Saint Francis vs. Citrus Hill - State 2A Final

[Adam007]

Pumped for this matchup, I see a lot of an old school Skyline of Oakland vs. St. Francis style matchup here. I watched a couple of Citrus Hill games, they're a big team with some shifty guys who want to come out and punch you in the mouth. Back in the late 80's and 90's St. Francis would play really athletic public schools teams to get ready for tough WCAL games (mainly Bellarmine back then) and difficult CCS championship games (mainly Oak Grove) and fair pretty well. Always a fundamentally coached team, current coach Greg Calcagno has restored some of the stingy defense and running game that his father, Ron Calcagno, was so legendary for.

I don't have much clue about Citrus Hill's srength of schedule, but I really think the Lancers can potentially really surprise them here. St. Francis will likely struggle running the ball for the 1st half like they did against Pleasant Valley, but I see them eventually wearing out the heavier & slower Citrus Hill D-line and winning this one something like 28-10 or 28-17.

 

[bella123]

This should be a pretty good game. Zomalt has done a really good job with the CH program. Always have liked him since his playing days, kind of a toss up of who I'd like to see win, both quality staffs.

 

[DelOroFB_Dad]

Pulling for St. Francis in this one obviously - wish best for all Norcal teams to give it to Socal! SF long time solid So. Bay program, they unfort took care of my Knights team mult years in CCS playoffs, Giagiari was 1 of their QBs back in that stone age. DO is D2AA and I think SF is the D2A. Good luck to SF.

 

[WCAL75]

Pulling for St. Francis in this one obviously - wish best for all Norcal teams to give it to Socal! SF long time solid So. Bay program, they unfort took care of my Knights team mult years in CCS playoffs, Giagiari was 1 of their QBs back in that stone age. DO is D2AA and I think SF is the D2A. Good luck to SF.

If you are from back in the stone age you might like the following 1970's "All Mercury News Football Teams" I just pulled the year 1978. I have all of them. John Giagiari is in there at QB.

1978 Mercury-News All-CCS
NO POY
OFFENSE
TE – Vince Canelo, Bellarmine; Jody Lansford, Wilcox
WR – Mark Ackernecht, Oak Grove; Mel Cozby, Peterson; Steve Moore, Westmont
T – Mike Meteer, Saratoga; Vince Stroh, Bellarmine
G – Joe Walton, Independence; Jeff Patane, St. Francis; Dave Piet, Oak Grove; Bill Ferrell, Serra
C – Greg Reiley, Fremont; Kevin Pearson, Live Oak
QB – Ben Bennett, Peterson; John Giagiari, St. Francis; Marty Mornhinweg, Oak Grove
RB – Greg Hooper, Fremont; Mark Magee, Milpitas; Rob Orlando, Saratoga; Jeff Petulla, Los Gatos; Joe Schulter, Live Oak; John Tuggle, Independence
DEFENSE
DE – Kent Wiley, Gonzales
NG – Don Bocci, Live Oak; Steve McEnroe, Seaside; Jeff McKenzie, Los Gatos
DT – George Achica, Hill; Dennis Engel, Santa Clara; Bob Stoesser, St. Francis
LB – Dan Craig, Oak Grove; Victor Davi, Monterey; Al Floyd, Oak Grove; Durk Hagen, St. Francis; Leonard Marchese, Monta Vista; Mike Matisi, Hillsdale; Dave Ring, Carlmont; Steve Robertson, Soquel; Bob Schiebley, Sunnyvale; Arni Thorsteinsson, Peterson
DB – Mike Blazing, Los Altos; Gavin Carr, St. Francis; Fred Jackson, San Jose; Jeff Lane, Saratoga; Scott Rettig, Monta Vista

 

[bella123]

Dave Ring -Carlmont? Bill Ring's brother relative? I know he was from the Peninsula.
Loved that slow small white guy, dude took some poundings, but was tough as hell one my favorites from those early 80's teams.

 

[WCAL75]

Dave Ring -Carlmont? Bill Ring's brother relative? I know he was from the Peninsula.
Loved that slow small white guy, dude took some poundings, but was tough as hell one my favorites from those early 80's teams.

