Welcome back to the Bay Area News Group’s high school football preview.
Here, you’ll find the week’s top matchups and complete weekend schedule for teams in this news organization’s coverage area, which encompasses leagues based primarily in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
Check back every Thursday morning during the season for the preview.
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On the top matchups …
Friday
No. 4 St. Francis (2-0) at No. 1 De La Salle (2-0), 7:30 p.m.: The latest edition of what has become an annual matchup between intersectional private school powerhouses. De La Salle reaffirmed its place at the top of the Bay Area pecking order with a 39-10 victory over then-No. 2 Serra last week. With speedy quarterback Toa Faavae running the split-back veer with a four-deep RB group featuring Derrick Blanche, Dominic Kelley, Duece Jones-Drew and Jaden Jefferson, the Spartans look like the DLS of old. Don’t sleep on the defense, either. Lineman Matthew Johnson took over the Serra game in the second half and can line up inside or on the edge. Ant Dean, Jefferson, Trisshon Wright and Jayden Nichols have the speed to make passing a treacherous endeavor. Fortunately for the Lancers, the running game butters their bread. Unlike DLS’s multifaceted attack, St. Francis’ run game features Kingston Keanaaina (336 yards vs. McClymonds) running behind bruisers like Sione Netane in a pro-style I-formation. Senior St. Francis QB Aaron Knapp will need to make crucial play-action throws to Perrion Williams to keep the Spartans honest. The Cahoon brothers – Jackson and Chase – have interest from college programs and will try to contain DLS’s potent backfield. St. Francis snapped the Concord school’s 318-game unbeaten streak over NorCal opponents with a last-minute TD in 2021. – Joseph Dycus
No. 5 Archbishop Riordan (1-1) at No. 2 Pittsburg (2-0), 7 p.m.: Division I talent will be all over the field in this matchup. Pittsburg has been humming through two games, averaging 41.5 points in wins over Monterey Trail-Elk Grove and Reno’s Bishop Manogue. Quarterback Marley Alcantara had a monster game in Pittsburg’s last win as he threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Between running backs Elijah Bow and Jamar Searcy, the Pirates have an explosive running game that has been giving teams fits. Pittsburg’s defense has been dominant thus far, led by UCLA commits Jadyn Hudson and Jewelous Walls. Though Riordan lost last week at St. Bonaventure-Ventura, the Crusaders still have one of the most explosive offenses in the Bay Area. Riordan junior quarterback Michael Mitchell Jr. leads a lethal passing attack along with receivers Cynai Thomas and Chris Lawson. In Riordan’s 35-34 Week 1 win over McClymonds, the Crusaders totaled 295 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air. — Nathan Canilao
No. 9 McClymonds (0-2) at No. 15 Bishop O’Dowd (2-0), 7 p.m.: Bishop O’Dowd and McClymonds have had drastically different starts to their respective seasons. McClymonds began the season ranked …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Sports
