Weekly Football Previews: St. Francis vying for 4-0 start
In what is no doubt the area’s most high-profile matchup of the week, the Golden Knights (3-0), the fifth-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division III, will travel to face Saugus, the No. 8 team in Division VI, on Friday night at 7:30 at College of the Canyons.
The teams haven’t locked horns since 2007 in a game won handily by Saugus to culminate a four-season run between the teams that was split 2-2.
It will also be a return to College of the Canyons for St. Francis coach Jim Bonds, who still lives in the Santa Clarita Valley and once thrilled crowds at COC when he was an All-CIF quarterback for Hart High, throwing for more than 3,000 yards as a senior in 1986 when he led the Indians to a CIF title.
St. Francis is rolling right along for all intents and purposes with wide-margin wins over Mira Costa (48-21), Pasadena (42-0) and La Serna (49-20).
Quarterback Darrius Perrantes has thrown for 787 yards and nine touchdowns, but has yet to finish a game with all of them ending in blowouts. Running backs Kevin Armstead and Elijah Washington have four rushing scores each and standout receiver Greg Dulcich has 323 yards receiving in three games with three scores and is averaging 29.4 yards per catch on his 11 grabs.
Saugus, which has traditionally run an option under coach Jason Bornn, is coming off a 51-27 loss at Ventura. Running back Quinn Sheaffer has rushed for 526 yards while quarterback Nathan Eldridge has passed for six scores and 453 yards and rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns. However, Eldridge was injured against Ventura.
Bellarmine-Jefferson at Flintridge Prep, 7 p.m., Friday: Last season, Flintridge Prep defeated Bell-Jeff by a whopping 71-8 score. But judging the Rebels’ exploits last year against this campaign hasn’t proved accurate, as Prep has lost a good deal of talent and is young and learning.
Evidence of this came Saturday when it lost to Cate, 70-20, a season removed from losing to Cate, 55-48.
However, Bell-Jeff (0-2) is also struggling mightily, having lost all its top players last season to graduation or transfer, so more than likely Flintridge Prep (2-2), which is 2-0 at home this season, will bounce back mightily on Friday night.
Look for quarterback John Lytle, a returning All-Area selection, and receiver Nick Davis, a legit and big target, to be among those Rebels who have big nights.
Bell-Jeff is coming off a defeat at Discovery Prep, 36-6.
La Cañada at Rio Hondo Prep, 7 p.m., Saturday: An arduous season has yet to find respite for the Spartans.
La Cañada dropped to 0-4 on Friday with a 59-20 loss to Crescenta Valley. Aside from a forfeit loss, the Spartans have allowed at least 50 points in each defeat.
It will be the fourth consecutive season in which the Spartans faces the Kares, who have a storied past of being a small school power.
The Spartans own the series, 2-1, and defeated the Kares, 20-0, last season.
Likely the largest highlight for the Spartans so far has been the play of receiver Tobias Humphrey, who had three touchdown catches against Crescenta Valley.
Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon
