FOOTBALL: PAL Ocean Preview

The race for the Peninsula Athletic League's Ocean Division title appears wide open yet again in 2010.

San Mateo High, the defending champion, will have its hands full with Menlo School, Half Moon Bay and South San Francisco all primed to make a run at the championship.

Jefferson, up from the PAL Lake a year ago, is the wild card. The athletic and talented Indians already stunned Menlo-Atherton 17-0 in non-league play.

Fellow newcomer Woodside, which moved down from the PAL Bay after back-to-back rough years, is another unknown. History suggests the Wildcats will rebuild quickly, but inexperience has hurt the program early in the season.

With only the Ocean champion guaranteed a Central Coast Section playoff berth, every game is critical.

A major piece of the championship puzzle will be determined on the league's first day. Top contenders Menlo and Half Moon Bay square off on Friday.

With the PAL Ocean season set to begin, the following is a look at what to expect. The teams are listed in predicted order of finish.

1. MENLO SCHOOL (3-1 in 2010)

Coach: Mark Newton, seventh season

2009 record: 9-4 overall, 3-2 PAL Ocean

Top Returnees: RB/LB Beau Nichols, Sr.; WR Tim Benton, Sr.; WR/DB Phil Anderson, Sr.; RB/WR/DB/KR Jordan Williams, Sr.; OL/DL Brad Eckert, Sr.; OL/DL Mafileo Tupou, Sr.; QB Robert Wickers, Sr.

Top Newcomers: OL/DL Spencer Buja , Jr.; OL/DL Wyatt Rouser, Soph.; WR/DB Andrew Sanford, Jr.

Key Losses: QB Danny Diekroeger; C Ryan Denenberg; WR/S Clay Robbins; DB/RB/WR Nick Maruyama; G/NT Alipate Faletau, Sr.; CB Brig Badger; DE/LB/WR Carter Boyce; ILB/RB Blair Vorsatz.

Menlo has quite an act to follow. Behind standout quarterback Danny Diekroeger, the Knights marched all the way to the CCS Division IV title game last year.

But new quarterback Robert Wickers confidently stepped in to lift Menlo to a 3-1 start. Wide receivers Tim Benton and Phil Anderson and running back Beau Nichols bring plenty of experience to an offense that has looked potent ever since a 13-9 season-opening loss to Hillsdale.

The Knights' defense has also looked strong at the outset. Menlo has held three of its opponents to 13 points or less. And the defense warded off explosive Carmel, the team that beat the Knights in the CCS final last year, in a 34-29 victory.

Menlo will quickly know if it is in the PAL Ocean title hunt. After opening with a visit to Half Moon Bay on Friday at 3 p.m., the Knights host San Mateo, the defending champion, on Oct. 15.

2. HALF MOON BAY (3-1)

Coach: Matt Ballard, eighth season

2009 record: 6-4, 3-2 PAL Ocean

Top Returnees: TB/KR/PR Dominic Sena, Sr.; OT/DT Dominic Fama, Sr.; OL/DT Zach Perry, Sr.; WR/DB Agustin Arroyo, Sr.; TB/KR/PR; QB Nate Seaton, Jr.; LB Jesus Huerta, Jr.

Top Newcomers: QB Patrick Myers, Jr.; LB Anthony Rivera, Jr.; DE Jeremy Schmidt, Jr.

Key Losses: RB/MLB Nik France; DE Matt Secrest; G/LB Matt Freels; WR/DB Julian Garcia; RB/WR/DB Josh Dunne; OLB Brandon Bozarth; TE/DE Carrick Meyer.

The Cougars roared to a 6-1 start last season, including a 3-0 mark in the PAL Ocean, but then fell out of the league title picture with losses to San Mateo and Burlingame.

This year, Half Moon Bay has recorded another solid non-league showing. Its lone loss was to a potent Homestead team.

Now, the goal is to maintain that standing throughout the Ocean season.

