Always a numbers game in PAL Lake Division

And even when there is a tie for the league title — as was the case in 2019 when Mills and Jefferson each finished atop the standings with 4-1 records — only one is chosen, via tiebreaker, to represent the Lake in the postseason.

In 14 previous seasons of Lake Division football, the league has never earned an at-large bid. That means 14 total teams have advanced to the playoffs, with 12 different schools accounting for those 14 berths. Only two schools — San Mateo (2016 and ’21) and Capuchino (2010 and ’15) — have earned the Lake’s lone postseason nod more than once.

Last season, the Cinderella story of the South City Warriors turned the Lake Division into the belle of the PAL ball. The Warriors — just two seasons after not fielding a varsity program in 2021 — ran the table in league play to grab the school’s first-ever Lake Division championship, and went on to capture the program’s first-ever Central Coast Section title in a 13-7 thriller over Santa Teresa in the Division V finals.

The reason so few teams earn multiple Lake Division honors is the league’s top dog nearly always moves up to the “B” league ranks. This season, South City climbs the PAL ladder to the El Camino Division, while the El Camino Colts — after going winless in 2023 — move down to the nine-team Lake to join projected frontrunners Mills and Cupertino.

“I can see a scenario where we all go 7-1 and each beats the other,” Mills head coach Rick Angelini said. “I think that Mills has a legit opportunity to win every single football game. Not that we will. It’s just that we have the ability to compete, and it wouldn’t be an upset if we won against any opponent.”

Angelini includes El Camino in that equation. Despite the Colts’ 0-10 record of a year ago, moving down to the Lake makes them a wild card, Angelini said.

Interestingly, Mills’ former head coach, Kevin Thorson, takes over as El Camino’s offensive coordinator this season. Angelini replaced Thorson as head coach of Mills in 2022.

El Camino head coach Rustin Mayorga offered no projections for the 2024 season.

“When you go 0-10, it’s pretty obvious,” Mayorga said. “I’m not really too concerned about it to be honest with you. ... It doesn’t matter who we’re going to go against, let’s go out there and compete and show we still have a program. And what we did that last year doesn’t define who we are in this upcoming season.”

Mayorga did express optimism about the turnout this season. El Camino has 29 players on its varsity roster heading into Week 1.

“To be honest with you, it’s probably the best it’s been in awhile,” Mayorga said. “I’d say it’s the best it’s been since we first took over. A lot of the kids are committed this year.”

Roster numbers — the issue that forced South City to cancel its varsity season in 2021 — are all relative though. While Angelini is equally content with having 30 players on roster at Mills, there are concerns brewing at Jefferson with a relatively similar number of 27 players on the Grizzlies’ varsity squad.

“A little low,” Jefferson head coach Imani Stewart said. “We’re going to struggle on the offensive line a little bit. We don’t have many guys. It’s going to be a struggle to fight through that.”

El Camino, Jefferson and Mills are the only three San Mateo County teams in the Lake Division. The other six are from Santa Clara County, including five from the old Santa Clara Valley Athletic League. The Lake Division grows by one team this year with Kathleen MacDonald-San Jose adding a varsity football program. The MacDonald Condors have 20-something players on roster as well. What makes them different is, with the program being grandfathered in — the school has had a junior-varsity program the past two years, but this is its first for varsity — head coach Burt Codera has no seniors on roster.

“It’s coming together,” Codera said. “I’ve got a small group of kids. We’re a tiny school, we only have 650 or so kids. So, when you look at the number of kids we have on campus, we’re crushing it.”

Last season, the Lake Division title came down to South City and Cupertino. The championship was hashed out Oct. 20, when South City defeated Cupertino 25-6 in regular-season play. Cupertino finished in second place in the Lake Division, and is the league’s top returning team from a year ago.

Taking over the program at Cupertino this season is Omar Kharroub, a 2011 graduate of El Camino. Kharroub was an assistant coach at Oak Grove last season, and previously coached at Castlemont-Oakland. He also served as the athletic director at Alum Rock-San Jose for two years.

