NorCal Issue 222, August 2023

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All Football All The Time

Welcome to Year 14 of our annual Football Preview issue.

Our commitment to covering Northern California high school football remains as fierce as ever, and the next 28 or so pages should prove that.

This year’s Preview content includes a cover feature on the all-but-unanimous choice for NorCal’s top team to start the season, the Serra Padres of San Mateo. Coach Patrick Walsh returns 15 starters from a team that went 13-0 before suffering its only loss in the CIF Open Division State Bowl game.

The Padres are going to be really good. High school football fans should definitely try to catch one of their three big nonleague games. They will host No. 3 Folsom and No. 2 De La Salle-Concord before going to Modesto to take on No. 7 Central Catholic.

Our Preview has never been just about the frontrunners, though. We often try to include a feature on an up-andcoming teams, as well. This year that team is Berkeley. The Yellowjackets have always been a powerhouse in waiting. The program just needed a spark — and it looks like it may have found one in second-year coach and alum, Dave Perry.

Meanwhile, outside of the Bay Area, the football scene is especially deep in the Sac-Joaquin Section this season. Six of our opening Top 10 teams hail from the SJS, making the section especially rich in storylines coming into 2023. Our third feature picks five of those storylines for fans to focus on as the season gets underway.

Finally, let’s talk players.

Rather than just list our traditional 24-man Preseason All-NorCal Team, we wanted to shine the spotlight on a larger number of players this season. So we created the All-NorCal Team Watch List. Beginning on Page 20 we have six pages of players who we expect to be in the conversation for our 52-man All-NorCal Team at the end of the season.

And for those who finish the Preview and are still craving more football content, we’re pleased to announce that our 7 Friday Night football podcast returns for a third season. New episodes will be posted each Wednesday. You can find them at SportStarsMag.com where we also provide links to listen on other platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

And that’s it. Dig in and rejoice in another year of high school football. We certainly are. ✪

This Vol. #14, August 2023, Whole No. 222 is published by GoSportzStars Media LLC, PO Box 1156 Lake Oswego, OR. SportStars™© 2010-2023 by GoSportzStars LLC. All rights reserved. Receive FREE Digital Subscription in your inbox. Subscribe at SportStarsMag.com. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of the Publisher is strictly prohibited. The staff and management, including Board of Directors, of SportStars™© does not advocate or encourage the use of any product or service advertised herein for illegal purposes. Editorial contributions, photos, and letters to the editor are welcome. All material should be typed, double-spaced and e-mailed to editor@sportstarsmag. com. SportStars™© and STARS!™© Clinics, Know and GO Podcast ™, SportStories Podcast™, and 7 Friday Nights Podcast™, are trademarks of GoSportzStars Media LLC.

8.14.14

Shurod Thompson dives on the ball as five of his Pittsburg High teammates come running in support during a 2014 SportStars Football Preview photo shoot with the Pirates. Behind Thompson, from left to right, were David Lui, Armani Levias, Deontae Fortenberry, Jaylyn Morgan and Noah Palega. Phillip Walton photo

POWER SHIFT

NCVA Opens Its 2023-24 Season With A Stacked Boys Fall Season Headlined By Its Power League

The brief summer break has ended, and the Northern California Volleyball Association is diving into its 2023-24 season.

Tryouts have begun for boys volleyball clubs across the region, and competition will begin the first weekend after Labor Day. Boys Power League is the backbone of the NCVA boys season, and the association expects continued growth across all age groups.

Power League qualifiers will be held on two separate weekends. The 13/14U and 17/18U age groups will begin their Power League seasons on September 9-10 at @ theGrounds in Roseville. The following weekend — Sept. 16-17 — @theGrounds will host the 12U and 15/16U Divisions.

The rest of the Boys Power League schedule plays out on the weekend of Oct. 7-8 at @theGrounds, Oct. 21-22 at the San Mateo Events Center, Nov. 18-19 in San Mateo and San Jose, and then finally the Regional Championships on Dec. 16-17 also in San Mateo and San Jose.

It’s not all Power League for the boys this fall, though.

The premier tournament of the boys season is the Boys Far Westerns, which happens earlier this year than usual. Typically held in January, the NCVA has pushed the tournament into the fall this season. The tournament will take place on Nov. 4-5.

Roseville’s @theGrounds location will welcome teams from across the country for a chance to earn bids to the 2024 USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships. The 2024 nationals will be held in Dallas, Texas, over the summer.

Registration for the Boys Far Westerns is open until Sept. 25 with an entry fee of $950. There will be 12 divisions in total, two divisions each for age groups 14U18U, and one division each for 12U and 13U.

For more information on Boys Power League or the Boys Far Westerns, be sure to visit NCVA.com ✪

Serra Linebacker Danny Niu with the stiff arm.

As the 2023 season gets underway, expectations are understandably high on West 20th Avenue in San Mateo. Back to back trips to a California Interscholastic Federation bowl game dictate that any discussion of Northern California’s top teams has to start with head coach Patrick Walsh and his Padres.

But those who get caught up in scores and results fail to understand the point when it comes to what factors might ultimately make this Serra group one of the most special in school history no matter where the season takes it.

It’s a group that has a lot more going for it than just football.

Of course, the discussion inevitably starts on the field. Niu and Bey, along with 2022 SportStars NorCal Defensive Player of the Year Jabari Mann and defensive lineman Collin Tahitua, form a group of four players who enter their fourth year on the varsity level. Because of what Walsh calls “the weirdness of those times,” all four joined during the COVID-shortened campaign of 2020.

That quartet now forms the nucleus of a heralded defensive unit, and when you go down the depth chart, you start to understand the level of talent Walsh and his coaching staff have to work with.

As interior defensive linemen, Tahitua and senior Timo Poloka often fly under the radar, but they set the tone inside for Niu, Mann, and fellow senior Marley Alapati to make plays from the linebacker position.

If a team manages to get any further, Bey is waiting, often alongside fellow defensive back Teddy Chung, who started every game as a sophomore.

“I like to call them the Raptors defense,” Walsh said. “They’re all velociraptor-type players. They work well in a pack, they’re vicious at times, intelligent at other times.”

That experience, combined with the fact that it’s a group as committed to scholastic succes as it is athletic headlines, allows Walsh and his defensive coaches to throw more and more at their star-laden group.

