High school football 2023 preview: West Catholic Athletic League
Top players & predicted order of finish in the eight-school West Catholic Athletic League
WEST CATHOLIC ATHLETIC LEAGUE
(Probable order of completion)
No. 1 SERRA
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Record in 2022: 13-1
What to anticipate: Last season, Serra was the undisputed No. 1 team in Northern California, defeating Folsom and De La Salle on the road to start the season and going 13-0 before falling to national powerhouse St. John Bosco-Bellflower in the Open Division state championship game. The majority of that team’s key players return, including four-year starters Jabari Mann (RB/LB), Danny Niu (RB/LB), and Joseph Bey (safety). QB Maealiuaki Smith returns, as do LB Marley Alapati, WR Kyon Loud, DL Timo Poloka, and a slew of others for a team that could represent NorCal in the Open game for the third year in a row. The Padres open the season against Folsom and De La Salle, this time in San Mateo.
Season opener: August 26 at noon vs. Folsom
No. 2 ST. FRANCIS
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Record in 2022: 8-4
What to expect: St. Francis finished second in the WCAL last season and is expected to finish near the top this year, despite having little varsity experience. In his 11th season as coach, Greg Calcagno will rely on a running attack led by last year’s late-season breakout star, Kingston Keanaaina, now a junior. As the only returning starter on defense, senior FS/WR Mack Mrowka will play an important role. Last season, QB Aaron Knapp led the Lancers to regular-season victories over Bellarmine and Archbishop Mitty while filling in for injured starter Matthew Dougherty Jr. After overcoming lymphoma in the offseason, the junior takes over as starter. Under Calcagno, St. Francis has only once finished below.500 in WCAL play. The Lancers’ non-league schedule includes games against Helix-La Mesa, Monterey Trail-Elk Grove, and De La Salle.
Season opener: August 25 at 7 p.m. against Helix-La Mesa.
No. 3 ST. IGNATIUS
Coach: Lenny Vandermade
Record in 2022: 6-7
What to expect: Lenny Vandermade, a Mater Dei-Santa Ana and USC alum who has been an assistant at USC for the past four years, was hired last winter to replace longtime coach John Regalia. He takes over a program that finished fifth in the WCAL last season and then lost in the CCS Division II final to Bellarmine. SI returns OL/DL John Mills, a 6-6, 315-pound junior who, according to Vandermade, “has the size and ability to be an all-league player and possibly one of the best OL in the CCS.” He has scholarship offers from Cal, UCLA, and Washington. Vandermade also mentioned senior WR/DB Pierce St. Geme, who could play a significant role in the offense. Another player to keep an eye on is LB/RB Suitulaga Gallegos-Hunkin, who was named first-team all-WCAL as a sophomore last season. In the opener, the Wildcats face the reigning NorCal Division 2-A champions.San Ramon Valley, a champion, pays a visit.
Season opener: Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. against San Ramon Valley.
No. 4 VALLEY CHRISTIAN
Coach: Mike Machado
Record in 2022: 2-8
What to anticipate: Valley Christian, a long-time power in the Bay Area, took a step back last season as it continued to pick up the pieces after numerous students died in the pandemic. “Obviously, we’re going to be a little different this year – we’ve got seniors,” coach Mike Machado said of the team. Uchenna Eke, a 5-10, 195-pound senior, was the WCAL’s running back of the year last season. “Good size, good speed,” said Machado. Eke will line up behind four-star junior lineman Champ Taulealea (6-4, 330) and three-star senior lineman Rayne Mayo (6-3, 295). Taulealea, who has ten Power 5 offers, will play left tackle. WR Kai Hamilton should also make an impact. Washington State has extended him an offer. The Warriors also have a number of strong linebackers, including senior Remy Hernandez. Last season, VC started ten sophomores. Senior Joseph Stephens and junior Adrian Cossy are competing for the position of quarterback.
Season opener: August 25 at 7 p.m. against Wilcox.
