Leading players for two of this week’s hot teams in the S.F. Bay region are QB Ryan Hagfeldt of St. Ignatius and OL Dru Samia of San Ramon Valley. Samia has committed to Oklahoma. Photos: Harold Abend & Student Sports.
San Ramon Valley and Los Gatos make the biggest moves while St. Ignatius and Bishop O’Dowd both break in. One of those teams is now coached by a former Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Football State Player of the Year.
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The Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area caravan stayed home Friday night to work the buttons and knobs, and also catch the coverage of the De La Salle 41-13 victory over Serra by Pat O’Rourke and colorful Damin Esper on De La Salle TV via High School Cube.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, however, the spotlight was on Kentfield where the 20th annual battle of the Catholic Wildcats took place between host Marin Catholic and St. Ignatius of San Francisco.
St. Ignatius won the majority of the early meetings but Marin Catholic had won the past four until the Wildcats from San Francisco overcame a 14-0 deficit with 21 straight points in a 21-14 victory. The San Francisco boys now have a 10-9-1 advantage in the series.
St. Ignatius quarterback Ryan Hagfeldt had a shaky first half but came though in the final two quarters and converted several key third downs and one critical fourth down situation. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior finished 16 of 30 for 261 yards and one touchdown.
Ironically, Hagfeldt lives in Kentfield not far from the Marin Catholic campus.
“I considered Marin Catholic but then I saw what SI had to offer,” said the 3.75 GPA student-athlete who is getting Ivy League looks.
Hagfeldt also saw an opportunity to play instead of fighting it out with former Marin Catholic quarterbacks Jared Goff and Morgan Mahalak, now at Cal and Oregon, respectfully.
As a seventh grader, he quarterbacked his Southern Marin Broncos Junior Midget team to a 16-0 victory over a team from Chicago in the American Youth Football Junior National Championships.
Ryan’s father, Curtis Hagfeldt, who is now in his fourth year as the offensive coordinator at SI, was the coach of that team and has been a youth/high school coach in the region for 23 years.
Here are this week’s second rankings (after games of Saturday, Sept. 5):
1. (1) De La Salle (Concord) 2-0
The Spartans scored on their first five drives en route to a 41-13 victory over Serra that wasn’t as close as the score. Other than one blown play, the first string defense was dominating and junior quarterback Chris Vanderklugt ran the veer well enough that Anthony Sweeney getting the job back when he returns from injury is no guarantee. Up next, Sparta welcomes the No. 1 team in South Carolina, Byrnes of Duncan, on Friday in an ESPN TV special.
Valley Christian running back Kirk Johnson had one of the top SPARQ Ratings in the nation last summer. Photo: Student Sports.
2. (4) Valley Christian (San Jose) 1-0
The Warriors move in behind De La Salle after barely breaking a sweat in a 55-0 shellacking of San Jose Pioneer. Texas-bound senior Kirk Johnson rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns on just 10 carries. Next up is cross-town Oak Grove and after that Milpitas.
3. (11) San Ramon Valley (Danville) 2-0
Second-year head coach Aaron Becker looks like he has something brewing on the west side of Danville after the Wolves took the trip to the other side of Mt. Diablo and stole the Pirates bounty in a 27-20 double-overtime victory over previous No. 2 Pittsburg. There hasn’t been much explosiveness on offense but the solid combination of passing, led by senior quarterback Zack Baker and standout receiver J.J. Koski, a decent running game, and a defense led by Oklahoma-bound Dru Samia, is working well in tandem.
4. (2) Pittsburg 1-1
After an 18-6 win at California, the Pirates’ home opening 27-20 loss in two overtimes to San Ramon Valley cast some doubt as to whether they will be among the CIF North Coast Section Division I elite teams this season. Still, they only drop behind the SRV team that stopped them in this week’s rankings. Up next is the annual tilt with Danville Monte Vista, this year at home.
5. (3) Serra (San Mateo) 0-1
Not only were the Padres a decided underdog against De La Salle, they were short-handed because of injuries, and they had starters sitting part of the game for disciplinary reasons. No matter, it probably wouldn’t have made a difference in the 41-13 loss. Still, Serra did better than Jesuit and don’t drop far in the pecking order. It won’t be easy this week as head coach Patrick Walsh and his charges head south to perennial San Fernando Valley power and 2-0 Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks.