“The things we do on defense, I would put it on par schematically with what people do at the college and NFL level,” Walsh said. “The multiple coverages, the multiple fronts, the different personnel packages can only be done with a defense that has this unique kind of intellectual skill set.”

The cavalcade of talent isn’t a one-way street. There are seniors back to lead the offense as well. Quarterback Maealiuaki Smith is yet another heralded recruit with plenty of experience, and he’s joined by playmakers like Kyon Loud, Jaden Green and many of the team’s defensive stars as needed. Senior tight end Cole Harrison is also primed to join the party after serving as understudy to standout Seamus Gilmartin, now at Harvard, last year.

So those are the names on the page, but what’s the real reason for optimism this year?

To hear the Padres tell it, the bonds that bind one of California’s top teams might have more to do with a keen understanding of human behavior than pure athletic ability.

“We can really trust each other. I feel like that’s what makes our defense very special,” said Bey. “We trust each other, we do our own jobs and we don’t try to do someone else’s. That makes everything perfect.”

Lots of successful teams can claim trust and togetherness as a key ingredient to achievement on the field.

But at Serra, an emphasis on everything that comes away from the gridiron has helped the Padres establish a culture of winning that goes beyond the scoreboard.

“We just know that we’re all brothers, we’re all one family, and Walsh keeps us focused,” Niu said. “We all know our goal is to be the best team we can be, the best individual players we can be, and the common goal is working together not only to make it to state but to be better people and make our-

Having known each other since they were five years old, Serra-San Mateo star linebacker Danny Niu can’t help but laugh when asked to describe what might be different these days about his friend and fellow Padres standout Joseph Bey.

“Nothing at all,” Niu said. “He’s the same guy. Same hard worker. Humble guy.

“And a really great friend.”

That sort of interplay is more than just a light-hearted example of what drives two of Northern California’s top talents.

It’s a symbol of the love and humility that has carried Serra to the very top of the California football landscape.

Senior linebacker Jabari Mann is a two-way player when needed, but made his biggest impact as the 2022 NorCal Defensive Player of the Year.

selves better.”

The last time Serra lined up to play, a 45-0 loss to St. John Bosco-Bellflower in the CIF Open Division bowl game reminded onlookers of the current state of California high school football. While Serra boasted it share of talent, St. John Bosco’s cup runneth over.

For those paying attention, the result did absolutely nothing to diminish what the Padres achieved in 2022.

But, did that reality shift the goalposts for Walsh when setting his team’s goals for the upcoming season?

Not in the slightest.

“The stated goal that we have every year is we want to be West Catholic Athletic League champions. That’s been kind of a 70-year commitment of this school,” Walsh said. “Winning a league championship is absolutely a fantastic accomplishment. Other than that, I don’t really do a lot of goal setting that way or trophy picking or any of that other stuff.

“We spend a lot more time focusing on things that you cannot measure like building relationships and creating an environment of brotherhood and love and existing in a world of humility.”

With continued success comes an increase in the outside noise around a program. With such an experienced group, the ability to limit the impact of those external factors has also turned into something that Walsh calls a strength of his team.

By focusing on the internal — academic success, teambuilding, humility — Serra is well-equipped to tune out the hype and focus on the task at hand.

“In practice, we’re a very competitive team and we humble each other,” Bey said. “The defense will come in high one week and we have a very talented QB on the other side of the ball that humbles us. Same thing with him. They’ll be up one week, have a 40-point game and come back into practice feeling really high and we’ll shut them down…we hold each other ac-

countable, we keep each other level-headed and balanced, and we understand that anything can be taken from us the following week.”

Even before the WCAL gauntlet begins, the noise is likely to grow even louder around campus.

Not figuratively.

Literally.

That’s because the first two games of the season will feature perhaps the most anticipated games of the entire Northern California football season. Folsom pays a visit to Brady Family Stadium on August 26 and De La Salle-Concord comes to town on September 2.

Serra went on the road and earned narrow victories against both the Bulldogs and Spartans in 2022, which will have both looking for revenge when they visit San Mateo this year.

“We’re not banking on the fact that now we’re at home and last year we won in the last second so we’re going to dominate them. That is not going to happen,” Walsh said. “Because of the strength of our opponents, we can only anticipate two 48-minute games on West 20th Avenue which, for the Bay Area and Northern California football, it’s going to be the spotlight. That big sun in the sky is going to be pointed on those two games, not only here in the 650, but across the state of California.”

For the senior nucleus of this year’s team, the reality of having one final run with lifetime friends isn’t lost.

They’re all focused on enjoying each moment while they can.

“The brotherhood at Serra is just very, very special,” Bey said. “It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot, but once you’re in it, you really understand. I look forward to going to practice every day and being with my guys. It’s something very special.”

It’s a special mentality that might just yield a historically special season. ✪

— Story By Ben Enos | Photos By David Gershon & Ben Enos

Maealiuaki Smith

NORCAL TOP 20

1. Serra-San Mateo (13-1 in 2022)

Padres are the closest thing to a region-wide unanimous season-opening No. 1 since De La Salle was in the midst of its Streak. Serra returns 15 starters, nine on defense.

2. De La Salle (10-4)

There’s experience and speed at the skill positions, but the key will be replacing the senior-heavy lines from last season.

3. Folsom (12-2)

Plenty of new faces, but followers of the SJS know by now that this program doesn’t rebuild — it reloads.

4. St. Mary’s-Stockton (10–1)

Opened the season with a strong statement win over state-ranked Clovis West-Fresno on Aug. 18.

5. San Ramon Valley (12-3)

Wolves will have at least six returning starters on both sides of the ball, and that includes star QB, Luke Baker.

6. Pittsburg (12-3)

Two-time returning NCS Div. I champions begin a new era under coach Charlie Ramirez. The Pirates’ longtime defensive coordinator will lean on his six defensive returning starters early on.

7. Central Catholic-Modesto (8-5)

This team will boast a third-year starting QB in Tyler Wentwoth, and if we know anything about coach Roger Canepa he’s gonna make sure to establish the run as well.

8. Grant-Sacramento (12-2)

There’s plenty of firepower left over from last year’s CIF State Bowl championship squad — and they’ll also add a pair of new stars via transfer.

9. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills (10-3)

Trojans will have as many as seven returning starters on each side of the ball, and a coach (Casey Taylor) who should be able to get the most of of them.

