Southwick follows in footsteps of Keller and Louks; DLS pass happy and good as ever.
By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
Someone might purchase Dave Kravitz another TiVo box.
The San Ramon Valley-Danville coach had a blast watching his former quarterbacks, Sam Keller (Nebraska) and Corbin Louks (Utah), star in college games on Saturday.
The way current signal-caller Joe Southwick is picking apart defenses on Friday nights, Kravitz will be enjoying Saturdays for years to come.
Southwick, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound junior, dropped jaws for the second straight week by completing 20 of 23 passes for 296 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-7 win over visiting San Leandro.
This after the drop-back specialist went 18 of 21 for 279 yards and four scores in an opening-night win.
For all you non-mathematicians, that makes Southwick a remarkable 38 of 44 for 575 yards and nine touchdowns. I don't do quarterback ratings but I'm pretty sure it's off the charts.
"He's played wonderfully," Kravitz understated. "Of his six incompletions two or three could have easily been caught. His arm is awfully accurate and strong but what's so impressive is his poise in the pocket."
Well, that's not all there is to love.
"He can throw any kind of ball," Kravitz said. "He's thrown them long, short, over the middle, at the corners. And he's spreading it all over the place. We knew Joe was going to be good. But he's way ahead of the learning curve."
We heard Southwick was going to be very good also.
Following a huge feature on Louks - The San Francisco Chronicle's second-team All-Metro selection - we received an e-mail stating Southwick would be even better.
That seemed presumptuous considering Louks, a 6-1, 175-pound speedster (he was the fastest player on the 10-2 Wolves last year) threw for 2,460 yards and 29 TDs last season.
It later still seemed unlikely considering Utah decided not to redshirt Louks, who split time with senior starter Tommy Grady in a 44-6 win over UCLA on Saturday and completed two of three passes and a touchdown.
But by all accounts, Southwick is the real deal, perhaps more polished at this point in his career than Louks or Keller, the starter at Nebraska who has completed 74 of 120 in three games (two wins) for 840 yards and four touchdowns.
Keller, an athletic 6-4, 230-pound senior who started three seasons on San Ramon Valley's basketball team, is expected to be a first-day NFL draft pick in the spring.
"If I had to compare, (Southwick) is more similar to Sam in that he stays in the pocket and has great presence," Kravtiz said. "Joe's not slow by any means, but he can't get out of the pocket like Corbin who was just unusually fast for his position. It's certainly early in his high school career, but he has a chance to surpass both those guys."
The Wolves, who got a huge monkey of their collective backs last year, with not just one but two wins over cross-town rival Monte Vista last year, appear to once again be a bonafide Bay Area juggernaut.
Even though returning just six starters and losing most of its offensive weapons, San Ramon Valley has torched a pair of strong East Bay contenders by a combined 96-13 count.
Kravitz knew he had some excellent linebackers in Harmon Bruno, Kai Cummings and Steve Callaway, but the rest of the defense has been stellar as well.
"Those three guys are all studs which is a good place to start on defense," Kravitz said. "We have a lot of other guys stepping up."
That includes senior safety Dan Smithwick, also a quarterback who was edged by Southwick during spring practice. Smithwick made a key interception against San Leandro.
"Dan is a great athlete and a very good quarterback," Kravitz said. "It just so happens we need him every down at safety and he's playing great."
As are Southwick's many receiving targets, led by Ryan Fitzgerald who had six catches for 112 yards and a TD against San Leandro.
"Like Joe, the team is definitely ahead of its learning curve," Kravitz said. "We have a lot of seniors who didn't start last year but played quite a bit."
PASS AND HAPPY: As near perfect as Southwick has been there's another QB due North whose been absolutely flawless.
De La Salle senior Mike MacGillivray, evidently taking the challenge from junior Blake Wayne, connected on all five of his passes for 208 yards and four touchdowns in a 55-14 win over visiting Loyola-Los Angeles on Saturday.
That makes him - get this - 13-for-13 for 325 yards in two games and seven touchdowns.
Wayne, who earned playing time from the third-year starter for his fancy footwork and ball-handling skills, is 5-for-6 passing this year for 80 yards and he's rushed 21 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
Oh, and the Spartans' third-string kid, that Nate Montana kid, just the eldest son of Joe Montana, is 4-for-5 for 74 yards.
How fair is that?
The biggest receiving beneficiary from the QB trio is fleet Michael Czyz, who caught three more touchdown passes against Loyola, giving him six in two games. Czyz, only 5-8, 157, has seven catches for 211 yards and six scores.
He reminds some around the Concord campus of former De La Salle receiver and baseball star Johnny Tucker, now playing minor league baseball.
MONTANA III: Montana's youngest son Nick Montana, a 6-1, 170-pound sophomore starter on the JV team, looks like he'll give Wayne a battle for the starting job next year. He's accounted for nearly 400 yards, passing and running, and seven touchdowns in two victories. Not only blessed excellent feet, Nick's arm is extremely strong - so much so receivers can't get to where he's throwing.
DE LA GOOD: De La Salle's storied program has taken a few small knocks since its 151-game win streak was snapped in 2004. One informed coach thinks this Spartan team is right with the best they've ever had.
"Other than the 1999 team, as a whole, this one is hard to beat," said Patrick Walsh, the program's poster boy who graduated in 1993, was an assistant coach up until 2001 and now coaches at Serra-San Mateo, which lost to the Spartans on opening night, 40-22. De La Salle had a 40-0 lead in that one.
"They have five offensive linemen that as a unit may be as good as any they've had. They're depth is off the charts. They're six deep at running back. They have three quarterbacks who can all play; four or five receivers. They have four great linebackers. Their talent is off the charts. Plus no one outworks or out-coaches them and this year they've adapted their offense. They're running multiple sets, are less predictable and with that personnel amazingly difficult to defend or even prepare for."