Tailback Dominic Sena is back and intent on another superb season. Speed and elusiveness made Sena one of the top runners in the entire PAL as a junior, but a late injury slowed him and the Cougars down the stretch.

Veterans Dominic Fama and Zach Perry anchor a strong offensive line that will protect junior quarterback Nate Seaton. Wide receiver Agustin Arroyo is another player to watch.

Friday's Ocean opener against pass-happy Menlo pits teams with polar-opposite offensive approaches. The more effective defense unit figures to win and take a huge step toward winning the league crown.

3. SAN MATEO (2-2)

Coach: Jeff Scheller, fifth season

2009 record: 8-4, 4-1 PAL Ocean

Top Returnees: RB/MLB George Naufahu, Sr.; RB/DB Lemoto Filikitonga, Sr.; QB Chris Zografos, Sr.; OL/LB Gary Vimahi, Sr.; G/LB Peter Vimahi, Sr.; K/DB/WR R.J. Asuncion, Sr.; OL/DL Ophir Gam, Sr.; DL Zack Merkel, Sr.

Top Newcomers: WR/CB Andrew Ho, Jr.; RB/CB D'armon Collins, Jr.; QB Trevor Brill, Jr.; RB/CB Kevin Garcia-rodela, Soph.

Key Losses: OLB/TE Tu-u Liu; RB/DB David Rango; ILB/RB Taukei Taimani; WR/CB Jonny Niupalau; QB/CB Mitch Labbey; WR/DB Mike Aranda; C/LB Mo Latu; OL/DL Ramez Butros; LG/DL Aaron Lavulo.

With a formidable one-two punch at tailback, San Mateo has high hopes of defending its PAL Ocean title.

The 6-foot-1, 217-pound George Naufahu brings plenty of thump and surprising speed. And the athletic Moto Filikitonga (6-1, 214) offers a great change of pace.

Both players star on defense, too.

With offensive lineman Gary Vimahi, Peter Vimahi and Ophir Gam all returning, the power running game will again be the team's bread and butter.

But San Mateo lost a bushel of key contributors from last year's CCS Division III semifinalist, including most of its top defenders.

The Bearcats' Ocean fate figures to be determined by the defense's effectiveness and the play of quarterback Chris Zografos. San Mateo pulled out several close games in 2009 thanks largely to the competitiveness and improvisation of signal-caller Mitch Labbie.

After hosting Woodside on Friday, the Bearcats face a tall challenge in their road game against hungry Menlo School.

4. SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO (2-1)

Coach: Frank Moro, ninth season

2009 record: 6-4, 2-3 PAL Ocean

Top Returnees: DL Muawattie Mabrey, Sr.; RB/LB Falah Salem, Sr.; QB Brad Los, Jr., WR/DB Greg Bildhauer, Sr.; TE/DL Michael Prado, Sr.; TE/LB Joey Moro, Sr., RB/LB Darren Tufano, Sr.

Top Newcomers: WR/DB Robert Johnson, Soph.; TE/LB Vince Brown, Jr.; RB/DB Jayson De la Cruz, Jr.

Key Losses: RB/LB Shadi Azar; WR/OLB Kevin McGovern; RB/LB Rudi Galli; QB Eduardo Sanchez; WR Damiano Calgaro; G/DL Sio Saleta; T Anthony Achermann.

The Warriors' success in the PAL Ocean may hinge on the legs and the health of senior tailback Falah Salem.

A workhorse, Salem carried the ball 31 times for 185 yards in a recent 20-12 defeat to Mountain View. He also is a valuable part of the defense at linebacker.

Coach Frank Moro is pleased with his athletic and sizable linemen.

Junior quarterback Brad Los runs the offense. His main target is senior captain Greg Bildhauer. Junior newcomer Jayson De la Cruz has also shown promise catching the ball out of the backfield in non-league play.

South City needs to be able to throw effectively because Moro expects opposing defenses to key on its running game. If the Warriors can move the ball through the air, they may be able to challenge for the Ocean championship.

