Ground attacks an El Camino staple

“I think it’s wide open with South City moving up,” said Woodside head coach Justin Andrews. “Woodside and South City used to have some good battles. Fremont is a program on the up.

“It’s exciting and I can’t wait to get to it.”

If you’re a fan of the ground attack, the El Camino Division is for you. But get there early because a lot of these El Camino matchups could move quickly.

It features a Fremont team that uses an old-school, triple-option attack with a third-year quarterback executing the offense. The division also has one of the top backs in the CCS in Evan Usher, who has rushed for more than 3,000 yards in two season. Los Altos lost a top back to transfer, while Santa Clara returns a junior who was the team’s leading rusher in 2023. South City rushed for more than 1,800 yards as a team last year and more than 1,300 of that yardage is coming back for 2024. Paired with a championship-game breakout performance and a promising addition from the junior varsity squad, the Warriors may have the deepest running back corps in the division.

For most of 2023, Fremont and Woodside appeared to be on a collision course for the division crown, with the Wildcats earning the inside track by beating the Firebirds.

But it was Los Altos who came from off the lead to snatch the crown, as Woodside lost its last two games of division play — 35-7 to Los Altos and 35-28 to Milpitas to be denied a co-title.

Both the Eagles and Wildcats earned the division’s two automatic bids, while a 7-3 Fremont team was left out.

Homestead and South City are both moving into the El Camino for 2024 — the Mustangs struggled in the Bay Division and dropped two divisions, bypassing the Ocean. The Warriors had a renaissance in the Lake Division in 2023, winning the division crown on their way to their first Central Coast Section championship since 1989 and their first-ever Northern California regional bowl game.

All this two years after not fielding a varsity team for the 2021 season because of a lack of interest.

South City was so dominating in the Lake Division last season that the Warriors sat their front-line starters for many many fourth quarters of games last season on their way division and section titles.

“We told them this year they’re going to play all four quarters,” said South City head coach Kolone Pua, acknowledging the step up in competition. 

Fremont Firebirds

2023: 3-2 El Camino, 7-3 overall

2023 playoffs: none

The Firebirds got off to a solid start, winning five of its first six games in 2023. They struggled down the stretch, however, going 2-2 in their final four games.

If nothing else, it was a learning experience as many of the key players from that third-place Fremont team are back for their senior years, with 13 returners split on both sides of the ball.

Fremont returns seven starters on offense, including their starting quarterback, Henry Buenrostro. The tip of the Firebirds’ triple-option offense, Buenrostro was the team’s leading passer and second-leading rusher last year, combining for 1,063 yards of offense and accounting for 18 touchdowns — 13 on the ground. Of the Firebirds’ more than 2,800 yards of offense last season, 2,220 came on the ground as Fremont averaged nearly 30 points per game.

The Firebirds were dealt a blow, however, with the transfer of leading rusher Alexander Solarez, who moved on to Piedmont Hills. That opens up a spot for Elijah Smith, who rushed for just over 300 yards as a sophomore last year. 

 Jadon Smith, another returning senior, was the team’s leading receiver, but the Firebirds don’t throw that often. He did average nearly 20 yards a catch, however.

The Fremont defense was strong in non-division games and overall, allowed less than 20 points per game. But the Firebirds struggled against El Camino opponents, giving up 27 points per game. They did lose some talent to graduation, but still have six returners coming back on the defensive side of the ball. Seniors Finley Ireland and Jonathan Regalado II were the second- and third-leading tacklers last year, with 59 and 55 stops, respectively. They also did a lot of damage in the backfield, however, combining for 23 tackles for loss.

— Nathan Mollat

Homestead Mustangs

2023:  0-5 De Anza Division, 1-9 overall

2023 playoffs: none

The Mustangs took one of the biggest tumbles in the PAL, dropping down two divisions. Last season, they struggled in the De Anza Division, bypassing the Ocean Division and into the El Camino for 2024.

 The Mustangs are just three seasons removed from a CCS championship game appearance, falling 51-28 to Sacred Heart Prep in the 2021 Division IV final.

Homestead struggled on both sides of the ball last season, scoring an average of just 16 points while the defense allowed nearly 40.The good news for Homestead is it has a choice between two quarterbacks who both saw time last year. Combined, senior Nick Zarour and junior Carson Chang were 88 for 194 for 1,129 yards and 16 touchdowns, for an offense that scored just 14 points per game last season.

Last year’s Homestead defense struggled, allowing nearly 40 points per game. The Mustangs do return their second-leading tackler in senior Jefferson Huang, who finished with 52 tackles last year.

The Homestead JV team was 5-5 last season overall, but had just one win against De Anza Division opponents.

— Nathan Mollat

Los Altos Eagles

2023: 4-1 El Camino, 5-6 overall

2023 playoffs: CCS Division V first round

The Eagles quietly came off the pace to capture the El Camino Division title in 2023 by going undefeated, beating Woodside for the title, as they tied for the division lead in scoring with 29 points per game.

This year could see some growing pains, however, as they’ll have to replace a quarterback who threw for nearly more than 1,700 yards and 19 touchdowns. The good news is, the Eagles should have a couple pieces in place with the return of their leading rusher and a receiver who should help whoever is under center.

The Eagles lost their leading rusher, Maxime Morelle, who transferred to Sacred Heart Prep. Colton Caputo, a 6-3, 185-pound receiver returns for his senior year after finishing as the second-leading receiver for the Eagles last year. He caught 22 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns.

The Los Altos defense was stingy against El Camino opponents, limiting them to a little more than 16 points per game. Overall, the Eagles gave up 23 points per game. This year, they’ll have find some leaders to step up as they graduated their top tacklers. Fisher Sirey is the leading returning tackler, but had just 25 stops, including a sack.

