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WCAL Football 2018 - San Jose Merc All Bay Area Team

SF 7-0 late in 4th & VC deep in SF's red zone & VCelects to go for FG on 4th down [Huh??].
A number of bad decisions in this game & while I see the players engaging on an equal scale the nod in coaching clearly goes to SF. Sorry VC as I had you in my weekly Pick 'em as the winner in this game.

Update - late in game & VC deep in red zone one last time & once again forces a pass into end zone which SF secondary intercepts for 3rd pick of game by SF. VC coaches gambled way too much having their QB who was completing 4 passes per game firing passes into the WCAL's best secondary. 3 INT's usually will not result in win & play calling on Coach's and not VC's QB. These teams were nearly identical & game could've gone either way..
 
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Mitty is hammering Bellarmine tonight. Holy guacamole, Batman. The Bells are fading faster than a pair of my old Fruit of the Looms. As Tommy Lee Jones put it in "No Country for Old Men," "Signs and wonders."
 
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Rmbr26 said:
SF 7-0 late in 4th & VC deep in SF's red zone & VCelects to go for FG on 4th down [Huh??].
A number of bad decisions in this game & while I see the players engaging on an equal scale the nod in coaching clearly goes to SF. Sorry VC as I had you in my weekly Pick 'em as the winner in this game.

Update - late in game & VC deep in red zone one last time & once again forces a pass into end zone which SF secondary intercepts for 3rd pick of game by SF. VC coaches gambled way too much having their QB who was completing 4 passes per game firing passes into the WCAL's best secondary. 3 INT's usually will not result in win & play calling on Coach's and not VC's QB. These teams were nearly identical & game could've gone either way..
Click to expand...
I think the shotgun spread formation VC was using has lots of potential. It was clear, though, the formation had not been practiced enough to become effective as it needed to be last night. A combination of their common modified wing-t and this shotgun spread could produce a very powerful offense if used as a staple play set.
 
Serra’s offense has evolved from the double wing/full house to the spread and going back if short yardage is needed. If you have the players, why not? VC should have used the spread over the past few seasons with all the skill players they had.
 
WCAL Football 2018

SF 7-3 over VC was the defensive battle many expected and even lower scoring than expected as neither team could generate any real offense. The game was really decided more by VC miscues than anything else. VC's defense appeared every bit as good as SF's and held SF to 61 net yards offense for the game. SFs only TD came off an ill-advised VC pass intercepted deep in their own territory to make the score 7-0. VC had opportunities, however was unable to take advantage of them. The Warrior's drove inside the SF 10 yard line late in the 4th quarter & chose to go for a field goal which made little sense. If the 4th down conversion had failed SF would have been inside their own 10 yard line and with SF's offense not moving the ball VC would have gotten the ball back in great field position for another drive. As I stated VC is not a passing team and the 3 INT's were costly in this loss.

Here's a film clip - showing the last INT that SF's Evan William's intercepts in the end zone to put the game on ice.

 
More than ever, it is becoming clear that WCAL football is really two leagues in one. There are the five southern schools which battle among themselves for championships and, perhaps, state playoff positioning; and then there is the SF Trinity. Those three schools have been reduced to focusing on the rivalries between them, with league titles and post-season CCS Open Division aspirations little more than after-thoughts in a typical season. If there was some way to add two schools to the SF threesome (hello, Marin Catholic and Cardinal Newman), creating a two-division WCAL in the process (with some cross-over games possible during the non-league schedule), perhaps this glaring imbalance might be rectified. But that's probably asking too much. As it is now, the situation is unhealthy.
 
WCAL Football 2018

Mitty 35, Bellarmine 14
St. Francis 7, Valley Christian 3
Sacred Heart Cathedral 26, St. Ignatius 21


Unlike other weeks I'm not seeing any "upsets" from last nights games though S.I. was the projected winner in the SHC game for the Bruce-Mahoney trophy. The game marks consecutive years the Irish have won which is quite unusual considering S.I.'s historical dominance in the series. Both S.I. & SHC still have a shot at the Bells who are looking more vulnerable as each week goes by.

