Heating Up in NorCal
Heating Up in NorCal
A quick nod to the growing group of single-school HS teams helps the Northern California season heat up, but there's more going on, too.
Coming off a bit of a jamboree of games at Jesuit Sacramento, several of the school teams are pitted against each other looking toward an early-season single-school cup before the rest of the season is capped off.
The event at Jesuit was a big success. De La Salle and Jesuit brought over 70 players while Bishop O'Dowd and newer team St Francis showed solid depth, too.
Every team got two games shortened games with good referees and the Jesuit parents fed all the players.
"It was a good day for many of the newer players to get some valuable minutes and for the coaches to get film," said Jesuit Head Coach Andrew Acosta. "I am sure if we meet DLS later this season, both teams will be better for the experience."
This week we see last year's top dawg De La Salle face off against St. Francis and there's a lot of talk about how St. Francis could emerge as a team to be reckoned with as time goes on. Bishop O'Dowd takes on Junipero Serra HS.
Jesuit will be taking a trip South to face San Juan Hills and Belmont Shore.
Club Teams
The highlight of the weekend has to be Granite Bay vs Danville. Coming off a good win over a tough San Mateo Wolverines side, Granite Bay boasts a deep and experienced team that didn't graduate too many starters from last year.
Strong Early Showing by Granite Bay
Danville we haven't seen much since a decent showing in January at the Dennis Storer Classic. Head Coach Kort Schubert was pretty happy with the team then.
They have a very capable flyhalf in Ethan Younger who has a good kicking game, while the forwards, including Liam Walsh, Nico Jimenez, Sawyer French, Ofa Hingano, and Talan Jones. Lock Seamus Deely is one to watch.
In the backs, Brock Scanlan, Gregory Leitch, and Tucker Barth have shown talent.
This promises to be an intense game and could well have larger ramifications.
SFGG plays a tough Mother Lode game, Marin is at the Wolverines. Elsie Allen, which ha sstarted very well and has seen Waisea Bainbure score four tries in two game straight, gets the week off.
