Bellarmine Prep (San Jose) at Valley Christian (San Jose)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: Bellarmine 5-0, Valley Christian 5-0
State ranking: Bellarmine #9, Valley Christian #24
Team statistics: Bellarmine Prep, Valley Christian
Video: see below
By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
SAN JOSE, Calif. – It’s considered the biggest game in Northern California this season and it doesn’t involve De La Salle.
In fact, there are some Bay Area folks who believe the West Catholic Athletic League and San Jose powers that go head-to-head Friday – Bellarmine at Valley Christian – are superior this season to the perennial national power.
“I don’t know about all that, but I know this should be a good one,” Bellarmine coach Mike Janda said. “From top to bottom, this is the best team we’ve faced this year.”
Valley Christian coach Mike Machado said facing Bellarmine is like taking on Mike Tyson early in his career.
“We’re going to treat them like they’re 33-0 heavyweight champs but have never been past the fifth round,” he said. “We just want to get them to the late rounds.”
Nobody has gotten out of the first thus far against the Bells, who have outscored foes 225-33, including a combined 91-21 in the WCAL, which is generally regarded as the top league in Northern California.
Granted, Bellarmine’s schedule hasn’t been the toughest – the combined record of its opponents is 6-19 - but there’s no questioning the Bells’ talent level.
Janda, a humble sort in his 25th season as head coach, said he’s never had better top-end talent, specifically four sure-fire Division I standouts.
They are:
* Usua Amanam, a 5-foot-9, 175-pound running back/defensive back who has committed to Stanford. He’s rushed for 537 yards on 64 carries and 10 touchdowns and may even be better at cornerback. Janda thinks he’s best suited as a slot back and kick returner in college. “He’s really an amazing runner,” he said. “He’s shifty and can cut. He’s just a great kid and a great fit for Stanford.”
Said Machado: “(Amanam) can hurt you in a lot of ways.”
* Austyn Carta-Samuels, a 6-1, 205-pound quarterback who has committed to San Jose State. He’s had to pass just 48 times this year (33 completions) for 456 yards and a touchdown. He’s also rushed for 176 yards and five scores. “He’s got a tremendous arm and great feet,” Janda said.
* Kevin Danser, a 6-5, 290-pound tackle has Pac-10 offers and is considered even more athletic than his two older brothers who both played in college. “He’s got great feet and is very flexible for a big man. He can get outside on the sweep.”
* Michael Clay, a 6-foot, 210-pound fullback and linebacker, is the most sought-after player of the four, according to Janda. “All the Pac-10 schools are after him,” he said. “He’s just got great speed to the ball. He’s very quick. Very athletic.”
Valley Christian has its own blue chip list, starting with its offensive backfield.
Cameron Marshall, a 5-10, 205-pound senior running back is averaging more than 10 yards per carry with 837 yards on 80 carries and 10 touchdowns. Also a bruising defensive back, Marshall is considered one of the top athletes to come out of the WCAL in years. He’s been timed at 4.34 in the 40 and 10.6 in the 100, according to Machado.
“He reminds me of Chris Wells at Ohio State,” Machado said. “He’s got quite a few offers already but will wait to make his trips after the season. He comes to play every night. He can block and catch. He can run. He's tough to take down and has a real burst. We literally have a chance to score every time he touches the ball.”
His running mate Daniel Johnson (5-10, 185) is just recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out his first four games. Johnson, who already has an offer from Air Force, was less than 100 percent last week and Machado isn’t sure his availability on Friday.
“He’s fast and elusive and strong,” Machado said. “He’s a proven commodity.”
So are senior fullback Anthony Olivares (49-371) and senior quarterback Cory Gambello (28 of 43, 330 yards), who has also rushed 20 times for 135 yards and three scores.
“(Gambello) is a good leader and athlete,” Machado said. “I really like our backfield. It’s probably the best we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
Machado thinks linebacker Robert Fiscalini and defensive end Matthew Nilmeyer, among others, are other college prospects. The best of the bunch eventually may be Marshall’s freshman brother Byron Marshall, a 5-10, 175-pound running back and defensive back.
“He’s actually even a little more athletic than Cameron,” Machado said.
Janda might be more concerned with Valley Christian’s discipline than athleticism.
“They just run their offense so well,” he said. “The hard part is that they are not only disciplined but they have good players to go out and do it.”
Machado agrees yet he thinks Valley Christian hasn’t come close to playing its best game. The Warriors average a WCAL-best 406 yards per game but less than 30 points per game.
They’ll have to do a better job of converting opportunities to beat a team Machado owns a 7-2 record against. Last year Bellarmine prevailed 20-14 but Valley Christian squandered numerous red zone chances.
“We’ve got a lot of yards this year but we haven’t always finished,” Machado said. “Our big challenge (Friday) is to turn all those yards into points.”
E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com. Stephens will be at Friday's game and file a story later that night and video highlights to be shown Saturday on Steve Montoya's The Weekend Drill at MaxPreps.com.
Video to Watch
Cameron Marshall
Valley Christian vs. Serra
Bellarmine vs. Piedmont Hills
Kevin Danser
Bellarmine vs. St. Mary's
