Here are the games for this week. De La Salle-Antioch is the Game of the Week. Picks are due by 7:00 PM on Friday.
#7 Monte Vista (3-0) at #17 California (4-0) 7:00 PM
This game could end up being the East Bay Athletic League championship game when we look back at the end of the year. Monte Vista has lived up to its preseason hype thus far with a versatile offense and a physical defense led by Nate Landman. Cal High brings its expected physicality, but also has better athleticism than past years. Whatever team can establish the run consistently will likely be victorious.
Monte Vista wins 31-28
#9 Pittsburg (4-0) at Vacaville (3-1) 7:00 PM
Don’t let the disparities in rankings fool you. This will be a highly competitive game as Pittsburg looks to finish the non-league undefeated. Montaz Thompson has 1,044 yards and 15 touchdowns. Vacaville uses more of a committee of runners, but is paced by senior Daniel Wright with nine touchdowns.
Pittsburg wins 35-28
#3 St. Mary’s-Stockton (4-0) vs. St. John Bosco (3-1) 7:00 PM at Whittier College
The status of NorCal football for 2016 has taken some hits in the first month, but St. Mary’s has a chance to notch a monster win against the 2013 Open Division state champions. The Rams posses the best offense in NorCal through four weeks with the defense making keys plays to provide comfortable margins of victory. St. John Bosco has two players in the 2017 Rivals250, led by 5-star offensive lineman Wyatt Davis, who is committed to Ohio State.
St. John Bosco wins 31-21
Pitman (4-0) vs. Merced (3-1) 7:00 PM
Merced has won three in a row since losing the opener to Del Campo where it also lost its starting quarterback Jacob Foss. Senior Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. is the leading rusher for the Bears, which has won 18 straight Central California Conference games. Pitman is undefeated with wins over Downey, Lincoln-Stockton, Napa and Deer Valley. All four of the Pride’s games have been decided by less than 14 points.
Pitman wins 24-21
Freedom (4-0) at Bishop O’Dowd (3-0) 7:00 PM
Bishop O’Dowd annually has some of the best talent in the East Bay, but the on field results have been less than expected. The Dragons are off to a fast start outscoring their opponents 162-14. Freedom has talent in its own right led by Ronnie Rivers and Kyle Harmon. However, quarterback Jonathan Pierce is completing 74 percent of his passes for 14 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Freedom wins 28-21
#19 Serra (0-3) at #6 Valley Christian-San Jose (3-0) 7:30 PM
It is the opening week of West Catholic Athletic League play and there is a Top 20 matchup in San Jose. Can Serra avoid an 0-4 start as its schedule continues to be daunting? Defense has been an issue for the Padres in giving up 52 points per game. The Warriors have been solid on defense to support an offense that looks more balanced than previous years. Production in the passing game will always be the x-factor for the Warriors.
Valley Christian wins 24-17
Marysville (3-1) at Capital Christian (2-2) 7:30 PM
The Golden Empire League has been dominated by Capital Christian and its 22 game league winning streak. The Cougars have a talented sophomore running back in D’Marcus Ross, but have lost two in a row in Aptos and Del Oro. Marysville’s lone loss is to Sutter and it averaging almost 200 yards on the ground. The Indians are giving up less than 10 points per game and Gary Cooper has a team high 46 tackles.
Capital Christian wins 22-21
Sonora (4-0) at Calaveras (4-0) 7:30 PM
Sonora started out hot with a win over Oakdale and have added wins over Lodi, Ripon and Hilmar. Quarterback Josh Harris can run and pass for the Wildcats, which are averaging almost 50 points per game. Calaveras is a run heavy offense paced by Noah Preuss, who has more than 600 yards. Sonora won last year’s game 28-27.
Sonora wins 24-21
Ukiah (3-0) at Santa Rosa (3-0) 7:30 PM
Cardinal Newman is the class of the North Bay League, but who is the second best team? Could it be one of these two programs? Ukiah is giving up 11 points per game with Eddie Holbrook accounting for a team high two interceptions and is second on the team in tackles. Santa Rosa has posted back-to-back shutouts while quarterback Isaiah Steele has thrown for 11 touchdowns without an interception.
Ukiah wins 17-13
Antioch (3-1) at De La Salle (3-1) 8:00 PM Game of the Week
This game was always interesting being nationally televised and featuring the nation’s top recruit (Najee Harris) against the standard bearer of NorCal football. There is added intrigue with De La Salle coming off a 23-21 loss to East-Utah where the Spartans struggled to stop the run. Antioch, which fell out of the Top 10 following a loss to Milpitas, is coming off a closer than expected win over Rancho Cotate (41-34) last week. Finding timely plays in the passing game in vital for both teams.
