Cassidy runs for 100 or more yards and quarterback Matt Fa’aita is coming off a career-high 122 yards on the ground in a 28-17 semifinal win over Bellarmine.
Chandler Ramirez, Dakari Monroe, and Kyle Evans fuel a versatile rushing attack and quarterback Trent Scharrenberg, despite a cast on his non-throwing arm, tossed two touchdown passes in a 37-7 thrashing of Valley Christian in the semifinals.
The more balanced team wins Friday night.
Prediction: Serra 17, Mitty 14
NCS Division I
#1 De La Salle (12-0) vs. #3 California (11-2) at Dublin High School, Saturday 7
Considering the Grizzlies lost two-year starting quarterback Cameron Owen to a fractured pelvis in the second to last game of the regular season, it’s a major feat for Cal to be in this championship game.
The Grizzlies were impressive in wins over San Ramon Valley and Pittsburg, teams with loaded offenses. Senior Matt Lorenz was 9-of-12 for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-17 win at Pittsburg and is looking more comfortable as he took pressure off the ground game that wasn’t very productive for once.
De La Salle’s ground game, behind its massive line, has been unstoppable this season and continues to put up tremendous numbers. It’s hard to believe that Cal can stop a unit that averages nearly 350 yards per game and over 8.5 yards per carry. To make matters more dangerous, sophomore Antoine Custer is emerging even more as a threat next to John Velasco.
Also, remember it was this time a year ago that De La Salle started opening up the passing game against James Logan in the NCS title game. After three straight games with less than 100 yards passing, we may see a big day for quarterback Chris Williams.
Cal needs Blake Bierwith and C.J. Cornwell to make plays and hope for De La Salle turnovers. The Spartans have lost four fumbles the last two weeks.
While De La Salle beat Cal 55-0 just four weeks ago, we can expect a better Grizzlies team as they were dealing with injuries to Owen and other key players. Three of the last seven meetings have been decided by 14 points or less.
Prediction: De La Salle 45, California 20
NCS Division II
#1 Casa Grande (13-0) vs. #3 Miramonte (11-2) at Rancho Cotate, Friday 7
Casa Grande has passed every test with flying colors this season and now deals with the Drew Anderson-led passing attack.
Miramonte’s Anderson is the NCS leader in passing yards and touchdowns and is also sixth in the entire state in passing yards. Anderson is so dangerous because of 1,000-yard rusher Ray Clark, but also has plenty of options in the passing game between Dominic Paoletti, Will Fuller, and younger brother, Ryan. The younger Anderson has 212 yards receiving and five touchdowns over the last two games after 142 yards and one touchdown in the first 11 games of the season.
The Mats defense is allowing under 26 points per game and that could be a problem with a Casa Grande offense that has scored at least 40 points for seven straight games. John Porchivina will try to dominate the possession and has scored three or more touchdowns in five of the last six games.
Gauchos quarterback JaJuan Lawson has just three turnovers all season and is also completing 68 percent of his passes, plus a 22-1 touchdown to interception ratio.
Casa Grande has never won a NCS title while Miramonte is looking for its first in 10 years.
Prediction: Casa Grande 45, Miramonte 38
NCS Division III
#1 Marin Catholic (12-0) vs. #3 El Cerrito (11-2) at Burrell Field in San Leandro, Friday 7
Will El Cerrito cut down on penalties and mental mistakes to knock off a Marin Catholic team that has won 24 in a row over Northern California teams?
Last season, the Gauchos made too many mistakes, fumbling it four times and losing one, while finishing with three turnovers and forcing none in a 31-28 loss to Marin Catholic in the NCS title game.
El Cerrito appears to be an improving team heading into this rematch as the run game is flourishing with Adarius Pickett and the special teams are also playing well. If those two aspects of the Gauchos team play well on Friday, their chances of a win are much greater.
The UCLA-bound Pickett has scored 20 touchdowns in his last seven games and will likely also have the task of trying to defend Marin Catholic standout Andrew Celis.
Arizona State commits Jalen Harvey and Derik Calhoun will do everything they can to slow down Oregon-bound Morgan Mahalak, as the senior is averaging over 11 yards per attempt to go with 35 passing scores and eight rushing touchdowns.
El Cerrito has never won NCS while Marin Catholic is not only looking for its second straight title, but third in five years.
Prediction: Marin Catholic 34, El Cerrito 31
NCS Division IV
#2 Fortuna (10-2) vs. #5 St. Mary’s (9-4) at Humboldt State University, Saturday 1
St. Mary’s is the hot team coming off a 35-29 win over top seed San Marin and the Panthers offense is averaging 35.5 points behind Lorenzo Logwood, Liam Godfrey, and quarterback Ian Bonde.
Fortuna’s only two losses are to Eureka and the Huskies are 3-1 in games decided by seven points or less after a 21-20 semifinal win over Del Norte. Quarterback Jacob Hough has been clutch in those close games and needs a big day against the underrated Panthers defense.
St. Mary’s is looking for its first NCS title, while Fortuna hasn’t won since 2000.
