Monday Morning Lights: San Ramon Valley vs. De La Salle, the big game has arrived

De La Salle hasn’t lost to an NCS opponent in 32 years. Injured SRV running back has a new role. Hillsdale, Menlo (both 6-0) play Friday. Bellarmine QB putting up big numbers. Oakland High gives back to the community.

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ANOTHER STREAK IS ON THE LINE IN SRV VS. DLS

Luke Baker was in fifth grade when his quarterback brother Clark nearly led San Ramon Valley to a victory over De La Salle seven years ago.

But the younger Baker is clueless about the game.He did not leave.”I thought, ‘Oh, they’re playing De La Salle.'” They will be defeated.

“By a long shot,” Luke Baker smiled last week. “I wish I could have been there.”

“I’ll be there for that one.”

In October 2016, De La Salle defeated Clark Baker and SRV 28-27 on the road in Danville Clark completed 321 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns that night.It was one of De La Salle’s most close calls against a North Coast opponent.

Section opponent since its last section loss, to Pittsburg in 1991.

The Concord powerhouse has extended its unbeaten streak to 32 years.

against NCS teams by a score of 265. Since the Pittsburg game, the Spartans have gone 264-0-1.

The tie was against Clayton Valley in 2004.

Luke Baker gets his chance against De La Salle on his team’s home field in Danville on Friday in a game that has been anticipated for weeks.

SRV is 6-0, with Baker leading the offense (he threw for 334 yards and four touchdowns against Clayton Valley on Friday) and linebacker Marco Jones anchoring the defense. De La Salle has defeated four good teams, including St. Francis, St. Mary’s-Stockton, Folsom, and Sacramento State.

McClymonds – after losses to Orange Lutheran and Serra to start the season.

“We’re just going to treat it like every other game,” Baker, the last of three Baker brothers to play quarterback for SRV, said. “It’s just that

yet another group. It was just a bunch of high school students. We’re going to go in, do our thing, and hopefully come out with a win.”

As he sat on the bench during warmups, San Ramon Valley running back John Ben Pau Mendoza drew a lot of attention. Friday is senior day.

Right knee braced, crutches nearby. Teammates and even an opposing coach came over to wish him well.

Pau Mendoza had suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first half of a 66-12 rout of Liberty two weeks prior. He stated that he will have

On Wednesday, he will undergo surgery to repair torn ligaments, including the ACL.

Pau Mendoza, a team captain who is no longer able to play for the Wolves, has a new role for the rest of the season.”I’m a coach now,” he explained.The loss was devastating for the red-hot Wolves. Coach Aaron Becker thought it was a good thing that SRV had a week off between the Liberty game and Friday’s game at Clayton Valley. It allowed the team to adjust.”You can’t replace the kid,” Becker pointed out. “You just try to manage the game moving forward without him.”

When Becker was told that Pau Mendoza appeared to be in good spirits on the sidelines, he responded, “He’s got a good support network, a good family.” He’s optimistic about it. He understands that his role as a team leader is not over. It’s just taking on a new form right now.”

This season, 12 teams in the Bay Area News Group’s coverage area have not lost. When Hillsdale visits Menlo School on Friday afternoon, the two will compete for first place in the Peninsula Athletic League’s De Anza Division.

Both teams went 6-0 after shutting out their opponents last week. Hillsdale defeated Homestead 35-0, while Menlo defeated Palo Alto 14-0.

Serra, San Ramon Valley, Pittsburg, El Cerrito, Christopher, Las Lomas, Live Oak, Miramonte, Capuchino, and others are also unbeaten.

Alameda.

Bellarmine quarterback Parker Threatt has done everything but catch his own passes during a brilliant run of play in the San Jose private school’s otherwise disappointing 1-5 start to the season.

Threatt had 210 yards rushing and 164 yards passing in a four-touchdown win over St. Ignatius two weeks ago. He then outdid himself in a game.

Friday’s wild 55-41 loss to high-powered Riordan.

The dual-threat passer went 17 for 22 for 234 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 111 yards on the ground and three touchdowns.

It will be difficult to replicate those numbers on Saturday, when the Bells travel to San Mateo to face Serra, the No. 1 team in the Bay Area News Group.

However, don’t be surprised if the speedster keeps the Padres’ defense guessing.

“Gutsy. “He’s an athlete,” Bellarmine coach David Diaz-Infante said of Threatt after the QB had 300 total yards in a loss to Monte Vista last month.

OAKLAND: WILDCATS PARTICIPATE IN “COMMUNITY SERVICE”

Last week, Terry Hendrix’s Oakland team participated in what the coach referred to as “community service.”

This included running around Lake Merritt and down Grand Avenue in uniform and full pads to stay in shape during the team’s bye week.

helping anyone who needed it.

“They were able to help a lady with a flat tire,” Hendrix explained. “It’s a morale booster, getting out in the city and moving around.”

Spirits are high at the MacArthur Boulevard school, where a 21-game losing streak is a distant memory following a 4-1 start this fall.

The Wildcats will travel to Fremont-Oakland on Friday, where Hendrix coached from 2012 to 2017.

“This is Fremont’s homecoming, and it’s like a homecoming for me,” he said. “In recent years, Oakland has gone 0-5 in the OAL, so

This should be interesting.”

MIRAMONTE: ROMAN REIGNS FOR UNSUCCESSIVE MATS

Miramonte was a high-flying team a year ago, propelled by quarterback Luke Duncan, who is now a freshman at UCLA.

After Duncan graduated, the Orinda school maintained its success, but with a very different formula.

LB/RB Gabe Roman, who has six touchdowns and is one of the team’s top tacklers, is one of its leaders.

The senior is listed at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, but the two-way thumper is an important part of a new-look Matadors team that has relied on defense and a tough running game to start 6-0.

The rise does not surprise coach Jack Schram, who believes Roman’s breakout season could have happened sooner if he hadn’t been injured last year.

“Gabe was the heart and soul of the JV team two years ago,” said Schram. “Last year he fought through hamstring issues.”

PEEK AHEAD TO WEEK 8

Thursday

Santa Teresa (3-3) at Christopher (6-0), 7:15 p.m.: Big game in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division. ST has won three in a row.

Friday

De La Salle (4-2) at San Ramon Valley (6-0), 7 p.m.: DLS is 18-0 against SRV since its last loss to an NCS opponent, 32 years ago. Average margin of victory: 36.3.

Hillsdale (6-0) at Menlo School (6-0), 3 p.m.: Two teams projected to finish in the bottom half of PAL De Anza standings playing to reach 7-0.

Mt. Diablo (5-1) at Alhambra (5-1), 7 p.m.: Mt. Diablo’s Herschel Turner Jr. has rushed for 28 TDs. Alhambra scored 71 points on Friday.

California (4-2) at Monte Vista (4-2), 7 p.m.: These teams are 10-10 against one another in the MaxPreps era (2004-present).

Bishop O’Dowd (3-3) at Moreau Catholic (3-3), 7 p.m.: The winner will stay atop the MVAL/WACC Foothill standings.

San Mateo (3-3) at Capuchino (6-0), 7 p.m.: San Mateo was the preseason pick to win the PAL Ocean. Cap was projected to come in last.