10. Granite Bay (9-5)

Young running back duo of Carter Jackson and Isaiah Ene both return after combining for 2,300 rushing yards and 31 TDs in 2022.

THE NEXT 10

11, Clayton Valley Charter-Concord (8-5)

12. St. Francis-Mountain View (8-4)

13. Los Gatos (8-3)

14. Del Oro-Loomis (9-3)

15. El Cerrito (13-1)

16. Rocklin (8-4)

17. Marin Catholic-Kentfield (13-1)

18. St. Ignatius-S.F. (6-7)

19. Windsor (9-3)

20. McClymonds-Oakland (12-2) ✪

It’s technically not a Preseason Top 20 because most Sac-Joaquin Section teams played their first game already, so it’s the Opening Top 20. Here we go!

No. 2 De La Salle

No. 5 San Ramon Valley

No. 6 Pittsburg

No. 8 Grant

It’s the middle of training camp, and Berkeley High football coach Dave Perry is talking mindset with his team at the end of one particular practice.

“Be a great student, a great listener, a great leader,” he says.

“Don’t focus on what you can’t do.

“Say I can.”

In year two at the helm of his alma mater, Perry knows what his team can do.

A 7-4 season in 2022 represented the Yellowjackets’ first winning campaign in over a decade, and a 5-0 record in West Alameda County - Mission Division play clinched the program’s first league title since 2011-12.

As a result, hope springs eternal as the 2023 season gets underway.

Longtime followers of Berkeley football will know that talent has never been an issue on a campus with over 3,000 students.

So, what needed to change?

“I would say for folks who understand the history of this school, we used to be a powerhouse and used to put some amazing teams out there,” Perry said. “We’ve adopted that Positive Coaching Alliance mindset of trying to get the right coaches up here that are really going to be pushing these kids not only to be better athletes but to be better people.

“That’s been a big focus of mine. Coming in my first year, it was all about bringing the culture back. Not only being great athletes — we’ve got those — but just being great people.”

It didn’t take long for that culture change to grow roots.

Drew Henderson manned the quarterback position as a junior in 2022, and he’ll be under center again when the Yellowjackets begin the 2023 campaign at Miramonte-Orinda on August 25. Faced with learning a sophisticated offense while also leading a team in search of a turnaround wasn’t the easiest assignment for Berkeley’s signal-caller.

He started by putting his faith in his new coach.

“He doesn’t just say things. It comes to fruition,” Henderson said of Perry. “He does what he says; he’s a man of his word, and our program listens because we know we can trust him.”

That trust earned immediate results. Henderson piled up 38 touchdowns to only five interceptions, and to hear Perry tell it, had a complete grasp of the offense by midseason despite having only been introduced to it in July.

It also didn’t hurt to inherit an undiscovered talent ready to become a star. In receiver Jackson Harris, Perry found a player who had the athleticism and talent to occupy the top line on any opponent’s scouting report. Now at Stanford, Harris caught 73 passes and scored 24 touchdowns en route to earning SportStars All-NorCal honors at season’s end.

While Harris’ singular talent helped shape Berkeley’s turnaround, it will be the collective that helps the Yellowjackets take their next steps forward.

After starring in the backfield last year, Jalen Harris returns to his familiar post and will help fill at least part of the void left by

“That’s been a big focus of mine. Coming in my first year, it was all about bringing the culture back. Not only being great athletes — we’ve got those — but just being great people.”

— Berkeley High football coach Dave Perry

will likely be part of a twoquarterback rotation for the Yellowjackets at some point during the 2023 season.

McClymonds-Oakand transfer Deontae Faison

his older brother’s graduation. In 2022, he rushed for 660 yards and eight touchdowns and added 10 receptions for 199 yards and three more scores.

“The roof is so high for Jalen,” said junior two-way standout Benjamin Thurman. “He’s just an athlete and a playmaker at all times. Anytime he’s on the field, he’s making plays and you can see other teams game planning against him.”

Just like Harris, Thurman has earned his own recruiting hype after a productive summer. A 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior with game-changing speed and the type of personality that can carry a team, he will lead the receiving corps when he’s not starring as a pass rusher on defense.

“I’d say we’re probably more skilled than we were last year and that we were heavily reliant on, no mistake about it, Jackson Harris. That’s what everyone talks about. We talk about it too,” Henderson said. “We’ve got a ton of skilled guys all around this field and I’m excited to see everyone get the ball this year.”

The list of key returners goes even further. Receiver Dash Guerreiro-Ramos, linebackers Lucas Cord and Palenapa Mataafa, lineman Eli Moulton and defensive back Ashton Dotson, a San Leandro transfer, all earned mention as potentially vital pieces in the Yellowjackets’ 2023 puzzle.

Even Henderson has some company this time around. McClymonds-Oakland transfer Deontae Faison will also factor at quarterback at some point this season, presenting Perry with the challenge of balancing reps between two talented upperclassmen.

He sees it as an opportunity to leverage two unique talents with two unique skill sets.

“What I see in both those guys is they can both play on the college level. It’s my duty to make sure they can get some film out there,” Perry said. “If they choose and really want to go on to the next level, I’ve got to find a way to get them on the field. As long as we can find ways to win with either quarterback, we’re going to do that.”

With a varsity roster that Perry anticipates will jump from 34 in 2022 to about 51 this year, the Yellowjackets are certainly trending in the right direction from a competitive perspective.

But what about off the field?

Progress is coming there as well. With a team GPA approaching 3.0 and a focus on the team’s four pillars — faith, family, future and finally football — the student body is again starting to embrace the program as part of the larger school culture.

“I feel like it’s been brought more to life now that Coach Perry is here. I feel like we have a better rep,” Jalen Harris said. “Especially with winning the league last year, I feel like there will be a lot more students filling these stands on Friday nights. The atmosphere is going to be a lot different.”

Perry credits school administration for its work in trying to instill a winning culture across all sports, not just football. His players credit their coach for putting them in positions to be successful, both on the field and in the classroom.

“On the football side, the standard will never change. I coach to win championships,” Perry said. “We lost in the first round of the playoffs. So, we have to be a round better. We have to find ways to get to the second round, get to the semifinals, get to the championship game.