Couple other local games of interest:
M-A 30-8 over Terra Nova in what was expected to be a close game [TN was 5-0 entering the game]
Menlo 44-25 over HMB in a bit of a surprise
SHP 36-14 over Aragon now 0-6 and likely exiting the PAL Bay Division after this season
Wilcox 25-19 over Los Gatos
 
Interesting comments from the broadcast announcers for the Bruce Mahoney game last night and the thought process of why SHC discontinued its JV program...Apparently, Mater Dei ( not to be confused with SHC football nor any WCAL in that matter) only has a Frosh and Varsity FB program. Kinda makes sense as you are seeing more and more sophs playing Varsity to make up for declining roster numbers. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Riordan , SI and even Serra and Bellarmine implement this model too if roster numbers continue its decline on the peninsula/ S Bay. Implementing a Frosh-soph and Varsity level would be my preference if any option(s) were to be considered in the future.
 
jordan24 said:
Interesting comments from the broadcast announcers for the Bruce Mahoney game last night and the thought process of why SHC discontinued its JV program...Apparently, Mater Dei ( not to be confused with SHC football nor any WCAL in that matter) only has a Frosh and Varsity FB program. Kinda makes sense as you are seeing more and more sophs playing Varsity to make up for declining roster numbers. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Riordan , SI and even Serra and Bellarmine implement this model too if roster numbers continue its decline on the peninsula/ S Bay. Implementing a Frosh-soph and Varsity level would be my preference if any option(s) were to be considered in the future.
Click to expand...

I can tell you that soph-frosh teams don’t particular help freshman come back the following year. Many freshmen don’t even see much playing time or feel its worth their time if their only play is being on the punt return team. The freshmen that don’t play are discouraged to participate the following year. That’s life anyways. Try something. Don’t like it, do something else. At least with a straight frosh team, many will play or are assigned better roles.
 
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jordan24 said:
Interesting comments from the broadcast announcers for the Bruce Mahoney game last night and the thought process of why SHC discontinued its JV program...Apparently, Mater Dei ( not to be confused with SHC football nor any WCAL in that matter) only has a Frosh and Varsity FB program. Kinda makes sense as you are seeing more and more sophs playing Varsity to make up for declining roster numbers. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Riordan , SI and even Serra and Bellarmine implement this model too if roster numbers continue its decline on the peninsula/ S Bay. Implementing a Frosh-soph and Varsity level would be my preference if any option(s) were to be considered in the future.
Click to expand...

Serra currently has just under 160 players on its three football rosters.
Rmbr26 said:
WCAL Football 2018

Mitty 35, Bellarmine 14
St. Francis 7, Valley Christian 3
Sacred Heart Cathedral 26, St. Ignatius 21


Unlike other weeks I'm not seeing any "upsets" from last nights games though S.I. was the projected winner in the SHC game for the Bruce-Mahoney trophy. The game marks consecutive years the Irish have won which is quite unusual considering S.I.'s historical dominance in the series. Both S.I. & SHC still have a shot at the Bells who are looking more vulnerable as each week goes by.

Couple other local games of interest:
M-A 30-8 over Terra Nova in what was expected to be a close game [TN was 5-0 entering the game]
Menlo 44-25 over HMB in a bit of a surprise
SHP 36-14 over Aragon now 0-6 and likely exiting the PAL Bay Division after this season
Wilcox 25-19 over Los Gatos
Click to expand...

The three San Mateo public schools have a total of one victory between them so far in 2018. One. None of them has a freshman program as well. Who benefits? Serra which sits right in the middle of the three publics and emphasizes football to the point that 20 percent of the student body is participating..
 
TurtleLoveCA said:
Serra is indeed impressive. Can you imagine how good they'd be if they recruited?
Click to expand...

Serra if I'm correct has the 2nd smallest student body of the all boy WCAL schools, or approx. 1/2 that of the Bells student body of 1600+.

