As part of our high school football coverage to get you ready for the 2024 season, we are rolling out previews of all leagues in our coverage area.
Today’s focus:
PENINSULA ATHLETIC LEAGUE EL CAMINO DIVISION
(Predicted order of finish)
No. 1 LOS ALTOS
Coach: Mark Adams
2024 record: 3-7
What to expect: When second-year coach Mark Adams says he has depth at quarterback, it’s probably worth paying attention. Adams was a quarterback at Boston College, backing up 1984 Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie. Given the Eagles’ quarterback depth, a solid set of receivers and an anticipated varsity roster of 35-40 players, it makes sense to choose Los Altos as a slight favorite in a very balanced PAL El Camino Division. Another advantage for Los Altos is 16 returning players who started at least one varsity game last season. Junior Giancarlo Mendoza is the likely starter at quarterback. He won the job as a sophomore, then passed for 646 yards and five touchdowns before being injured after five games. The receivers are headed by senior Gavin Wu, a second-team all-leaguer last year who also plays in the secondary. He caught 17 passes for 208 yards a year ago. Also back at WR is Serdinc Engez. Manny Contreras is the lead returning running back. He played in nine games at the position last year. A linebacker on defense, Contreras had 35 tackles. John Becker, Jose Luis Rodriguez and Engez have the makings of a formidable d-line.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at San Mateo, 7 p.m.
No. 2 TERRA NOVA
Coach: Nick Lotti
2024 record: 2-8
What to expect: After a disappointing 2024 campaign, the PAL lowered Terra Nova from the higher B-level Ocean to the El Camino. School enrollment that has dwindled to around 800 likely was a bigger factor than the 2-8 season. Either way, this could be a bounce back year for the Tigers. It begins with one of the more intriguing players at quarterback in senior Joey Donati. He measures 6-4, 215 pounds, and his football future after graduation might be as an edge rusher or tight end, coach Nick Lotti said. Donati had 55 tackles last year, passed for 870 yards and rushed for 376 more. Catching passes will be junior Isaiah Birch Corona, who had 24 receptions for 451 yards last season. Austin Snead, who was third on the team with 79 tackles a year ago and also played receiver, will spend more time this fall at running back, where Lotti hopes to take advantage of the senior’s speed. The offensive and defensive lines will be led by senior David Shchadenko (6-5, 330) and junior Trevor Snead, Austin Snead’s younger brother. One concern is the size of the varsity roster, which could number under 30 players. “School size is one of our problems,” Lotti said. “I think we can do well. We’re trying to bring in more kids.” He’s placing that hope on a possible return of youth football in Pacifica.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Jefferson, 7 p.m.
No. 3 SANTA CLARA
Coach: Nelson Gifford
2024 record: 4-6
What to expect: In a BANG survey e-mailed to the El Camino coaches asking them to predict the division standings, one chose Terra Nova and another picked Santa Clara. The other four declined to select a winner or didn’t answer at all. While there is no clear-cut favorite, the Bruins have the elements to contend. Senior Damian May Lopez and junior Kalani Tesimale will battle to start at quarterback. Lopez, who transferred from Wilcox as a sophomore, threw three TD passes in four games last season. He measures 6-2, 165, and “brings a high level of competitive intensity,” coach Nelson Gifford said. Tesimale, who can also play receiver, is a smaller dude at 5-9, but he was a backup infielder and relief pitcher on the Bruins’ 29-4 baseball team. “He understands what competitive intensity is all about,” said Gifford, adding, “(Lopez) is bigger, taller and a good runner. (Tesemali) is smaller but quick.” The ground game should be in good hands with leading rusher Joseph Ting (841 yards, 9 TDs) and Quinn Raineri (150 yards, 3 TDs) both back. Senior David Ovasisi emerged during the spring as a possible leading receiver. Senior center/nose tackle Santiago Lopez will be relied on to lead the interior line. He is a two-year starter. Patrick Murgalis, who is playing football for the first time, will also go both ways. “He’s one of the strongest kids in the school, “Gifford said of the 5-11, 235-pound junior.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. MacDonald, 7 p.m.
