Friday Night Lights For Cal Recruits

The number of Cal commits still playing out their 2019 seasons continued to thin out this week as we review the performances of all the the future Bears still finishing out their prep football careers.

Moving On

The only school with two Cal commits -Central East High School- won their semifinal matchup against Bullard by a convincing 35-7 score. Wide receiver Jeremiah Hunter‍ had three receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown, while defensive tackle Rickey Correia‍ led a dominant defensive performance. Central East will be playing in the California Central Section Division 1 Championship game this Friday against #2 seed Buchanan High School.

Linebacker Andy Alfieri‍’s Jesuit High School squad in Portland, OR continued their dominant run through the OSAA 6A Playoffs, winning their quarterfinal matchup against Tualatin by a score of 42-28. Alfieri made his mark with a fumble return for a touchdown in the third quarter. They will move onto an exciting semifinal matchup against Lake Oswego High School, a team which Jesuit suffered a dramatic 44-41 loss to in Week 2 of this season.

Going Home

Despite a huge game from athlete Trey Paster‍, Buhach Colony High School saw their undefeated season come to an end with a close 21-20 loss to Placer in the California Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 Playoffs. Buhach Colony got off to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter with a 97-yard rushing touchdown by Paster and a two-point conversion. They would then give up 13 unanswered points in the second quarter to go into the half down 13-8. 

After a scoreless third quarter for both teams, Buhach Colony would take a one-point lead with a rushing touchdown and a failed two-point conversion. Placer came back with a score and a conversion of their own to take a 21-14 lead with 6 minutes to go. Buhach Colony would march down the field themselves before Paster found the end zone again, this time with a 40-yard touchdown run. Buhach decided to attempt their first PAT of the game in an effort to tie it up, but it was wide left. Placer would run out the clock for the win on their following drive.

Cornerback Isaiah Young and Corona Centennial High School got blown out by powerhouse St. John Bosco by a score of 52-14 in semifinals of the California Southern Section Division 1 Playoffs. Young and the secondary actually did a pretty good job against Clemson commit Justin Baker‍ Uiagalelei, holding him to just 11/20 passing for 192 yards, but Centennial gave up over 300 yards on the ground on their way to a loss.

Previously undefeated #1 seed Kennedy Catholic were the victims of a huge upset, as #8 Woodinville beat them 55-42 in the quarterfinals of the Washington 4A State Football Playoffs. Woodinville got off to a shocking 21-0 lead in the first quarter and Kennedy Catholic just could never recover. Wide receiver Justin Baker‍ had a quiet day, catching three passes for 30 yards and returning two kickoffs for a total of 46 yards.

Defensive tackle Ethan Saunder and Orange Vista High School suffered a shutout 41-0 loss to Adelanto in the semifinals of the California Southern Section Division 12 Playoffs. The defense gave up all of the 41 points in the first half before Adelanto took the foot off the gas for the rest of the game.

Cal vs. Cal

It was a battle of Cal commits this past Friday when defensive tackle Stanley McKenzie‍ from St. Louis High School and outside linebacker Muelu Iosefa‍ from Mililani High School faced off in the Hawaii Division 1 Open State semifinals. Despite the highly anticipated matchup—at least for Cal fans—St. Louis came out with a dominant 35-0 victory. They will move onto the Hawaii State Championship next Friday against Kahuku.