High school football 2024 preview: TCAL Rock Division

As part of our high school football content to get you ready for the 2024 season, we are rolling out previews of all leagues in our coverage area.

Today’s focus:

TRI-COUNTY ATHLETIC LEAGUE ROCK DIVISION

(Predicted order of finish)

No. 1 EL CERRITO

Coach: Jacob Rincon

Record in 2023: 12-2

What to expect: El Cerrito remains the heavy favorite in the Rock, even with St. Mary’s-Berkeley and Vallejo coming over from the Stone to replace Hercules and Bethel. Two major questions for the Gauchos: How soon will transfer QB Jonathan Craft become eligible? And how will El Cerrito handle a brutal non-league schedule? Craft, a senior transfer from James Logan, is committed to Fresno State. He’ll have a splendid trio of receivers in Gary Youngblood, Savion Bandy and speedster Gavin Thompson to help ease his transition. Offering protection up front are juniors Sione Fanaika and Andrew Brital, along with senior Lamarion Jones, who has offers from Louisville and Fresno State. Senior Domeillo Bigbee is a three-year starter at LB, and Jones is a monster on the edge. If Craft isn’t eligible right away, the Gauchos will turn to 6-foot-3, 220-pound freshman Jamar Lincoln at QB. The non-league schedule includes Amador Valley, Monterey Trail, Campolindo and De La Salle. “It’s hard to get (non-league) games,” coach Jacob Rincon said. “Amador Valley wanted to play again. Monterey Trail was looking for a game. Pittsburg coach (Charlie) Ramirez helped us with that one. De La Salle happened last year. We learned from playing that game (a 31-12 DLS win). We want to play the best.”

Season opener: Aug. 30 vs. Amador Valley, 7 p.m.

No. 2 SALESIAN

Coach: Chad Nightingale

Record in 2023: 10-3

What to expect: Salesian is the fifth-smallest football-playing high school in the East Bay, based on student enrollment. But no one would be foolish enough to pick the Pride at the bottom of the standings. Chad Nightingale is beginning his 29th season as head coach of the Richmond school, and in the MaxPreps era that began in 2004, he’s had only three losing seasons. A trio of standout players could determine how successful Salesian’s season is. Senior two-way OL/DL Delon Craft (6-6, 275) is committed to San Diego State. Marcus Burke will be starting for his third straight season at quarterback. WR/DB Carlton Perrilliat is a 6-4 junior who has college coaches wondering what they can do to convince him to choose football over basketball at the next level. He caught 19 passes last year, nine for touchdowns. Burke is the key. “A third-year guy can make a huge difference in tempo in the huddle and in little wrinkles you can add that won’t cause tremendous confusion,” Nightingale said. Salesian lacks experienced running backs, though seniors Cahmari Blakely and A’Million Morgan have plenty of upside. Senior Justyn Lankford is a returning all-league defensive lineman.

Season opener: Aug. 30 at Piedmont, 7 p.m.

No. 3 ST. MARY’S-BERKELEY

Coach: Casey Moreno

Record in 2023: 6-5

What to expect: Casey Moreno replaces John Trotman, who left for Castro Valley. Moreno has plenty of experience, having been a head coach at Hayward, Dublin and College Park, where he was last year. Moreno said this year’s team will be built around a veteran offensive line that includes seniors Avi Coty-Moran, Jason Rodriguez, Joseph Bryant, Mason Young and junior Spencer Kramer. Coty-Moran, who measures 6-5, 240, is one to keep an eye on. So is Rodriguez, who had six tackles for loss last season on defense. The Panthers added even more size with the addition of tight end Sunni Scott, a 6-4, 220-pounder who played in Nevada last season. MLB/DE Anthony Cammack is another strong defender. St. Mary’s will rely on junior Wyatt Swanson to propel the running game that Moreno prefers. Last year’s leading rusher, Marcus Jasiri-Hughes, transferred to Sacred Heart Cathedral. “Hughes was a huge hit,” Moreno said. “But we’ll survive because of Wyatt Swanson. He’s going to be special.”

Season opener: Aug. 30 at Moreau Catholic, 7 p.m.

No. 4 VALLEJO

Coach: Michael Wilson III

Record in 2023: 8-4

What to expect: After El Cerrito and Salesian, predicting where the other four teams in the TCAL Rock will finish is a tossup. Vallejo, with the receiving duo of Cal baseball commit David (Buddha) Bernstine III and senior Darrell Hurd, gets the nod. Bernstine is a big-time infield prospect. They are joined on offense by explosive senior Sedrick Vaughn, who combined for 1,177 yards and 16 touchdowns as a running back and receiver. Four offensive linemen return, as does senior Robert Guzman, who will share time with Bernstine at quarterback unless he wins the job outright. “The offense will be pretty good,” said coach Michael Wilson III, who returns for his 12th season. “The defense has some work to do.” Wilson’s dad Mike, who coached the Redhawks for 26 years, will call the plays for a defense that yielded 27 points per game last year. The standout is 6-6, 222-pound junior DE Vernus Ragsdale, who had five sacks in 2023.

Season opener: Aug. 30 at Benicia, 7 p.m.

No. 5 PINOLE VALLEY

Coach: Troy McConico

Record in 2023: 4-6

What to expect: After capturing the CIF 7-AA state title in 2022, the Spartans went 4-6 last season, starting 2-5 before winning two of their last three. “This season we have an experienced group,” coach Troy McConico wrote in a Bay Area News Group preview survey. “Many of them were varsity underclassmen last season. They are coming along and look to be able to compete at a high level week-in and week-out.” Senior Deante Paige and junior Duran Davis are returning second-team all-TCAL offensive linemen. Running behind them will be Kaleo Lopez, who has “big-play potential,” McConico wrote. Junior WR/DB Chriseanie Nealy is another second-team all-league player. Lopez and Luis Plascencia are solid linebackers, while Davis and Paige will team with Sanai McCockran on the defensive line. McCockran is a 6-2, 225-pound junior edge with a high motor who also plays right tackle. He was first-team all-TCAL as a sophomore.

Season opener: Aug. 30 vs. American at Tak Fudenna Stadium, Fremont, 7 p.m.

No. 6 DE ANZA

Coach: Maliik Zaid

Record in 2023: 2-8

What to expect: New coach Maliik Zaid isn’t allowing last season’s disappointing record stand in the way of his optimism. “We’ll be fine,” he said. “Last year we started a lot of juniors and sophomores. We have a lot of returnees.” Two underclassmen who won’t return are Desmond Sparks and Tyriq Reed. Both are at McClymonds. Sparks passed for 523 yards and seven touchdowns, ran for 383 yards and four more scores, and led the Dons with 102 tackles. Reed had 61 tackles. But Zaid quickly points out that two-time all-league right guard Victor Gerry, senior RB Jozhon Stallworth and DB/WR Jacari Madison are capable replacements. The O-line has three returning starters, including Arden Pope and Giovanni Espinosa. Also back is Jante Jackson, who had three picks and recovered a fumble. The early schedule is daunting with St. Vincent de Paul, Berkeley and Alhambra being the first three opponents, but they’re all coming to Richmond.