Yep, Dave Ring was Bill Rings younger brother. They lived in Belmont. I really liked Bill Ring he was a classic "over achiever"

Its interesting, I looked in all of the "1970's All Mercury News Football Teams" and did not find Bill Ring.

 

[Adam007]

Does anyone feel the Lancers might be drained from all this travel in 1 week? Also concerned about their running game. They're line hasn't been exploding out of their sets and getting good leverage, these long seasons have got to be killer on the big guys. I will be looking to see how fresh the Lancers are, particularly 3rd quarter where they let Oak Grove in the game. Habibi Likio's name hasn't been mentioned a whole lot lately either, I'd love for him to see him run as he has before.

 

[WCAL75]

Does anyone feel the Lancers might be drained from all this travel in 1 week? Also concerned about their running game. They're line hasn't been exploding out of their sets and getting good leverage, these long seasons have got to be killer on the big guys. I will be looking to see how fresh the Lancers are, particularly 3rd quarter where they let Oak Grove in the game. Habibi Likio's name hasn't been mentioned a whole lot lately either, I'd love for him to see him run as he has before.

Dont worry the Lancers have a lot of motivation going on right now. They are about to do something that no other Lancer football team has done in the history of the school and that is a chance at winning a state football championship.

 

[NorCalSportsFan]

If you are from back in the stone age you might like the following 1970's "All Mercury News Football Teams" I just pulled the year 1978. I have all of them. John Giagiari is in there at QB.

1978 Mercury-News All-CCS
NO POY
OFFENSE
TE – Vince Canelo, Bellarmine; Jody Lansford, Wilcox
WR – Mark Ackernecht, Oak Grove; Mel Cozby, Peterson; Steve Moore, Westmont
T – Mike Meteer, Saratoga; Vince Stroh, Bellarmine
G – Joe Walton, Independence; Jeff Patane, St. Francis; Dave Piet, Oak Grove; Bill Ferrell, Serra
C – Greg Reiley, Fremont; Kevin Pearson, Live Oak
QB – Ben Bennett, Peterson; John Giagiari, St. Francis; Marty Mornhinweg, Oak Grove
RB – Greg Hooper, Fremont; Mark Magee, Milpitas; Rob Orlando, Saratoga; Jeff Petulla, Los Gatos; Joe Schulter, Live Oak; John Tuggle, Independence
DEFENSE
DE – Kent Wiley, Gonzales
NG – Don Bocci, Live Oak; Steve McEnroe, Seaside; Jeff McKenzie, Los Gatos
DT – George Achica, Hill; Dennis Engel, Santa Clara; Bob Stoesser, St. Francis
LB – Dan Craig, Oak Grove; Victor Davi, Monterey; Al Floyd, Oak Grove; Durk Hagen, St. Francis; Leonard Marchese, Monta Vista; Mike Matisi, Hillsdale; Dave Ring, Carlmont; Steve Robertson, Soquel; Bob Schiebley, Sunnyvale; Arni Thorsteinsson, Peterson
DB – Mike Blazing, Los Altos; Gavin Carr, St. Francis; Fred Jackson, San Jose; Jeff Lane, Saratoga; Scott Rettig, Monta Vista

WCAL75 -

TE Vince Canelo Bellamine is a good friend of mine. My roommate for a couple years at Santa Clara University and teammate on SCUTS rugby. He's doing wel livingl in the wine country.

John Giagiari, St Francis was a clasmate of mine at SCU as well. Starting QB for the Bronco's when we had football. Good guy. As I recall he was a lefty.

Marty Mornhinweg Oak Grove is the NFL coach (HC at Detroit and Philadelphia) and he played for Mike Holmgren (yes NFL coach) at OG. Mornhinweg was a great HS QB. That was a very good OG team. Mornhinweg led the Eagles to a CCS championship game defeating Giagiari's St Francis, 52–7, for the CCS Title.

George Achica actually went to Andrew Hill HS was a huge lineman and also massive and strong heavyweight wrestler. He would have fit well on the Milpitas line, but this was before linemen were that big. He played at USC and NG at Baltimore Colts. He was the number 1 recruited football player in the nation. Also a rockstar as a wrestler.....I don't believe he won state n wrestling though.

Davi family were family friends from Monterey.

Marian Peterson HS no longer exists. Part of the student body was merged into Wilcox but became a middle school.