“I’ll be honest, I’m actually used to coaching a higher level,” Kharroub said. “So, coming to the ‘C’ league level — I’m used to a ‘C’ league level because I played in it at El Camino — so I’m used to the kinds of kids we have. ... I think with what I see, we’re bringing a little something that not many ‘C’ league schools are used to. ... I think our offense is going to be surprising as we move forward, but I think our defense is very good.”

The 2024 Lake Division rounds out with Gunn-Palo Alto, Lynbrook-San Jose, Monta Vista-Cupertino and Saratoga.

El Camino Colts

2023 record: 0-7 PAL Ocean, 0-10 overall

After making a run at the Lake Division title in 2022, El Camino returns to the PAL’s “C” league after going winless in the El Camino Division in 2023.

The Colts enlisted a secret weapon to do battle in the PAL Lake, though, hiring Kevin Thorson as the team’s new offensive coordinator. Thorson served as head coach at Mills — projected as one of the frontrunners in the Lake in 2024 — for two season through 2021. He takes over for Chris Zografos, who is now an assistant coach at Aragon.

El Camino head coach Rustin Mayorga is in his sixth year coaching at his alma matter, and his third as head coach. In recent years, Mayorga was on a mission to modernize the Colts’ offense, but is returning to the program’s old faithful I-formation approach  this season to focus running power between the tackles.

“Just try to get more downhill,” Mayorga said. “Just try to bring a more physical presence.”

The offensive line boasts strength in 5-9, 195-pound junior Gadiel Martinez, an All-PAL El Camino Division first-team selection at the guard position last year as a sophomore. Martinez and the front line will look to spring a committee of running backs, including junior Noah David — who switches from a junior-varsity wide receiver to the varsity backfield — and junior quarterback Quentin Bromaghim, who will be Thorson’s eyes and ears between the lines.

“He’s definitely a pocket passer,” Mayorga said. “He can run our offense. He’s almost an extension of the coaching staff when he’s out on the field.”

Senior utility player Noah Flores is another one to watch. Flores has some name recognition after garnering All-PAL El Camino honors as a punter last season. The third-year varsity player will add depth to the backfield this year, but also lists as a wide receiver.

“We’re expecting big things from him,” Mayorga said. “He was probably one of the better players in the El Camino League last year.”

Brian Gonzaga returns for his sixth year as defensive coordinator. His defensive captain will be senior linebacker Esteban Cabrera, while 5-9, 220-pound junior Ethan Langi fronts the line at defensive tackle.

—Terry Bernal

Jefferson Grizzlies

2023: 4-3 PAL Lake, 4-6 overall

Jefferson head coach Imani Stewart got off to a rough start to 2023 in his first varsity coaching season, with the Grizzlies dropping six of their first seven games. The lone highlight of that run was Stewart’s first varsity win, Sept. 29, triumphing over Monta Vista 42-12.

Things ended on a markedly better note, with Jefferson closing the season on a three-game winning streak against Saratoga, Lynbrook and Gunn. 

Despite graduating just seven players, Jefferson is still relying on a big sophomore contingent to fill out its roster. Stewart characterized the program as being in rebuilding mode, but he is still remaining optimistic the team will be able to build off the success from late last year.

“It’s going to maintain,” Stewart said “It’s just about staying healthy and having enough bodies.”

Senior wide receiver Michael Slugher is the prized returner. At 5-10, 155 pounds, the two-way standout is a returning All-PAL Lake first-team receiver. He also plays a mean cornerback. 

“Slugher’s really shifty, quick, fleet footed,” Stewart said. “Very agile.”

Senior running back Tre’Sean Barnes returns to the backfield as a starter, and Sean Ferreira moves into the starting quarterback role. The question will be the depth of blocking, where the Grizzlies are starting the year relatively thin. Case in point, offensive tackle Bryant Martin will be relied upon to pull double duty, also starting on defense at nose tackle, despite his being just a sophomore.

“A lot of guys playing both ways,” Stewart said.

Stewart will be relying on the ingenuity of first-year defensive coordinator Dan King, who comes over to Daly City after serving as an assistant coach at Tennyson-Hayward last season.

