Sports
FOOTBALL: PAL Lake Preview
Sequoia enters as Lake's favorite, defending-champion Hillsdale and Carlmont also in title hunt.
The Peninsula Athletic League's Lake Division is primarily known for one thing — that it is the lowest of league's three divisions.
But how lowly are the PAL Lake teams that are vying for the division's lone berth to the Central Coast Section playoffs? The short answer? Not lowly at all.
Hillsdale High, the Lake's defending champion, has already defeated highly-regarded Menlo School of the PAL Ocean. Carlmont, the Lake's newcomer, owns a 14-point win over Aragon, a PAL Bay program.
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And Sequoia has looked formidable in its 3-0-1 start to the season.
High school sports are inherently unpredictable. Factor in that five of the Lake's six coaches are in either their first or second season, and the division seems that much more wide open.
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While Hillsdale attempts to maintain its PAL Lake supremacy, it does so with Sequoia, Carlmont and El Camino also intent on securing championship glory and the resulting CCS date.
With the PAL Lake season set to begin when Hillsdale visits El Camino on Friday afternoon, the following is an overview of what to expect. The teams are listed in predicted order of finish.
1. SEQUOIA (3-0-1 in 2010)
Coach: Robert Poulos, second season
2009 Record: 7-3, 2-3 PAL Lake
Top Returnees: QB James Beekley, Jr.; RB/DB Josh Lauese, Jr.; RB/DB Isaias Flores, Sr.; OL/DE Vita Taungahihifo, Sr.
Top Newcomers: WR/DB Oscar Alejandre, Jr.; RB/LB/K Matt Jenkins, Fr.
Key Losses: OL/DT Nick Maier; OL/DT Jake Cottrell; OL/DE Jacob Praturlon; OL/DT Brian Newell.
Though some may be surprised with Sequoia's terrific start, coach Robert Poulos isn't. Under his tutelage, the Cherokees have adapted from a predominantly running team last season into a more passing-oriented squad. Though only four games into the season, Sequoia's offense has already amassed nearly 1000 rushing and 500 passing yards. Also armed with a hard-hitting defense, Sequoia thus far has enforced its will on opposing offenses -- making the Cherokees a very difficult assignment for anyone in the PAL Lake. The talented Beekley is back after losing much of his sophomore season to injury. Lauese was the Lake's 2009 defender of the year as a sophomore. It's no secret -- Sequoia is aiming to win the Lake and to move up to the PAL Ocean in 2011. At this point, that goal looks to be a real decent bet.
2. HILLSDALE (3-1)
Coach: Mike Parodi, second season
2009 Record: 7-4, 5-0 PAL Lake
Top Returnees: WR/DB Anthony Huni, Sr.; OL Sean McDonald, Sr.; OL Chris Carter, Sr.; RB Tyler Kelly, Sr.; RB Sho Sato, Sr.
Top Newcomers: WR Grant Cecil, Sr.; WR Scott Cecil, Sr.; QB Yannis Tsagarakis, Jr.
Key Losses: QB John Warburton; RB Garret Hutnick; RB Gustavo Torres; WR Jovan Carter; WR Cole Constantine.
Through the first three games of the season, Hillsdale had every reason to think that it was on the right track to repeating as PAL Lake champs. In their opener, the Knights even beat Menlo School, a favorite to win the PAL Ocean. But then came a 21-0 loss at Gunn and a harsh reminder that no one is immune to defeat. Hillsdale possesses a mix of veterans and newcomers – a group talented enough to win the Lake again. In their 3-0 start, the Knights showed the belief that they can play with anyone. And a team with that confidence is dangerous. But against Gunn, the Knights put themselves in difficult positions, which is something they can't afford to do against the better Lake programs.
3. CARLMONT (2-2)
Coach: Jason Selli, first season
2009 Record: 3-7, 0-5 PAL Ocean
Top Returnees: DT Chris Vea, Sr.
Top Newcomers: RB/LB Robert Johnson, Sr.; QB Jack Karasky, Jr.; RB/LB Kenton Buckley, Sr.
Key Losses: QB Nick Passanisi; LB/OL David Zepeda-Campos; WR/DB Tenshow Streets; WR/S/K/P Michael Rosenberg; RB/DL Dylan Mendiola.
Though the Scots don't possess a flashy winning record, this poised squad can be considered the dark horse to win the PAL Lake. Carlmont's most impressive accomplishment came in the team's most recent game — a 20-6 win over Aragon. Carlmont hadn't beaten the Dons, longtime members of the PAL Bay, in 21 years. With first-year coach Jason Selli acting as the defensive coordinator, the Scots have been stout defensively. Carlmont registered seven takeaways against Aragon. Offensively, Carlmont has shown potential and the ability to make big plays. But a switch to a more conventional attack from the no-huddle offense of the past two years has created some inconsistencies from play to play and series to series. For example, the Scots scored just three times against Aragon despite their ball-hawking defense's top showing. But if the saying, 'You're only as good as your last game' holds, the Scots will be a nightmare for any PAL Lake team -- regardless of if they capitalize on each and every takeaway they manage.