No. 4 SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
Coach: Kolone Pua
2024 record: 9-3
What to expect: It would be easy to dismiss the Warriors’ chances this fall after they graduated six all-leaguers from last year’s El Camino Division champions. But when coach Kolone Pua inherited this team before the 2023 season, the Warriors hadn’t finished above .500 in nine years. In Pua’s first two years at SSF, the Warriors are 21-5 overall and unbeaten in league play. While some credit should go to previous coach Frank Moro, who led SSF to a 6-6 record after it didn’t field a team in 2021, Pua has certainly heightened expectations. Although a third straight league championship this fall might be a stretch, Pua is optimistic. “We should be able to compete.” Their opener against San Lorenzo Valley should be a good test. The Cougars were left out of the CCS playoffs last season despite going 9-1 and beating SSF 39-14. One advantage the Warriors will have is senior quarterback Anthony Howell, who has played a lot the last two years. Also, junior wideout Cesar Vasquez Moreno is an inviting target at 6-foot-2 with above average speed. Devon Jackson is the only running back with varsity experience. The right side of the offensive line will have a veteran presence with guard Samuel Barillas and tackle Abdel Olivas Santos. Middle linebacker Joseph Preciado is the Warriors’ most experienced defender.
Season opener: Aug. 28 vs. San Lorenzo Valley, 7 p.m.
No. 5 GUNN
Coach: Dethrick Slocum
2024 record: 10-1
What to expect: After a 10-0 regular season last year in which the Titans outscored their opponents 368-31 and posted six shutouts, the PAL kicked them up from the C-level Lake to the El Camino. If Gunn had the same players as in 2024, a higher classification may not have mattered. But the Titans lost 18 seniors. “We have a couple of good wide receivers, we return some linemen and we also have some young guys coming up,” coach Dethrick Slocum said. “Depth up front could be an issue on both sides of the ball.” Don’t discount the Titans, however. Gunn went from 0-10 in Slocum’s first season in 2022 to last year’s 10-1, with the defeat coming against Sequoia in the CCS playoffs. Running back Andre Lee returns after rushing for 472 yards and five TDs last fall. He will be joined in the backfield by Jett Creighton, who played mostly in the secondary in 2024. Six-foot senior Jaden Liu is favored to win the quarterback job after playing in a reserve role a year ago. Senior WR/LB Alex Silverman provides a 6-foot-3 target. Esteban Godoy and Juyoung Kim will likely play both ways on the interior lines. Senior Kareem Gabareen Mokhtar is another returning defensive lineman.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Pajaro Valley-Watsonville, 7 p.m.
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No. 6 FREMONT-SUNNYVALE
Coach: RJ Davis
2024 record: 3-7
What to expect: When new coach RJ Davis leads the Firebirds on to the field for their first game, it will be the realization of a dream. “Being that it’s my first year as head coach and that I’m an alum, I am trying to bring back the love and excitement of the game to our community and student body,” Davis said. The one-time Firebirds lineman replaces Rob Swartz, who stepped down after six seasons. “We are very young,” Davis said. “Depth on the line and experience will be a weakness.” The schedule won’t make it any easier. Fremont’s non-league slate includes Santa Teresa, Westmont, Milpitas and Half Moon Bay. The key to the offense will be senior RB/LB Elijah Smith. He rushed for 318 yards as a sophomore but suffered an injury last season and only played in one game. William Devine, who mostly played on defense in 2024, could be the No. 1 tight end this fall. Junior Lucus Driscoll is the favorite to start at quarterback. On defense, linebacker Kaleb Baquero returns. He had 52 tackles a year ago. “I don’t know too much about him,” Davis said. “He’s committed. He has potential to be an impact guy.” So does junior defensive lineman Aslam Ahmed (6-4, 225). Davis calls him a quiet leader. Said Ahmed in his profile on Hudl, “I don’t talk. I work.”
Season opener: Aug. 28 vs. Santa Teresa, 7 p.m.