De La Salle is no longer the Bay Area News Group’s top-ranked team, but the Concord powerhouse still has the most intriguing matchup of Week 3.
The Spartans play host to St. Francis on Friday night, the opponent that ended DLS’s 30-year, 318-game unbeaten streak against teams from this region last season.
The Bay Area News Group will have coverage of that game and many others, including new No. 1 Serra playing its home opener Saturday against Central Catholic-Modesto.
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Here is the Week 3 preview and schedule:
Top matchups
Friday
No. 6 St. Francis (1-1) at No. 2 De La Salle (1-1), 7:30 p.m.: De La Salle obviously has had this game circled since returning home from St. Francis last season after a historic 31-28 loss. Even worse for St. Francis, De La Salle is coming off a 24-21 loss at home last week to Serra. So the home team should be plenty fired up. Charles Greer ran for 132 yards and a touchdown in 23 carries to lead DLS against Serra. QB Toa Faavae showed some explosiveness for DLS last week on a 43-yard TD run down the sideline. St. Francis is coming off a 28-7 loss at home last week to Monterey Trail-Elk Grove, which lost at home to DLS 36-20 a week earlier. Matthew Dougherty Jr.’s touchdown pass to Andrew Adkison accounted for St. Francis’ only score against Monterey Trail. — Darren Sabedra
No. 3 Pittsburg (2-0) at No. 19 California (2-0), 7 p.m.: Pittsburg has perhaps the best win of any NorCal team not named Serra. The Pirates traveled to San Diego and cooked Nevada powerhouse Liberty 30-2 in the Honor Bowl, with Jaden Rashada’s three touchdown passes leading the way. A receiving corps of Rashid Williams and three other highly-touted prospects will face another challenge Friday at California. The Grizzlies have rolled over James Logan and Milpitas in their first two games. Jayden Macedo and Devan Love have combined for 274 yards on the ground. — Joseph Dycus
No. 7 McClymonds (1-0) at De Anza (1-0), 7 p.m.: The school known as “Mack” started its season a week later than most Bay Area teams but showed its supporters the wait was worth it. The Warriors opened with an OT win at home over Bellarmine. Aside from more dominance out of tight end/defensive end Gregory Kenny III, McClymonds will hope versatile halfback Jaivian Thomas has another 180-yard and two-touchdown game in him. Mack’s opponent should be well–prepared, though, as De Anza had a bye week after defeating Encinal in Week 1. Zayden Crockett gained 130 yards for De Anza in the opener, and junior DB Davion Dunkley had four passes defended. — Joseph Dycus
No. 25 Live Oak (2-0) at No. 10 Los Gatos (1-1), 7 p.m.: Live Oak had little trouble in its first two games, beating Gilroy 35-14 and Gunn 55-0. Its trip to Los Gatos will present a much larger challenge. Los Gatos bounced back from its season-opening loss to a very good Corona del Mar team, 28-14, to roll past Liberty 31-0 last week. Jake Boyd has passed for 359 yards and two TDs in the first two games for Los Gatos. Jordan Fuentes is averaging 9.7 yards per carry and has three rushing TDs for Live Oak. In a game between these teams last year, Los Gatos won on the road 35-7. — Darren Sabedra
Carlmont (2-0) at No. 18 Half Moon Bay (2-0), 7 p.m.: John Hanna was a workhorse for Carlmont last week against Los Altos, rushing for 178 yards and two TDs in 36 carries. But it was Conner Cook’s 32-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that lifted the Scots to a 17-14 victory. Carlmont opened the season with a 49-0 rout of San Lorenzo Valley. Half Moon Bay has won its first two games comfortably, beating Leland 35-9 and San Mateo 36-0. QB Liam Harrington accounted for nearly 200 yards of offense against San Mateo, including 148 and a touchdown through the air. HMB is 3-0 against Carlmont since 2008, all by decisive margins. — Darren Sabedra
Skyline (1-0) at Miramonte (2-0), 7 p.m.: This cross-section matchup between Oakland Athletic League and North Coast Section teams could be a contrast of styles. Skyline certainly has speed, with JoJo Salazar an absolute burner who can play and thrive at any position. But Miramonte coach Jack Schram said he expects Skyline to attempt to impose its will with power. Miramonte can play with power, but its offensive strengths lie with its UCLA commit quarterback, senior Luke Duncan. He has already thrown nine touchdowns through two games, with John Williams catching five of them. — Joseph Dycus
Tennyson (2-0) at Mt. Eden (1-0), 7 p.m.: These Hayward schools have been fairly even through the years, with Tennyson holding a 9-7-1 record over Mt. Eden in the MaxPreps era (2004-present). Mt. Eden gained 323 yards in its season-opening 34-8 win last week over Kennedy-Fremont, all but seven of them on the ground. Jahsiri Johnson (12 carries, 123 yards, one TD) and QB Danny Batres (15 carries, 101 yards, two TDs) led the rushing attack. Tennyson opened its season with wins over Castlemont 22-16 and Salesian 28-18. Last season, Tennyson won at home over Mt. Eden 23-20. — Darren Sabedra
Saturday
Central Catholic of Modesto (1-2) at No. 1 Serra (2-0), 1:30 p.m.: The Padres did what would’ve been unthinkable a few years ago: the San Mateo team traveled to Owen Owens Field at De La Salle and took down the Spartans in a nationally televised 24-21 win. There won’t be much time to relax for the Padres, though, because a talented Central Catholic team is making another trip to the Bay Area a couple of weeks after losing at St. Francis. Serra quarterback Maealiuaki Smith is turning into a star. He led the comeback last week against De La Salle. Junior back Jabari Mann has 76 rushing yards and nine tackles while playing both ways. Central Catholic is powered by its imposing running back Tyler Jacklich, who has already run for 468 yards and four touchdowns. — Joseph Dycus
Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 8
NON-LEAGUE
South Bay/Peninsula/SF
Fremont-Sunnyvale at Independence, 7 p.m.
Pioneer at Willow Glen, 7 p.m.
Valley Christian at Hollister, 7:30 p.m.
Westmont at Hill, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 9
NON-LEAGUE
East Bay
Berkeley at American Canyon, 7 p.m.
Benicia at Carrillo-Santa Rosa, 7 p.m.
Bethel at Vallejo, 7:30 p.m.
Campolindo at Windsor, 7 p.m.
Castro Valley at Granada, 7 p.m.
Concord at San Lorenzo, 3:30 p.m.
Encinal at Hayward, 7 p.m.
El Cerrito at Bishop O’Dowd, 7 p.m.
James Logan at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
Justin-Siena at Ygnacio Valley, 7 p.m.
Moreau Catholic at San Marin, 7 p.m.
Newark Memorial at Dublin, 7 p.m.
Pittsburg at California, 7 p.m.
Tennyson at Mt. Eden, 7 p.m.
Washington-Fremont at Dougherty Valley, 7 p.m.
South Bay/Peninsula/SF
Aragon at Lincoln-San Jose, 7 p.m.
Burlingame vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral at Kezar Stadium, 7 p.m.
Carlmont at Half Moon Bay, 7 p.m.
Christopher at San Mateo, 7 p.m.
Del Mar at Santa Clara, 7 p.m.
Evergreen Valley at Lynbrook, 7 p.m.
Gilroy vs. North Salinas at Salinas Sports Complex, 7 p.m.
Gunderson at Branham, 7 p.m.
Harbor at Saratoga, 7:30 p.m.
Homestead at The King’s Academy, 7 p.m.
Live Oak at Los Gatos, 7 p.m.
Los Altos at Hillsdale, 7 p.m.
Mt. Pleasant at Overfelt, 7 p.m.
Oak Grove at Piedmont Hills, 7 p.m.
Palo Alto at Gunn, 7 p.m.
Prospect at Cupertino, 7 p.m.
San Jose at Harker, 7 p.m.
Santa Teresa at Mitty, 7:30 p.m.
Sequoia at Capuchino, 7 p.m.
Silver Creek at Milpitas, 7 p.m.
South San Francisco at Jefferson, 7 p.m.
Terra Nova at Seaside, 7:30 p.m.
Wilcox at Leland, 7 p.m.
Intersectional
Acalanes at Sheldon-Sacramento, 7:15 p.m.
Bellarmine vs. San Leandro at Burrell Field in San Leandro, 7 p.m.
Castlemont at Hercules, 7 p.m.
Clayton Valley at Canyon Springs-North Las Vegas, 7 p.m.
Elk Grove at San Ramon Valley, 7 p.m.
Foothill at Vanden-Fairfield, 7:30 p.m.
Freedom at Grant-Sacramento, 7 p.m.
Fremont-Oakland at Northgate, 7 p.m.
Gregori-Modesto at Livermore, 7 p.m.
Las Lomas at Leigh, 7 p.m.
Liberty at Wood-Vacaville, 7:30 p.m.
McClymonds at De Anza, 7 p.m.
Mills vs. Alameda at Thompson Field in Alameda, 7 p.m.
Oakland Tech at Alhambra, 7:30 p.m.
Oakmont-Roseville at College Park, 7:30 p.m.
Pinole Valley at Oakland, 7 p.m.
Rocklin at Antioch, 7 p.m.
St. Francis at De La Salle, 7:30 p.m.
St. Ignatius at St. Mary’s-Stockton, 7:15 p.m.
Skyline at Miramonte, 7 p.m.
Vacaville Christian at St. Patrick-St. Vincent, 7 p.m.
Whitney-Rocklin at Heritage, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 10
NON-LEAGUE
East Bay
Lower Lake at Berean Christian, 1:30 p.m.
Mt. Diablo vs. American at Washington-Fremont, 1 p.m.
St. Mary’s-Berkeley at Arroyo, 2 p.m.
South Bay/Peninsula/SF
Monta Vista vs. Marina at Seaside, 4 p.m.
Mountain View at Sacred Heart Prep, 2 p.m.
Rancho San Juan-Salinas at Sobrato, 2:30 p.m.
Intersectional
Amador Valley at Menlo School (postponed until Sept. 30 at Amador Valley, heat)
Central Catholic-Modesto at Serra, 1:30 p.m.
El Camino at Lincoln-San Francisco, 2 p.m.
James Lick vs. Irvington at Washington-Fremont, 7 p.m.
Kennedy-Richmond at Galileo, 2 p.m.
Piedmont at North Tahoe, 1 p.m.
Richmond at San Lorenzo Valley, 2 p.m.
Riordan at Tamalpais, 2 p.m.
Schedule changes
If there has been a schedule change, please let us know at highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.
How to report results/game details
We encourage Bay Area coaches or team statisticians to email the final score and key scoring plays (a few stats, if you have them) to highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com right after each game. Please include the school names in the subject line.
Predictions
Look here as the Bay Area News Group’s Darren Sabedra and Joseph Dycus and correspondent Mike Lefkow make their weekly predictions.
Source: www.mercurynews.com