Watching Serra-Riordan and early in the 1rst quarter Coach Morris for Riordan has his team attempt a 1rst down on 4th and 12 in their own territory? [which failed, incomplete pass]. I can only guess he has no aspirations of a monumental upset and simply was rolling the dice early [Serra scored shortly after and now 22-0 in 1rst quarter]. Both Bells & Mitty games vs Serra were running clocks in 2nd 1/2's and this game looks eerily familiar...
 
Running clock to begin the second period. First period ended 43-0 Serra. It was 50-6 at the half. Totally non-competitive ballgame. Not good for Riordan, Serra or the WCAL as a whole. Stark difference in programs. First period consumed 63 minutes due to turnovers, incomplete passes, penalties, referee consultations, time-outs, Serra touchdowns, extra points and kickoffs. Second quarter took 19 minutes, thank goodness for the mercy rule. "Ugly" does not do this one justice.
 
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Amen about no WCAL schools recruiting, though there have been consistent rumors about Riordan for football [or was that S.I.?]..

Also in the game today there was an ejection and something like 3 Serra TD's called back. The 1rst quarter took just over 1 hour to play & became a bit painful to watch within that first 12 minute period.
 
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Rmbr26 said:
Amen about no WCAL schools recruiting, though there have been consistent rumors about Riordan for football [or was that S.I.?]..

Also in the game today there was an ejection and something like 3 Serra TD's called back. The 1rst quarter took just over 1 hour to play & became a bit painful to watch within that first 12 minute period.
Click to expand...
Who was the player that got ejected?
 
colhenrylives said:
Running clock to begin the second period. First period ended 43-0 Serra. It was 50-6 at the half. Totally non-competitive ballgame. Not good for Riordan, Serra or the WCAL as a whole. Stark difference in programs. First period consumed 63 minutes due to turnovers, incomplete passes, penalties, referee consultations, time-outs, Serra touchdowns, extra points and kickoffs. Second quarter took 19 minutes, thank goodness for the mercy rule. "Ugly" does not do this one justice.
Click to expand...

Just wait til hoops. It will be a different story. For as many prime athletes at Serra, they haven’t really produced a pro basketball player. Football and baseball are their prime sports. Solid basketball teams though and you will always get a hard working team under Rapp.
 
iamgearyblvd said:
Just wait til hoops. It will be a different story. For as many prime athletes at Serra, they haven’t really produced a pro basketball player. Football and baseball are their prime sports. Solid basketball teams though and you will always get a hard working team under Rapp.
Click to expand...

Good to know.
 
Rmbr26 said:
Amen about no WCAL schools recruiting, though there have been consistent rumors about Riordan for football [or was that S.I.?]..

Also in the game today there was an ejection and something like 3 Serra TD's called back. The 1rst quarter took just over 1 hour to play & became a bit painful to watch within that first 12 minute period.
Click to expand...
The game got a bit chippy between the two teams...#75 was ejected because he ran into the ref who was blocking his path as he was trying to make a TD-saving tackle. He does play mean, nothing wrong with that, as long as it's not dirty.
 
The majority of the players are on the Frosh and Varsity rosters. I counted around 30 on the Padre JV sidelines today. Nothing wrong with that since they have some stud sophs playing on varsity.
 
jordan24 said:
The game got a bit chippy between the two teams...#75 was ejected because he ran into the ref who was blocking his path as he was trying to make a TD-saving tackle. He does play mean, nothing wrong with that, as long as it's not dirty.
Click to expand...

In fairness to No.75, he was under enormous pressure from the Serra defensive ends much of the first half. Those two guys are both around 6-5, 235 and fast. Not an easy assignment for anyone. It was frustrating.
 
[B]jordan24 said:
The game got a bit chippy between the two teams...#75 was ejected because he ran into the ref who was blocking his path as he was trying to make a TD-saving tackle. He does play mean, nothing wrong with that, as long as it's not dirty.
Click to expand...

jordan - as far as I know the ejection had nothing to do with running into the ref which was viewed as inadvertent. The player in question received a personal foul earlier in the game and a later call of the same resulted in an automatic ejection.
 