South City opens PAL Ocean play against Jefferson on Friday at 3 p.m., a matchup of sleeper teams. If either program gets on a roll, it could make noise in the league title race.

5. JEFFERSON (3-1)

Coach: Ako Poti, second season

2009 record: 5-5, 4-1 PAL Lake

Top Returnees: QB/DE Cheyenne Meafua, Sr.; WR Bernard Deberry, Jr.; WR/CB Kyani Harris, Sr.; QB/FS Ezekiel Nunu, Sr.; MLB Simi Kofe, Sr.; RT/DT Lofi Tamasese, Jr.; RB/MLB Zachary Nunu, Jr.

Top Newcomers: RB/OLB Demaurie Bailey, Jr.; WR/CB Myles Holmes, Jr.; T/DT Arvin Tualaulelei, Jr.

Key Losses: OLB/FB Jonathon Sylvestor; FB/DE Abdullah Jose, Sr.; WR/S Gabe Gutierrez, Sr.; G/DT; Steven Samera; TE/DE Jerry Hurtado; LT/DE Sean McNabb.

The Indians didn't win the PAL Lake in 2009 – they came in second to Hillsdale. But a deep core of returning talent led Jefferson to get the promotion to the PAL Ocean instead of Hillsdale.

Those returning players have the Indians dreaming big this season. Long a downtrodden program, Jefferson is suddenly full of confidence after an impressive 3-1 start.

Just ask Menlo-Atherton if the Indians are for real. Jefferson's defense pitched a shutout against and quarterback Cheyenne Meafua threw a pair of beautiful touchdown passes in a 17-0 win over the Bears, a PAL Bay program.

Receivers Bernard Deberry and Kyani Harris have good hands and plenty of athleticism.

Turnovers proved problematic against better competition a year ago. Expect Jefferson to fare much better in that department this season.

Senior Ezekiel Nunu is also expected to see time at quarterback this fall. Zachary Nunu and junior Myles Holmes have both already made an impact on offense, giving the Indians no shortage of playmakers.

If Jefferson can establish a consistent running threat and effectively defend the run, it could be a darkhorse in the Ocean race.

The Indians open their league slate with winnable games against South San Francisco and Woodside. But the back-to-back road games that follow against Menlo and Half Moon Bay will be challenging.

6.  WOODSIDE (0-4)

Coach: Steve Nicolopulos, 12th season

2009 record: 1-9 overall, 1-4 PAL Bay

Top Returnees: RB/LB Nick Kasser, Sr.; RB/DB Nigel Lewis, Sr.; Bernard Sims, Sr.; OL/DL Guillermo Martinez, Jr.

Top Newcomers: QB Christian Masulit, Jr.; QB/DB Ricki Hoffer, Jr.; WR/S John McKee, Jr.; RB/DB Alex Lopez, Jr.; DT/OL Kiola Mahoni, So.

Key Losses: Brandon Carey, Sr.; DB/WR Brian Barrow, Sr.; QB Kenya Price, Sr.; RB/DB Adrian Lara, Sr.; C/K Tito Gildo-Hernandez, Sr.

Woodside moved out of the upper PAL Bay after last year's fifth-place showing. The mid-tier Ocean figures to be a tough challenge this season for a youthful Wildcat team that lacks the program's usual depth.

Christian Masulit will share duties behind center with fellow junior Ricki Hoffer. Woodside returns tailbacks Nigel Lewis and Bernard Sims, but has an inexperienced offensive line blocking for them. At receiver, no one has stepped forward as a dependable threat.

That the offense is under construction has been evident in the team's struggles to score. Woodside has totaled 32 points in four games – including two shutouts.

At the outset of the PAL Ocean season, the Wildcat defense needs to be stout for the team to be competitive.

Linebacker Nick Kasser and two-way lineman Guillermo Martinez are being counted on for heavy defensive contributions.

A benefit is that Woodside has a back-loaded schedule. The Wildcats face San Mateo, Jefferson and South City early on – leaving the difficult matchups with Menlo School and Half Moon Bay until the end.