A few other above I remember from wrestling.

Wow...37 years ago. I'm from the Stone Age...LOL

 

[WCAL75]

WCAL75 -

TE Vince Canelo Bellamine is a good friend of mine. My roommate for a couple years at Santa Clara University and teammate on SCUTS rugby. He's doing wel livingl in the wine country.

John Giagiari, St Francis was a clasmate of mine at SCU as well. Starting QB for the Bronco's when we had football. Good guy. As I recall he was a lefty.

Marty Mornhinweg Oak Grove is the NFL coach and he played for Mike Holmgren (yes NFL coach) at OG. Mornhinweg was a great HS QB. That was a very good OG team.

George Achica Independence was a huge lineman and also massive and strong heavyweight wrestler. He would have fit well on the Milpitas line, but this was before linemen were that big. Believe he played at USC.

Davi family were family friends from Monterey.

Marian Peterson HS no longer exists. Part of the student body was merged into Wilcox but became a middle school.

A few other above I remember from wrestling.

Wow...37 years ago. I'm from the Stone Age...LOL

Good stuff NorCal! Its a small world. One of these days you are going to have to show me your vast archive of football information.

 

[NorCalSportsFan]

Yep, Dave Ring was Bill Rings younger brother. They lived in Belmont. I really liked Bill Ring he was a classic "over achiever"

Its interesting, I looked in all of the "1970's All Mercury News Football Teams" and did not find Bill Ring.

Bill Ring's son was a Lancer a few years ago as I recall. Also one of Ronnie Lott's son's and one of the 9er's LBs kids...lots of NFL legacy son's that played at the school.

 

[NorCalSportsFan]

I think St Francis should matchup well with this team, That WR they have is a stud though and they seem to play good defense. Looks like it is going to be a tough matchup especially traveling.The Calabasas win is impressive as are one of their other wins and the close close to Norco (seem to be an above average team). St Francis needs to contain the big play to that WR that committed to SJSU.

 

[bella123]

Yep, Dave Ring was Bill Rings younger brother. They lived in Belmont. I really liked Bill Ring he was a classic "over achiever"

Its interesting, I looked in all of the "1970's All Mercury News Football Teams" and did not find Bill Ring.

Noticed Jody Lansford (Carney's younger brother) also listed. Some pretty good athletic blood lines.

 

[observer22]

And RB Greg Hooper is the uncle of current Stanford TE Austin Hooper, who was just named 3rd team All American this week.

 

[farmair3]

Dont worry the Lancers have a lot of motivation going on right now. They are about to do something that no other Lancer football team has done in the history of the school and that is a chance at winning a state football championship.

I would think you would not need any more motivation than that!! Good Luck Lancers

 

[Adam007]

So-cal HS football threads and some reporters are touting Citrus Hill's running game. In particular, their lineman and fullback who are brothers, the lineman is 285 and the fullback is 235. I think the Lancers are more than happier to gameplan for a smash-mouth style offense, that's what they see day in day out in league play.

 

[bella123]

Dont worry the Lancers have a lot of motivation going on right now. They are

I would think you would not need any more motivation than that!! Good Luck Lancers

Won't Citrus Hill have he same exact motivation as well? Dammit someone's gotta give.

Actually I do think this will be one of better "throwback" low scoring physical games all weekend. DLS / CC over under at half be around 70, I cold see this game total being below 50.

CIF did fvck up the travel for half these games. North hosting? SF and a few others got screwed having to travel down south.

 

[FAR_NORTHERN]

I think that SF will be fine In the secondary, was impressed they seam to have a solid group there. They have played plenty of rush defense in the wcal and ccs for that matter. The key to me is doing both things really well, CH seams like the type of team that you cant just take away one or the other, more or less contain the stud reciever, contain the beast rb and make that qb beat you somewhere else.

 

[TedSmithers]

Bill Ring's son was a Lancer a few years ago as I recall. Also one of Ronnie Lott's son's and one of the 9er's LBs kids...lots of NFL legacy son's that played at the school.

That LB is Riki Ellison...

His son Rhett played on the Lancer team...USC...and now a Viking.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhett_Ellison

 

[Streak One]

i think this is a good matchup for St. Francis. If they can hit a couple of big plays like last week, they should be fine.