Rmbr26 said:

jordan - as far as I know the ejection had nothing to do with running into the ref which was viewed as inadvertent. The player in question received a personal foul earlier in the game and a later call of the same resulted in an automatic ejection.
Click to expand...
Rmbr, thanks for the clarification. It just seemed to notice he was out after that Padre score. As I stated earlier, it was chippy throughout the game. No excuse tho to get ejected.
Bryce Monroe and Jelani Clark were on the sidelines. They could have added some offensive punch. Don’t think it would have mattered tho. When does hoops season start?!? Lol
 
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Rmbr26 said:
SF 7-0 late in 4th & VC deep in SF's red zone & VCelects to go for FG on 4th down [Huh??].
A number of bad decisions in this game & while I see the players engaging on an equal scale the nod in coaching clearly goes to SF. Sorry VC as I had you in my weekly Pick 'em as the winner in this game.

Update - late in game & VC deep in red zone one last time & once again forces a pass into end zone which SF secondary intercepts for 3rd pick of game by SF. VC coaches gambled way too much having their QB who was completing 4 passes per game firing passes into the WCAL's best secondary. 3 INT's usually will not result in win & play calling on Coach's and not VC's QB. These teams were nearly identical & game could've gone either way..
Click to expand...

How about that late field goal attempt by St Francis. Looked like the holder was looking at the sideline, letting the clock roll, and the center snapped the ball without the holder being aware. VC's field goal decision late was weird to me too.
 
FBAddict said:
I think the shotgun spread formation VC was using has lots of potential. It was clear, though, the formation had not been practiced enough to become effective as it needed to be last night. A combination of their common modified wing-t and this shotgun spread could produce a very powerful offense if used as a staple play set.
Click to expand...

Like the pistol wing t? Basically just move the qb back a little and run the wing t.
 
jordan24 said:
Rmbr, thanks for the clarification. It just seemed to notice he was out after that Padre score. As I stated earlier, it was chippy throughout the game. No excuse tho to get ejected.
Bryce Monroe and Jelani Clark were on the sidelines. They could have added some offensive punch. Don’t think it would have mattered tho. When does hoops season start?!? Lol
Click to expand...

There was pride a time ago when athletes excelled in 2-3 sports. Bryce was an excellent QB as a frosh at SH and Jelani was a budding WR. I guess its too much of a risk if you really want to make it in hoops to play football where you could sustain an injury and there goes your hoops season. Bryce and Jelani playing varsity football together wouldve been just as entertaining as them playing hoops.

BTW, is that Derek Loville's kid on the Serra roster? Someone explain to me why two past Riordan studs didnt have their sons continue their lineage at same school? Derek Loville and Lonnie Heard.
 
iamgearyblvd said:
Just wait til hoops. It will be a different story. For as many prime athletes at Serra, they haven’t really produced a pro basketball player. Football and baseball are their prime sports. Solid basketball teams though and you will always get a hard working team under Rapp.
Click to expand...

Yeah with all the great basketball players and TRANSFERS at Riordan they have averaged a whopping 5 wins in the WCAL since 2004-2005
 
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serdaprs said:
Yeah with all the great basketball players and TRANSFERS at Riordan they have averaged a whopping 5 wins in the WCAL since 2004-2005
Click to expand...

But, as always, hope runs high on Phelan Avenue (or whatever it's called now). Let's cut them some slack on a tough day.
 
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serdaprs said:
Yeah with all the great basketball players and TRANSFERS at Riordan they have averaged a whopping 5 wins in the WCAL since 2004-2005
Click to expand...

No doubt! This is just a speculation for this season. Can you shed light on why Stansbury left Serra for Riordan?
 
