By Mitch Stephens
Five of the eight West Catholic Athletic League football teams have won all of their three nonleague games — and the only loss for Serra was to national juggernaut De La Salle-Concord.
Northern California’s top football league, the members of which are a combined 18-6, begins league play this week and looks as tough and solid as ever. This year, another team has joined the ranks of the contenders: unbeaten Riordan.
The 12th-ranked Crusaders (3-0), who open WCAL play at 3 p.m. Saturday at Mitty, have gone 3-39 in league play since 2009. But under first-year coach Kevin Fordon and a superb senior class, Riordan has outscored three opponents 117-44.
That includes a 48-21 win at defending Central Coast Section Open Division champion Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton(coming off three straight 13-win seasons) and a 49-14 defeat of 2014 North Coast Section Division IV playoff finalist St. Mary’s-Berkeley.
Riordan “is a very frightening team,” Serra coach Patrick Walsh said. “When their senior class came in as freshmen, you could see all the talent. Now with Kevin on board, with all his enthusiasm and passion, they are very legitimate. He’s doing a great job.”
Besides two superb breakaway backs — Raymone Sanders (326 yards, four touchdowns) and Jason Greene (275, five) — Riordan has an experienced quarterback in Jacky Luavasa, an all-returning offensive line and a very active defense. Aidan Verba-Hamilton is not only one of three deep receiving threats, but he also has returned three kickoffs at least 94 yards each for touchdowns in 2015.
The other teams at a glance, by Chronicle ranking:
No. 2 Bellarmine (3-0): Coach Mike Janda returns 13 starters from last year’s squad and it’s loaded with speed, led by Central Coast Section sprint champion Kyle Macauley and one of the region’s grittiest quarterbacks in Troy Martig. Bellarmine has a 34-31 win at SJS power Del Oro-Loomis.
No. 4 Serra (2-1): In his 15th season, this might be Walsh’s best team at the skill positions, led by quarterback Leki Nunn, running back Kelepi Lataimua and receiver Brandon Monroe. The success of the Padres, ineligible for the postseason, depends on their inexperienced offensive line.
No. 9 Valley Christian (3-0): The Warriors, who host Sacred Heart Cathedral on Saturday night, lost the league’s top recruit for the season in Texas-bound receiver Collin Johnson with a shoulder injury. VC has plenty of other options, led by QB Miles Kendrick and RBs Morian Walker and Akil Jones. VC showed toughness in a 22-21 win over No. 15 Milpitas.
No. 10 St. Francis (3-0): Experience at quarterback (Kamalii Akina) and running back (Lutoviko Ahoia), along with a stingy defense — the Lancers have allowed only 27 points — figure to keep the defending CCS Division II champions in the WCAL race. St. Francis plays at St. Ignatius on Saturday.
No. 11 Mitty (3-0): Samuel Serra, who skipped last season to focus on basketball, has been perhaps the league’s top player with 478 passing and 220 rushing yards, along with 12 total TDs. Derek Bauerle (324 rushing yards) also has been effective on the ground.
St. Ignatius (0-3): The Wildcats have been competitive in losses to No. 13 Campolindo-Moraga, No. 17 Marin Catholic-Kentfield and SJS power St. Mary’s-Stockton.
Sacred Heart Cathedral (1-2): For a second straight year, injuries have depleted the Irish, who feature perhaps the league’s best running back in Jamar Williams-Sheppard (6-foot-2, 215) and two-way lineman Keith Ismael (6-3, 300).
Games of the week
No. 2 Bellarmine (3-0) at No. 4 Serra (2-1) at San Jose City College, 7 p.m. Friday — Serra defeated Bellarmine 28-14 in Week 10 last season to claim the outright WCAL championship.
No. 13 Campolindo-Moraga (4-1) at Dougherty Valley-San Ramon (5-0), 7 p.m. Friday — From 2011 to 2014, Campolindo was 51-4 and Dougherty Valley 9-32.
No. 1 De La Salle-Concord (3-1) at Granite Bay (3-1), 7 p.m. Friday — The state 2012 Division I champion, Granite Bay won three straight before a 27-13 loss to state-ranked and undefeated Folsom last week.
Mission (1-3) vs. Lincoln (2-2) at Kezar Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday — Rematch of 2014 San Francisco Section championship game features the two clear favorites for the 2015 AAA championship.
No. 6 Monte Vista-Danville (4-0) at No. 3 Clayton Valley-Concord (3-1), 7 p.m. Friday — Stops might be at a minimum. Monte Vista averages 45 points and 445 yards per game. Clayton Valley averages 33 and 423.
No. 19 Wilcox-Santa Clara (3-0) at Los Gatos (1-2), 7 p.m. Friday — Los Gatos is coming off a dramatic, 33-30 win at previously state-ranked St. Mary’s-Stockton.
No. 12 Riordan (3-0) at No. 11 Mitty (3-0), 3 p.m. Saturday — Two first-year head coaches — Riordan’s Kevin Fordon and Mitty’s Keith Burns — are off to resounding starts.