Prediction: St. Mary’s 28, Fortuna 21
CCS Division I
#2 Milpitas (10-2) vs. #4 San Benito (7-5) at Rabobank Stadium, Friday 7
For the third time in five years, this is the Division I championship game matchup. Last season, San Benito was a 35-28 winner over Milpitas as Damien Botelho scored two touchdowns
Botelho also ran for two touchdowns last week in a 37-7 win over previously undefeated Alvarez and he leads a Haybalers offense that needs to score a ton to keep up with Milpitas this week. Zach Hicks is also a lethal back and David Stanton is a dual-threat quarterback.
Milpitas, looking for its first title since topping the Balers in 2009, has scored 107 points in two games and is averaging 42.7 points this season with two of the most explosive players in the Bay Area, Tre Hartley and Squally Canada. Canada rushed for 197 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-0 semifinal triumph over Piedmont Hills and he has 331 yards in these playoffs. Hartley, after 125 yards and two touchdowns receiving last week, has 1,261 yards and 17 touchdowns this year.
San Benito has a tough test considering it has been outscored by 35 points in losses to other SCVAL De Anza teams, Palo Alto and Los Gatos, this year.
Prediction: Milpitas 41, San Benito 27
CCS Division II
#1 St. Francis (9-3) vs. #2 Los Gatos (9-3) at Westmont HS, Saturday 7
The WCAL is 27-1 versus public schools the last three CCS postseasons and Los Gatos, a victim last season, tries to buck that trend against St. Francis, a team that beat the Wildcats 17-0 in last year’s title tilt.
The Lancers defense isn’t as dominant as last year’s outfit, but they are better on offense and might be more talented. It also helps that Alex Andrighetto, who rushed for 100 yards in last year’s meeting, is now healthy and coming off a 150-yard, three-touchdown day in the semifinal 45-21 win over Palo Alto.
The defense shut out the Vikings in the second half and the offense is averaging over 30 points per game and have scored 40 or more points in four of their last five games. Quarterback Will Fischer-Colbrie has passed for seven touchdowns and one interception on just 39 passes over that five-game span.
The main priority for St. Francis will be to contain Los Gatos junior Joey Wood, who rushed for 111 yards in last year’s title game and has 516 yards and 11 touchdowns in this year’s playoffs alone. Wood needs 173 yards for a 2,000-yard season.
Los Gatos, looking for its second championship in three years, has won nine of 10 and has averaged 38.9 points during that span. San Diego State-bound quarterback Nick Bawden is coming off a three-interception game and the Wildcats passing game needs to have success in this game to have a chance.
Prediction: St. Francis 27, Los Gatos 17
CCS Division III
#2 Aptos (10-2) vs. #5 St. Ignatius (4-8) at Westmont HS, Friday 7
St. Ignatius is looking for a third straight CCS title, while Aptos is hasn’t won a title in a decade.
Aptos will try to control the game with a rushing attack that rolled up 373 yards last week in a 42-24 decision over Willow Glen, its eighth straight win. Louie Demicell and Austen Verdugo are the primary rushers for a team in the title game for a second straight year.
Nobody is fooled by the St. Ignatius record as the defending Open champions have three losses by eight points or less and also gave Marin Catholic its toughest game of the season.
The Wildcats, who already have durable rusher Elijah Dale and dangerous return man Joe Lang, are only getting stronger as they welcomed fullback Brian Wollitz back to the lineup last week after the senior missed seven games. Wollitz scored three times and quarterback Ryan Hagfeldt played his best game (12-of-16, 218 yards, 4 TDs) in a 41-21 at previously undefeated Burlingame.
Like a lot of public schools, Aptos hasn’t had much luck against WCAL competition and has been eliminated by West Catholic league teams the last few seasons. This includes a 35-31 quarterfinal loss to SI in 2011.
Prediction: St. Ignatius 34, Aptos 13
CCS Division IV
#1 Sacred Heart Prep (11-1) vs. #7 Pacific Grove (11-1) at Independence HS, Saturday 7
Sacred Heart Prep is looking to repeat and win its third title in four years behind a defense that is allowing less than eight points per game. The Gators get an ultimate test against a Pacific Grove offense averaging 47.3 points.
On their way to a title last season, the Gators beat the Breakers 48-15 in the quarterfinals behind 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Andrew Segre.
Segre’s workload has never been higher than it has been in these playoffs as the senior has 51 carries for 284 yards and four touchdowns. He is just 13 yards from a 1,000-yard season.
Ben Burr-Kirven has been a force on defense all season, leading the team with 153 tackles, but also rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns in the semifinal 34-7 win over Monterey last week.
Burr-Kirven and the Gators will battle an offense that scored 77 points last week against Carmel, avenging their only loss.
Quarterback Luke Lowell has a 31-5 touchdown-to-interception ration and passed for a season-high 319 yards versus Carmel last week, while the versatile Jake Speed scored six touchdowns and now has 34 on the season. Of Speed’s 720 rushing yards, 264 have come in the playoffs. Teammate Jason Leach is the leading rusher and had a season-high 206 yards in that same Carmel win.
Pacific Grove is in a title game for the first time in seven years and hasn’t won a title since 2001.
Prediction: Sacred Heart Prep 34, Pacific Grove 20
