WCAL Football 2018 - Upcoming Week 3 of WCAL League play [7 games]
Friday Nite Lites
S.I. 0-5 vs SHC 2-3 @ Kezar Stadium 7:00 PM
Bells 2-3 vs Mitty 3-2 @ Foothill CC 7:00 PM
VC 4-1 vs SF 4-1 @ St. Francis 7:00 PM
Saturday
Riordan 1-4 vs Serra 3-2 @ Serra 2:00 PM
What to expect:
S.I. vs SHC - This will be the biggest game of the season between the 3 SF teams, ARHS, S.I. & SHC. The game this Friday night is important in regards to the Bruce-Mahoney Trophy. Established in 1947, the Bruce-Mahoney trophy is named in honor of Bill Bruce (Saint Ignatius College Preparatory, 1935), and Jerry Mahoney [SHC ’44]. Both men were outstanding athletes who lost their lives serving their country in World War II. The trophy is awarded to whichever school wins two out of three games each year in football, boys basketball and baseball. St. Ignatius has won the trophy 50 times to 21 times for SHC who won last years' football game in a close contest between the 2 teams. In Football S.I. has won 47 times to 14 for SHC with 6 ties between the 2 teams. Not only is this game important in regards to Bruce-Mahoney, but realistically will establish who is the best team in SF.
S.I. while 0-5 is the favored team in this contest despite SHC's 2-3 more favorable record. S.I. has had the 3 toughest schedule of the 8 WCAL teams, though SHC played perhaps their best game of the season in a much closer than expected 14-0 loss to St. Francis the #1 ranked team in the CCS currently. SHC looked tough on defense against SF while S.I. should have the edge on offense with its run game of Mark Biggins and sophomore Jahsai Shannon . SHC Irish started a new QB last week, soph transfer from S.I. Cian Dowling who looked good passing, narrowly missing on a few deep passes in his first game. Could the young S.I. transfer be the X-Factor for the Irish?
Prediction: S.I. 21-13
Bells vs Mitty - Bells shut-out 43-0 at Serra while Mitty took down Riordan by 34-6. The week prior Mitty lost to Serra by 42-6 whle the Bells won over Riordan by 34-20. Mitty is the decided favorite in this game with a better offense and defense than the Bells. Mitty has the experienced QB in Shamir Bey, one of the better QB's in the WCAL and also RB James Thomas along with WR's Vaughn & Dupree who can all make big plays. THe Bells have struggled on both sides of the ball and in particular on offense. The Bells will try to establish their run game with QB Harry Mingrone running the offense with their 2 primary RB's being Tyson Garcia and Aizon Henry who has looked good at times.
Bells have taken to the air a bit more this season trying to balance their offense and given the chance Mingrone can throw a nice pass. Mitty counters with a secondary that has 7 INT's so far this season.
Prediction: Mitty 28-7
VC vs SF - In the big game of the week to establish who is the other front runner of the league besides Serra. Previous to last week the answer would have clearly been St. Francis. That may change as of Friday night if the VC Warrior's run game heats up against the Lancer's. SF has a tougher game than expected against SHC last week prevailing by just 2 scores 14-0. SF also started a new QB losing its starter Jack Perry to injury. So the question is did SHC play especially well against the Lancer's OR did the Lancer's struggle using a new QB with little game time experience? [or as simple as SF taking their "foot off the gas knowing they could control the game vs Irish?]. SF had relied on their defense as the best in the WCAL and one of the best in NorCal. The Lancer's will need their D to be at its best if their offense is again limited to a couple of scores. VC's rushing game has picked up the last several games and seems to be in sync now. This should be a hard fought game with SF the favortie and VC a very capable opponent if their offense is clicking.
Prediction: SF 17-14
Serra - Riordan - The Crusader's travel to Serra to take on the league's leading offense and #2 rated defense [so far it's SF, Serra & VC in order of defense and all 3 appear very good]. Serra has big play ability all the way around and will pressure Riordan on defense as well. In the last 2 games Serra has scored 71 points in the first 1/2 of those games, pulling starters in the 3rd quarters and both games going to a running clock. Unfortunately just losing 34-6 to Mitty the Crusader's prospects of coming away with a win appear slim at best. If Riordan can do any better than MItty or Bells that in itself would be a moral victory at this stage in the season. Riordan needs to be able to run the ball to some degree to use the clock and attempt to keep the ball away from Serra's offense as much as is possible [easier said than done]. Field position is crucial and with Serra's kicker as well as their kick returners the Padres can control field position and put the other team in the hole so to speak to start out deep in their own territory [the Bells never crossed mid-field in last weeks game if I'm correct]. Hopefully both teams avoid injuries with more important games coming up soon [Serra vs VC & SF and Riordan SHC & S.I.].
Prediction: Serra 45-7
Bellarmine's passing attack is severely limited. The offensive line is one of the team's least effective in years. The receivers struggle to get open. Team speed is highly questionable. For the first time in awhile, the Bells don't possess a single athlete who scares defensive coordinators. Double-teams aren't really necessary. Not that Bellarmine is horrible or beyond bad. This particular team is simply not up to the program's standards at all. Maybe the Bells can turn things around in a year or two. But their frosh and JV teams are not dominating WCAL peers right now either.