De La Salle wins 35-21
#7 Monte Vista (3-0) at #17 California (4-0) 7:00 PM
This game could end up being the East Bay Athletic League championship game when we look back at the end of the year. Monte Vista has lived up to its preseason hype thus far with a versatile offense and a physical defense led by Nate Landman. Cal High brings its expected physicality, but also has better athleticism than past years. Whatever team can establish the run consistently will likely be victorious.
Monte Vista wins 31-28
#9 Pittsburg (4-0) at Vacaville (3-1) 7:00 PM
Don’t let the disparities in rankings fool you. This will be a highly competitive game as Pittsburg looks to finish the non-league undefeated. Montaz Thompson has 1,044 yards and 15 touchdowns. Vacaville uses more of a committee of runners, but is paced by senior Daniel Wright with nine touchdowns.
Pittsburg wins 35-28
#3 St. Mary’s-Stockton (4-0) vs. St. John Bosco (3-1) 7:00 PM at Whittier College
The status of NorCal football for 2016 has taken some hits in the first month, but St. Mary’s has a chance to notch a monster win against the 2013 Open Division state champions. The Rams posses the best offense in NorCal through four weeks with the defense making keys plays to provide comfortable margins of victory. St. John Bosco has two players in the 2017 Rivals250, led by 5-star offensive lineman Wyatt Davis, who is committed to Ohio State.
St. John Bosco wins 31-21
Pitman (4-0) vs. Merced (3-1) 7:00 PM
Merced has won three in a row since losing the opener to Del Campo where it also lost its starting quarterback Jacob Foss. Senior Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. is the leading rusher for the Bears, which has won 18 straight Central California Conference games. Pitman is undefeated with wins over Downey, Lincoln-Stockton, Napa and Deer Valley. All four of the Pride’s games have been decided by less than 14 points.
Pitman wins 24-21
Freedom (4-0) at Bishop O’Dowd (3-0) 7:00 PM
Bishop O’Dowd annually has some of the best talent in the East Bay, but the on field results have been less than expected. The Dragons are off to a fast start outscoring their opponents 162-14. Freedom has talent in its own right led by Ronnie Rivers and Kyle Harmon. However, quarterback Jonathan Pierce is completing 74 percent of his passes for 14 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Freedom wins 28-21
#19 Serra (0-3) at #6 Valley Christian-San Jose (3-0) 7:30 PM
It is the opening week of West Catholic Athletic League play and there is a Top 20 matchup in San Jose. Can Serra avoid an 0-4 start as its schedule continues to be daunting? Defense has been an issue for the Padres in giving up 52 points per game. The Warriors have been solid on defense to support an offense that looks more balanced than previous years. Production in the passing game will always be the x-factor for the Warriors.
Valley Christian wins 24-17
Marysville (3-1) at Capital Christian (2-2) 7:30 PM
The Golden Empire League has been dominated by Capital Christian and its 22 game league winning streak. The Cougars have a talented sophomore running back in D’Marcus Ross, but have lost two in a row in Aptos and Del Oro. Marysville’s lone loss is to Sutter and it averaging almost 200 yards on the ground. The Indians are giving up less than 10 points per game and Gary Cooper has a team high 46 tackles.
Capital Christian wins 22-21
Sonora (4-0) at Calaveras (4-0) 7:30 PM
Sonora started out hot with a win over Oakdale and have added wins over Lodi, Ripon and Hilmar. Quarterback Josh Harris can run and pass for the Wildcats, which are averaging almost 50 points per game. Calaveras is a run heavy offense paced by Noah Preuss, who has more than 600 yards. Sonora won last year’s game 28-27.
Sonora wins 24-21
Ukiah (3-0) at Santa Rosa (3-0) 7:30 PM
Cardinal Newman is the class of the North Bay League, but who is the second best team? Could it be one of these two programs? Ukiah is giving up 11 points per game with Eddie Holbrook accounting for a team high two interceptions and is second on the team in tackles. Santa Rosa has posted back-to-back shutouts while quarterback Isaiah Steele has thrown for 11 touchdowns without an interception.
Ukiah wins 17-13
Antioch (3-1) at De La Salle (3-1) 8:00 PM Game of the Week
This game was always interesting being nationally televised and featuring the nation’s top recruit (Najee Harris) against the standard bearer of NorCal football. There is added intrigue with De La Salle coming off a 23-21 loss to East-Utah where the Spartans struggled to stop the run. Antioch, which fell out of the Top 10 following a loss to Milpitas, is coming off a closer than expected win over Rancho Cotate (41-34) last week. Finding timely plays in the passing game in vital for both teams.
De La Salle wins 35-21