“In the grand scheme, beyond all this, my goal is always to see if I can get everyone to go to college. That standard will never change. I want to encourage kids to be amazing human beings and go off to college somewhere. I truly believe if these kids can take care of business in the classroom, really love each other and play for each other, we can do something special.”

If it all comes together, there’s no telling what the Yellowjackets can do. ✪

— Story And Photos By Ben

Enos

TOP: Benjamin

will be a key two-way player for Berkeley at both running back and defensive end.

Thurman

ABOVE: Quarterback Drew Henderson returns after throwing for 38 TDs during his junior season.

LEFT: Jalen Harris led the team in rushing last season, but is expected to be a playmaker on both sides of the ball for the Yellowjackets.

ALL-NORCAL

WATCH LIST

QB | LUKE BAKER (San Ramon Valley-Danville) | Sr.

Top Bay Area quarterback in 2022 returns after passing for over 3,700 yards and 46 TDs en route to SRV’s first CIF state bowl appearance.

QB | TOA FAAVAE (De La Salle-Concord) | Jr.

One of the breakout stars of CIF bowl weekend with over 300 all-purpose yards and three TDs, Spar tans’ signal-caller enters 2023 as the team’s lone starter under center.

QB | DOMINIC INGRASSIA (San Marin-Novato) | Sr.

Burst onto the scene in 2022 with 2,500 yards and 35 TDs; enters senior season at the helm of a Mustangs squad looking for third-straight CIF bowl title.

QB | CADEN PINNICK (Del Oro-Loomis) | Sr.

Three-sport standout leads the Golden Eagles under center once again after earning Sierra Foothill League Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022.

QB | JACOB PRUITT (Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park) | Sr.

One of the top all-around athletes in the NCS, Pruitt enters his senior season as the Cougars’ start ing QB and will be just as dynamic on the ground as he is in the air.

QB | MAEALIUAKI SMITH (Serra-San Mateo) | Sr.

Highly touted field general returns to lead the region’s top team after a junior campaign with 2,546 yards, 34 touchdowns, and a trip to the CIF Open Division bowl game.

QB | TYLER WENTWORTH (Central Catholic-Modesto) | Sr.

One of NorCal’s most experienced quarterbacks returns to guide the Raiders’ offense one more time; threw for 20 TDs and nearly 2,000 yards as a junior.

RB | DERRICK BLANCHE JR. (De La Salle-Concord) | Jr.

Spartans won’t lack for playmakers on the ground and Blanche will help lead the way after finishing second on the team in carries as a sophomore in 2022.

RB | ASANTE CARTER (St. Mary’s-Stockton) | Sr.

Collected 20 rushing touchdowns as a junior for an offense that boasted a plethora of playmakers.

RB | BRYSON DAVIS (Manteca) | Sr.

Rushed for over 1,000 yards as a junior despite the presence of NorCal POY Blake Nichelson; now takes the lead role in the Buffaloes’ run-heavy attack.

RB | DEVIN GREEN (Grant-Sacramento) | Sr.

One of two huge transfer additions for the Pacers, the former Sheldon star brings top-shelf athleti cism and speed to one of NorCal’s most dynamic offenses.

RB | TAJIR GOLDEN (McClymonds-Oakland) | Sr.

Once the top backfield option for the Warriors, Golden should slot back into a main offensive role for the Warriors after the graduation of NorCal Offensive Player of the Year Jaivian Thomas.

RB | JALEN HARRIS (Berkeley) | Sr.

Led the Yellowjackets in rushing in 2022 but will also be a key option in head coach Dave Perry’s diverse passing offense.

RB | CARTER JACKSON (Granite Bay) | Jr.

Highly recruited underclassman announced his presence with 1,568 yards and 22 rushing touch downs as a sophomore.

RB | WAYSHAWN PARKER (Grant-Sacramento) | Sr.

Impactful Elk Grove transfer joins fellow import Devin Green in a loaded Pacers backfield; can do a bit of everything at the skill positions as well as the return game.

RB | LAMAR RADCLIFFE (Sacramento) | Sr.

Utah-bound bruiser enters 2023 healthy and ready to roll; rushed for 2,109 yards and 23 touch downs as a sophomore before a knee injury curtailed his junior campaign.

Caden Pinnick

RB | HERSCHEL TURNER (Mt. Diablo-Concord) | Sr.

Freedom-Oakley transfer will bring attention to the Red Devils this year after rushing for over 900 yards as a junior.

RB | CHARLES WILLIAMS (Marin Catholic-Kentfield) | Sr.

All-NorCal selection rushed for 1,239 yards and 23 touchdowns as the Wildcats’ top offensive playmaker in 2022.

WR | DAVEN AMOS (Clayton Valley-Concord) | Sr.

One of several tall, athletic options in the Ugly Eagles’ passing attack this year, Amos hauled in 86 passes for 1,164 yards and 12 TDs as a junior.

WR | HAYDEN ANDERSON (Windsor) | Jr.

Still only a junior, Anderson grabbed 46 passes for 957 yards and 10 TDs while also rushing for 522 yards and 10 more scores in 2022.

WR | DAI’TORIAN BROWN-LAW (Whitney-Rocklin) | Sr.

6-foot-4 target will look to make an impact for the Wildcats before taking his talents to Campbell next year.

WR | DARIUS DOYLE (Kimball-Tracy) | Sr.

One of two Jaguars receivers to record over 1,000 receiving yards in 2022, Doyle leads a talented group of returning pass catchers.

WR | TYRONE JACKSON (Riordan-San Francisco) | Sr.

Another highly touted playmaker for a group of Crusaders primed to take a step forward; enters the year as team’s top returning pass-catcher.

WR | CHRIS LAWSON (Riordan-San Francisco) | Jr.

One of the Bay Area’s most significant transfers, the former Foothill star and East Bay Athletic League Valley Offensive and Defensive MVP will play a pivotal role on both sides of the ball for the Crusaders.

WR| JAYTHN LONG (Lincoln-Stockton) | Sr.

Sacramento State commit had interest from a number of West Coast schools; caught 31 passes for 536 yards as a junior.

WR | MATT LONG (Vista del Lago-Folsom) | Sr.

Air Force commit hauled in 18 touchdowns and more than 1,000 receiving yards for the Eagles in 2022.

WR | COLE OWENS (Casa Roble-Orangevale) | Sr.

