The official start of the high school football season kicks off Friday with a great intra-county matchup of teams ranked in the top 5 in the CIF.
Bishop Diego travels to Santa Ynez on Friday for both teams’ season opener. Each squad returns several starters from playoff teams last year, and both are considered serious contenders for league championships.
Also opening Friday night is Carpinteria. The Warriors play at always-tough Morro Bay.
Santa Barbara, San Marcos and Dos Pueblos will be looking to rebound from losses in Week 0 games. San Marcos is at Rio Mesa, Dos Pueblos hosts San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara is at home against Beverly Hills.
“Yes, everyone is excited about Friday night,” Bishop Diego coach Tom Crawford about playing the No. 3-ranked team in the CIF Northwest Division. “Both Santa Ynez and our squad are more experienced than last year when we played, so, hopefully, it will not be quite as ragged as last year’s opener (won by the Pirates, 25-16).
“Santa Ynez definitely has a size advantage on us at most positions and they return their quarterback (Ryan Welker), fullback (Jason Miranda) and a top receiver (Zach Foss) behind a line which includes their 280-pound all-Los Padres League tackle (Cass Lyyken).”
The Cardinals, ranked fourth in the East-Valley Division, also have experienced and talented skill-position players — Nolan Tisdale at quarterback, Brandon Gonzalez at running back, Sam Kwock at receiver — and experience on the front line, led by Thomas Renick and Michael Winnewisser.
They’ll face a defense led by linebacker Lee Jensen, considered one of the best in the county.
“We’ll have to limit mistakes, turnovers and penalties and try to be very quick and aggressive to deal with the size disadvantage,” said Crawford.
Bishop Diego (0-0) at Santa Ynez (0-0): This is a marquee matchup for a season opener, as both teams return several of their top players from teams that reached the playoffs last year. The Pirates are a little less experienced overall. Coach Ken Gruendyke said a number of his players will be getting their first taste of varsity football. Bishop will be missing a key player as wide receiver-defensive back Paul Garcia is sidelined with a foot injury. The Cardinals have been dealing with illness on the team during the week — a couple of starters missed multiple days of practice, Crawford said. “Hopefully, they will be able to go … we clearly need everybody for a game like this.” The Pick: Bishop Diego
Carpinteria (0-0) at Morro Bay (0-0): Sophomore Ian Craddock won the starting job at quarterback for the Warriors in the season opener, but coach Ben Hallock said he expects to use sophomore Kevin Stein as well. The Warriors, ranked fifth in the Northwest Division, will face a 15th-ranked Morro Bay squad that is big up front, led by 6-3, 295-pound Jonathan Miller, a first-team preseason All-Tricounty pick by ESPN-RISE. Hallock said the Pirates have scrapped their spread-gun option attack for the Wing-T. “They have really bought in — even putting the wings on the helmet.” The Pick: Carpinteria
Beverly Hills (0-0) at Santa Barbara (0-1): Dons coach Jaime Melgoza hopes his team has worked out all the kinks and cleaned up the mistakes from last week’s 20-14 loss at Channel Islands. “We were good after films on Saturday,” he said. “We made a lot of mistakes and we are hoping to have a better mental game on Friday. The players seem to have a better attitude and understanding about what we need to do on Friday night.” Beverly Hills is playing its season opener. The Normans don’t have big pass rusher Greg Townsend (he’s at USC), but they do have several skill players back from a team that made the playoffs last season. The Pick: Santa Barbara
San Marcos (0-1) at Rio Mesa (0-0): It doesn’t get any easier for first-year coach Dale Perizzolo and his Royals. After opening with a 44-7 loss at Northwest Division No. 4-ranked Cabrillo, they play Western Division No. 18-ranked Rio Mesa, considered the favorite to win the Pacific View League. The Royals will have their hands full trying to contain a Spartans attack that includes the 1-2 punch of running backs Tanner Wrout and Jordan Nunnery. San Marcos hopes to get more players involved on the offense to help running back Marquis Glover. The Pick: Rio Mesa
San Luis Obispo (0-1) at Dos Pueblos (0-1): The Chargers will be looking to open holes for talented running back Josh Bartley, who was held under 40 yards rushing in the 27-7 opening-game loss at Righetti. San Luis Obispo put up 40 points in a loss against Kingsburg (45-40) in its Week 0 game. Tigers QB Garrett Giovannelli is a double threat; he rushed for 124 yards and threw for 166 in the wild loss at Kingsburg. The Pick: San Luis Obispo
GO CHARGERS!!!!!