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:
BLOSSOM VALLEY ATHLETIC LEAGUE MT. HAMILTON DIVISION
(Predicted order of finish)
No. 1 SANTA TERESA
Coach: Steve Papin
2024 record: 9-2
What to expect: Is the championship window open for the Saints in 2025? Mt. Hamilton coaches seem to think so. Santa Teresa received the most first-place votes and the most second-place votes in the Bay Area News Group’s poll of coaches from the BVAL’s top league. Santa Teresa must replace departed starting quarterback Brenton Gaches with one of three players – JV starter Alden Jones, Andrew Hill transfer Sal Guerrero or Bellarmine transfer Jacob Vega. Whoever goes under center will be able to lean on do-everything all-purpose player Jaylen Malcom, who is back healthy after an injury prematurely ended his season last year. “One of the best all-around players in our league,” Papin said. “Speed and quickness on offense and a shutdown corner on defense.” Rangy 6-foot-4 senior FS/WR AJ Rangel, who runs a 4.4 40, “should be a nightmare” for defenses and a big, physical center fielder at free safety. Senior RB Brian Caldwell has 4.6 speed to supplement Malcom as a workhorse in the backfield – “great vision and sneaky elusive,” Papin said of Caldwell. Junior MLB Rich Arechiga is the defensive anchor and has started at the position since his freshman year. Senior WR/DB Prince Collins is a “do-it-all Swiss army knife” who will play slot receiver, running back, corner and safety. Two-way lineman Teki Pekipaki “plays fast and physical” at 6-foot, 285 and is a three-year starter at offensive tackle and interior defensive lineman. The Saints must replace a special-teams ace in Casey Carr, the “Cowboy Kicker” who is now plying his trade at Colorado State.
Season opener: Aug. 28 at Fremont-Sunnyvale, 7 p.m.
No. 2 CHRISTOPHER
Coach: Mike Pirnik
2024 record: 9-2
What to expect: Heavy lies the head that wears the crown, and Christopher will have a hard time matching last year’s perfect record in the Mt. Hamilton this season. Gone is all-BANG QB Jaxen Robinson, who carved out quite the legacy with the Cougars and is now at Northern Arizona. He was the leader of 32 seniors who have graduated. “We are going to be young,” first-year coach Pirnik admitted. Senior Mathew Valdez is back and will be featured on offense. Pirnik described him as a team leader, tone-setter and great athlete. Senior WR/LB Aiden Swann is a “physical and aggressive football player” who will look to fill the shoes of Evan Vernon. Junior DE/TE Dominic Marini is one of few players returning with varsity experience and has put in “an extreme amount of work this offseason” to become a big-play threat. Two-way senior lineman Gabriel Jimenez and junior Elijah Lopez will anchor the trenches. Senior LB/RB Brady Hemeon “has the potential to be a big-time dude.” Senior DB/WB Kordell Crocker was a state finalist in track and field, “and we are excited to see that transition over into football,” Pirnik said.
Season opener: Aug. 28 vs. Monterey, 7:15 p.m.
No. 3 LIVE OAK
Coach: Mike Gemo
2024 record: 3-8
One Mt. Hamilton coach speculated that “Live Oak will be Live Oak again,” and he wasn’t the only one betting on that possibility. The Acorns, BANG’s favorite to win the league in 2024, could be primed for a resurgent season. It starts with senior QB Adrian Leal, who seized the reins last year and is primed for a strong season this fall. “Tall, strong-armed QB who is also mobile out of the pocket,” Gemo said of Leal. Junior RB Gage Jones led Live Oak in rushing last season and is stronger this year. Senior WR/OLB/K Tanner Holeman is a returning first-team all-leaguer who has “good speed and great hands.” Junior OL/DL Tino DeSantiago is a big, long-limbed presence and three-year varsity player. Two-way junior lineman Royce Mendonca has also started since freshman year and continues to mature physically. Senior RB/LB Anthony Rocha is a multi-tool offensive threat and quick, physical defender. Senior lineman Tyler Lang is a three-year OL starter, the only senior on the offensive front and will lead both lines of scrimmage.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Hillsdale, 7:15 p.m.