Emerged as the Rams’ top target in 2022 with 52 receptions, 1,320 yards and 18 TDs; will renew his partnership with QB Connor Campbell this year.

WR | TREVOR ROGERS (Acalanes-Lafayette) | Sr.

Cal-bound speedster will be a primary option in the Dons’ two-quarterback system; caught 58 passes for 1,120 yards and 15 TDs in 2022.

WR | LOGAN SALDATE (Palma-Salinas) | Sr.

Notre Dame commit is one of the top receiver recruits on the West Coast after hauling in 54 passes as a junior.

WR | ANANIAS WALKER (Windsor) | Sr.

Rancho Cotate transfer will pair with Hayden Anderson to form one of NorCal’s most imposing (and heavily recruited) receiver duos.

WR | ELIJAH WASHINGTON (Castlemont-Oakland) | Jr.

One of the OAL’s top all-around athletes has garnered plenty of attention on the recruiting trail; will make a mark in a number of spots for the Knights.

TE | KALEB EDWARDS (Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills) | Jr.

6-foot-7 two-sport standout had a breakout summer and is on the radar of schools across the country; caught seven TDs as a sophomore in 2022.

TE | KELLAN FORD (Monte Vista-Danville) | Jr.

Tight End HS adds another big name with the 6-foot-6, 225-pound junior who is already garnering recruiting buzz.

TE | COLE HARRISON (Serra-San Mateo) | Sr.

6-foot-5, 215-pounder owns multiple scholarship offers and should be a top target for NorCal’s top team.

TE | WYATT HOOK (Homestead-Cupertino) | Sr.

Oregon State commit caught 40 passes for 557 yards as a junior in 2022.

TE | ALEK MARSHALL (Menlo-Atherton-Atherton) | Sr.

Another monster target and highly touted recruit who checks in at 6-foot-7, 230 pounds; caught 29 passes as a junior.

OL | BENNETT ANDERSON (Bellarmine Prep-San Jose) | Sr.

Yale commit helped the Bells reach a CIF state bowl in 2022 and now welcomes former NFL offensive lineman David Diaz-Infante as Bellarmine’s new head coach.

OL | GARRISON BLANK (Rocklin) | Jr.

6-foot-7, 305-pounder enters his junior season with multiple West Coast scholarship offers in hand.

OL | ETHAN DASMANN (Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills) | Sr.

First team All-Sierra Foothill League selection in 2022 returns to lead the line for the Trojans.

OL | AJ HASSON (Davis) | Sr.

Delta League All-Purpose Player of the Year does a bit of everything for the Blue Devils, including playing tight end and defensive line.

OL | JOHN HOLTHAUS (Serra-San Mateo) | Sr.

Colorado State-bound big man will play a key role for a Padres offense loaded with playmakers.

OL | JUSTIN HYLKEMA (Wilcox-Santa Clara) | Sr.

Standing 6-foot-8, 315 pounds, there will be no missing the Arizona-bound lineman when he lines up for the Chargers this fall.

OL | MANASSE ITETE (Central Catholic-Modesto) | Sr.

6-foot-5, 290-pound Florida State commit will play the role of both pocket protector and road grader for a dynamic Raiders offense.

OL | KALOLO KAIHEA (Riordan-San Francisco) | Sr.

Before he heads to San Jose State in 2024, Kaihea will help lead a Riordan offense that carries big aspirations.

OL | PETER LANGI (Riordan-San Francisco) | Jr.

Another reason for optimism by the Bay—the 6-foot-5, 330-pounder holds 27 scholarship offers according to 247sports.com.

OL | BERLIN LILLARD (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland) | Sr.

6-foot-5, 325-pounder will anchor the Dragons’ line before heading to Colorado State.

Toa Faavae

Herschel Turner

Carter Jackson

Matt Long

OL | RAYNE MAYO (Valley Christian-San Jose) | Sr.

First team All-WCAL selection in 2022 will be a veteran voice on a talented Warriors line.

OL | AHMAD ROBINSON (McClymonds-Oakland) | Sr.

The latest in a long line of standout linemen, Robinson will look to pave the way for the Warriors’ always-formidable offense.

OL | MANUEL SERNA (Clayton Valley-Concord) | Sr.

San Jose State commit played a major role in the Ugly Eagles’ successful conversion to the spread offense in 2022.

OL | CHAMP TAULEALEA (Valley Christian-San Jose) | Jr.

Sophomore Player of the Year in the West Catholic Athletic League in 2022.

OL | XAVIER THORPE (Livermore) | Sr.

All-EBAL Valley second team choice in 2022 returns for his senior season with multiple scholarship offers in tow.

OL | TOMMY TOFI (Riordan-San Francisco) | So.

First team All-Delta League selection as a freshman at Sheldon-Sacramento now moves south to join a host of standout newcomers with the Crusaders.

OL | IKINASIO TUPOU (Palo Alto) | Sr.

Vikings’ standout tackle has several West Coast schools, including Utah and Washington, chasing his services.

OL | SIOSIUA VETE (Tennyson-Hayward) | Jr.

Hot summer recruiting trail for the Lancers’ junior lineman resulted in a recent Stanford commitment.

Manuel Serna

Tommy Tofi

Tome Veukiso

DL | AUCKLAND ASIATA (Sutter) | Sr.

2022 All-NorCal selection recorded 9.5 sacks, 34 QB hurries and 84 tackles for the Huskies as a junior.

DL | CHRIS BILLER (De La Salle-Concord) | Sr.

A familiar name to longtime Spartans followers, son of the former DLS standout is also a rugby star just like his dad.

DL | KODI CORNELIUS (Casa Grande-Petaluma) | Sr.

Two-way standout is a highly sought after defensive lineman with 15 scholarship offers listed entering his senior season.

DL | MARKUS HOFFMANN (Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills) | Sr.

First team All-Metro selection by the Sacramento Bee in 2022 recorded 10 sacks in a standout junior campaign.

DL | JERICHO JOHNSON (Armijo-Fairfield) | Sr.

Name a school and they’re probably pursuing the Royals’

6-foot-5, 320-pound star; counts Alabama and Georgia among his suitors.

DL | MATTHEW JOHNSON (De La Salle-Concord) | Jr.

6-foot-5, 240-pound edge rusher looks like the latest heralded defensive recruit to showcase his talents at Owen Owens Field.

