Lincoln is the top team in the San Francisco Section this season, according to our Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard. But don't overlook Galileo, Lowell, Mission and Washington.
After winning its fifth San Francisco Section Turkey Day game since 2005, but first since 2008, Lincoln looks primed for a repeat.
File photo by Ernie Abrea
11-1
Head coach: Phil Ferrigno
Team preview
Tyree Marzetta scored the game-winning
2-point conversion for Lincoln last year
in the Turkey Day championship win.
File photo by Ernie Abrea
It was hard to imagine a better San Francisco Section Turkey Day championship win than
Lincoln’s 22-21 win over Mission last season, nor a more perfect capper to an unlikely season. The Mustangs, 0-11 two seasons before, recaptured the drive and work ethic that led them to an unprecedented four straight SFS crowns from 2005 to 2008, all under Ferrigno. With the most continuity at the top in the league and by far the best weightlifting program, Lincoln should almost always be among the section's favorites. With first-team All-Academic Athletic Association returners
Tyree Marzetta, a relentless tailback and linebacker, and two-way linemen
Justin Lee and
Master Lo, look for the Mustangs to get to Kezar Stadium for another Turkey Day game. A pair of big and physical two-way tight ends/linebackers
Joshua Bonse-Davis and
Davion Telfor should also lead the way.
See last season's game story from the Turkey Bowl
2. Galileo (San Francisco)2012 finish: 4-6-1
Head coach: Mark Huynh
Team preview
There is no better returning trio than quarterback/free safety
Kyle Nelson, running back/linebacker
Ronzel Fox and running back/defensive back
Dontell Jackson. But three players don’t make a team and the Lions, the 2009 champs, need to fill plenty of holes to knock off Lincoln. That said, Fox, a rugged 5-10, 190-pound senior and four-year starter, might be the best player in the league. Nelson is a four-year starting quarterback and Jackson (5-7, 150) is small but packs a powerful punch. Tight end/defensive end
Issac Armstrong, kicker/defensive back
Yanek Hakobyan and center
Johnson Huang were second-team All-AAA last season as juniors.
See last season's all-league teams from the Oakland and San Francisco Sections3. Lowell (San Francisco)2012 finish: 4-6
Head coach: Danny Chan
Team previewThe Cardinals always start slow because seniors always dominate the starting roster, but Chan is optimistic for a faster beginning due to a bigger and stronger offensive and defensive fronts, led by two-way linemen
Alvin Norman and
Zachary Rowson. Chan hopes to lift Lowell back to the early 2000s when the Mustangs were annual Turkey Day participants. From 2004 to 2007, Lowell was a combined 31-13 but since then have slipped to 19-29. A few variations to the team’s powerful double-wing T attack should help. The Mustangs may be the dark horse in the race.
See all the players from California high schools on NFL rosters last year
Mission coach Joe Albano has his work
cut out in 2013, but he's been more than
up for the task the last three years.
File photo by Ernie Abrea
7-4
Head coach: Joe Albano
Team preview
The 2011 champions were up and down much of 2012, but seemed to pull it all together in the Turkey Day Game, only to lose in the final seconds on a two-point conversion. Albano has worked wonders since taking over a winless team in 2010. He’s gone 23-11 the last three campaigns but with eight first- or second-team All-AAA players graduating, this is his biggest challenge. Albano said he didn’t see much dedication in the spring and only 15 showed up for the team’s first practice on Wednesday. He does return top lineman
Issac Straznickas and
Roy Sauceda, who will be the team’s go-to running back.
See last season's San Francisco Section football rankings, presented by the Army National Guard5. Washington (San Francisco)2012 finish: 2-7
Head coach: Peter Graham
Team PreviewWhen former coach Karl Finley left late after the 2011 season, the Eagles were forced to rebuild and they took some serious lumps. That is against the Eagles’ nature after winning 41 games over a five-year span under Finley from 2007-2011. A brand new staff takes over led by Graham, an on-campus teacher who played high school ball in New Jersey and college football at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. He likes the commitment of a core 20, led by running backs
Ricky Lee Johnson and
Saadiq Anderson, along with linebacker
Ben Mustari, quarterback
Ramon Cuthright-Sun (6-2, 180) and center
Jesse Cats. Look for the Eagles to rebound quickly and contend for section and league titles.