No. 4 LINCOLN-SAN JOSE
Coach: Kevin Collins
2024 record: 3-7
What to expect: Things could be looking up for Lincoln after a down year in 2024. The hope begins with senior Kyan Phillips, who does a little bit of everything for the Lions – long snapping, running back, wide receiver, linebacker, safety and punter. He is a four-year starter and the “best athlete in the league,” according to an opposing Mt. Hamilton coach. Phillips scored 20 total TDs last season. Another Mt. Hamilton coach called Phillips “one of the most powerful running backs I have seen in the BVAL in a while.” Senior Lucas Martinez is a similar jack of all trades, contributing at quarterback, running back, outside linebacker and safety. He is a returning all-league two-way starter. Senior TE/LB Jaymes Purvis is an experienced player who will contribute on both sides of the ball. Senior RB/DE/LB Jonathan Medina “will be a huge contributor on both sides of the ball,” Collins said. Senior center Kenny Huynh-Figueroa is a three-year varsity starter and will anchor the O-line. Senior Jeremy Ochoa, a fellow three-year starter, will do the same at tight end and on the defensive line. Senior OL Carlos Ramirez has started since his sophomore year and will help Huynh-Figueroa lead the offensive front. Junior WR/S Michael Whitelaw is an extremely athletic player with a nose for the ball and could break out this fall.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Willow Glen, 7:15 p.m.
No. 5 BRANHAM
2024 record: 8-4
What to expect: There will be a lot of newness at Branham in 2025. Gone are senior QB Jack Lewis and coach Stephen Johnson. In are McMahon and QB Andrew Ho, who split time with Lewis last season and produced eight TDs as a freshman. Ho “has a great understanding of the game and puts the ball in the right spot,” McMahon said. “He has the potential to be a four-year varsity player and break every record at Branham passing-wise.” He’ll be able to lean on senior RB Michael Murphy, who is a three-year starter and “extremely explosive running back” who can get downhill and catch the ball out of the backfield. “Threat to score every time he touches the ball,” McMahon said of Murphy. “Can do it all.” Ho can look in the pattern for senior WR Brayden Hodges, another three-year starter with great hands who racked up 997 receiving yards last season, a top-five mark in the Central Coast Section. Hodges excels at winning at the line of scrimmage and making plays after the catch, McMahon said. Senior S Maddox Nazzisi is undersized but tough and rangy in the defensive backfield and excels at taking the ball away. Senior DT Jaxsen Tafaoimalo is a “massive human being who is coming into his body and becoming an absolute force on the line,” McMahon said. “Has the ability to live in the offensive backfield and control the line of scrimmage.” Senior LT Noah Ybarra is Branham’s emotional leader and “has the potential to be great on the blind side. Tough as nails and loves contact.” Senior OG/LB Logan Roza is one of the strongest players on the team and will set the tone on both sides of the ball.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Hollister, 7:30 p.m.
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No. 6 LEIGH
Coach: Kyle Padia
2024 record: 4-6
What to expect: As Leigh looks to rebound from a down year, there are reasons for optimism and reasons for doubt. The Longhorns return senior QB Charlie Lyon and “return most of our skilled positions on both sides of the ball,” Padia said. But building depth will be a challenge – Leigh rosters only 33 players. Lyon is a bright spot on offense who “had a great junior year” and “has a really good grasp of offense and how to get the ball down the field,” Padia said. Senior DL Matt Williams was the Longhorns’ leading tackler as a junior, has a great motor and “plays with a ton of heart.” Senior OL/DL Joel Juarez is a three-year O-line starter who can move at 6-3, 330. Senior RB/SS Blake Zanger is an explosive back who will “make plays on both sides of the ball,” Padia said.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at Leland, 7:15 p.m.
