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 LAKE DIVISION
(Predicted order of finish)
No. 1 JEFFERSON
Coach: Imani Stewart
2024 record: 7-3
What to expect: There is no consensus favorite in the PAL Lake this year. Among league coaches surveyed, three voted for Jefferson, two for El Camino, one for Homestead and one for MacDonald. Jefferson should be well-positioned for a run at the title after finishing second to a dominant Gunn team in 2024. “Our strength will be our defense,” Stewart said. “Our weakness would be we have a lot of players taking on new positions. The surprise would be we have a lot of players injured.” Senior dual-threat QB/FS Jefferson Garcia-Ortega has the perfect name to lead the program in his first year at quarterback. “He has strong leadership skills and has great control of our offense,” Stewart said. “Everything goes through him.” Senior LB Dimas Garcia will lead the defense after finishing fourth in tackles as a junior last year. Serra transfer Robert Saulny-Green, a junior, will make an impact after completing his recovery from a broken arm – he is expected to miss Jefferson’s first two games. Senior Allan Garcia will lead the defensive line. Senior WR/DB Yazan Janbib is a shutdown player on the outside and could be the Grizzlies’ defensive MVP. Freshman Deandre Chizm might be a breakout player this season.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at Terra Nova, 7 p.m.
No. 2 EL CAMINO
Coach: Rustin Mayorga
2024 record: 3-6
What to expect: After a down year, El Camino brings back several top playmakers and should contend for a title in the Lake. The Colts will lean on a downhill run game powered by a seasoned O-line and an experienced defensive group with a lot of depth. On special teams, El Camino has sophomore kicker Emilio Jimenez, who has consistent 40-yard range and a strong leg on kickoffs. Junior OL/DL/LB Davian Martinez was an all-leaguer as a freshman in the Ocean Division and again as a sophomore last season. “One of the better football players in the league,” Mayorga said. “He’s the tone-setter for our O-line and brings an edge to our defense.” Senior RB Noah David is a returning all-leaguer who rushed for 1,400 yards last year and is one of the best backs in the league. Mayorga complimented David’s vision and elusiveness while noting he is also a solid wide receiver. Two-way lineman Sebastian Munoz is a 6-foot-5, 270-pound behemoth with “really good footwork and heavy hands,” Mayorga said. “Sebastian is one of the better left tackles in the area, if not the best. Extremely solid in pass protection with good sets and being able to anchor on power rush moves and quick enough to get vertical on his sets.” Two-way lineman Ethan Langi is a three-year varsity player who is “extremely physical on both sides of the ball.” Mayorga singled him out as a “hard-nosed, iron-man player.” Senior WR/DB Markson Jacquez has a great catch radius and ball skills at 6-2, 185 and can cover as well. “We believe he will be an all-league player either as a DB or WR when he’s all said and done,” Mayorga said.
Season opener: Aug. 30 at Balboa, 2 p.m.
No. 3 MACDONALD
Coach: Burt Codera
2024 record: 4-6
What to expect: The Condors are in their second season of varsity football and lost only one player from a team that went 4-2 down the stretch despite playing with no seniors. MacDonald, which opened in 2022, has seniors for the first time, among them 6-4, 215-pound QB Moussa Fall, the returning Lake offensive player of the year. The dual-threat “has the size and talent to play at the next level,” Codera said. JR Leonard, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior, “has been a foundational piece of the program build since his freshman year” and is a returning second-team all-league linebacker. Senior Boston Olivarez “anchors the defensive line” and is a reliable, hard worker. Senior transfer Isaiah Tela played for MacDonald his first two years of high school and moved to Missouri for his junior season, where he played running back in a very competitive league. Tela moved back to Santa Clara for his senior season and is a “fast, explosive, physical RB who is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball,” the coach said.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at Santa Clara, 7 p.m.
No. 4 HOMESTEAD
Coach: Shawn Hook
2024 record: 2-8
What to expect: Homestead drops down to the Lake Division after a tough season in the PAL El Camino and should play a role in a crowded league title race. Senior QB Carson Chang, a three-year starter, will lead the way for the Mustangs this fall. “Great leader,” Hook said of Chang. “Strong, fast and has a lot of weapons to choose from.” Junior TE David Robu is Homestead’s go-to receiver, a first-team all-leaguer as a sophomore with “great hands and speed,” Hook said. “He will play college football. Everything you want in a TE.” Senior TE/H-back Ryan Moyer has great hands and a big body that is hard to take down. “Loves to play football,” Hook said. Junior DB Andrew Fekete was an all-leaguer as a sophomore and “has a nose for the game, always making plays on defense.” Senior LB Raul De Los Santos is Homestead’s strongest player and best run stopper who “plays with a lot of emotions,” Hook said. “Will do whatever it takes to get a stop on defense. Tough kid. Loves contact and wants to hit you.” Senior WR Colton Nicholas is the Mustangs’ biggest and fastest receiver, a player with great hands who will cause problems for a lot of defenses. “It will be hard for kids to stay with him once (he) has the ball in his hands,” Hook said. Senior OL Tyler Dillon is a throwback player who will lead the offensive front. “Big, strong and very aggressive kid,” Hook said. “All he wants to do is run block all night.”
