Top matchups
No. 16 St. Ignatius (2-1) at No. 2 St. Francis (2-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: This is St. Francis’ first game since its historic victory over De La Salle two weeks ago and the West Catholic Athletic League opener for both teams. St. Ignatius has wins over Palo Alto 28-10 and Sacred Heart Prep 13-7. The Wildcats’ loss was to St. Mary’s-Stockton, 38-10, which probably doesn’t bode well in this matchup against St. Francis. De La Salle beat St. Mary’s 52-16, and St. Francis beat De La Salle 31-28. St. Francis routed Oak Grove in its opener and then ended De La Salle’s 30-year unbeaten streak against regional opponents when Matthew Dougherty Jr. connected with Nicolas Andrighetto from 16 yards out with 16.7 seconds left for the winning TD. Viliami Teu is a hard-nosed, big-play running back for St. Francis. He was a handful for De La Salle. St. Francis had won six in a row over St. Ignatius before losing to the Wildcats in 2019, 35-26. St. Ignatius shared the WCAL championship that season with Serra and Valley Christian. — Darren Sabedra
Wilcox (1-3) at No. 5 Los Gatos (4-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: Los Gatos needed 20 unanswered points to overcome a 19-0 deficit and claim the SCVAL De Anza title in a thriller on Wilcox’s home field last spring. The teams kick off league play this fall at Los Gatos in another showdown that should determine the De Anza champion. Los Gatos hasn’t lost a regular-season game since their meeting two seasons ago and has won nine straight games dating back to a playoff loss in 2019. Wilcox is off to a rockier start and lost its preseason top-25 ranking but played No. 4 Pittsburg to within one touchdown last week. The Chargers are still riding the legs of Luther K. Glenn, who rushed for 163 yards in the loss last spring and is averaging nearly 120 yards per game this season. Los Gatos linebackers Jake Ripp and Ethan Currie have been causing trouble for opposing offenses all season. The Wildcats have a plus-five turnover ratio through its first four games, and junior QB Jake Boyd hasn’t given the ball away once in his first four starts. — Evan Webeck
PREP FOOTBALL WEEK 5 COVERAGE
Riordan (3-0) vs. No. 6 Bellarmine (3-0) at San Jose City College, Friday, 7 p.m.: It’s been a magical season thus far for Bellarmine, with wins over Menlo-Atherton, San Leandro and Central Catholic-Modesto heading into this WCAL opener. The Bells have done it with whatever it takes. Last week, they scored in the final minute on a 34-yard pass from Wade Smith to Thomas Divittorio and an interception in the end zone by Nate Escalada as time expired. Two weeks ago, they shut down San Leandro to win 41-6. In the season opener, they outlasted Menlo-Atherton 56-41. Riordan also is undefeated but hasn’t faced a schedule like Bellarmine’s. The Crusaders have wins over Granada, Justin-Siena and Tamalpais. Curtis Jones leads Riordan in rushing, averaging 119.7 yards per game. QB Michael Gormley averages 112 yards passing and 94 yards rushing. He has thrown three TD passes and rushed for four. In the MaxPreps era (2004 to present), Bellarmine is 16-0 against Riordan. — Darren Sabedra
No. 8 McClymonds (3-0) at No. 20 Menlo-Atherton (1-2), Friday, 7 p.m.: Menlo-Atherton’s high-powered attack has lived up to the preseason hype, but the Bears have had trouble stopping other offenses. They allowed a combined 100 points in two season-opening losses before pitching a shutout of Pleasant Valley-Chico in their first win. They’ll be well-rested after a bye week; McClymonds earned a quality win over Marin Catholic last week. The talent at McClymonds leans closer to M-A’s first two opponents than its last one. QB Dreyan Paul was an athlete-of-the-week nominee after totaling more than 300 yards with his arm and his legs in the 33-22 win last week. Dwayne McDougle and Jay’vion Cole each hauled in passes for triple-digit receiving yards. However, no receiver has been as prolific as the Bears’ Jalen Moss, whose seven touchdown catches and 417 yards are both tops in the CCS. He has second-year starter Matt MacLeod (54% passing, 847 yards, 11 TD, 2 INT) throwing him the ball and fellow Division-I prospect Jeremiah Earby (6 receptions, 234 yards, 3 TD) also making big plays in the receiving corps. The Bears have a chance to prove they’ve steadied the ship or risk falling to 1-3. Mack can’t be caught looking ahead to next week, the toughest game on its schedule, against No. 4 Pittsburg. — Evan Webeck
