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:
PENINSULA ATHLETIC LEAGUE BAY DIVISION
(Predicted order of finish)
No. 1 LOS GATOS
Coach: Mark Krail
2024 record: 10-3
What to expect: Although they lose some key players from a team that went to the CCS Division I championship game last season, the Wildcats are uniquely positioned to sustain success in 2025. Los Gatos split time between two quarterbacks last season in the leadup to the playoffs. Senior QB Scotty Brennan, who played well as the starter during the Cats’ playoff run, is off to join his father Brent at Arizona, but rising senior Callum Schweitzer is back after sharing series with Brennan all regular season long. “Callum could have easily led us at QB last year,” Krail said. “He will be our senior leader and is ready for the challenge. Callum is a college-caliber quarterback.” Senior RB Grayson Doslak returns after running for 1,000 yards and making the all-league team. Senior OL Garrett Bertsch, committed to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, comes back to anchor the O-line and help establish the Cats’ potent rushing attack. Senior WR Beau Musser was wideout of the year in the league as a junior and “a dominant player in every big game for us, and that includes games against Wilcox and WCAL opponents,” Krail said. “If Beau stays healthy, he will have outstanding stats and be a favorite target for Schweitzer.” Musser will also be involved in the running game. Senior LB Tyler Purcell is a returning all-leaguer and will lead the defense while covering from sideline to sideline. He will also contribute at fullback. Senior MLB Austin Krug, a smart, physical player, will be his running mate in the middle and has an offer from the University of San Diego. Senior WR Max Thomas was an all-leaguer in 2024 and is a tall, physical complement to the speedy Musser.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Soquel, 7 p.m.
No. 2 WILCOX
Coach: Paul Rosa
2024 record: 11-3
What to expect: Wilcox has a Brayden Rosa-sized hole to fill – and that is a massive hole. Rosa, possibly the best player in school history and last year’s PAL Bay MVP, did everything for the Chargers last season, at one point starting at safety and quarterback simultaneously while also returning punts and kickoffs. But Wilcox has some players who could step up and fill the void by committee. It starts with RB/S Elijah Vallejo, the heir apparent to Rosa in both backfields who flashed as a sophomore and should be the focal point of Wilcox’s option-based ground attack in 2025. Junior QB Kai Imahara also returns, a dual-threat savant who won offensive player of the year in the PAL Bay last season before getting injured in Wilcox’s first playoff game. Senior CB/WR Jeremiah Arevalos is a three-year starter and the Chargers’ best DB who will also be productive offensively. Senior LB Santino Barragan is a returning all-leaguer who led Wilcox in sacks and was second in tackles. Senior LB/RB Gilbert Padilla is another returner in the middle of the defense who will also contribute in the offensive backfield. Senior LB Nicolas Hernandez is a returning starter who was third on the team in tackles last season.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at Valley Christian, 7 p.m.
No. 3 MENLO-ATHERTON
Coach: Chris Saunders
2024 record: 7-5
What to expect: Right below the league’s upper crust is Menlo-Atherton, which could surprise as a potential league contender this season. “Looks like Wilcox/Los Gatos will determine the league championship as it has for the last 5-6 years,” said one league coach. “(But) M-A looks to be very good as well.” Senior QB Teddy Dacey returns for M-A after splitting time with Xander Eschelman in 2024. “Dual-threat and dynamic,” Saunders said. “Offense will run through him.” Senior RB/LB Monty Turner has “gained 20 pounds of muscle and is a load in the backfield. Will play inside LB too.” Two-way player Eva Ama was an “impact player on both sides last year with explosive ability on offense,” Saunders said. “Runs, catches, tackles, and is full of energy. Offensive and defensive spark for this team.” Senior JT Roeder is a valued possession receiver and vertical threat who is 6-foot-3 with “exceptional athleticism and gives us a flex player with dynamic ability.” Junior CB Diego Madrid is aggressive and patient and “has emerged as our No. 1 corner as a first-year player so far,” Saunders said. “He will be a top corner in the league.” Two-way lineman Jordan Lavulo is a three-year starter, was a center and team captain last season and has “tremendous knowledge and experience,” Saunders said.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at Destiny Christian Academy, 7:15 p.m.