Barnes will play both ways as a linebacker, patrolling the middle alongside Isaiah Garcia. Where the Grizzlies tout the most depth is in the secondary, with junior Maxwell Navarre balancing the corners with Slugher, with senior Zion Adams-Aurilio at safety.

“Probably (our biggest strength will) be our DBs,” Stewart said. “Pretty quick. Got a lot of team speed in the back.”

—Terry Bernal

Mills Vikings

2023: 5-2 PAL Lake, 5-5 overall

The Vikings return a pair of veteran running backs this year, but there’s much more depth to boast in the backfield. 

Senior Matthew Juul is a returning All-PAL Lake Division first-team halfback, the main weapon in the three-pronged rushing attack of fullback Jeremiah Reyes and quarterback Givanni Angelini. Add to the mix of the pro-style offense the 5-10, 225-pound Caleb Harper, who head coach Rick Angelini calls his “field ox,” and junior newcomer Valentino Maza, the Vikings will have plenty of ammo to fire at opposing defenses in the nine-team Lake Division, where they finished 5-2 in league in 2023 with lopsided losses to league-champ South City and second-place Cupertino.

“Between the three of them it’s going to be special,” Rick Angelini said.

What Mills’ third-year head coach is most excited about is his depth on the line. The Vikings have eight two-way players to rotate on offense and defense, along with a stout defensive line fronted by Maza and Reyes hawking at defensive end. Harper and Juul anchor the middle in the linebacker corps.

Mills has 30 varsity players set to suit up for Thursday’s non-league home opener against San Jose. An additional 32 bodies at junior varsity gives Rick Angelini the most numbers he’s seen in his Mills tenure.

“It has been a long time since Mills has had 30 varsity helmets on the sideline ready to play football,” Rick Angelini said. “So, I’m beaming the way that our numbers are growing the way that they are.”

On the field, Rick Angelini insists on downplaying the lineage of his starting quarterback, but the 6-2, 185-pound quarterback Givanni Angelini is, in fact, his son.

“He is high football IQ and he can throw the football,” Rick Angelini said. “We’re going to utilize the pass game this year very effectively, especially with how we’re going to be able to run the football.”

 —Terry Bernal

Cupertino Pioneers

2023: 6-1 PAL Lake, 7-3 overall

The Cupertino Pioneers were witness to South City’s PAL Lake Division championship as much as anybody in 2023. When the dust settled on South City’s undefeated league run, Cupertino was the most likely to put a wrinkle in the Warriors’ perfection. The Pioneers lost just one league game last year, a 25-6 defeat at the hands of South City.

The Pioneers figured out the same thing the Warriors did last year, that special teams loom large in the Lake Division.  Cupertino has two spectacular kick returners in hyper-utility player Malachi Perez and wide receiver/safety Brandon Cheng.

“Special teams matter,” Cupertino head coach Omar Kharroub said. “And I think that’s what our players are good at, is doing the things that matter.”

Kharroub, a 2011 graduate of El Camino, takes over the program from Co-PAL Lake Coach of the Year Chris Oswald. Kharroub is installing a midwest-style power spread offense, anchored by four-year starting center Gabe Shin, with a backfield depth that includes senior running back Will Hawkins, senior fullback Noah Robbins, and sophomore back Herman Viray.

 —Terry Bernal

Gunn Titans

2023: 1-6 PAL Lake, 3-7 overall

The Gunn Titans avoided a winless season in PAL Lake Division play last season with a convincing win midway through the league slate, routing Lynbrook 45-6. Unfortunately, the Titans didn’t score as many points in their other six league games combined, totaling just 42 points in losses to their other seven Lake opponents.

Head coach Dethrick Slocum returns for his second straight season.

Gunn is notorious for its up-and-down, all-or-nothing swings in recent years. Posting a 3-17 overall record over the past two years, the Titans 21-4 overall through the three years prior to that.

Senior wide receiver Samuel Dellenbach, at 6-1, 170 pounds, returns after earning All-PAL Lake first-team honors last season.

