NorCalSportsFan said:

I wou

l wouldn't call WCAL down. Been following the league since late 1970s. Serra is young and down from last season but still good enough to defeat the best team in the SJS in Folsom. Bells have been down for years and SHC is in a tough spot, but rest are quality teams with top 4 as tough as any league in Norcal (maybe only Tri-river in Central Section is stronger but debatable and in East Bay Mountain DLS skews the league but top 3-4 teams are very good and would rank as better).

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I hear you. My son is a proud Bell grad and was on their last hoop co-championship team (w/Mitty and Riodan) in '20. I have a few cousins on the football team now. Unreal regarding where football program is today. We'll figure it out.

The only reason I said it's a slightly down year is due to Serra going to the state in the Open division a few years in a row, St. Francis beating DLS a few years back, Bellarmine was making a comeback and their young coach left, and so on.

I agree with you regarding the Tri-River and EBAL. I do believe the top three in the EBAL are better than the top 3 WCAL squads as a group this season.

EBAL is 27-4 in non-league (3 of those losses are by Amador Valley and other loss is the Bishop O'Dowd upset win over Monte Vista). WCAL was 12-12. And as Observer pointed out, EBAL is 4-0 vs. the WCAL this year.

LLCCS said:

Hey PALBOOSTER, What is the justification as to why PiedmontHills at 41.5 points is the 1 seed in D4 where the 8 seed Aptos has 40.5 and 7 seed Capuchino in D3 also has 41.5 points?

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A-League teams can only be slotted in D1-D3. Aptos and Capuchino are A League. Piedmonte Hills is B league.

observer22 said:

Although it’s not the same teams, last season SRV was within a missed FG of beating DLS in the last seconds of regulation, before losing in OT.

That could both embolden this year’s SRV team to believe they can beat DLS, and at the same time motivate DLS so as not to leave this game up to a FG kicker to win or lose.

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Totally agree with this, and DLS basically has a bye week to prepare since they played last Tuesday…..

Last year SRV was led by talented QB Luke Baker who came close to beating DLS Twice in 3 tries!…. He was a mobile QB and very accurate passer the kind of QB that is Kryptonite to DLS…. Plus DLS was in total control of that game and blew an onside kick recovery that Baker turned into TD and 2pt conversion tying the game….. And then fumbled on the ensuing possession leading to the SRV missed FG….

In the Playoffs last year DLS stuck with the running game and avoided the mistakes that plagued them in The first game and won 17-7….

DLS is Significantly better this year along the lines and at Running Back, beating DLS this year a far tougher task then Last year and DLS will be super prepared for this game…. I think it will be close then DLS will pull away in the end….

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Salinas at D-Open #7 seed with 67
Valley Christian D-I #6 seed with 66.5

observer22 said:

Although it’s not the same teams, last season SRV was within a missed FG of beating DLS in the last seconds of regulation, before losing in OT.

That could both embolden this year’s SRV team to believe they can beat DLS, and at the same time motivate DLS so as not to leave this game up to a FG kicker to win or lose.

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DLS needs to be on upset alert. SRV can pull it off if DLS doesn’t play well. IMO

Norcalguy111 said:

Don’t be surprised when DLS beats San Ramon by 21

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I think you are right, DLS plays to win, for SRV to win, they must play 110% and maybe they will win.

northbaybbguru said:

Who's the 2nd best team in the WCAL this year?

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I'd say Riordan, though it's obviously a very distant second. They landed several transfers to join most of the squad that finished third last year. SHC, second place a year ago, lost a terrific guard tandem to graduation. SI, which finished fourth, should be solid. St. Francis is young and rather small. Valley Christian could get a couple surprise wins. And Presentation will struggle yet again.

Also:

Fri 10/18 Downey (Modesto, CA) at Turlock (CA), 7:00pm
projection and percent chances to win: Turlock (CA) 31 (53%) Downey (Modesto, CA) 30 (47%)
Fri 10/18 St. Francis (Mountain View, CA) at St. Ignatius (San Francisco, CA), 7:00pm
projection and percent chances to win: St. Ignatius (San Francisco, CA) 21 (57%) St. Francis (Mountain View, CA) 19 (43%)

NorCalSportsFan said:

I wou

l wouldn't call WCAL down. Been following the league since late 1970s. Serra is young and down from last season but still good enough to defeat the best team in the SJS in Folsom. Bells have been down for years and SHC is in a tough spot, but rest are quality teams with top 4 as tough as any league in Norcal (maybe only Tri-river in Central Section is stronger but debatable and in East Bay Mountain DLS skews the league but top 3-4 teams are very good and would rank as better).