— Nathan Mollat

Santa Clara Bruins

2023: 2-3 El Camino Division, 3-7 overall

2023 playoffs: none

The Bruins will have to find a way to replace 1,000 yards of nearly 3,000 offense last season, as they graduated their top quarterback, running back and receiver from an offense that averaged 28 points a game.

Additionally, Santa Clara will have to shore up a defense that gave up 50 points or more five times last season.

Santa Clara does have some hope in junior running back Joseph Manueli, who was the Bruins’ second-leading rusher last year with 501 yards and four touchdowns. The offense suffered a blow, however, with the transfer of Kyree Brown Wilcox. In limited action last season, Brown showed flashes out of the backfield last year. As a sophomore, he carried the ball only six times but averaged 14 yards a carry.

The Bruins might have to lean on its defense early in 2024 as the offense gets up to speed, but that unit allowed nearly 40 points a game in 2023. They do have a couple of guys returning, Gabe Chavez and Jayden Forks, who combined for 73 tackles last season.

While there are certainly reinforcements coming up from last year’s junior varsity squad, the JV team was only 3-7 overall and 1-4 in division play.

— Nathan Mollat

South City Warriors

2023: 7-0 Lake, 12-2 overall

2023 playoffs: beat Silver Creek 14-0; beat Leland 11-9; beat Santa Teresa 13-7 for the Division V championship; lost 42-6 to Colusa in  6-A Nor Cal final

The Warriors are perfectly placed to be making the move up to the El Camino Division with the return of the bulk of the offense that averaged 35 points per game against Lake Division competition last year.

And as is the case for many teams lower in the competitive pecking order, a number of those offensive stars will play starring roles on defense, as well.

Fair or not, the Warriors’ chances ride on the hands and legs of Elijah Fields and Darren Miller, a pair of returning seniors who made the offense go last season. Fields rushed for more than 800 yards, playing in eight of 12 games. Miller was a dual threat offensive weapon, able to pick up the tough yards on the ground, but also developed into a sure-handed pass catcher out of the backfield.

The duo also provide a lot of the pop on defense, as well. Despite his lithe build, Fields isn’t afraid to throw his body around as an edge defender. Miller, who serves as a free safety, turns into a missile fourth linebacker to support the run.

“[Fields] loves playing,” said South City head coach Kolone Pua. “[Miller] is going to be a lot better. We’re going to try to get him the ball more.”

Marcus Mercurio, who ran for a game-high 130 in the CCS championship game last year, will see an increased load out of the backfield this year, along with junior Devin Jackson, who is making the move from JV. Both will also see time on defense, with Mercurio serving as a ball-finding middle linebacker and Jackson manning a cornerback spot.

Running the offense is returning junior quarterback Anthony Howell, who got a season’s worth of experience after getting called up from the JV team and played from Week 3 through the Nor Cal title game — 10 games.

The Warriors return a pair on the offensive line, but at least it’s the leader of line in center Francisco Lara, who will work side by side with left guard Noah Gomez, who will get more snaps on the defensive line. They could see a third returner, but a key member of last year’s squad is not yet eligible. Pua said there is a chance he could return midway through the season.

Sam Barillas also figures to slot in at left tackle. The junior was a key member of the JV line and was a playoff call-up who saw some playing time. In all, Pua expects to rotate up to seven guys on both the offensive and defensive lines and will do his best to mix and match, while giving some of those two-way guys a rest.

— Nathan Mollat

Woodside Wildcats

2023: 3-2 El Camino, 7-5 overall

2023 playoffs: Beat Del Mar 56-21; lost Santa Teresa 27-20 in Division V semifinals

Despite having its offense revolve around running back Evan Usher the last two years, he was hardly a one-man band his sophomore and junior seasons.

But now, all eyes are the senior as key members of his supporting cast graduated. But Usher gives Woodside a good base on which to start: Usher had 1,342 yards last year to put him over the 3,000 yard mark for his career, to go along with 40 touchdowns.

“We’ve focused on his patience. Learning to let blocks set up,” Woodside head coach Justin Andrews said. “We have a lot of misdirection, so even if they don’t block is perfectly, he’s able to get through the creases.”

Evan Frampton, a junior, should help shoulder some of the load. He saw time last year as a sophomore, rushing for nearly 300 yards.

Woodside will probably lean on its running game a lot early on the Wildcats break in a new starting quarterback. They went through four of them in 2023 and two more are in the mix for 2024. Charlie Darlrymple started for the JV team last year as a sophomore and was in a battle with Carmel Mendes, a senior who is a good athlete and returning varsity defensive back, but he’s playing quarterback for the first time.

“Carmel Mendes is a very dynamic football player. He’s played every skills position we have,” Andrews said. “But he’s a little raw at quarterback.”

Dumace’ Bell, a 6-2, 170-pound playmaking senior wide receiver, and junior slot receiver Daniel Torres, give the quarterback two quality pass targets.

Andrews said the offensive line is young, but has a lot of potential. He does have a three-year starter in 6-2, 230-pound Isaiah Granville returning for his senior year at guard and Andrews is excited about junior Andrew Alvarez.

“He has the potential to be a mauler,” Andrews said.

Senior Carlos Latu will hold down the defensive line and Andrews said this is the year he steps out of the shadow of graduated Mason Furtado.

“He’s explosive. A dynamic disruptor,” Andrews said. “He’s sniffing out things and running things down.”

Sam Cowart leads the linebacking group and is one of the leading returning tacklers.

Andrews said his defensive secondary is the most unproven unit. Bell returns as a defensive back, but Caleb Arroyo and Isaiah Jacobo are moving into starting roles.

— Nathan Mollat