As part of our high school football content to get you ready for the 2025 season, we are rolling out previews of all leagues in our coverage area.
Today’s focus:
WEST CATHOLIC ATHLETIC LEAGUE
(Predicted order of finish)
No. 1 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN
Coach: Adhir Ravipati
2024 record: 7-5
What to expect: Is this the year Riordan breaks through and wins the West Catholic Athletic League? Five of six WCAL coaches who voted think so – Riordan was a near-unanimous pick to win the league. Last year’s BANG preseason favorite is “ridiculously stacked,” according to one WCAL coach. “Clearly has the best talent far and away.” He’s not wrong. The Crusaders return a senior SEC-bound quarterback and Big Ten-bound offensive lineman and have college talent all over the field. Everything starts with QB Michael Mitchell Jr., a Vanderbilt commit and four-year starter who passed for 2,759 yards last season and was named first-team all-BANG. “He’s legit and has a ton of weapons to throw to,” said a WCAL coach. Running back Adonyae Brown and receivers Cynai Thomas, Judge Nash and Wesley Winn Jr., all future college players, will be offensive outlets for Mitchell. And for good measure, the Crusaders added senior transfers in Perrion Williams, a Utah commit who was St. Francis’ top pass catcher in 2024, and WR/DB Kyle Welch, King’s Academy’s leading receiver last year. The San Francisco school is tough in the trenches too. Despite the loss of star lineman Peter Langi to Washington, Riordan brings back Oregon commit Tommy Tofi, the No. 64 senior in the country, according to 247Sports, to anchor its offensive and defensive lines.
Season opener: Aug. 30 vs. McClymonds, 2 p.m.
No. 2 ST. FRANCIS
Coach: Greg Calcagno
2024 record: 10-4
What to expect: It’s expected that St. Francis will take a step back this year, but there are still reasons to believe the Lancers will be in contention for the WCAL crown. “Defense will be our strength,” Calcagno said. “Have to replace QB, RB, WRs and TE.” St. Francis has big shoes to fill in the offensive backfield. Capable QB Aaron Knapp is gone to Diablo Valley College, as is superstar RB Kingston Keanaaina, who is completing his LDS mission before enrolling at BYU. The Lancers do bring back star MLB Chase Cahoon, a Stanford commit who is a three-year starter at the position and a two-time captain. He’s joined by senior S/LB Sefanaia Alatini, a BYU commit who is a three-year defensive starter. Senior OL John Fifita is committed to USC and will anchor the Lancers’ rushing attack. Two-way senior lineman Case Jacobson is a two-year OL starter and will assist Fifita in establishing the run game. Senior DE Sean McCoy is a two-year defensive starter and could contribute at TE as well. Sophomore DE/LB/TE Jayden Lewis started at DE as a freshman and should contribute on both sides of the ball. Senior S/LB/RB Kaimani Keanaaina started at LB last year and could play safety and running back, following in his brother Kingston’s footsteps. Watch out also for RBs Loa Tuiileila and Motu Keanaaina, who filled in capably last year when Kingston missed time with injury in the CCS Division I championship game.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Cathedral Catholic-San Diego, 7 p.m.
No. 3 SERRA
Coach: Patrick Walsh
2024 record: 10-4
What to expect: This may not be the next great Serra team – at least not yet. But there are signs that the Padres could be on the way back there this season after a 5-6 campaign in 2024. For the second straight year, Serra lost 11 offensive players, “which is crazy to say,” said coach Patrick Walsh, who is entering his 25th season at the San Mateo school. Experience and talent returns on defense, which should be the Padres’ calling card against a brutal nonleague schedule that includes home matchups with Folsom and De La Salle and a trip to face St. John Bosco. The defense is led by junior S/WR Malakai Taufoou, a returning starter and instinctive playmaker who has an offer from Ohio State. Electric, twitchy and dependable junior lineman Lemani Fehoko, who started on O-line as a freshman and D-line as a sophomore, will play both ways this year. Junior CB/S/RB Jeovanni Henley is a big-time playmaker who has received multiple offers but broke his ankle in Serra’s third game last year. “Didn’t get a chance to prove himself,” Walsh said. “Look for a huge year for Jeo. He could be the best player in the league, and no one knows about him.” Junior LB/TE Dylan Modena is a big, fast and rangy ILB who got reps last year and is instinctive and physical. Senior ILB Aaron Maier is a returning starter who made huge improvements and “will continue to improve” after his first full year playing the position. Senior DL Peyton Thomas “plays with great hands and great technique.” Senior RB Iziah Singleton could have a breakout year after getting limited carries as Serra’s third running back last year.