No. 4 MENLO SCHOOL
Coach: Todd Smith
2024 record: 8-4
What to expect: Menlo may have a young team in 2025, but several key players are back to lead the way. The biggest piece is senior QB Jack Freehill, also a standout baseball player committed to Columbia who will lead the offense once again. Freehill is a returning first-team all-leaguer and two-way threat who is an “excellent decision maker and highly competitive,” Smith said. Chuck Wynn is a returning first-team all-league RB with great feet and forward lean and good hands out of the backfield who can “run both in between the tackles and outside.” DE Palmer Riley returns after missing Menlo’s first five games with injury last year. Riley, a Princeton commit, was an all-state ILB selection in 2023 and will play defensive end this season. Smith noted Menlo will be “very young and inexperienced,” but he has faith in the key trio to lead the way, terming them “very bright spots.”
Season opener: Aug. 30 vs. Hozho Academy-Gallup (N.M.), 2 p.m.
No. 5 SACRED HEART PREP
Coach: Mark Grieb
2024 record: 7-7
What to expect: Coming off a year in which SHP won a section championship in CCS Division IV, the Gators seem primed to be competitive in the Bay division and set themselves up for another strong run in the postseason. Athletic lineman and fast, experienced linebackers with size will be a strength, while depth is a work in progress at the small school. Senior RB/LB Maxime Morelle, a Derrick Henry cosplayer at 6-foot-1, 240 pounds, “combines the size of a lineman with the speed of a back,” Grieb said. “Can run over or by you.” Senior OL/LB Atelea Tau is a four-year varsity starter who “has an instinct for getting to the football and loves contact.” Senior WR/DB Sasha Bamdad has “outstanding ball skills and exceptional speed.” Senior K/WR/DB Nathan Fox does a little bit of everything as an all-around athlete and former PAL Bay special teams player of the year as a sophomore. Senior QB Nico Pollioni will orchestrate the offense after taking over in the sixth game last season. “Great arm strength and athletic ability,” said Grieb, a former championship QB himself with the San Jose SaberCats. Sophomore OL/DL Tim Fangupo, the younger brother of all-BANG lineman Aseli, is like his older brother – a “big, athletic lineman who is quick off the ball and tough to block.” Senior TE/LB Andrew Shen is a returning starter at LB who is a “great athlete and student of the game.”
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Season opener: Aug. 30 vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral, 2 p.m.
No. 6 PALO ALTO
Coach: Dave DeGeronimo
2024 record: 6-6
What to expect: Palo Alto reached the semifinals of the CCS Division III playoffs a year ago, and the Vikings, who recently hosted NFL All-Pro alum Davante Adams on campus, are looking to make a splash in 2025. “Palo Alto continues to build on the success of prior years,” DeGeronimo said. “This year’s squad is young in talent but also has varsity experience in key positions like QB, WR and DB.” Junior quarterback Justin Fung gained valuable on-the-job experience last season and should be more comfortable operating the offense in his second full year at the helm. “In a league with great QBs, Justin is right up there,” DeGeronimo said. Senior Jake Wang was a two-way starter a year ago and will be tasked to fill the shoes left behind at receiver by Fung’s brother Jeremiah, who graduated. Wang will also lead the defense at safety. Junior WR/DB Clement Romanski started multiple games as a sophomore and will be a key part of the offense and dangerous return man as well as a potential shutdown corner. Junior OL Chase Braga “is quickly rising up the ranks of Paly linemen” and will try to replace Iki Tupou and JJ Stallworth, two recent graduates now playing at BYU and Sacramento State, respectively. Senior OL Danny Khan will start at center after transitioning from guard last year and is Paly’s most experienced lineman. Junior LB Jair Nucamendi will need to step up to fill the void of the linebacking core, which “took a big hit due to graduation and medical retirements this year.” He has good range, a high football IQ and was a tackling machine on JV last season. Junior WR/DB Adam Maldonado will return from a season-ending injury and should provide a playmaking boost when he returns for league play.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Mountain View, 7 p.m.