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.
Exactly. 7-10 years ago pretty tough league. Deer Valley had tons of talent, thought they’d be the next big thing to challenge Pitt consistently. What an utter disappointment. Najee Harris and Joe Mixon came out of that league around or close to that time frame
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Let’s face it for the most part the BVAL was Oak Grove, they were pretty much the only BVAL team that consistently competed in the top division. Pioneer had a small run but never did much in the playoffs. Once Eddie Buller retired from coaching it’s been a B league.
If you took away the BVAL A division, DII would become the PCAL Gab vs PAL Bay division. They would have to take away the no B league can be above DIII rule. That way a top B team like Carmel or Christopher (if BVAL had no A) don't get to feast on B league and bad A league teams.
I think leagues and teams are going to start to look at how they can manipulate the points. Some have already started the last couple of years. I wouldn't be shocked to see Soquel, Salinas, etc. to start to schedule down some. At some point you get tired of having your season ended being blown out against teams that are on a completely different level than you. I can't imagine the teams of the BVAL enjoy being knocked out of the playoffs early either.
I think leagues and teams are going to start to look at how they can manipulate the points. Some have already started the last couple of years. I wouldn't be shocked to see Soquel, Salinas, etc. to start to schedule down some. At some point you get tired of having your season ended being blown out against teams that are on a completely different level than you. I can't imagine the teams of the BVAL enjoy being knocked out of the playoffs early either.