6. (6) Foothill (Pleasanton) 2-0
After the San Leandro win to open the season, the Falcons put their talons to work in a 42-6 shredding of a Freedom team that beat a Tracy team that almost upset Clayton Valley. Foothill has a bye this week. Up next is Castro Valley in two weeks and then comes the big showdown with San Ramon Valley.
7. (5) Clayton Valley (Concord) 2-0
The Ugly Eagles fell behind 7-0 to Tracy and then pulled it out 28-21 on a fourth quarter 1-yard plunge by Ryan Cooper. Even had Clayton Valley not barely beaten the Bulldogs, they were still probably going to have to fall behind San Ramon Valley and Foothill due to the SRV win over Pittsburg and Foothill smoking Freedom. Next up is a trip to the Redwood Empire and a Saturday night matchup with Cardinal Newman the caravan will be attending.
8. (7) California (San Ramon) 1-1
The Grizzlies followed up the loss to Pittsburg with a 42-0 whitewash of Fairfield Rodriguez. Despite the win, they lose a spot to make room for San Ramon Valley. Next up is Castro Valley.
9. (13) Bellarmine (San Jose) 1-0
The Bells went on the road and took a 42-28 decision from an Elk Grove Franklin team Sacramento Bee veteran scribe Joe Davidson had ranked No. 7 in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section. “It was a strange game,” Bells head coach Mike Janda told Cal-Hi Sports. “We made a few mistakes that allowed them to dominate the first half, but we dominated the second half when it counted.” The value of that win means a bump to the No. 3 slot in the West Catholic Athletic League and a jump over several other teams in the NCS and CCS that don’t have a win like that yet.
Bellarmine Prep head coach Mike Janda poses with one of the three CCS Open Division titles his teams won from 2008-2011.
10. (8) Milpitas 1-0
With the realignment after some big wins and a couple of early upsets in the rankings, the defending CIF Central Coast Section D1 champion Trojans drop two spots despite a 27-0 victory over San Francisco Riordan. Next up is an intersectional matchup with Newark Memorial at nearby Newark.
11. (11) Campolindo (Moraga) 2-0
For the second straight week, the Cougars put up numbers after running roughshod 35-3 over what many thought might be a pretty decent Atherton Menlo-Atherton. The reward is a matchup with Fremont Washington that shouldn’t jeopardize Campo’s position in the rankings.
12. (20) Los Gatos 1-0
The Cats make a big leap after a mild upset in a 21-13 home win against Archbishop Mitty. With the win, there would seem to be no reason Los Gatos should not get to go ahead of a St. Francis team it defeated 31-14 last year in the CCS Division II title game. Joey Wood, who rushed for 1,964 yards and 28 touchdowns last year, added 158 yards and two touchdowns in the season-opening win.
13. (12) St. Francis (Mountain View) 1-0
The Lancers opened with a 28-0 blanking of San Jose Oak Grove to hold tight in this week’s rankings. Next up is a Palma of Salinas team that might be a year away from being one of the elite teams in the CCS.
14. (9) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 0-1
A 21-13 loss on the road at Los Gatos means a drop behind that team and St. Francis as well in this week’s rankings.
15. (14) Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton) 1-0
Without All-State Underclass Ben Burr-Kirven in the lineup, five different players scored as the Northern California D3 Bowl champions opened with a 32-20 win over San Jose Leland .
16. (15) Concord 2-0
Despite a 52-39 victory at Vacaville Wood, the Minutemen lose a spot like SHP and St. Francis to make room for Los Gatos. The Wildcats, however, improved their chances of getting into the CCS Open Division so it’s still to be determined whether Concord or LG will be higher in this week’s D2 North bowl game rankings.
17. (17) McClymonds (Oakland) 2-0
Mack had a long ride to Ferndale but it was the locals that had the long faces after the Warriors spanked the hosts in a 48-0 drubbing. “It wasn’t that close,” said local radio personality Tag Wotherspoon, who covered the game live for kata1340.com and was kind enough to have yours truly on his show last Thursday. “They’re as good as advertised,” added Wotherspoon.
18. (21) San Leandro 1-1
After losing at home to Foothill without UCLA-bound Stephen Johnson in the lineup due to a broken foot, the Pirates won this week without him again by beating visiting James Logan 36-31 behind some outstanding play of Reuben Baker. Next up is a trip to San Jose Muni to face Bellarmine, and if the Pirates can get head coach and Bell grad Brad Bowers a win they could be very formidable when Johnson returns.