4. EL CAMINO (2-2)
Coach: Mark Turner, first season
2009 Record: 2-7-1, 2-2-1 PAL Lake
Top Returnees: OL/DL Trevor Kelly Sr.; RB/LB Nathan Huey, Sr.; OL/DL Kevin Folan, Sr.; OL/DL Ryan Anderson, Sr. TE/LB Justin Eclavea, Sr.
Top Newcomers: RB/LB D.J. Peluso, Jr.; WR/DL Ronnie Francesconi, Jr.; TE/DL Omar Reyes Medina, Jr.; RB/DB Demetrius Samson, Jr.
Key Losses: QB Robert Roman; WR Jeff Fuentes.
South San Francisco, the home of the Colts, has been dubbed the Industrial City. And if there is any team in the PAL Lake that fits a workmanlike style of play, it's El Camino. No surprises here — the Colts run the ball hard and down opponents' throats. But slow starts, defensive lapses and mental mistakes have bedeviled El Camino in recent defeats — 42-21 to Jefferson and 34-21 to Half Moon Bay. In their two wins, the Colts have exhausted the opposing defensive line. Whenever El Camino's physically gifted linemen, Trevor Kelly and Kevin Folan, are playing well, the Colts are usually doing well. But if the Colts are to make a serious run in the Lake in their first season under coach Mark Turner (a former El Camino player), mistakes have to be kept to a minimum.
5. CAPUCHINO (1-2)
Coach: Jordan Seiden, first season
2009 Record: 1-9, 0-5 PAL Lake
Top Returnees: QB John Bacchi, Sr.; DL Xavier Collins, Sr.; RB Will Scott, Sr.; G/DT Xavier Collins, Sr.; RB/S John Wild, Sr.
Top Newcomers: WR Logan Soli, Jr.; QB Enrico Zermeno, Jr.; WR/RB Tim Gretter, Jr.; FS Justin Ewing, Soph.
Key Losses: RB Anthony Amato; G/DE Brandan Jones; G/OLB Pat Miranda; FB/OLB C.J. Caliz.
Just a week after an encouraging 14-12 win over Mt. Eden, the Mustangs fell 35-0 to Aragon. Wide receiver Logan Soli looked like an emerging star in Capuchino's first two games. But the Mustang offensive line's total inability to protect its quarterback against Aragon shows there is still a whole lot of work to be done. Capuchino may still be feeling the affects of the Sept. 9 San Bruno fire, which resulted in a cancellation of the South San Francisco game. Capuchino, which visits Harker in a non-league game on Friday, certainly would have benefited from having five games under its belt before the PAL Lake season, instead of four. The Mustangs' offense in recent seasons has been all about the running game. But Soli's development suggests the team will turn to the air. The Mustangs have spoken publicly of the positive direction the team has taken under new coach Jordan Seiden and his staff. That solidarity figures to be tested if blowout defeats like the Aragon game become more than a passing occurrence.
6. MILLS (0-5)
Coach: Packy Moss, fourth season
2009 Record: 2-7-1, 1-3-1 PAL Lake
Top Returnees: QB Brandon Berkovatz, Jr.; WR Kaushar Singh, Sr.
Top Newcomers: RB Weyland Quan, Jr.; RB/KR Marcus Chew, Jr.
Key Losses: FB/LB Tevita Laitamua; RB/LB/S Jared Puamua; C/LB Blaine Mapa; RB/CB Erik Kramer; TE/DE Anthony Berkovatz; WR/S Sam Warring; DT Josh Washington.
The Vikings have struggled in the last three years even with very talented athletes that have starred at running back and linebacker. Losing those players to graduation has made for a very difficult start to the 2010 season. Mills, almost exclusively a power running team in recent years, has shifted gears to give junior quarterback Brandon Berkovatz plenty of chances to throw. The second-year signal-caller has shown some encouraging signs – but the Vikings' passing game has also been inconsistent. Kaushar Singh has been a solid receiver thus far, and the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Jacob Rodriguez is an intriguing option in the passing and running games. But Mills' run defense has been porous – a liability that has prevented the Vikings from remaining competitive in its games thus far. If the Mills defense continues to allow offenses to enforce their will, this could be a very long season. On the bright side, the 6-6 Berkovatz has shown big-play ability when he throws a tight spiral. And Marcus Chew is a threat to eat up big chunks of yardage as a kick and punt returner.