Season opener: TBA
No. 5 CUPERTINO
Coach: Matt Barr
2024 record: 1-9
What to expect: New coach Matt Barr takes over at Cupertino after seven years as a head coach in Pennsylvania. He replaced Omar Kharroub, who took a position on new Leland coach Anthony Herrera’s staff. Barr inherited a young team that may have a number of sophomores playing key roles. “Our senior and junior groups are smaller in numbers but have some talent and are providing good leadership,” Barr said. Senior WR/DB Brandon Cheng is an excellent all-around athlete and very smart player who leads by example. “He can do it all,” Barr said in picking Cheng to be both the offensive and defensive MVP for Cupertino. Junior WR/DB Ali Nagzibekov Jr. has good speed and hands and “should have a breakout year.” Senior QB/LB Aaron Stammerjohn “has taken on a positive leadership role with the team” and keeps his teammates loose and having fun. Senior C/DT/LB Axel Garcia is the leader of Cupertino’s O-line and a good long snapper to boot.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Independence, 7:15 p.m.
No. 6 SARATOGA
Coach: Archie Ljepava
2024 record: 6-3-1
What to expect: Saratoga had a strong debut season in Ljepava’s first year and will look to find similar success in Year 2. “We lost a few key players that contributed to our success,” Ljepava said, “but we have had some guys step up, and they are working hard to step into those roles.” Senior RB/LB Brennan Pak is a well-rounded athlete and team leader who led the Falcons and the Lake Division in tackles last season. Junior QB/DB Anson Hulme is one of Saratoga’s best athletes and a team-first competitor who has “put in the work to be one of the best players in our league.” Junior LB/RB Mo Pahulu-Asikia is fearless, flies around at linebacker and has a great nose for the football – “Wherever the ball is, you can bet he is there,” Ljepava said. Senior RB/DB Jayden Kwong has an infectious work ethic to master his craft and leads on and off the field. Senior OL/DL Isaac Zhou came on at the end of last year, and Ljepava is looking for him to “play free” this season. Senior OL/DL Zach Stanis is a returning second-team all-leaguer who has “set goals to be recognized as one of the best linemen in the league this season,” Ljepava said. “We are looking for big things from him.” Senior DL/LB Daniel Rodriguez missed time last year with an elbow injury, cutting short his best season as a Falcon. “He wants to show his team and the league that he is one of the best,” Ljepava said. New player Cole Mason was a hurdler on the track team who came out for football and “has shown flashes of being really good,” Ljepava said.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Prospect, 7:15 p.m.
No. 7 MILLS
Coach: Nick Lobao
2024 record: 2-8
What to expect: In its first year under new coach Lobao, Mills will try to improve upon a tough season in 2024. The pieces may be there for this year’s campaign to fare better. “We have a strong returning core of players who are committed to the process,” Lobao said. “We have a lot of talent in the skill positions. We are working through finding the right guys in the trenches on both sides of the ball.” Senior WR/DB Shamal Kumar is an extremely talented slot receiver and a returning two-way starter. Senior RB/LB Valentino Maza is another two-way returner who is a bell cow and three-down back and will play a key role in the middle of the defense. “He can do it all,” Lobao said, including catching passes and pass blocking. Senior LB Justin Tran “was made in a lab” and is “everything you want in a middle backer,” Lobao said. “Instinctive, athletic, tough. Looks like a blur on film. Always around the football.” Junior OL/DL Aryan Sen is a big, strong and athletic lineman who will anchor the trenches. Junior WR/DB Kosta Jada is another returning two-way starter and a threat on the outside. Sophomore QB Brian Lourenco will take the reins of the offense and is a “tough QB with a strong, accurate arm,” Lobao said. “Confident in his ability and can put the ball wherever he wants.” Sophomore WR/DB Leo Wasmuth is a natural football player who is tough and athletic on both sides of the ball. Lobao gave a strong vote of confidence to his team’s cohesiveness. “I have never seen a core group of guys as committed as the group I am with right now at Mills,” he said. “If we can stay healthy up front, we will win a lot of games.”
Season opener: Aug. 29 at San Jose, 7 p.m.
No. 8 MONTA VISTA
Coach: Ceazar Agront
2024 record: 6-3-1
What to expect: After a strong year in 2024, Monta Vista will try to put the pieces back together for another good season in the Lake. “Our program strengths include hard work ethic, good IQ, speed and team cohesiveness,” Agront said. “As for our weaknesses, it’s always around size and overall numbers.” Senior RB/DB Graham Ischo was a top-10 player in the CCS in scoring and top-three in return average. “His athleticism is exceptional,” Agront said. Senior QB/DB Justin Chaahoub has improved significantly and will lead Monta Vista for another year. “Justin has been pivotal for our team’s success and possesses the qualities of a leader and football player that any coach would love to have in their program,” Agront said. Senior RB/DB Jordan “Rocco” Ling has been a “wrecking machine” on the defensive side of the ball and will also contribute offensively. Senior OL/DL Sean Malone was a unanimous first-team all-leaguer with a tenacious motor that runs hot. Senior TE/edge Kingston is a returning second-team all-leaguer who has shown significant growth in the offseason. “His focus and attention to detail as a defensive leader will build on the success he had last season,” Agront said.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at Andrew Hill, 7 p.m.