Season opener: Aug. 30 vs. Folsom, 2 p.m.
No. 4 VALLEY CHRISTIAN
Coach: Mike Machado
2024 record: 5-6
What to expect: If Valley Christian can put everything together, the Warriors have some intriguing pieces that could propel them to the upper echelon of the WCAL. “This year’s team is young in spots and senior-dominated in others,” said Machado, who has helmed VC for three decades. Sophomore QB Rome Leota-Pritchard is back after starting most of Valley’s games his freshman year. Senior DL Freddie Cobarubio is a returning first-team all-WCAL honoree and is being highly recruited. Senior OL Andrew Latu is a returning all-leaguer who will anchor the offensive front along with fellow senior Terrance Johnson, also an all-WCAL player last season. Junior WR Riley McElvane has potential to break out as a wideout and return man. He will team with fellow junior LaSavion Carr to give Leota-Pritchard a versatile pair of targets out wide. Senior TE/DE Colton Hider brings size and athleticism to both sides of the ball and could be a security blanket for Leota-Pritchard over the middle of the field. Senior RB Ekiah “KiKi” McLemore is a talented, physical back and one of the best in the Bay Area for the class of 2026. He is VC’s go-to for a big play out of the backfield and one of the key starters that “propelled the team” offensively last year. CB starter duo Aaron Noriega and Joseph Patterson return to lock down the opposition’s receivers.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Valley Christian, 7 p.m.
No. 5 ST. IGNATIUS
Coach: JaJuan Lawson
2024 record: 10-3
What to expect: Could last year’s CCS Open Division champions really fall this far? The Wildcats have to replace a lot from the special group that made school history in 2024. Stellar coach Lenny Vandermade hitched a ride back home to Southern California with Carson Palmer, his former USC teammate with whom he will team to try to revive Santa Margarita High. Back in the Sunset, offensive coordinator JaJuan Lawson takes the reins and will try to keep SI on track this season. The Cats lose senior QB Soren Hummel and RB Jarious Hogan, plus massive run-stuffing DL Manoah Faupusa, who followed Vandermade down south. So did Isaia Vandermade, Lenny’s son who was the WCAL sophomore of the year. SI does bring back senior WR Zui Shelton, a special athlete with 10.7 speed in the 100 meters who has multiple Division I offers and was a top-five receiver in the WCAL last season. “Might be small, but no one more dynamic,” Lawson said. Senior DB/WR Ty Hicks was the WCAL defensive back of the year, is SI’s most experienced returning player and will contribute offensively. Senior LB Charlie Ball led the Cats in tackles last year before suffering an injury and is fully healthy and ready to serve as SI’s defensive leader. Senior OL/DL Jonah Chavez “will take a massive step” as a leader on both lines of scrimmage. Senior RB Steve Malone was “overshadowed” by Hogan last season – no shame in that – and is looking for a breakout year after a great offseason. Junior TE Elijah Farrah will have a big role in the offense.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. San Marin, 7 p.m.
