Welcome back to the Bay Area News Group’s high school football preview.
Here, you’ll find the week’s top matchups and complete weekend schedule for teams in this news organization’s coverage area, which encompasses leagues based primarily in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
Check back every Thursday morning during the season for the preview.
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On the top matchups …
Friday
No. 8 Los Gatos (4-0) at No. 2 Pittsburg (3-1), 7 p.m.: Two of the best public school programs in the Bay Area have gotten off to hot starts in 2024. Visiting Los Gatos’ Grayson Doslak is a running back with a nose for the end zone, the junior scoring seven rushing touchdowns. The 6-foot-5 Max Thomas – unrelated to 2023 BANG player of the year Jaylen Thomas – is averaging 80 receiving yards per game. Callum Schweitzer and Scotty Brennan have shared QB duties thus far, combining for 661 passing yards and four touchdown passes. Austin Krug leads the Wildcats with 20 tackles and two tackles for loss. Krug and the defense will need to play a flawless game to slow down Pittsburg’s loaded offense, a unit that was able to move the ball in a competitive 35-14 loss to juggernaut St. John Bosco-Bellflower two weeks ago. Marley Alcantara has thrown nine touchdowns, three going to freshman revelation Kenny Ward. Running back duo Jamar Searcy and Elijah Bow has combined for 12 touchdowns, with Searcy averaging 141 rushing yards per game. Pittsburg’s defense is just as star-studded, with UCLA commits Juju Walls and Jadyn Hudson headlining the unit. Pittsburg defeated Los Gatos 37-27 in the South Bay in 2024. – Joseph Dycus
No. 3 Archbishop Riordan (2-2) at No. 6 St. Ignatius (3-1): You’ll be hard-pressed to find a bigger matchup this week than this battle for San Francisco supremacy. St. Ignatius is coming off a stunning win over then-No. 2 Serra after scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Jarious Hogan delivered the game-winning score, reeling off a 30-yard touchdown run with 1:14 remaining. Archbishop Riordan had a far less stressful week, enjoying a 63-34 blowout win over Sacred Heart Cathedral as quarterback Michael Mitchell Jr. and running backs Jeremiah Jones and Adonyae Brown all had three touchdowns apiece. – Justice delos Santos
No. 4 St. Francis (3-1, 1-0) at No. 18 Archbishop Mitty (3-1, 0-1), 7 p.m.: Mitty’s defense was no match for Valley Christian running backs Marcel Leggett and Ekiah McLemore last week as the duo combined for 278 yards and five touchdowns in a 47-7 rout. The challenge for the Monarchs this week might be even tougher. St. Francis’ Kingston Keanaaina has rushed for 593 and six touchdowns through four games. The Lancers opened WCAL play with a 48-7 rout of Bellarmine. Aaron Knapp has provided balance to the St. Francis offense, throwing for 346 and five touchdowns. Lazaro Faraj-Washington leads Mitty in rushing and Jonah Kroenung has been an effective passer for the San Jose school. — Darren Sabedra
Christopher (4-1) at No. 23 Santa Teresa (4-0), 7:15 p.m.: Is this game for the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division crown? It’s too early to say for sure, but the outcome could play a large role in determining this year’s league winner. Christopher travels back up to San Jose eight days after earning a 45-28 road win over Branham. Quarterback Jaxen Robinson starred for the Cougars, accounting for four total touchdowns. Running back Ray Waller ran for two scores as well. Santa Teresa most recently shut out Hillsdale 17-0, generating five defensive turnovers. Defensive back Isaiah Rivera posted two picks, while Robert Estrada and Jalen Karriem each snagged one interception for the Saints. – Christian Babcock
San Mateo (3-1) at Milpitas (3-1), 7 p.m.: This Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division opener pits two excellent teams on the upswing. Both squads lost their second game of the season but have rebounded to win two straight. San Mateo is coming off an idle week and most recently took down Los Altos 13-7. Yianni Fitzgerald had a pick-six in that game for the Bearcats, and Emmanuel Fitzgerald rushed for 257 yards on 23 carries. Milpitas also had a week off after beating Homestead 27-6. Trojans QB Adrian Chavez passed for two touchdowns in that game and rushed for another. Elisha Pena added a TD on the ground for Milpitas. – Christian Babcock
Thursday, Oct. 3
SOUTH BAY/PENINSULA
BVAL West Valley
Evergreen Valley at San Jose, 7:15 p.m.
Hill at Gunderson, 7:15 p.m.
Mt. Pleasant at Lick, 7 p.m.
Non-league
Prospect at Del Mar, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 4
EAST BAY
Bay Valley
Liberty at Antioch, 7 p.m.
WACC Foothill
Berkeley vs. San Leandro at Burrell Field in San Leandro, 7 p.m.
Castro Valley at Bishop O’Dowd, 7 p.m.
Moreau Catholic at Logan, 7 p.m.
Non-league
Acalanes at Benicia, 7 p.m.
Amador Valley at Foothill, 7 p.m.
American vs. Kennedy-Fremont at Washington-Fremont, 7 p.m.
California at Livermore, 7:15 p.m.
Campolindo at Alhambra, 7 p.m.
College Park at Miramonte, 7 p.m.
Dougherty Valley at Piedmont, 7 p.m.
Encinal at Concord, 7 p.m.
Las Lomas at Northgate, 7 p.m.
Monte Vista at Dublin, 7 p.m.
Redwood Christian vs. Kennedy-Richmond at Chabot College, 7 p.m.
San Lorenzo at Ygnacio Valley, 7 p.m.
San Ramon Valley at Granada, 7 p.m.
Washington-Fremont at Carrillo, 7 p.m.
SOUTH BAY/PENINSULA
BVAL Mt. Hamilton
Branham at Lincoln-San Jose, 7:15 p.m.
Christopher at Santa Teresa, 7:15 p.m.
Live Oak at Leigh, 7:15 p.m.
PAL De Anza
Mountain View at Burlingame, 7 p.m.
PAL Ocean
San Mateo at Milpitas, 7 p.m.
PAL El Camino
Los Altos at South San Francisco, 7 p.m.
Santa Clara at Woodside, 7 p.m.
PAL Lake
Cupertino at Jefferson, 7 p.m.
El Camino at Lynbrook, 7 p.m.
Mills at MacDonald, 7 p.m.
Saratoga at Monta Vista, 7 p.m.
West Catholic
Riordan at St. Ignatius, 5 p.m.
St. Francis at Mitty, 7 p.m.
Valley Christian vs. Bellarmine at San Jose City College, 7 p.m.
Non-league
Gilroy at Independence, 7:15 p.m.
Silver Creek at Willow Glen, 7:15 p.m.
Sobrato at Piedmont Hills, 7:15 p.m.
Westmont at Overfelt, 7:15 p.m.
INTERSECTIONAL
Castlemont at Mt. Diablo, 7:30 p.m.
Del Norte-Crescent City at Oakland Tech, 7 p.m.
Los Gatos at Pittsburg, 7 p.m.
Pinole Valley at Skyline, 7 p.m.
Rio Hondo Prep-Arcadia at King’s Academy, 7 p.m.
Ukiah at Carlmont, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 5
EAST BAY
Non-league
Bethel at Vallejo, 2 p.m.
Fortuna at St. Vincent, 2 p.m.
Hercules at Arroyo, 2 p.m.
St. Patrick-St. Vincent at Salesian, 1 p.m.
SOUTH BAY/PENINSULA
West Catholic
Sacred Heart Cathedral at Serra, 1:30 p.m.
INTERSECTIONAL
McClymonds at Berean Christian, 1 p.m.
