Football in the sprawling Blossom Valley Athletic League (based in San Jose and its environs) has been in decline for years. Football programs there have slumped to new lows. In the 2024 Central Coast Section playoffs, with championship games set in five divisions later this week, only one BVAL team is involved: Leland in Division V, the weakest arrangement. No BVAL team was deemed strong enough to be included in the Open/Division I setup. Overall, BVAL teams (including Leland and its two wins) have produced an overall 3-7 record. That does not include one game between BVAL members. Christopher, Santa Teresa, Willow Glen, Overfelt and Gunderson all lost their openers. It's more clear than ever that no equity-based setup within the BVAL can really be considered in the "A" category. PAL Booster, the guru of CCS seeding, has noted this situation for some time. What to do about it? Hmmmmm. That's a real West Bay prep poser.
Sad state of BVAL
- Thread starter colhenrylives
- Start date
Thought you were referring to the Bay Valley Athletic League of the East Bay. Outside of Pittsburg, the rest of the schools in that league have dropped off significantly in the last 5-7 years
The drop off has been crazy in the bay valley. Looks at Calpreps 2016 and 2017. Different landscape than today. All schools had decent to good programs. Only 11 years ago Deer Valley, now the cellar dweller, was legit 11-2 losing to DLS in semis. Now it’s Pitt (as good as ever?), big drop off, Liberty is ok for schools size/demographics, Antioch/Heritage are mediocre at best but still have stables coaches/programs, Deer Valley is bad, and Freedom-what happened?!
All these schools have exploded in population growth the last 30 years and all have demographics/school size to have decent programs. Although, I know DLS taps the area and Pitt gets kids from all over to play football. If anything Pitt may have the worst demographics/socioeconomics for a powerhouse program. Antioch schools aren’t much better anymore, sadly most kids are from low income families. The Brentwood/Oakley schools should all be powers.
