High school football 2023 preview: MVAL/WACC Shoreline Division

Top players & predicted order of finish in the seven-school MVAL/WACC Shoreline Division

MVAL/WACC SHORELINE DIVISION

(Predicted order of finish)

No. 1 ALAMEDA

Coach: Robin Morris

2022 record: 5-4-1

What to anticipate: A’Jhuan Parker, Alameda’s league MVP, has transferred to El Cerrito, but the majority of the talented core returns for another season. It all starts with senior quarterback Eli Slez.He’ll pass to seniors Will Roizen and Gabriel Speed, all of whom have made all-Shoreline teams. Morris called senior linebacker Sinisa Finau a “aggressive and gifted athlete.” Morris says sophomore Hayden Arndt “attended lineman camps and was fine-tuning his game” during a productive offseason.The season begins on August 26 at Ygnacio Valley at 2 p.m.

No. 2 NEWARK MEMORIAL

Coach: Brad Tubbs

2022 record: 5-6

What to anticipate: Longtime coach Brad Tubbs has transformed Newark Memorial into a consistently competitive team, with the team winning five games and making the playoffs in each of the previous three full seasons. Junior wide receivers Matthais Vaka and Iven Takkher should be top targets in the passing game, and linemen Marc Ieremia and Christian Ortiz, who were named to the all-league team last year, are expected to shine on both sides of the line. Last season, Diego Arreola Velazquez was all-BANG as a kicker. Junior running back Jovany Moreno-Gutierrez and senior tight end Gerardo Zavala-Rangel will also see time at LB. In Week 1, Newark Memorial will host DAL Valley championship favorite Concord.

Season opener: August 25 at 7 p.m. against Concord.

No. 3 KENNEDY-FREMONT

Coach: BJ Hagood

2022 record: 4-6

What to expect: Under coach BJ Hagood, the program improved from 1-9 to 4-6 last season, a clear step in the right direction. Junaid Khan, the league’s defensive player of the year, is expected to have another monster season at linebacker for Kennedy. Last season, senior running back Maynard Lorenzo was named to the all-league team, and senior offensive lineman Aaron Wright weighs in at 230 pounds.

Season opener: Aug. 25 vs. Mt. Eden, 7 p.m. at Washington-Fremont.

No. 4 AMERICAN

Coach: Bryan Blackmon

2022 record: 3-7

What to expect: American will have to replace several graduated all-league players, but the roster should still include some standout athletes. Cruz Madrigal, a senior safety who was named to the all-Shoreline team last season, is expected to be a secondary leader this season. Junior linebacker Juan Rodriguez weighs 220 pounds and can also play tight end.

Season opener: August 25 at 7 p.m. against Pinole Valley.

No. 5 ARROYO

Coach: Jeffery Pride

2022 record: 4-6

What to anticipate: Second-year coach Jeffery Pride expects 6-foot-6, 310-pound tackle Kamani Fifita to be one of the most dominant blockers in the East Bay. Last season, junior linebacker Owen Thomason and senior offensive lineman Peyton Sanchez were both named all-league. Arroyo opens the season against Antioch, which made the Division I playoffs last year.

Season opener: August 25 at 7 p.m. at Antioch.

No. 6 SAN LORENZO

Coach: Antoine Stocker

2022 record: 0-9

What to anticipate: It is unrealistic to expect coach Antoine Stocker to lead San Lorenzo to its first winning season since 2009, but the Grizzlies should be able to pick up a few victories this season. After a difficult start that saw the team travel for three weeks in a row, the Grizzlies finish the season with three consecutive home games.

Season opener: Aug. 25 at 5:30 p.m. at Richmond.

No. 7 PIEDMONT

Coach: Jordan Seiden

2022 record: 0-6

What to expect: The good news for the Highlanders is that they’re back on the field after having to cancel the 2022 season due to low attendance. The bad news is that they’ll have to play 10 road games while Witter Field is being renovated. Senior safety Brayden Hong and senior wide receiver Dominic Alexandre could have big senior seasons for Piedmont.

Season opener: August 25 at 7 p.m. at Pierce.

In the coming two weeks

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