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RIORDAN: MITCHELL SHOWS OFF WHEELS
Riordan’s Michael Mitchell Jr. is best known for his passing.
The Crusaders quarterback has set records for passing touchdowns in the West Catholic Athletic League and has thrown 39 TDs this year.
In a 42-35 victory on Friday night at Serra for the West Catholic Athletic League championship, the Vanderbilt commit showcased a lesser-known aspect of his game – his running ability.
Mitchell ran for an even 100 yards on 12 carries, some of which were read-option keepers where he took advantage of Serra keying on running back Adonyae Brown.
Other times, Mitchell showcased his scrambling ability by making busted or well-covered plays into big gains.
“We knew I was gonna have to run for us to win the game,” he said. “We were gonna have to be effective in the run, and part of that was me. I was gonna have to run. And I felt like I did that.”
Serra coach Patrick Walsh wasn’t surprised by Mitchell’s rushing ability, even though the Padres had a tough time stopping it.
“He’s like Russell Wilson,” Walsh said. “He uses them when he has to. He kind of saves it for that moment. We knew it.”
We’ll see if Serra has a better answer for Mitchell’s legs if the teams match up again for the CCS Open Division championship game in two weeks.
– Christian Babcock
SERRA: WALSH QUESTIONS APPLICATION OF HALO RULE
The halo rule is a principle that comes into effect when a player is catching a punt, affording them the space to make the catch without the kicking team interfering with their attempt.
Walsh felt that rule was improperly administered in the second quarter of the Padres’ game against Riordan, when junior Charlie Walsh – Patrick’s son – muffed a punt near midfield that enabled Riordan to continue its drive while gaining 26 yards of field position. No penalty flag for interfering with the punt returner was thrown on the play.
At the time, Serra led 14-0.
Riordan went on to score its first touchdown on the resuscitated drive.
“I didn’t think they administered that call very well on the punt,” Walsh said of the officials. “I thought that call was missed. Their guys are doing the best they can. There’s a halo rule, and clearly, there was no halo and he got hit. But even if he didn’t get hit, there’s a halo rule. So that was big. That was a game-changing call right there.
“We just can’t give those guys opportunities like that. And that’s part of the game. I’ve said for years, you got to get lucky in two major areas to win a championship: you got to get lucky in injuries, and you got to get lucky in penalties. And subjective penalties happen. And that was a tough one, and it went against us.”
– Christian Babcock
PITTSBURG: PATH TO ANOTHER NCS TITLE
No team has benefited more from the North Coast Section’s inclusion of an Open/Division I bracket than Pittsburg.
For decades, the Pirates were denied section titles because their path included the wall known as De La Salle.
That changed in 2021 when a loss to DLS in the Open final didn’t end one’s season.
Pittsburg has lost to DLS in three of the past four Open championship games but has won four Division I titles in a row.
The Pirates beat Marco Jones-led SRV teams in the past two D-I finals.
This time, if seeds hold, they would meet North Bay powerhouse Cardinal Newman in the Division I final.
Pittsburg is seeded second, Cardinal Newman third.
The loser of the Open final falls to the section’s Division I final in Week 3 of the playoffs.
– Darren Sabedra
ST. IGNATIUS: REIGNING OPEN CHAMP TOP SEED IN LOWER DIVISION
This St. Ignatius team isn’t the same group that won last year’s Central Coast Section Open Division championship – that much is clear.
But this year’s Wildcats still have a chance to win a section title.
SI was seeded No. 1 in the Division II bracket, setting up the Wildcats for two potential home games and – perhaps – a matchup with Bruce-Mahoney rival Sacred Heart Cathedral in the final.
If SI (4-6) can get past Alisal (5-5) in the first round and beat The King’s Academy or Menlo School in the semifinals, the Wildcats could play SHC one more time if the seeds hold.
But second-seeded Cathedral (4-6) has some work to do to reach that stage.
After a stunning loss to Menlo-Atherton in the final week of the regular season, Wilcox (6-4) dropped to the No. 7 seed in D-II. There’s no doubt the Chargers’ veer offense will pose a stiff test for SHC’s high-powered passing offense in the opening round Saturday at City College of San Francisco.
No. 3 Santa Teresa (10-0) also looms as a potential second-round opponent, provided the Saints get past No. 6 North Salinas (5-5) in the opening weekend.
Santa Teresa is the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division champ.
Yet if SHC and SI line up one more time, it could be hotly contested.
On Friday, the Cats beat the Fighting Irish 23-14 in a game that included tempers flaring at midfield after it ended.
– Christian Babcock
MIRAMONTE: NEW QB HAS ‘GREAT’ DEBUT
Lane Dalton didn’t lead Miramonte to victory in his first varsity start, but the sophomore quarterback distinguished himself to the point that opposing coach Kevin Macy of Campolindo provided high praise Friday night.
“Lane Dalton should get special notice for stepping in as a Sophomore for the injured Carson Blair, and played great,” Macy wrote in a text message after Campo held off Miramonte 25-22.
Dalton completed 16 of 28 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns on the road against his team’s biggest rival.
Seven of the completions were reeled in by James Rogers for 144 yards and a touchdown. Andrew Bjornson added four receptions for 40 yards and a TD, and George Gilbert caught four passes for 48 yards.
If Dalton gets the start again this week, it will be in the NCS playoffs.
Miramonte is seeded third in the Division IV bracket and will play host to sixth-seeded Alameda on Friday night.
– Darren Sabedra
WOODSIDE: FIRST UNDEFEATED SEASON IN 21 YEARS
When Justin Andrews took over at Woodside in 2014, he wanted to bring the Wildcats back to respectability.
Mission accomplished, and then some.
Woodside finished its first undefeated season since 2004 on Friday, beating Milpitas 42-14. The Cats are the champions of the Peninsula Athletic League’s Ocean Division in their first year moving up from the El Camino.
“Not that long ago, running the table was a distant fantasy,” Andrews said. “To accomplish it after moving up a division is a testament to our players both past and present and the work of our amazing coaches.”
– Christian Babcock
HISTORY MADE: SAN JOSE IN CCS PLAYOFFS
At some point through the decades, San Jose might have qualified for the CCS playoffs.
But the city’s oldest public school couldn’t participate because of its annual Thanksgiving Day matchup against Lincoln in the Big Bone game.
The playoff path cleared for both schools in 2021 when the rivals moved the Thanksgiving game to Labor Day weekend.
Lincoln made the playoffs in 2021 and 2022 and is back again this season.
San Jose will join the Lions next week.
The Bulldogs (7-3) qualified for the playoffs by winning the BVAL’s West Valley Division. They are seeded eighth in Division V and will open the postseason Friday at top-seeded Piedmont Hills.
– Darren Sabedra