High school football 2023 preview: EBAL Mountain Division

Top players & predicted order of finish in the six-school East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division

EBAL MOUNTAIN DIVISION

(Probable order of completion)

No. 1 DE LA SALLE

Coach: Justin Alumbaugh

Record in 2022: 10-4

What to anticipate: Last season, the Concord powerhouse graduated seven first-team all-league players, including four on the offensive line. However, plenty of talent returns. QB Toa Faavae, now a junior, is a big-play threat with his arm and legs, as evidenced by a long touchdown run in the Division I-AA state championship game last season. OL/DL If healthy, Matthew Johnson, who has multiple Power 5 offers, will be a force in the trenches. Johnathan Guerrero is a playmaker on both sides of the ball. In 2022, he intercepted seven passes. Drew Cunningham, who plays TE/LB/DE, is another returning starter who is expected to make an impact. WR/DB sophomore Jaden Jefferson is a lightning fast freshman (10.7 seconds in the 100 meters). Last season, he started every game on defense. The schedule, as usual, will be demanding. Serra, Folsom, and St. Mary’s-Stockton are among the teams that defeated DLS in the regular season last year.

Season opener: August 25 at 7:30 p.m. against Orange Lutheran.

Editor’s note: De La Salle is ineligible to win the Mountain, but it receives the league’s automatic bid to the NCS playoffs and first-place votes for all-league recognition, according to the EBAL website. The Mountain champion is the team with the most league wins (excluding DLS). If a Mountain team defeats DLS, that team earns an automatic playoff berth.

No. 2 CLAYTON VALLEY

Coach: Nick Tisa

Record in 2022: 8-5

What to anticipate: Nick Tisa succeeds Tim Murphy as head coach at Concord High School, where he led the Ugly Eagles to 10 league, four NCS, and three regional titles, as well as a state championship in 2019. This season, the team will be led by a powerful offensive line that includes three returning seniors in its final year in the EBAL before moving back to the Diablo Athletic League. “We will still bring the legacy of smash-mouth football and rely on our offensive line to run the ball,” Tisa, who has been on Clayton Valley’s staff for years, said. That group is led by Manuel Serna, who stands 6-7, 290. He has several college offers. Daven Amos, WR, is a returning first-team all-league selection. In 2022, he had 12 touchdown receptions. Mason Lovett is the team’s new starting quarterback after patiently waiting his turn behind seniors the previous two seasons, according to Tisa. Angel Gonzalez, who plays H-back/defensive end, returns after missing the entire season due to an early-season injury. Tisa described himself as a leader and the hardest worker in the program’s classroom and weight room. TE/DE student Tisa mentions Logan Knapp as another player who refuses to leave the field. WR/TE/LB Tony Keck (6-4, 200), a College Park transfer, is one addition who could help offset the loss of RB Micah Avery, who transferred to El Cerrito.

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

No. 3 SAN RAMON VALLEY

Coach: Aaron Becker

Record in 2022: 12-3

What to anticipate: Last season, the Wolves came agonizingly close to winning a state championship, falling in overtime in the 2-A championship game after narrowly defeating Marin Catholic the week before. Many of the players who led the Wolves to an NCS championship last season are back, including senior quarterback Luke Baker, who was named Bay Area News Group player of the year last season. Last season, he threw for 3,733 yards and 46 touchdowns. Outstanding LB/TE Marco Jones, who had 149 tackles as a sophomore last year, returns as well. Austin Shelton, who had clutch field goals in the regional and state games, agrees. Julian Cambra, a junior offensive lineman/defensive lineman, was named first-team all-league in 2022 and is expected to lead the way in the trenches this season. Zack Dodson, WR/TE, and RB/DB John Ben Pau Mendoza has also returned. St. Ignatius, Acalanes, McClymonds, and Liberty are among the non-league opponents for the Wolves. This fall, they will also be promoted to Division I.

Season opener: Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. at St. Ignatius.

No. 4 MONTE VISTA

Coach: Johnny Millard

Record in 2022: 2-8

What to anticipate: After a difficult season in 2022, the Mustangs could make significant strides this fall under second-year coach Johnny Millard. They have running back, tight end, and wide receiver talent, and they are expected to be fast and physical on defense. Junior linebacker/receiver Julian McMahan, a transfer from Moreau Catholic, brings to the field a strong work ethic and game-changing abilities. WR/DB Millard described Brayden Breedlove as “extremely explosive,” and WR Jacob Shehata as “a smooth route runner with reliable hands.” LB/DE Ewan Arechaederra and 6-5, 220 pound TE/DE Kellan Ford are two more Danville players who will play important roles. The Mustangs face Bellarmine in Week 2 and Campolindo in Week 4 before beginning league play.

Season opener: August 25th, 7 p.m. at Granada.

No. 5 CALIFORNIA

Coach: Dan Calcagno

Record in 2022: 5-6

What to anticipate: Last season, the Grizzlies’ 5-1 start turned into a 5-6 finish that included a loss to Clayton Valley in the first round of the NCS D-I playoffs. Coach Dan Calcagno will lead a senior-dominated team that includes returning quarterback Jayden Macedo in his fourth year at California and 30th overall. Senior RB/S Devan Love and SS Cole Fokas are both three-year starters. Sayyidi Abdul-Kareem, another senior, plays OLB, slot receiver, and running back. C Junior At the line, Zach Rosenberg makes all of the decisions. The offensive and defensive lines are inexperienced, but the team has “a little more speed at skill positions than last year,” according to Calcagno.

Season opener: Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. in Moorpark against San Juan Hills-San Juan Capistrano.

No. 6 FOOTHILL

Coach: Greg Haubner

Record in 2022: 7-5

What to expect: After winning the Valley Division last season, the Falcons have moved up to the Mountain Division. They will not, however, be bringing the Valley’s MVP, junior WR Chris Lawson, or first-team RB/LB Samear Lattier is a senior now. Lawson has gone to Riordan, and Lattier has gone to Tracy. Foothill also graduated five seniors who were named to the league’s first team in 2022. OL/DT Josh Taylor, a senior, remains on the roster despite being named first-team all-league last season. Erik Olsen, senior quarterback, and junior wide receiver/defensive back Michael O’Donoghue, who was a second-team all-league selection last season, is also back. The non-league schedule includes games against El Cerrito on September 15 and Amador Valley on September 22.

The season begins on August 25 at 7 p.m. against Heritage.

In the coming two weeks

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