As part of our high school football coverage to get you ready for the 2025 season, we are rolling out previews of all leagues in our coverage area.
Today’s focus:
BAY VALLEY ATHLETIC LEAGUE
(Predicted order of finish)
No. 1 PITTSBURG
Coach: Charlie Ramirez
2024 record: 12-3
What to expect: Pittsburg’s ballyhooed 2025 class is gone, but the Pirates are not in a rebuild. The East Bay school just reloaded. Pittsburg will have a dynamic group of wide receivers in Arizona commit RJ Mosley and last year’s speedy freshman sensation Kenneth Ward. Nana Tau missed all of his junior season after being a starter in 2023, but will return to anchor Pittsburg’s offensive line. Replacing star quarterback and last year’s Bay Area News Group player of the year Marley Alcantara won’t be easy, but the Pirates are in good hands at the position with sophomore Clayton Valley transfer Javale Jones under center. Pittsburg is projected to have another vaunted defense as edge rusher Japheth Tofaeono returns for his senior year. Coach Charlie Ramirez called the three-year starter the “best interior defender in the Bay Area in 2025.” Oregon State commit Truly Bell is a shutdown corner that was a key piece to Pittsburg’s run to the Division I-AA state title game. Returning starters Trevon West (edge) and Xavier Fatu (linebacker) round out Pittsburg’s defense. The Pirates, who have won the last four North Coast Section Division I titles, will challenge themselves with matchups against Granite Bay, Archbishop Riordan, Marin Catholic and Los Gatos before moving into league play.
Season opener: Aug. 29, vs. Granite Bay, 7 p.m.
No. 2 LIBERTY
Coach: Mike Cable
2024 record: 8-4
What to expect: Liberty is poised for another successful season as most of the Brentwood school’s starters return from last season. Three-star, Eastern Washington-bound running back Jaxon Bell is aiming to build off his monster 2024 season in which he rushed for 1,805 yards and scored 20 total touchdowns. He will be joined by Ben Hill, a bruising power back. Cable, who is in his eighth season as Liberty’s coach, said, “We boast one of the best running games in NCS with the return of third year starter Bell and Hill in the backfield.” Bell and Hill will have plenty of holes to run through behind an offensive line that includes Brady Whitaker and Delontae Everette. Liberty’s defense will be strong with defensive tackle David Calkins and Viliami Lotuaniu returning to their starting positions. Third-year starter Richie Beltram will man the linebackers as an agile and physical force at the second level.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at Frontier-Bakersfield, 7:30 p.m.
No. 3 HERITAGE
Coach: Nick Wisely
2024 record: 7-5
What to expect: Heritage will have to replace a number of key seniors from last year, but the Patriots will have plenty coming back in Nick Wisely’s first year as coach. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo commit Julian Njelita is Heritage’s best overall player as a tight end and defensive end. Njelita, who is also a standout on the basketball team, recorded 32 tackles and three sacks last season. He will lead Heritage’s defense along with returning starting defensive end Markus King. Heritage will have a ton of speed on offense with league 100-meter track champion Wilson Douglas Brown and twitchy slot receiver David Tunstall on the perimeter. The Patriots will have a two-pronged rushing attack led by explosive back Ilias Muhammed and Jace Torrez. Lone returning offensive lineman Jake Rivera will seek to lead Heritage’s ground game and protect the quarterback.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at James Logan, 7 p.m.
No. 4 ANTIOCH
Coach: Brett Dudley
2024 record: 5-6
What to expect: Fourth-year coach Brett Dudley will boast a young team made up of athletic underclassmen. It all starts with three-star offensive lineman Deshawn Streeter. The 6-6, 307-pound junior currently holds offers from Portland State, Sacramento State, San Diego State and UNLV. He will be joined by fellow 6-6 offensive lineman George Tyus, who also has an offer from Portland State, and sophomore two-way lineman Ivan Hinojosa Fernandez. Returning all-league defensive backs Kiante Johnson and Cam Hubler are back in the fold and will make a solid duo in the secondary. Johnson was also the team’s leading receiver and will play a big role in the offense along with senior receiver Amarie Henry. Sophomore Joshua Mason could be Antioch’s X-factor as he will compete for the starting job at quarterback while also expected to find time as a linebacker and running back. The Panthers reached the NCS Division IV playoffs last year.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. San Rafel, 7 p.m.
No. 5 FREEDOM
Coach: Stephen Rodriguez
2024 record: 1-9
What to expect: The Oakley school hasn’t had a winning season since 2019, but there are things to be optimistic about. All-league athlete Tah’kai Edwards was all over the field last season as a wide receiver and running back. He returns for his senior year and could take snaps as quarterback as well. Senior receiver Porter Madsen will look to build on a solid 2024 season. Connor Fleming earned all-league honors last season, averaging 6.7 tackles per game while leading the Falcons in interceptions. Running back Jordan Cook was a Swiss Army knife for Rodriguez last season and could have an expanded role. Freedom will have chances to improve on their one-win season with winnable non-league games on the schedule.
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Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. East Union, 7 p.m.
No. 6 DEER VALLEY
Coach: Marcus Malu
2024 record: 2-8
What to expect: In his first season as coach, Marcus Malu will look to turn around a program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2013. The Antioch school will be led by all-league wide receiver/cornerback Jaylan Bryant, who finished last season with eight touchdowns and 1,306 all-purpose yards. Throwing him the ball will be Sundiata Walker, who earned all-league honors last year. All-league running back Anias Hightower and returning starter Erick De La O rounds out an athletic offense. On defense, end Khalil Garrett and outside linebacker Ivan Ortiz return after starting last year. The Wolverines will open the season with three straight home games.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. St. Mary’s-Berkeley, 7 p.m.