—Terry Bernal

Kathleen MacDonald Condors

2023: No varsity record, 

10-0 overall junior-varsity

New varsity quarterback Moussa Fall profiles like a dream on paper. The MacDonald Condor’s junior QB is 6-3, 190 pounds, and helmed an undefeated 10-0 run last season as a sophomore. The catch is: That 10-0 record was at the junior-varsity level, and Fall has never played a varsity down. In fact, none of the Condors have.

The 2024 season marks the first varsity campaign for Kathleen MacDonald High School, which opened its doors in 2022-23 with just a freshman class, and are adding year by year. This year’s juniors make up the eldest class at the public school, as Condors athletics launch their inaugural varsity seasons.

“Expectations are high but we’re coming into this realistic,” MacDonald head coach Burt Codera said. “We know this is going to be a growing year for us as well.”

Codera coached the JV squad the past two years, and is quite familiar with Fall, who started all 10 JV games last year. Fall will helm the offense that mixes the spread with the run-pass option. The junior will also see some shotgun looks to looks for targets like 6-foot junior tight end Siaosi Hautau.

“[Fall] is a long, athletic quarterback who has a nice touch and he can make all the plays,” Codera said. 

JR Leonard is another skill player to watch. The 6-1 junior is the Condors’ primary running back, and also anchors the defense at linebacker. Up front, junior center Darey Villamar captains the line, while at defensive tackle, 5-11, 260-pound Boston Olivarez is “big, strong, tough in the middle,” Codera said.

—Terry Bernal

Lynbrook Vikings

2023: 0-7 PAL Lake, 0-10 overall

The Lynbrook Vikings will look to break a 19-game losing streak before PAL Lake Division play opens Sept. 12. With each Lake team getting just two non-league games this season, Lynbrook’s best chance is when it opens Saturday at Pajaro Valley, a team that’s lost 11 of its last 12. After that, they host a Prospect-Saratoga team that went 8-2 last season.

The Vikings’ closest game in 2023 was a 32-13 loss to Yerba Buena in their season opener. Lynbrook went on to score just three more touchdowns.

Head coach Jerome Holloway returns for his third season and has just three seniors on its 2024 roster at MaxPreps.com — wide receiver/defensive back Justin Kim, running back/cornerback Nathan Ye and wide receiver/cornerback Kasturi Kirubaharan.

—Terry Bernal

Monta Vista Matadors

2023: 2-5 PAL Lake, 3-7 overall

For years prior to saying olé to the SCVAL De Anza Division in 2014, the Monta Vista Matadors were a force to be reckoned with in the “C” league ranks. Since returning to the SCVAL El Camino in 2015, and now in the PAL Lake since 2022, Monta Vista has recorded an above .500 mark in league play just once — that coming in 2015.

Head coach Ceazar Agront returns for his seventh season, coming off a disappointing 2023 season that saw the Matadors tested with a backloaded schedule. Their final two games were against the top two placers in the Lake, with the Matadors falling 44-0 to South City and 41-14 to Cupertino to close out the year.

Monta Vista graduated its two All-PAL Lake first-team selections, but does return its leading rusher, junior Graham Ischo. As a sophomore, Ischo recorded 310 yards on 34 carries, averaging 9.1 yards per, according to MaxPreps.com. 

—Terry Bernal

Saratoga Falcons

2023: 3-4 PAL Lake, 4-6 overall

Through their four wins last season, the Saratoga Falcons reveled, outscoring teams by a combined total of 171-0, including back-to-back blowouts over Gunn and Lynbrook to end the year. In their other six games, however, they totaled just 33 points.

The Falcons tested a young team last year. Quarterback Anson Hulme returns as a sophomore after throwing for 734 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Senior receiver Keion Ashjaee-Marshall returns as the team’s top back, rushing 69 times for 509 yards and six scores last year as a junior. Ashjaee-Marshall is paired with junior Brennan Pak, who rushed for 409 yards and five TDs in 2023.

The 2023 season was Saratoga’s best since 2019, when the team was coming off back-to-back co-SCVAL El Camino Division championships and a pair of postseason berths.

—Terry Bernal