DL | BENJAMIN THURMAN (Berkeley) | Jr.

Versatility and athleticism stands out for the Yellowjackets’ 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior edge rusher.

DL | NAKI TUAKOI (Fremont-Oakland) | Sr.

Talented defender will be a force off the edge for Fremont before heading to Stanford next fall.

DL | NELA TUPOU (Folsom) | Jr.

Another budding talent to join the Bulldogs’ stable; owns multiple scholarship offers, including Utah, according to 247sports. com.

DL | TOME VEUKISO (El Cerrito) | Sr.

For all the skill position talent that EC boasts, Veukiso stars on both lines and represents the backbone of a team with big goals.

DL | JEWELOUS WALLS (Pittsburg) | Jr.

Want to find the Pirates’ star lineman? Try the backfield. Contributed 25 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four forced fumbles and 99 tackles as only a sophomore.

LB | SEFO AKUILA (Tennyson-Hayward) | Sr. 6-foot-3, 227-pounder is another returning talent for the Lancers; counts Arizona, BYU among his scholarship offers.

LB | MARLEY ALAPATI (Serra-San Mateo) | Sr.

Army commit joined Jabari Mann, Danny Niu to form one of California’s top linebacking units in 2022; the bad news for opponents—they’re all back (and all on this list) in 2023.

LB | DREW CUNNINGHAM (De La Salle-Concord) | Sr.

Second team All-EBAL selection in 2022 returns as one of the defensive leaders for the Spartans this year.

LB | FRANK CUSANO (Granite Bay) | Sr. Washington State commit recorded 11 tackles and 16.5 tackles for loss for the Grizzlies in 2022.

LB | THEO GREULE (Folsom) | Jr.

Made an immediate impact and landed multiple postseason honors after recording 75 tackles and 5.5 sacks as a sophomore.

LB | MARCO JONES (San Ramon Valley-Danville) | Jr. 149 tackles as a sophomore put Jones on everyone’s radar, including Alabama; returns to lead the defense for a Wolves team seeking another CIF bowl berth.

LB | DANNY NIU (Serra-San Mateo) | Sr.

Another star in a unit full of them returns as one of NorCal’s elite playmakers at linebacker as well as a key contributor in the offensive backfield.

Marco Jones

Jadyn Hudson

LB | JABARI MANN (Serra-San Mateo) | Sr.

2022 NorCal Defensive Player of the Year recorded 87 tackles with five sacks and an INT as a junior.

LB | ETENE PRITCHARD (Pittsburg) | Jr.

Whether dropping into coverage or supporting the run defense, Pritchard made an impact for the Pirates at all three levels in 2022.

LB | JOHN STOWERS (Overfelt-San Jose) | Sr.

San Jose State commit recorded an otherworldly 192 tackles to go with 16 sacks as a junior in 2022; also rushed for 672 yards.

DB | MICAH AVERY (El Cerrito) | Sr.

A standout on both sides of the ball at Clayton Valley-Concord, Avery will play a major role for the Gauchos both at defensive back and as a primary running back.

DB | JOSEPH BEY (Serra-San Mateo) | Sr.

If an opponent somehow manages to escape the Padres’ front seven, they’ll almost surely find the 2022 WCAL Defensive Back of the Year waiting; another star on the Serra defense.

DB | BROOKLYN CHEEK (Central Catholic-Modesto) | Sr. 6-foot-2, 180-pound Cal commit stands out on both sides of the ball as a ball-hawking defender and a primary target for QB Tyler Wentworth.

DB | OMARI GAYLES (St. Mary’s-Stockton) | Sr.

All-NorCal choice did a bit of everything for the Rams in 2022 with 96 tackles, four interceptions, five fumble recoveries and four blocked kicks.

DB | JOHNATHAN GUERRERO (De La Salle-Concord) | Sr. Another returning All-NorCal selection grabbed a team-best seven interceptions along with a pick-six, sack, and 25 tackles as a junior.

DB | JADYN HUDSON (Pittsburg) | Jr.

Long regarded as one of NorCal’s top recruits, Hudson enters his junior year with Georgia and Michigan among his 27 offers.

DB | KAMANI JACKSON (El Cerrito) | Sr. Talented playmaker showed up in the season’s biggest moments in 2022, grabbing the game-sealing interception in the Gauchos’ NCS title win over Windsor.

DB | JADEN JEFFERSON (De La Salle-Concord) | So.

Only special talents see the field as a freshman for the Spartans, and Jefferson earned second team AllEBAL honors along the way.

DB | KINGSTON LOPA (Grant-Sacramento) | Sr.

Oregon commit returns to lead an uber-talented defensive backfield but also stands out as a team leader for the 2022 bowl champs.

DB | KAYO PATU (Capital Christian-Sacramento) | Sr.

Two-way standout for the Cougars will be a key senior leader as well as playmaker before heading to Arizona next fall.

DB | PHOENIX ROSE (Whitney-Rocklin) | Sr.

Highly sought after playmaker in the defensive backfield gives coach Zac McNally one of the SJS’s top options in pass defense.

DB | ROBERT SANTIAGO (De La Salle-Concord) | Jr.

Another heralded playmaker in the secondary for the Spartans enters his junior season with Miami and Oklahoma among his offers.

DB | BARON TAYLOR (Inderkum-Sacramento) | Sr.

First team All-Metro selection by the Sacramento Bee recorded seven interceptions and 11 pass breakups as a junior.

DB | RJ WHITTEN (Folsom) | Sr.

Will step into the role of senior leader for the Bulldogs no matter if he’s in the defensive backfield or playing closer to the line as a hybrid linebacker.

K | AUSTIN SHELTON (San Ramon Valley-Danville) | Sr. Had an argument as NorCal’s top kicker in 2022, nailing multiple high pressure kicks, including the gamewinner in the Wolves’ NorCal championship win. ✪

RJ Whitten

5

STORY

LINES SJS

In what has become a tradition in recent years, the Sac-Joaquin Section got to usher in a new season of Northern California football with a weekend all to itself on Aug. 18-19.

By Jim McCue and Ben Enos

We know it’s been a minute since readers were dialed into the SJS football season, so we’re here to provide a reset. There’s plenty of intrigue and expectations surrounding several teams in the SJS this season. Below you’ll find five of the biggest storylines and questions we were following as the season kicked off.