No. 5 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN
Coach: Adhir Ravipati
Record in 2022: 3-7
What to anticipate: Riordan has added top-line talent since the end of last season, most notably four-star receiver Chris Lawson and four-star lineman Tommy Tofi. Lawson, a junior, came from Foothill High School in Pleasanton. Tofi, a 6-6, 320-pound sophomore from Sheldon-Elk Grove, is a transfer. Three-star receiver Cynai Thomas from Menlo-Atherton and three-star lineman Peter Langi from Mater Dei-Santa Ana have also committed to the San Francisco school. They join a team that includes QB Michael Mitchell Jr., the WCAL freshman of the year last season, and three-star senior receiver Tyrone Jackson. If all of these players mesh well, Riordan, led by second-year coach Adhir Ravipati, could finish higher than expected.
Season opener: August 25 at 3:30 p.m. against Sacred Heart Prep.
No. 6 ARCHBISHOP MITTY
Coach: Danny Sullivan
Record in 2022: 9-4
What to anticipate: The Monarchs were one of the season’s feel-good stories, going from one victory in 2021 to the CCS Division I championship game. The team, however, was made up entirely of seniors, including Bay Area News Group Santa Clara County player of the year Danny Scudero. Mitty hopes that the foundation laid by the departed players is maintained. “No matter what we may have lost from the previous year, the expectation is to find new guys to have success and help the program,” coach Danny Sullivan said. RB AJ Cenizal will be expected to carry the ball behind a line that includes junior Alex Bleszynski, who started at center last season. Caden Allard, a senior tight end, is expected to make an impact. He will also play linebacker, where he will be joined by junior Antwann dos Santos Jurado, who could have a breakout season.
Season opener: August 25 at 7 p.m. at James Logan.
No. 7 BELLARMINE
Coach: David Diaz-Infante
Record in 2022: 8-7
What to anticipate: New coach David Diaz-Infante (Bellarmine Class of 1982) was hired in early June to replace the departed Jalal Beauchman. He takes over a program that is attempting to return to the top of the WCAL. Last season, the Bells tied for fifth place before winning the CCS Division II and NorCal regional championships. Three-star athlete Parker Threatt, three-star lineman Bennett Anderson, and TE/LB Joe Fuqua are among the top returning players. In 2022, Threatt and Fuqua were named second-team all-league. Other notable players on a team that graduated standouts such as RB Ben Pfaff, DL Jae’Von Reels, and LB Brandon Broch include LB/FB Ben Coulter and PK Connor Tripp. Menlo-Atherton and two East Bay teams, McClymonds and Monte Vista, are on the non-league schedule.
Season opener: 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at San Jose City College against Menlo-Atherton.
No. 8 SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL
Coach: Antoine Evans
Record in 2022: 6-5
What to expect: The Fighting Irish finished third last season, tied with Mitty, and qualified for the CCS Division I playoffs. However, the team’s two best players, WR RL Miller and LB Jerry Mixon, graduated. Coach Antoine Evans stated that the team lacks experience but has depth at the skill positions. “We graduated a lot of seniors,” he explained. In Benjamin Hatch and Zaheer Young, SHC returns two solid linemen. Last season, Hatch was named first-team all-WCAL, and Young was named second-team all-league. Aiden McGrath, the quarterback, is also back. In 2022, he threw for 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns. His top target will be WR Jackson Irons, who had a strong offseason, according to Evans. Another player to keep an eye on is senior WR/DB Salgado, Danilo. The non-league schedule, which includes Pittsburg, Sacred Heart Prep, and Wilcox, will reveal a lot about SHC.
Season opener: August 26 at 1 p.m. at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco against Pittsburg.
Check back next week.
This is the final of 21 high school football league previews from the Bay Area News Group. Monday marks the return of the Monday Morning Lights column, which kicks off our regular game week coverage. The week will also include rankings, predictions, top matchups, and other features. Please subscribe if you have not already done so. Your contributions enable us to continue operating.