SHAMLESS PLUG: Make sure to check out Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area with Robert Braunstein and Amy Calderone that airs Sunday at 7 and 11 p.m. on KBWB 20 cable 13 and Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Comcast Sportsnet West.
NEW TOP 25
1. De La Salle (1-0, last week No. 1) - On top of all the offensive numbers, first-string defense hasn't allowed a point. Scary. Saturday hosts No. 6 Palma.
2. Vacaville (2-0, No. 2) - It was another big night for Terrance Dailey (205 yards rushing) but Vacaville needed a three-TD onslaught in less than two minutes to pull away from Laguna Creek-Elk Grove, 36-6. Friday hosts always-solid Granite Bay.
3. Valley Christian (3-0, No. 3) - All-Bay Area WR David Henderson caught two TD passes early as Warriors raced to 21-0 lead before holding on to 21-14 win against evidently very good Menlo-Atherton team. Friday at West-Tracy.
4. Mitty (3-0, No. 4) - Looked dominant in a 37-0 win over Soquel (1-2). Friday at Foothill College against Salinas.
5. Serra (2-1, No. 5) - All-everything back DeLeon Eskridge had interesting game in 37-13 win over McQueen-Reno (Nev.). He had only 37 yards rushing, but passed for TD, rushed for one, and scored also on punt return and reception. Saturday hosts Gilroy.
6. Palma-Salinas (2-0, No. 9) - The Chieftains were actually outgained 416-359 in 41-25 win over Sequoia, but don't be fooled. Palma led 35-10 at halftime. Connor Farotte (4-121) and Nate Ramirez (9-108) each broke the century mark rushing. Saturday at De La Salle.
7. San Ramon Valley (2-0, No. 11) - Wolves have lived somewhat in shadow of cross-town rival Monte Vista for at least a decade. No more. Friday at Washington-Fremont.
8. Los Gatos (1-0-1, No. 6) - Led by LB Kiko Alonso's 15 tackles, showed defensive grit in 3-3 tie with previous No. 9 St. Francis. Friday at Independence-San Jose.
9. St. Francis (1-0-1, No. 8) - Better get its past-defense shoes this week against prolific St. Mary's-Stockton squad. Thursday hosts the Rams.
10. Cardinal Newman (0-1-1) - Tough schedule will pay dividends later, though its chances of repeat visit to state Division III title game unlikely after 48-28 loss to SJS power Del Oro-Loomis (another D-III team). Gets no easier for Cardinals. Friday at another SJS power Oakdale. By the way, good for coach Paul Cronin and crew to play the very best.
11. Novato (2-0, No. 10) - Hard to drop after 47-21 win over Redwood-Larkspur, but SRV just too impressive. Junior QB Jeff Stephens (327 yards passing, three TDs) continues to impress. Saturday at Tamalpais-Mill Valley.
12. Foothill-Pleasanton (1-1, No. 12) - Rebounded from humbling loss at Novato with impressive home win against Berkeley (30-7) as Rob Andrews ran for three scores. Friday at Skyline-Oakland.
13. Palo Alto (2-0, No. 13) - Defense again impressive in 23-6 win over Burlingame. Friday hosts Oak Grove-San Jose in rematch of CCS D-I championship game last year, a Palo Alto win.
14. James Logan-Union City (2-0, No. 14) - Danny Godfrey rushed for three scores as Logan looks like real deal in 49-14 win over Skyline. Friday hosts Berkeley.
15. Bellarmine (3-0, No. 15) - Third straight team in this ranking that may be under-rated. Impressive 42-28 win over perennial SJS power Jesuit-Carmichael. "They've had the talent at Bellarmine, now they're putting it all together," Walsh said. Friday hosts San Benito.
16. Deer Valley-Antioch (2-0, No. 16) - A 77-yard TD run by Sean Combs, his only carry of the game, paved way for 20-6 home win over Granada-Livermore. Defense looks very strong. Friday at Pittsburg.
17. Pinole Valley (2-0, No. 17) - Hold McClymonds scoreless in second half in impressive 25-14 win. Friday at Oakland Tech.
18. California-San Ramon (2-0, 19) - Nick Spalliero accounted for all three TDs in 21-14 win over Mt. Eden. Friday at San Leandro.
19. Amador Valley-Pleasanton (2-0, 20) - For second straight week hit 42 mark with 42-15 win over Hayward. Saturday hosts Bear Creek-Stockton.
20. Monte Vista (1-1, No. 21) - Rebound from humbling opening-night loss with crushing home win over West-Tracy, 49-7. Friday hosts Castro Valley.
21. Casa Grande-Petaluma (2-0, No. 22) - QB Matt O'Brien and RB Anthony Biasi give Casa Grande awesome one-two punch. Friday at Montgomery-Santa Rosa.
22. St. Ignatius (3-0, No. 22) - Won 30-14 over San Lorenzo Valley-Felton, which lost to WCAL rival Valley Christian 53-0. Friday at Kezar Stadium against SF City rival Sacred Heart Cathedral.
23. Freedom-Oakley (2-0, NR) - Overcame 21-0 deficit to defeat previous No. 18 Pittsburg 26-21. Friday at East Contra Costa-rival Heritage-Brentwood, a surprising 2-0 team in its first full season of varsity ball.
24. Sacred Heart Cathedral (3-0, NR) - Powered by one of Northern California's top juniors Dasarte Yarnway (264 yards, four TDs), defeated Terra Nova-Pacifica 35-14. Friday at Kezar against St. Ignatius.
25. Oak Grove-San Jose (1-1, NR) - Edged very good Gilroy team 28-21. Friday at Palo Alto.
E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.