19. (NR) Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) 1-0
The Dragons rallied to get a very solid win for first year head coach, former Oakland Raider and former Lompoc High 1990 Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Football Napoleon Kaufman by forcing five turnovers in a 28-22 victory on the road at Terra Nova. Senior 6-foot-2, 185-pound quarterback Chris Hagmaier threw for three TDs and ran for a fourth. On tap is Vacaville Wood.
Bishop O’Dowd junior linebacker Camilo Eifler could have a bright future. Photo: Student Sports.
20. (NR) St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 1-0
If quarterback Ryan Hagfeldt can keep his confidence up, the Wildcats may have something to say in the wild-and-wacky West Catholic Athletic League. Next up is Terra Nova in Pacifica in what should be a good game.
21. (16) Terra Nova (Pacifica) 0-1
It was a loss at home to O’Dowd but it was close, and a key and questionable penalty nullified a touchdown with less than three minutes remaining that could have provided the margin of victory for the Tigers. Besides having five turnovers, the Tigers committed 15 offensive penalties to the dismay of first year head coach Tim Adams.
22. (19) James Logan (Union City) 1-1
A 36-31 loser to a San Leandro team that looks very legit holds the Colts in these rankings, but that could change when head coach George Zuber takes his boys to Danville for a showdown with San Ramon Valley.
23. (18) Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 0-2
The Wildcats’ defense played very well in both losses to open the season but if the offense doesn’t get rolling this week against host Brentwood Heritage, MC will be dropping out of next week’s rankings.
24. (22) Analy (Sebastopol) 2-0
This team was pushed around in the playoffs and over the summer by Marin Catholic so we’re hesitant to elevate the Tigers to the top of the Redwood Empire until they actually beat Marin Catholic or a solid team. One thing is for sure and that is Sonoma County looks down this year and two blowout wins in that group has to be taken for what it is. A real test will come in two weeks when Analy visits McClymonds.
25. (24) St. Mary’s (Berkeley) 2-0
The Panthers dropped an Orinda Miramonte team coming off a loss to Pinole Valley to 0-2 after a 17-6 home victory.
Teams That Dropped Out:
Previous No. 23 Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa); No. 25 Freedom (Oakley).
Teams On the Bubble:
Alhambra (Martinez) 1-0
Alvarez (Salinas) 1-0
Amador Valley (Pleasanton) 2-0
Antioch 2-0
Aptos 1-0
Burlingame 1-0
Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 1-1
Carmel 0-1
Casa Grande (Petaluma) 0-2
Deer Valley (Antioch) 2-0
El Cerrito 1-1
Freedom (Oakley) 1-1
Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) 1-1
Liberty (Brentwood) 2-0
Menlo Atherton (Atherton) 0-1
Miramonte (Orinda) 0-2
Northgate (Walnut Creek) 2-0
Pacific Grove 1-0
Palo Alto 1-0
Palma (Salinas) 1-0
Pinole Valley (Pinole) 1-1
Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park) 0-1
San Benito (Hollister) 1-0
Wilcox (Santa Clara) 0-1
Harold Abend is the associate editor of CalHiSports.com and the vice president of the California Prep Sportswriters Association. He can be reached at marketingharoldabend@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @HaroldAbend
13 Comments
I swear you pull teams out of a hat for your rankings. Liberty still doesn’t crack the top 25, despite being ranked # 6 in North Coast?
BVAL just doesn’t get the respect I guess.
MaxPreps Ratings for North Coast.