FOLSOM: Are Young Pups Still Top Dogs?

It’s hard to say that the Sac-Joaquin Section team everyone will be chasing and trying to beat is the “same old program” when the Folsom Bulldogs’ roster is dominated by new faces — especially at the skill positions.

Make no mistake: Folsom is the preseason favorite to claim the SJS Division I title and compete for the Northern California regional championship. But those watching — including plenty hoping to see a change to the status quo — might need a program to figure out who is on the field for Folsom head coach Paul Doherty. Scanning the Bulldogs’ numerical 2022 roster, one will see a major turnover, especially from number 1 to 25.

“Last year, we were a veteran team. Between December 2021 to August 2022, it was the status quo,” Doherty said, referring to recognizable players returning with established roles. “This year, we have a young group, but with lots of potential.”

That potential will be tested early and often as Folsom faces a gauntlet of Northern California’s best teams right out of the gate. The Bulldogs open with road contests at Monterey Trail, Serra-San Mateo, EdisonStockton, and Turlock before wrapping up their nonleague slate with a home opener against vaunted De La Salle-Concord.

“We will have plenty of adversity,” Doherty said of the schedule that sees his young Bulldogs getting little to no time to acclimate. “We’ll win. We’ll lose. But it’s going to be fun.”

Folsom’s motto or rallying cry for the 2023 season is, “Only Good Vibes.” Doherty is hopeful that the vibes will still be good when Folsom transitions from challenging nonleague schedule to the grind of the Sierra Foothill League schedule.

The young “pups” that will be asked to lead Folsom through what is surely one of the most challenging schedules in Northern California — and maybe well beyond the region — are underclassmen that will be seeing their first significant varsity playing time.

Sophomores Ryder Lyons (QB), Isaiah Williams (WR), and Jameson Powell (WR), along with junior Taniela Tupou (TE) will be counted on at the offensive skill positions, but have little to no varsity stats from the 2022 season. The group combined for three carries and two catches for a total of 42 yards of offense last season. That means the element of surprise (no tape to watch and analyze) may be the young Bulldogs’ best weapon.

The youth at the skill positions will be balanced by years of experience and knowledge in the trenches. Doherty will rely on veteran linemen that have already lined up against many of the best in the region. Senior Lucas Hardeman has three years under his belt already while senior Elijah Gulewich and junior Theo Greule will each be starting their third year in the middle of all the action on the offensive and defensive lines. Senior OL/DL Remington Masterson, who was a starter in the trenches last year, rounds out Folsom’s lone veteran unit.

Summer workouts and preseason practices have Doherty and the Bulldog faithful excited and cautiously optimistic despite the uphill climb that awaits Folsom. But the head coach knows that the expectations and tough schedule are exactly what his players want.

“That’s what the kids sign up for,” Doherty said of the difficult road ahead. “They want to play in the biggest games against the best teams. It can put stress and pressure on the players, but they are excited and we are going to have fun.”

Following the fun of the nonleague schedule, Folsom opens its SFL slate on September 29 at home against local rival, Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills, before facing many of the area’s best programs. Doherty believes that SFL foes like Oak Ridge, Rocklin, Whitney-Rocklin, and Granite Bay may be “up” from last year while the Bulldogs will be fighting to stay on top of the league in a relatively “down” year, but he is counting on his young team to mature and rise to the occasion. Maybe even to keep the title of “the same old program” that everyone is trying to beat.

“We are not where we were a year ago at this time, but we’ll get there.” Doherty said. “I don’t know when we will get there, but we are excited about this group and where we can go.”

Folsom’s RJ Whitten (4) is embraced by a teammate in the immediate aftermath of the Bulldogs 2022 nonleague at De La Salle.

ST. MARY’S-STOCKTON: Getting

Defensive — Can The Rams Maximize Their Super-Talented Roster In All Phases Of The Game?

The St. Mary’s-Stockton Rams’ New Year’s resolution was, Improve the Defense. After a dream 10-0 regular season highlighted by victories over Central Catholic (by 40 points) and De La Salle turned into a nightmare 51-50 playoff-opening loss to Turlock, head coach Tony Franks and the entire St. Mary’s program almost immediately went to work on improving the defense.

The disappointing loss marked the second consecutive season that the Rams and their high-powered offense finished with a loss in which the team gave up 51 points (Rocklin defeated St.Mary’s 51-47 in 2021), resulting in a call for action.

“It was extremely disappointing,” Franks said of losing the playoff opener after one of the program’s best regular seasons ever. “Needless to say, the emphasis going into this season starting in January is to play good defense at the end of the year.”

The Rams have lit up the scoreboard for years with potent offenses featuring highlight-reel playmakers. But defense has not been the program’s specialty, and recently become an Achilles heel for St. Mary’s. Turlock quarterback Cole Gilbert exposed the Rams’ weakness by racking up 466 yards of offense and 6 total touchdowns to end the season.

“We knew what we had to do,” Franks said of addressing the team’s defensive struggles in the playoffs. “We challenged our secondary and have tweaked some coverages. And we need our defensive front to get pressure on the passer.”

Franks and his staff are hopeful that the defensive refinements will result in better results on the stat sheet and the scoreboard. The Rams’ pass defense will be tested immediately against a Clovis West offense that features three Division I wide receiver recruits in their home opener Friday night in Stockton.

“Clearly our defense, and especially the secondary, will be put to the test,” Franks said. “We’ll see how we do right away.”

St. Mary’s will host Central Catholic and Manteca before hitting the road for contests at De La Salle and Bishop Amat-La Puente to round out the Rams’ nonleague slate.

Most of the St. Mary’s roster is back with the goal of erasing the bad memory and taste of a heartbreaking playoff defeat. The 2022 Rams had few seniors on the roster last year and a huge junior class that is back to change the ending of the season in 2023. Seniors dominate the skill positions with quarterback Samson Hunkin, running back Asante Carter, and wide receiver Cayden Ward leading a veteran offense hungry to get back to winning games. Sophomore Kenneth Moore III is also back at a receiver position after posting 506 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns as a freshman.

But the difference will have to be the returners on the other side of the ball that have a more personal score to settle.

“I am curious and anxious to see how our secondary plays because we put a lot of work into it,” Franks said.

Work that the Rams hope will pay off throughout the season—especially in the postseason.