Five of the eight West Catholic Athletic League football teams have won all of their three nonleague games — and the only loss for Serra was to national juggernaut De La Salle-Concord.
Northern California’s top football league, the members of which are a combined 18-6, begins league play this week and looks as tough and solid as ever. This year, another team has joined the ranks of the contenders: unbeaten Riordan.
The 12th-ranked Crusaders (3-0), who open WCAL play at 3 p.m. Saturday at Mitty, have gone 3-39 in league play since 2009. But under first-year coach Kevin Fordon and a superb senior class, Riordan has outscored three opponents 117-44.
That includes a 48-21 win at defending Central Coast Section Open Division champion Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton(coming off three straight 13-win seasons) and a 49-14 defeat of 2014 North Coast Section Division IV playoff finalist St. Mary’s-Berkeley.
Riordan “is a very frightening team,” Serra coach Patrick Walsh said. “When their senior class came in as freshmen, you could see all the talent. Now with Kevin on board, with all his enthusiasm and passion, they are very legitimate. He’s doing a great job.”
Besides two superb breakaway backs — Raymone Sanders (326 yards, four touchdowns) and Jason Greene (275, five) — Riordan has an experienced quarterback in Jacky Luavasa, an all-returning offensive line and a very active defense. Aidan Verba-Hamilton is not only one of three deep receiving threats, but he also has returned three kickoffs at least 94 yards each for touchdowns in 2015.
The other teams at a glance, by Chronicle ranking:
No. 2 Bellarmine (3-0): Coach Mike Janda returns 13 starters from last year’s squad and it’s loaded with speed, led by Central Coast Section sprint champion Kyle Macauley and one of the region’s grittiest quarterbacks in Troy Martig. Bellarmine has a 34-31 win at SJS power Del Oro-Loomis.
No. 4 Serra (2-1): In his 15th season, this might be Walsh’s best team at the skill positions, led by quarterback Leki Nunn, running back Kelepi Lataimua and receiver Brandon Monroe. The success of the Padres, ineligible for the postseason, depends on their inexperienced offensive line.
No. 9 Valley Christian (3-0): The Warriors, who host Sacred Heart Cathedral on Saturday night, lost the league’s top recruit for the season in Texas-bound receiver Collin Johnson with a shoulder injury. VC has plenty of other options, led by QB Miles Kendrick and RBs Morian Walker and Akil Jones. VC showed toughness in a 22-21 win over No. 15 Milpitas.
No. 10 St. Francis (3-0): Experience at quarterback (Kamalii Akina) and running back (Lutoviko Ahoia), along with a stingy defense — the Lancers have allowed only 27 points — figure to keep the defending CCS Division II champions in the WCAL race. St. Francis plays at St. Ignatius on Saturday.
No. 11 Mitty (3-0): Samuel Serra, who skipped last season to focus on basketball, has been perhaps the league’s top player with 478 passing and 220 rushing yards, along with 12 total TDs. Derek Bauerle (324 rushing yards) also has been effective on the ground.
St. Ignatius (0-3): The Wildcats have been competitive in losses to No. 13 Campolindo-Moraga, No. 17 Marin Catholic-Kentfield and SJS power St. Mary’s-Stockton.
Sacred Heart Cathedral (1-2): For a second straight year, injuries have depleted the Irish, who feature perhaps the league’s best running back in Jamar Williams-Sheppard (6-foot-2, 215) and two-way lineman Keith Ismael (6-3, 300).
Games of the week
No. 2 Bellarmine (3-0) at No. 4 Serra (2-1) at San Jose City College, 7 p.m. Friday — Serra defeated Bellarmine 28-14 in Week 10 last season to claim the outright WCAL championship.
No. 13 Campolindo-Moraga (4-1) at Dougherty Valley-San Ramon (5-0), 7 p.m. Friday — From 2011 to 2014, Campolindo was 51-4 and Dougherty Valley 9-32.
No. 1 De La Salle-Concord (3-1) at Granite Bay (3-1), 7 p.m. Friday — The state 2012 Division I champion, Granite Bay won three straight before a 27-13 loss to state-ranked and undefeated Folsom last week.
Mission (1-3) vs. Lincoln (2-2) at Kezar Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday — Rematch of 2014 San Francisco Section championship game features the two clear favorites for the 2015 AAA championship.
No. 6 Monte Vista-Danville (4-0) at No. 3 Clayton Valley-Concord (3-1), 7 p.m. Friday — Stops might be at a minimum. Monte Vista averages 45 points and 445 yards per game. Clayton Valley averages 33 and 423.
No. 19 Wilcox-Santa Clara (3-0) at Los Gatos (1-2), 7 p.m. Friday — Los Gatos is coming off a dramatic, 33-30 win at previously state-ranked St. Mary’s-Stockton.
No. 12 Riordan (3-0) at No. 11 Mitty (3-0), 3 p.m. Saturday — Two first-year head coaches — Riordan’s Kevin Fordon and Mitty’s Keith Burns — are off to resounding starts.