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Outside of Serra, WCAL doesn't impress.

bulldogmgc said:

If a young St Mary’s came close to upsetting DLS, I really believe SRV has a shot having defeated WCAL #1 team, SI, early on. Gonna get my “coin” for this one.

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Although it’s not the same teams, last season SRV was within a missed FG of beating DLS in the last seconds of regulation, before losing in OT.

That could both embolden this year’s SRV team to believe they can beat DLS, and at the same time motivate DLS so as not to leave this game up to a FG kicker to win or lose.

Who's the 2nd best team in the WCAL this year?

Is Sidwell at the Nike TOC again this year?

Mitty could end up playing them twice if they are.

Tarheels with 3 top 100 recruits give them a top5 recruiting class in this cycle.

10. DLS 35, San Ramon Valley 24.
9. Central Catholic 42, Oakdale 28.
8. Rocklin 35, Granite Bay 28.
7. Twelve Bridges 28, Placer 27.
6. Woodside 24, South SF 21.
5. Stevenson 28, Pajaro Valley 21.
4. Arcata 29, Ferndale 28.
3. Kelseyville 21, Willits 14.
2. St. Ignatius 29, St. Francis 28.
1. Downey 42, Turlock 28.

If a young St Mary’s came close to upsetting DLS, I really believe SRV has a shot having defeated WCAL #1 team, SI, early on. Gonna get my “coin” for this one.

Bluedog2 said:

GUYS.......San Ramon wants to beat DLS they will have to put out their best effort and not stumble the last meetings..The Wolves have to forget the past and come out shooting...The Wolves have one of the best offensives and defense that will have work together or DLS will win again..

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Don’t be surprised when DLS beats San Ramon by 21

northbaybbguru said:

Tough call:

Between SRV v DLS

or

SF v SI

2 monster matchups!

Co-games of the week?

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SRV vs DLS is huuuuuuuuge

Niklas227 said:

The infancy excuse isn't valid anymore especially with what SI is doing. Vandermade is showing tremendous improvement at SI and is doing it in his 2nd year without the same caliber of players?

Diaz-Infante who is also in his 2nd year @ Bellarmine is a different story altogether considering he came from the NFL.

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Vandermade is building a culture like Walsh did in his early years when he won WCAL in year 2 of coaching at Serra. Serra's 1st WCAL title in 30 years. I agree, the infancy excuse isn't valid anymore.

observer22 said:

They’re just trying to make it difficult for you Kiddman.

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...or they were waiting for k-man's picks before their final posting this week

Tough call:

Between SRV v DLS

or

SF v SI

2 monster matchups!

Co-games of the week?

Hey PALBOOSTER, What is the justification as to why PiedmontHills at 41.5 points is the 1 seed in D4 where the 8 seed Aptos has 40.5 and 7 seed Capuchino in D3 also has 41.5 points?

ChewpaMiverga said:

You’ve got to keep in mind that this Riordan regime is still in their infancy. If my memory serves me right, Ravipati didn’t even get hired until like May of his first season. He didn’t take over Folsom like Doherty did or even Grant like Carl Reed did. He took over a program that was in perennial bottom dweller in the WCAL. The notion that they were a real threat to re-claim the state came from people being enamored with the offers. Let’s not forget that before Serra’s recent NorCal reign, they consistently fell flat on their faces time and time again. Hell, their only state Championship thus far is at the Division 2AA Level in their own right!

Of course there’s going to be growing pains. A deep playoff run wherever they are placed will do a lot of good here

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The infancy excuse isn't valid anymore especially with what SI is doing. Vandermade is showing tremendous improvement at SI and is doing it in his 2nd year without the same caliber of players?

Diaz-Infante who is also in his 2nd year @ Bellarmine is a different story altogether considering he came from the NFL.

GUYS.......San Ramon wants to beat DLS they will have to put out their best effort and not stumble the last meetings..The Wolves have to forget the past and come out shooting...The Wolves have one of the best offensives and defense that will have work together or DLS will win again..