— J.M.

CENTRAL CATHOLIC: Could A Third-Year QB And Two Dynamic Targets Lead To An Uncharacteristic Air Raid?

OK, so no one truly believes the Raiders are suddenly going to turn their offense into a 40-pass per game aerial assault.

But could the pass outweigh the run this season?

Central Catholic’s ground game has long been one of Northern California’s most dependable methods of ball movement. Over the last five full seasons (excluding the 2020 pandemic season), Central Catholic has averaged 3,528 yards of team rushing per year. Compare that with 1,645 yards per year through the air and it’s no secret which mode of travel has led the way.

What will 2023 hold? Central Catholic returns one of the region’s top quarterbacks in senior Tyler Wentworth as well as a pair of dynamic receivers in Trace Hernandez and Cal-bound Brooklyn Cheek.

In 2022, Hernandez hauled in 34 passes for 721 yards and nine touchdowns while Cheek added 25 catches for 463 yards and three scores. Wentworth passed for 1,986 yards and 20 touchdowns, averaging a shade over 165 yards per game.

Statistically speaking, Wentworth is also the team’s top returning rusher, and the Raiders will need to find a replacement for Tyler Jacklich and his 2,206 yards and 30 touchdowns. Of course, if history is any indication, the next great Central Catholic runner is just waiting to step forward. No matter which approach head coach Roger Canepa chooses to highlight, taking to the skies should represent a pretty good option for the 2023 Raiders.

De La Salle running back Charles Greer slips away from three separate Saint Mary’s-Stockton defenders during the Rams’ narrow victory over the Spartans last fall.

GRANT: Are The Pacers A Powerhouse Again? Signs Point To ‘Yes’

If a quest for redemption provided fuel for Grant’s run to a state bowl title in 2022, then 2023 seems to offer the Pacers a chance to remind folks that consistency is also a hallmark of the longtime powerhouse program.

Of course, there are new faces in new places this time around, but the playmakers that return from that bowl run are plenty capable of showing the way.

Two-way standout Kingston Lopa is the name everyone knows, as the Oregon commit will star both at receiver/tight end as well as the defensive backfield. Seniors Hakim Reynolds, Solomona Malae and KJ Jones will help provide leadership on defense, and junior defensive lineman/tight end Jeremiah Tuiileila should make plays on both sides of the ball.

A few of the new faces provide even more reason for optimism. Two of the Sacramento area’s most dynamic athletes now call Grant home, beginning with Sheldon-Sacramento transfer Devin Green. A UNLV commit, Green rushed for 771 yards and 11 touchdowns and added 22 catches for 306 yards and five more touchdowns as one of the Huskies stars in 2022.

Green has company in making the move from one end of Sacramento to the other. Do-everything athlete Wayshawn Parker made the offseason move from Elk Grove to Grant after rushing for 807 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Thundering Herd. He’ll also be a key playmaker at linebacker/defensive back and as one of the area’s premier returners. Who will get the ball to all these weapons? Gone is All-NorCal quarterback JoJo McCray, and junior Luke Alexander appears poised to take the reins. He’ll have plenty of options at his disposal as he settles in to lead the Pacers’ offense.

— B.E.

Grant players begin to celebrate after Hakim Reynold’s CIF State Bowl championship-winning interception.

Tyler Wentworth threw for a career high 20 TD passes in 2022.

CASA ROBLE: Are The Rams The Best SacArea Team Outside The Sierra Foothill League?

Chris Horner is entering his 23rd season at the helm of the Casa Roble football program, and the 2023 Rams have him as excited as he has ever been at the Orangevale school. And he has plenty of reasons to be excited, including a hungry group of seniors and an explosive passing attack. “We are returning everyone from last year,” Horner said with only a slight bit of hyperbole. “This is the hardest working group I have ever had, and they are hungry.”

The Rams finished 9-2 last season with disappointing bookend defeats that surrounded a dominant nine-game win streak in which Casa Roble outscored its opponents by an average score of 46-7, including four shutouts. Youth and injuries cost the Rams in their season and playoff openers, but the heartache resulted in Casa Roble setting big goals for 2023.

“We’ve grown as a team, and this is the best we’ve been,” senior wide receiver Cole Owens said of the group of seniors that have played and bonded together for as many as six years. “We’ve been grinding to get back (to the playoffs), and we believe this is our section (championship) year.”

Owens, who led the Sac-Joaquin Section with 1,320 receiving yards as a junior, will lead a potent offense that features one of the best and deepest receiving groups in the section and maybe all of Northern California. The senior superstar — who has numerous Division I offers to consider — is complemented by Elijah Huddle, Logan March and Ethan Horner.

Huddle, a junior who can catch balls as a tight end or wideout, recorded 488 receiving yards and six TDs as a sophomore. March, a versatile senior that coach Horner calls a “Swiss Army knife,” flew under the radar and made clutch plays when opponents focused heavily on Owens. Horner, the coach’s son, is an expert route-runner that “catches everything.”

The benefactor of the Rams’ stellar receiving group is junior quarterback Connor Campbell, who threw for 2,261 yards and 32 touchdowns while adding 283 yards on the ground and three rushing scores.

“Connor is going to be spoiled,” coach Horner said of the weapons his quarterback has at his disposal.

Campbell will also benefit from a solid veteran line in front of him and the option to hand the ball off to senior running back Daniel Renner. Senior lineman Michael Burkhart is a 6-foot-3, 260-pound blocker that is eager to play a full season after missing time in 2022 due to a broken leg. Two-way lineman Joe Dexter is a captain whose hard work in the weight room could lead to a breakout year. The 5-foot-9, 250-pound senior is squatting nearly twice his weight and motivating his teammates with his work ethic, according to Coach Horner.

The high expectations are warranted, and Casa Roble should be considered among the best teams outside of the Sierra Foothill League. Despite its relatively small size (Casa Roble’s enrollment has hovered around 1,000 students in recent years while other Sacramento-area schools — old and new — boast enrollments between 2,000 and 3,000 students), the Orangevale school is excited to try to prove its worth, especially come playoff time.

“We don’t care about rankings and don’t get wrapped up in who’s better,” Chris Horner said. “We just want to go out and play football, and we feel that we have the potential to do some good things this year.” ✪

Casa Roble carries high expectations this season after winning nine games in 2022.