No. 19 Las Lomas (3-1) at No. 9 San Ramon Valley (2-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: Is this the week San Ramon Valley has a breakout game? SRV has scored a combined 35 points in its last two contests, a 21-14 loss at Central Catholic-Modesto and a 21-17 come-from-behind win at Antioch. After difficult trips in their last two games, the Wolves get to perform before their own crowd. SRV has won four of five against Las Lomas since MaxPreps began keeping track in 2004, but this game is anything but a gimme. Last year the Wolves needed a touchdown in the final minute to beat a Las Lomas team that finished 1-4. SRV’s offense has seemed a little off thus far, but it’s deep and talented, especially in the passing game. Quarterback Jack Quigley has a host of top receivers in Tanner Salisbury, Caden Ridley and tight end Tyler Hoffman. Juniors Caleb Padrid and Trevor Scott add depth. Running back Za’Darion Nardi is averaging 117 yards per game. Las Lomas is averaging 41 points per game, and quarterbacks Dimond Loosli and Michael Wood have passed for 943 yards and nine touchdowns. They have almost identical stats. Junior running back Adam Towell has gained 334 yards and scored our TDs. The Knights’ only setback was 38-35 to a tough Rancho Cotate team, but SRV will be their biggest challenge yet. — Mike Lefkow
No. 10 Clayton Valley Charter (3-1) at Monterey Trail-Elk Grove (0-4), Saturday, 7 p.m.: What a difference six months make. It was in late March that Monterey Trail came to Concord and beat the Ugly Eagles 24-13. Monterey Trail was 5-0 during the abbreviated season last spring, with Clayton Valley being the one close game it had. This season the Mustangs are 0-4 and have been outscored by 32 points per game. Of course, the schedule has been brutal with Folsom, Los Gatos and De La Salle. The Uglies are coming off a dominant 48-0 thrashing of Benicia on Monday night. It won’t be that easy against Monterey Trail, especially on short rest and with a long bus ride to Elk Grove. Still, Clayton Valley is averaging 470 yards per game, including 353 on the ground. Senior Rahsaan Woodland has rushed for 627 yards and five TDs. Quarterback Brenden Bush has 265 yards and four TDs. Sophomore Micah Avery has contributed 214 yards. When CVC does take to the air, Bush is 34-47 for 468 yards and two scores. Monterey Trail isn’t as bad as its record, and played tough last weekend in a 38-35 setback to Lincoln-Stockton. The Ugly Eagles have to make sure this doesn’t become a trap game and a second loss. — Mike Lefkow
No. 12 El Cerrito (3-1) at No. 14 Monte Vista (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: CJ Anderson has passed his first three tests as a high school head coach with flying colors but El Cerrito presents Monte Vista’s toughest challenge yet. The Gauchos have surrendered 20 points all season, an average of 5 per game. The Mustangs, led by QB Dyllan Devitt (66% passing, 716 yards, 10 TD, 3 INT), haven’t gone a game without putting at least 21 points on the scoreboard. Their senior quarterback will have to thread the ball between Robert Freeman and Warren Smith in the talented El Cerrito secondary. Devitt connected with TE Jack Endries (6-4, 227) for two touchdowns last week. Freeman and Aaron Miles have been game-changers on special teams with kick and punt returns for touchdowns. It doesn’t get any easier for Anderson and the Mustangs: they have one final tuneup against Livermore before starting an EBAL schedule that left them 0-6 last spring. — Evan Webeck
No. 25 Foothill (3-1) at No. 17 Amador Valley (4-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: It has been a while since both teams were ranked when the two Pleasanton high schools met for the city title. Former Foothill coach Matt Sweeney estimated 2015. This game will pit a stingy Amador Valley defense against Foothill’s high-flying offense. The home team has allowed only seven points all season and has three straight shutouts. Foothill is averaging almost 36 points per game, and its defense hasn’t been too shabby, yielding an average of 13 points. This game likely will be determined by how Amador Valley controls Foothill quarterback Nick Walsh. The senior has connected on 59-of-86 passes for 830 yards and 16 scores. Kenny Olson has caught six of those passes, but Walsh has other options in Connor Perez, Tony Schillaci and freshman speedster Chris Lawson, who has averaged almost 20 yards on his nine catches. Look for Amador Valley to keep the heat on Walsh with 6-5, 240-pound Brady Nassar, a junior who has an offer from Washington, and fellow junior James Rothstein (6-6, 232). Other top defenders include an excellent linebacking corps in Kai Burgermeister, Kevin Albright and Miles Tucker, and safety Jackson Ogolin. — Mike Lefkow
Leigh (3-0) at Westmont (3-0), Thursday, 7 p.m.: Leigh will put its eight-game winning streak on the line in this BVAL Santa Teresa Division opener. The Longhorns have shut-out victories over Gilroy 41-0 and Mt. Pleasant 48-0. They also beat Lincoln 41-14. Aidan Williams has eight TD passes without an interception, averaging 217.3 yards passing per game to lead Leigh. Sam Betz is the Longhorns’ top rusher and Aidan Goo is their top receiver. Westmont has four players who have rushed for at least 100 yards, led by junior Jacob Lang (245 yards, four TDs). Elijah Monroe has caught five of Westmont’s seven TD passes. As with Leigh, Westmont has not had a close game, beating Monta Vista 42-0, Mt. Pleasant 35-0 and Saratoga 48-14. Leigh is 7-6 against Westmont since 2004, including a 21-7 win in the spring. — Darren Sabedra
Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 23
South Bay/Peninsula
BVAL Santa Teresa
Leigh at Westmont, 7 p.m.