WCAL Football 2018

* After 3 league games Serra is averaging 47 points per game, VC 30 PPG & SF 17 PPG.
* Serra so far is right up there with their record setting season for 2017 in scoring.
* Serra QB Luke Bottari now the all time passing leader for Serra leads the WCAL in passing despite
only playing the first 1/2 of the last 3 league games. Bottari only attempted 7 passes in yesterday's Riordan game, his fewest attempts of the season & has completed an astounding 75% of his passes over 6 games.
* On the defensive side of the ball SF, VC & Serra have all allowed less than 1 TD scored against them in the last 3 games.
* Serra vs VC next week should prove interesting as it will be pass vs run with 2 good defenses.
 
serdaprs said:
Yeah with all the great basketball players and TRANSFERS at Riordan they have averaged a whopping 5 wins in the WCAL since 2004-2005
Click to expand...
Easy. I would not say great players. Might want to check on those WCAL win totals since 2004-2005. They shared a title with Mitty in 2007. Transfer Jorge Camacho was 2008 player of the year.
The following years with transfers Ferrari, Arenas, Ugbaja - they qualified for the CCS Open playoffs and made the NorCal Final game both those years.
Stansberry paid his due sitting out the entire year, but he had a good career at Riordan, winning a CCS D3 title, going to CCSF and now at the University of Hawaii.
Last year, they beat Serra, lost to Bellarmine at the buzzer at home, had injuries throughout and still took the CCS D3 Title and had a good run in NorCals.
Serra's first State Title appearance had a transfer in Thomas and Moe. The first title was led by a transfer, Killingsworth, after they lost in the CCS Open and were placed in D1. Good for the Padres. Nothing wrong with that. Just saying. Transfers are a part of the HS landscape these days - for better or worse.
It's not like their star and promising players are leaving their school to go to another rival school or outside the area all together.
 
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colhenrylives said:
But, as always, hope runs high on Phelan Avenue (or whatever it's called now). Let's cut them some slack on a tough day.
Click to expand...
I'm taking all this piling on as tough love. Lol!
Irish fans may want to pump the brakes a bit as they have not yet played the mighty Padres.
 
jordan24 said:
Easy. I would not say great players. Might want to check on those WCAL win totals since 2004-2005. They shared a title with Mitty in 2007. Transfer Jorge Camacho was 2008 player of the year.
The following years with transfers Ferrari, Arenas, Ugbaja - they qualified for the CCS Open playoffs and made the NorCal Final game both those years.
Stansberry paid his due sitting out the entire year, but he had a good career at Riordan, winning a CCS D3 title, going to CCSF and now at the University of Hawaii.
Last year, they beat Serra, lost to Bellarmine at the buzzer at home, had injuries throughout and still took the CCS D3 Title and had a good run in NorCals.
Serra's first State Title appearance had a transfer in Thomas and Moe. The first title was led by a transfer, Killingsworth, after they lost in the CCS Open and were placed in D1. Good for the Padres. Nothing wrong with that. Just saying. Transfers are a part of the HS landscape these days - for better or worse.
It's not like their star and promising players are leaving their school to go to another rival school or outside the area all together.
Click to expand...

For the record, MaxPreps has some sobering WCAL hoops data for those trying to argue for Riordan's excellence compared to Serra in that sport:

In the last 14 WCAL seasons (2004-5 to 2017-18) _ that's as far back as the MaxPreps records go), the Crusaders have posted a winning league record on three occasions with one title. Serra, on the other hand, has managed winning league records 10 times with one title (not to mention a state title and a runner-up finish as well). Riordan has won 10 or more league games once. Serra has done it seven times. Riordan has had a losing league record eight times, Serra once.

This does not mean that the San Mateans are a Bay Area basketball powerhouse. That would be over-stating the case. Under the longtime guidance of their head coach, the ultra-animated Chuck Rapp, Serra has been consistently competitive but typically not utterly overwhelming. Rapp's tenure has produced more success than the school has ever seen. To be historically accurate, Riordan's Catholic league (CAL and WCAL combined) legacy is far more impressive than Serra's. But certainly the last 14 seasons have seen a Serra surge as Riordan has eased off.

How this all got on a football thread I have no idea. Apologies all around.
 
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