No. 6 ARCHBISHOP MITTY
Coach: Danny Sullivan
2024 record: 4-6
What to expect: Mitty got off to a rip-roaring start in 2024, going 3-0 out of the gate with nonleague wins over James Logan, Aptos and a showcase 21-0 shutout of Menlo-Atherton. Things went south as the competition level increased in the WCAL. In what is always a tough league for new contenders to emerge, Mitty will try to use its trademark grit to get back to the type of team that can compete for championships. Senior RB Lazaro Faraj-Washington is the focal point offensively, a returning 1,000-yard rusher who has a “tremendous ability to get vertical with cuts, get to the edge when needed, and catch the ball out of the backfield,” Sullivan said. “He will force defenses to focus on him more than they may want.” Senior SS Kai Sniffen, who picked off three passes against M-A, led the CCS in interceptions through 10 games and has “an uncanny ability to find the football.” Senior LB Caden Eagleson “may not ‘look the part’ but finds ways to be in the mix wherever the football is” and almost won WCAL linebacker of the year last season. Senior WR/DB Caden Kelly “showed flashes of excellence in 2024 and is having a great summer in the lead up to the fall campaign.” Junior CB Isaac Turner was thrown into the mix last season, improved each week and “is ready to make a huge jump in 2025.” Senior WR/FS Marquis Marshall has a nose for the ball and “started making bigger strides at the end of the year on both sides of the football.” Junior OL/DL/K Chase Graff is a multifaceted talent who contributes on both lines of scrimmage while handling kickoffs and placekicking duties. “Great FG range and touchback percentage and will be a force for us on the interior,” Sullivan said. Potential two-way starter Lucca Edwards “has had a great summer at receiver and cornerback.”
Season opener: Aug. 29 at Acalanes, 7 p.m.
No. 7 SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL
Coach: Antoine Evans
2024 record: 4-7
What to expect: Sacred Heart Cathedral didn’t have a great year in 2024, but the Irish bring back big-time experience this year – they only graduated five seniors. Senior QB Michael Sargent returns to lead the offense and was the WCAL junior of the year last season. Sargent threw for 2,500 yards and tossed 25 TD passes a year ago. Senior DE Mickey Williams is an Arizona State commit who will lead SHC’s defensive front. Junior Zion Secrease, a one-time transfer from powerhouse program Mater Dei-Santa Ana, led the Irish with 800 receiving yards and 10 TDs a year ago and made first-team all-WCAL. Sophomore DB Isaiah Glover was named first-team all-WCAL as a freshman and will lead SHC in the defensive backfield. Junior DB Prince Parham has two Mountain West offers and has compiled 42 tackles across his first two varsity seasons. Senior LB Matthew Barden was an all-WCAL first-teamer with 54 tackles last year. Senior OL Brody Hatch is a four-year starter and the unquestioned leader up front.
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Season opener: Aug. 30 at Sacred Heart Prep, 2 p.m.
No. 8 BELLARMINE
Coach: David Diaz-Infante
2024 record: 0-10
What to expect: Bellarmine was in a bad way last season, finishing 0-10 for the first time in school history. With a nonleague slate that includes home matchups with Sobrato and Los Altos, the Bells should not go winless. But there is a lot of work ahead to get them back to where the program once was. “The rebuild is continuing,” said third-year coach Diaz-Infante, a Bellarmine alum and former Super Bowl champ with the Denver Broncos. Returning QB Brady Fox and Jackson Morales will battle for the starting QB position, while Valley Christian transfer Kaden Hill will push both of them once he is eligible to play. Junior RB Justin Donahue has versatility as a runner and receiver and is a “smooth operator that never gets tired.” Junior FS/WR Miles Crooks started half Bellarmine’s games at safety last season and has the “length and athleticism that you look for at the position.” Junior OG/DT Tyler Romig started every game last season and is “tough and smart.” Junior RB/LB Emanuel Flores is a “tough, quick-twitch player that is physical in everything he does.” Sophomore OT/DT Anius Uluu is an “athletic big man that will start both ways.” Junior WR Jaeden Harris is an “explosive, physical WR – a mismatch problem.” Hill, a junior who transferred in from Valley Christian, is a “smart, gym-rat QB that will be a big addition the next two years.” Harris, a transfer from Valley Christian, is an offensive breakout candidate.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Sobrato, 7 p.m.