1 De La Salle (Concord) 2-0 0-0 75.1 47.9
2 San Ramon Valley (Danville) 2-0 0-0 45.7 29.8
3 Foothill (Pleasanton) 2-0 0-0 45.2 27.2
4 Campolindo (Moraga) 2-0 0-0 40 14.3
5 Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) 2-0 0-0 39 17.1
6 Liberty (Brentwood) 2-0 0-0 38 26.1
7 Pittsburg 1-1 0-0 37. 5 39.3
8 Analy (Sebastopol) 2-0 0-0 33.6 11.6
9 Deer Valley (Antioch) 2-0 0-0 33.5 -20.8
10 California (San Ramon) 1-1 0-0 32.8 13.9
11 Saint Mary’s (Albany) 2-0 0-0 31.3 -0.5
12 San Leandro 1-1 0-0 29.9 33.5
13 Concord 2-0 0-0 29.9 12
14 El Cerrito 1-1 0-0 26.8 25.2
15 Amador Valley (Pleasanton) 2-0 0-0 25 7.4
16 Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 1-1 0-0 24.8 21.6
17 Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) 1-0 0-0 24.5 24.3
18 Freedom (Oakley) 1-1 0-0 24.4 31.6
19 Antioch 2-0 0-0 22.7 13.7
20 Windsor 2-0 0-0 22.5 6
21 Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) 1-1 0-0 22 22.9
22 Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 0-2 0-0 21.9 30.9
23 James Logan (Union City) 1-1 0-0 21.7 17.7
24 Acalanes (Lafayette) 1-1 0-0 21.1 16.4
25 Eureka 2-0 0-0 20.5 -0.7
I agree Liberty could be one I missed even though I strongly considered them…I probably should have given more weight to the Fresno Central win although Coach Garza doesn’t have the same team he’s had the past few years…I very much like Jeff Walters and what he’s doing…you point out they are No. 6 in those computer rankings but I look at those rankings and they have so many holes it looks like a swiss cheese…if Walters boys beat Berkeley and their hot QB back from a broken leg I’m sure they will find a way in…
PS…those cheesy rankings you waste your time posting on our site have Liberty ahead of Pittsburg…the computer they use must have been sleeping the last few years…on their site I cant find last time Lions beat Pirates…will it be this year??…talk to me then…but until that happens anything that other site posts is a joke…we take time to anoint teams…if Lions maul Pirates I’ll eat my words…until then that other stuff is a Swiss cheese…I have no more to say…
MaxPreps cheesy? Hmmmm… maybe you should venture a bit farther out HWY 4 and see what we have out here in the sticks. There are other programs out here that have talent and great coaching. What kind of mustard do ya like, cause that’s the only thing that will help those words do down! I’ll even treat you to a game…just let me know!
I agree – Liberty could beat half the teams on that list.
St. Mary’s doesn’t play any real competition to be listed
Freedom on the bubble?
Valley Christian Of San Jose really not playing a strong team until they see Milpitas I personality think rank to high
Machster
I agree with you that Liberty of Brentwood should be ranked. Fresno Central may be down a bit this year, but they beat Buchanan last Friday. Liberty had no trouble with Chico, which seems to have a fairly good team, last Friday night. If I were doing Bay Area rankings this week, I think I’d have the Lions 8th. Did Liberty get a new principal?
I just saw the San Ramon-Pittsburg game on On Demand TV. It’s fair to say Pitt had the game stolen from them by the officials (I’m not particularly a Pitt fan). A very bogus pass interference call on Pitt kept San Ramon’s drive alive with just a couple of minutes left and the score was 17-14 in favor of Pitt. Then on what was to be the last play of regulation time and the game, the SR kicker muffed a 22 yard field goal. A zebra tossed his rag for a roughing the kicker penalty and SR got to kick again, that time making it and putting the game into a double overtime which SR won 26-20. If the Pitt rusher did knock the kid down, it was by a lot of turbulent air.
Football would be better game, especially in high school, if there were to be a very strong policy that “if in any doubt, don’t call it”.
Oops, Bullard beat Buchanan last Friday. Central got readily beat by Grant Union of Sacramento. My mistake. I still think I’d have Liberty 8th in the Bay Area , though.
Great call Rono. Pitt is always going to be the team to beat out here. I heard they were robbed, and I am not even arguing the point that they may beat us. My problem is the fact we get no respect for the strength of the wins we have this year. We didn’t schedule any fluff games this year. I don’t think Harold took that into consideration when he made the list. Concord bailed on playing Liberty because of how Liberty man handled them last year…Liberty was 30 point underdogs and beat them by 20. Backed out at the last minute. So, I would agree with 8th you came up with.
Machster those ranking are so rank its funny.
Can you see St Mary’s beating Logan?
Deer Valley beating Marin Catholic?
Analy beating Concord or Freedom?
You can name a dozen nutty matchups with that max preps mumbo jumbo.
Saying all that, Liberty will find its way on the list after a meeting with a stingless Yellowjacket team this friday.
Yes, perhaps Liberty should be in the top 10, but they are a relative newcomer to the poll. If they keep winning, there is no way they won’t get their due. But if year-over-year results of Pitt vs Liberty matter, then last season’s shellacking of Concord and Concord’s subsequent last-minute schedule dodging of Liberty this season should also be counted. Time will tell.
30-0 shellacking of Berkeley…could have been much worse.
Bubble team?…I think not!