As part of our high school football content to get you ready for the 2025 season, we are rolling out previews of all leagues in our coverage area.
Today’s focus:
WEST ALAMEDA COUNTY CONFERENCE SHORELINE DIVISION
(Predicted order of finish)
No. 1 ALAMEDA
Coach: Robin Morris
2024 record: 8-3
What to expect: All the pieces appear to be falling into place for another Alameda-Arroyo showdown for the WACC Shoreline championship. The teams play Oct. 25 at Arroyo. Last year Alameda rolled to a 30-0 victory. Coach Robin Morris is 20-10-1 in his last three seasons with the Hornets. Returning is what Morris calls a “good senior group that has played together the last three years.” The concern is a lack of depth in the trenches. The Hornets won’t be lacking for skill players. All-league quarterback Casey Koga-Dean passed for about 1,800 yards. Senior receiver Landyn Cole, also an all-leaguer last fall, was solid in 7-on-7 camps this summer. RB/LB Christian DeGuzman gained nearly 1,000 yards on the ground. At 6-foot-1, 195, he will not be easy to tackle. Austin Soper doubles up as a receiver/strong safety and could have a college future, Morris said. DB Kirk Humbles III was the Shoreline defensive player of the year and also earned all-league recognition as a WR. The Hornets’ best lineman is Hayden Arndt. The 6-1, 245-pounder was all-league on offense and defense. Brendan Legaux has the potential to be another impact lineman after improving his footwork, Morris said.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at De Anza, 7 p.m.
No. 2 ARROYO
Coach: Jeffery Pride
2024 record: 8-3
What to expect: In Jeffery Pride’s first three seasons at Arroyo, the Dons improved every year, from 4-6 to 8-3. Arroyo’s first trip to the North Coast Section playoffs since 2011 didn’t go so well – a 57-0 setback to eventual Division V champ St. Vincent de Paul. But it wouldn’t be wise to bet against a return engagement to the NCS postseason. “We have a fast, aggressive defensive line,” Pride said. “We’re lacking depth on the offensive line and we have an inconsistent passing game.” The DL will be anchored by 285-pound seniors Austin Celzo and Sarydah Pomele. Twin brothers Jacob Dickerson and Joshua Dickerson are sophomore linebackers with potential. Senior RB Joseph Estes will be the key to the offense. He rushed for 1,661 yards and 18 TDs last season and was named WACC Shoreline co-offensive player of the year. Ricky Wyatt, who accounted for 210 yards in three games at RB, should get much of his playing time this season at WR. He’s speedy, shifty and good on special teams. Returning QB Jonah Shelton passed for 806 yards and eight TDs. In addition to Wyatt, he’ll have Rodney Roy to throw to. Roy had 13 receptions a year ago. The non-league schedule is tough with visits to Burlingame, Livermore and Piedmont on successive Fridays.
Season opener: Sept. 6 vs. Washington-Fremont, 2 p.m.
No. 3 ENCINAL
Coach: Derrick Lyons
2024 record: 4-6
What to expect: It’s become quite common in recent years for Bay Area prep teams to schedule opponents from outside California. But few of those matchups can top the circumstances that led to the Jets hosting Chugiak-Alaska in their season-opener. Located about 20 miles from downtown Anchorage, the Mustangs were attempting to play a game against an opponent in Utah. When that contest fell through, Chugiak coaches began e-mailing schools in other states. “I thought it was fake,” Encinal coach Derrick Lyons said when he first read the e-mail. “Now we’re going to reciprocate next year.” The Jets will fly to Alaska, hopefully with Encinal’s girls’ flag football team along for the ride. Both schools have teams. For now, Lyons is focused on his team turning the corner after going 7-23 in his first three seasons. Up front, the Jets have a trio of seniors who stand at least 6-0 and weigh 230 pounds in Tad Wagner, Kenan Mekonen and Sefanaia Auelua. Junior Eli White and 6-3 senior Darren Olson are battling to win the starting quarterback job. Geezy-Kyle Reyes, who threw for five touchdowns in nine games last year, is switching to the slot. Donovan Heins will play wide receiver and cornerback. He was all-league on defense in 2024. Zahir Stewart is expected to be the No. 1 running back. On defense, he will play linebacker.
