As strange and different as the 2020 football season has been in California, not much has changed in the Central Coast Section.
Yes, the 2020 season is starting in March 2021, a sure sign things are different, but considering the top four ranked teams all reside in the West Catholic Athletic League and it's business as usual.
With such a short turnaround since state officials OK'd the season — on Feb. 19 — a key to success for the abbreviated four-to-six-game campaign is based around conditioning, organization and strength. The private schools generally have been back at campus in some capacity, given them a considerable advantage.
Throw in the extra talent that generally flourish on those campuses, it's no wonder the WCAL schools are at the top of these preseason rankings.
Jurrion Dickey, Valley Christian
File photo by Scott Dinn
State Division 1-AA runner-up loaded at skill spots, offensive line and defense. Will need to replace All-Area kicker Damon Lewis. Talented junior quarterback
Dominique Lampkin runs the show full-time now and explosive junior running back
Hassan Mahasin figures to score many touchdowns.
2. Valley Christian (San Jose), 11-2Even with nine players opting out for other sports, the top-line players return including top-five section players,
Jurrion Dickey, a four-star sophomore receiver and San Diego State-signee linebacker
Dominic Oliver.
3. St. Ignatius (San Francisco), 9-3A deep, talented senior class includes four Top 25 CCS players and likely it's most productive offensive player in running back
Jahsai Shannon, a speedy, strong, elusive 6-foot, 200-pound senior.
4. Saint Francis (Mountain View), 4-7A rare sub-.500 season for the 16-time CCS champion Lancers is replaced with one of the most talented ones in recent years, especially the sophomore class led by 6-4, 240-pound linebacker
Clayton Lynam.
5. Menlo-Atherton (Atherton), 7-4Despite losing the top player in the section, senior wide receiver
Troy Franklin (early enrollee to Oregon), the Bears have plenty of talent, led by another talented receiver,
Jalen Moss and 6-3, 190-pound defensive back
Skyler Thomas 6. Palma (Salinas), 7-3Always talented at the skill spots, the Chieftains are blessed with two of the section's top linemen in UCLA signee
Noah Pulealii (6-4, 300) and
Nathaniel Gonzalez (6-2, 250).
7. Los Gatos, 12-2Mark Krail is one of the section's most experienced coaches and though he lost his best senior player Will Schweitzer (enrolled at Notre Dame), running back-linebacker
Adam Garwood represents the team's grit and talent. Los Gatos ranks second behind St. Francis with 15 CCS titles.
8. Half Moon Bay, 10-1Keith Holden has helped build a state small-school power that in 2019 almost beat state runner-up Serra in the first round of the playoffs.
Tristan Hofmann is a terrific fourth-year two-way talent.
9. Milpitas, 9-6Kelly King always has the Trojans in position for section crowns. The team started 1-6 in 2019 before rallying to win eight straight games to claim their second state title in three years.
10. Palo Alto, 7-5Danny Peters, then a sophomore, threw for 1,269 yards and 16 touchdowns in eight games in 2019. Leading rusher
Josh Butler returns for his junior season as well.
11. Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), 3-8The Jalal Beauchman tenure begins as he will finally coach his first game as Mike Janda's successor. But will Bells, with seven CCS titles and six second-place finishes, return to old form?
12. King's Academy (Sunnyvale), 10-4With multi-talented
Noah Short leading the way and coach Pete Lavorato in charge, the Knights should build off a superb 2019 season.
Noah Short, King's Academy
File photo by Darren Yamashita
Randy Blankenship, who has led his team to four CCS titles since 2013, hasn't had many losing records in his tenure, so look for the Mariners to bounce back strong.
14. Wilcox (Santa Clara), 9-3The Chargers have gone 30-8 over the last three seasons and seem to reload every season under Paul Rosa.
15. Oak Grove (San Jose), 10-3Another traditional CCS power, the Eagles return quarterback
Jessie Miller and top receiver
Devyn Parker.
16. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 6-5Leading rusher
Zach Tabangcura leads the way for the Monarchs, who will be battling St. Francis, Valley Christian and Bellarmine in WCAL play this season.
17. Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco), 3-7Second-year coach Mark Modeste seems to have turned a corner and with leading rusher
Fazon Ruth (931 yards, nine touchdowns) and leading passer
Azaan Ledbetter returning, the Crusaders look in good shape.
Leading passer and third-leading rusher
Nick Bandanza returns to lead the Bruins, who also bring back leading receiver
Matt Cordova.
19. Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton), 8-4Quarterback
Teddy Purcell (101 of 153, 1,480 yards, 14 touchdowns) returns to lead the perennial small-school power.
21. Hillsdale (San Mateo), 8-4The Knights lost most of their offensive weapons to graduation off the 2019 team, but coach Mike Parodi always has his team contending. Leading receiver
Ben Weiskopf and superb two-way lineman
Jackson Wood lead the squad.
22. Terra Nova (Pacifica), 8-5The Tigers have another Gordon stepping through the program to take over the quarterback spot.
Dominic Gordon threw for 280 yards and five touchdowns last year as a sophomore. Brothers Anthony (Kansas City Chiefs, Washington State) and Nate Gordon were prolific passers in the program before him.
23. Live Oak (Morgan Hill), 9-2The team's leading passer and rusher
Caleb Ojeda (2,648 total yards, 33 touchdowns) from 2019 leads the charge for the Acorns.
24. Mountain View, 7-4The Spartans bring back top passer
Trent Steffen (1,118 yards, 10 TDs), rusher
Julian Daniels (567 yards, 10 TDs) and receiver
Austin Flax (42 catches, 849 yards, nine TDs).
25. Carmel, 5-6With coach Golden Anderson still running things and the section's top player
J.T. Byrne contributing in every facet, the Padres should be back to winning ways.
Fazon Ruth, Archbishop Riordan
File photo by Darren Yamashita