BVAL West Valley
Gunderson at Yerba Buena, 7 p.m.
Hill at Del Mar, 7 p.m.
San Jose at Evergreen Valley, 7 p.m.
SCVAL De Anza
Santa Clara at Palo Alto, 7 p.m.
Intersectional
Oakland at San Mateo, 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 24
South Bay/Peninsula
SCVAL De Anza
Milpitas at Mountain View, 7 p.m.
Wilcox at Los Gatos, 7 p.m.
SCVAL El Camino
Cupertino at Lynbrook, 7 p.m.
Fremont-Sunnyvale at Los Altos, 7 p.m.
Monta Vista at Saratoga, 7 p.m.
BVAL Mt. Hamilton
Leland at Silver Creek, 7 p.m.
Lincoln at Santa Teresa, 7 p.m.
Live Oak at Oak Grove, 7 p.m.
Overfelt at Piedmont Hills, 7 p.m.
BVAL Santa Teresa
Pioneer at Independence, 7 p.m.
Prospect at Willow Glen, 7 p.m.
Sobrato at Branham, 7 p.m.
BVAL West Valley
Mt. Pleasant at Lick, 7 p.m.
West Catholic
Riordan vs. Bellarmine at San Jose City College, 7 p.m.
St. Ignatius at St. Francis, 7 p.m.
Valley Christian vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral at Kezar Stadium, 7 p.m.
Non-league
Sacred Heart Prep at Hillsdale, 7 p.m.
East Bay
MVAL/WACC Mission
Encinal at Mt. Eden, 7 p.m.
Kennedy-Fremont at Berkeley, 7 p.m.
MVAL/WACC Shoreline
San Lorenzo at Alameda, 7 p.m.
Irvington vs. Tennyson at Washington-Fremont, 7 p.m.
Non-league
Benicia at Bethel, 7:30 p.m.
Deer Valley at Dougherty Valley, 7 p.m.
El Cerrito at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
Foothill at Amador Valley, 7 p.m.
Freedom at James Logan, 7 p.m.
Granada vs. San Leandro at Burrell Field in San Leandro, 7 p.m.
Hayward at Campolindo, 7 p.m.
Healdsburg at Kennedy-Richmond, 7 p.m.
Heritage at De Anza, 7 p.m.
Las Lomas at San Ramon Valley, 7 p.m.
Liberty at Dublin, 7 p.m.
Newark Memorial at Livermore, 7 p.m.
Pinole Valley at Arcata, 6 p.m.
Williams at Richmond, 7 p.m.
Intersectional
Balboa at El Camino, 7 p.m.
Berean Christian at Skyline, 7 p.m.
Castlemont at Bishop O’Dowd, 7 p.m.
Fremont-Oakland vs. Albany, 7 p.m.
King’s Academy at Moreau Catholic, 7 p.m.
Lincoln-San Francisco at Terra Nova, 7 p.m.
Lowell at Half Moon Bay, 7 p.m.
McClymonds at Menlo-Atherton, 7 p.m.
Mission at Mt. Diablo, 7:30 p.m.
Northgate at Rodriguez-Fairfield, 7:15 p.m.
Piedmont at Templeton, 7 p.m.
Wood-Vacaville at College Park, 7:30 p.m.
Ygnacio Valley at Bradshaw Christian-Sacramento, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 25
South Bay/Peninsula
West Catholic
Serra at Mitty, 1 p.m.
East Bay
MVAL/WACC Shoreline
American at Arroyo, 1 p.m.
Non-league
Antioch at Marin Catholic, 2 p.m.
Vallejo at Concord, 7 p.m.
Intersectional
Clayton Valley at Monterey Trail-Elk Grove, 7:15 p.m.
Schedule changes
For schedule updates, 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 Evan Webeck and correspondent Mike Lefkow make their Week 5 predictions.