Season opener: Aug. 28 vs. Chugiak-Alaska, 7 p.m.
No. 4 MT. EDEN
Coach: Alex Kith
2024 record: 2-8
What to expect: It has been a rough couple of years for the Monarchs, who enter 2025 having lost 18 of their last 20 regular-season games. But new coach Alex Kith returns to his prep alma mater after coaching running backs at Laney College under John Beam, so the 2008 grad has the advantage of having learned from one of the best. Kith said the Monarchs’ offense should be a strength. Senior quarterback Isaiah Nunes passed for 755 yards and 10 touchdowns last year despite missing four games with injuries. Johnathan Santiago Jr. is a tough runner who had two 100-yard games last season. He also caught 11 passes and played on special teams, amassing a team-leading 851 all-purpose yards. “He’s tough to tackle, and he’s always around the ball on defense,” Kith said of his senior outside linebacker. Daniel Febo is another offensive weapon. He passed for 200 yards while filling in at quarterback, caught eight passes and rushed for 88 yards. He’s an outside linebacker on defense. The versatility earned Febo honorable mention athlete in the Shoreline Division. WR Juan Ochoa and RB Tevita Fosita will provide depth when Mt. Eden has the ball. First-team all-leaguer OL Kimo Baltazar and senior guard/center Andres Rosa lead what should be a solid line. The Monarchs did struggle on defense last season, allowing 40 or more points in five of their defeats.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at Kennedy-Fremont, 7 p.m.
No. 5 SAN LORENZO
Coach: Cheyne Foote
2024 record: 2-8
What to expect: In the two decades MaxPreps has kept track of prep sports, San Lorenzo has had one season above .500. In 2009, the Grizzlies went 6-4. New coach Cheyne Foote isn’t promising a quick turnaround, but he has ideas to increase interest, including classroom visits keeping students informed about what’s going on in football. He’s also trying to convince athletes from other sports to come out. Especially basketball players. “We’re in a better spot than we’ve been the last two seasons numbers-wise,” Foote said. “We had over 20 players before school started. I’m hoping for a varsity of 25 to 35 players.” The Grizzlies will have size. The best of the bunch may be Joshua Taylor-Tolefree, a 6-foot-3, 223-pound junior who plays OL/DE and was second-team all-Shoreline on offense. Senior DL Joseph Franklin was honorable mention all-league on defense. Sophomore Sione Taimani (5-9, 275) adds more heft. So does Daniel Rogers (6-2, 280), who also plays hoops. Junior King Mauia (5-9, 220) and freshman J’Len Washington (6-2, 270) are more big bodies. Jahlani Taay will be the quarterback. He’s a senior but hasn’t played the position before. He’ll have solid receivers in TE Makai Higgins and wideouts Kingsley Eneh and Nate Bynum, who was a second-team all-league receiver last year. Sophomore Tyrel Mauia is favored to win the job at running back.
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Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Kennedy-Richmond, 7 p.m.
No. 6 AMERICAN
Coach: Russell Sass
2024 record: 1-9
What to expect: New coach Russell Sass steps into a program that hasn’t had much success. The Eagles have nine wins in their last eight seasons. Despite the years of defeat, American is classified as Division I by the NCS because student enrollment is 2,621, according to the NCS website. While football struggles, there is another side. American is an academic power. The U.S. News and World Report ranks it fifth among the NCS public schools with football teams. The Eagles trail Dougherty Valley, Piedmont, Campolindo and Redwood. When not tackling homework, two of the best Eagles are running back/middle linebacker Jayden Martinez and linebacker Jordan Garcia. Martinez rushed for 522 yards in eight games last year, earning him second-team all-WACC Shoreline honors. Garcia, who was second-team all-league at linebacker, led American with 40 tackles. He also took some turns at running back and wide receiver. His posted 40 time on Hudl is 4.47 seconds. Senior Marvin Boone appears to be the favorite to start at quarterback after throwing for 465 yards a year ago. The OL will feature another second-team all-leaguer in Dante Arbee and junior left tackle Ethan Su. On defense, Josiah Paat made 25 tackles from the secondary and Sage Kobayashi contributed two interceptions.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at James Lick, 7:30 p.m.