High school football 2024 preview: Oakland Athletic League
Asif Reporter
In our preparations for the 2024 high school football season, we bring to you previews of all leagues that will be in focus.
Today’s focus:
OAKLAND ATHLETIC LEAGUE
No. 1 MCCLYMONDS
Coach: Michael Peters
2023 record: 8-3
What to expect: McClymonds is still the class of the OAL, especially now that the Wednesdays’ longtime coach Michael Peters retired after a few months only to come back to coaching again. Mack expects to have a powerful passing attack for the first time since the 2021 state championship-winning team due to another new addition, junior quarterback Berell Staples, who accounted for 34 touchdowns at Edison-Stockton. He will also have plenty of weapons as John “Sharky” Tamale a powerful running back, new from De Anza College Desmond Sparks and second year player Rahsjon Duncan. Sione Vailea the senior lineman is the best blocker in the OAL and as a newcomer for this year is Master Scott from Oakland Tech. It will also be interesting that several of those players will be expected to excel on a defense that appears destined to be challenged at the onset. McClymonds, as is often the case with that school, has a beefy non-league slate in the regular season. Season opening was by Archbishop Riordan of Mackhouse, followed by a game between the Warriors and St Francis at Mountain View.
Season opener: August 30, at Archbishop Riordan, 7:00 p. m.
No. 2 CASTLEMONT
Coach: Ed Washington
2023 record: 6-5
What to expect: For the first time in the MaxPreps era (2004 to present), this team has the opportunity to record back to back winning season. Probably the biggest boost the Knights can get is the return of arguably the league’s best player, wide receiver Elijah Washington, who plays for Oregon State. Typical athlete has a measure of 4 speed in the 40-yard dash. Elvin Smith was the best quarterback during the college showcase in May and will seek to continue in that form in a season that kicks off against captivating Dorsey-Los Angeles. Defensive line coach Ed Washington believes that Kyree Hardge and T’onte Moore both have the size and work ethic to play in college. Wide receiver Derrius Morrow lost 10 pounds of fat and gained more definition, while defensive back Jaymes Evans is now 10 pounds heavier and also is expected to be the team’s shutdown corner. The Knights’ non-league games include San Leandro at away and Mt. Diablo at away.
Season opener: September 6: at Dorsey-Los Angeles, 7 PM.
No. 3 OAKLAND
Coach: Terry Hendrix
2023 record: 5-5
What to expect: Terry Hendrix’s first season was a relief since the program had a record of a 21-game losing streak in a span of three years. The target for this year is the victory in the Silver Bowl, and with such players as the Wildcats can achieve this. Ymer Belvine and Aaron Boulware were two of the best players on both ends of the floor and returned for their senior year. For instance, Hendrix referred to athlete Malachi Sanchez as a player who can line up anywhere in a field, while 6-foot-2 Yasser Jackson has ‘excellent ball handling skills’ and will be Colvin’s number one target. Amir Lawrence is 280 pounds of bowling ball when he is a running back and a sure hitter when going in as a linebacker.
Season opener: August 30th against American: 7 p. m.
No. 4 OAKLAND TECH
Coach: Anthony McCrady
2023 record: 6-6
What to expect: There is also a new emotion for the Oakland Tech basketball program, a fresh face on the bench for the first time in a decade. Anthony McCrady takes over a team with a record of reaching the Silver Bowl, under the current Skyline coach, Virdell Larkins III. Of all things, the Bulldogs could count on size upfront, and this is where they made their presence felt. In the Secondary big enough to block out the sun sophomores Robert Whittaker (6-3, 330) and Ahzan Jones (6-6, 350) pave the way for the run game. WR/DB prospect and state basketball champ Caleb Rollins excels on the court, and sophomore Vernard Scott has potential after contributing last year as a freshman. Silas Pannell is an excellent soccer player and should also provide stability to the Tech field goal position. The Bulldogs have set Miramonte, Salesian and most importantly the El Cerrito team which is going into the state championship as their preseason games so as to prepare for the OAL schedule.
Season opener: Aug. 30 at Miramonte, 7 p. m.
No. 5 SKYLINE
Coach: Virdell Larkins III
2023 record: 2-7
What to expect: It is another opportunity for a complete beginning for Skyline and the organisation is going to use a new coach for the fifth time in the last seven seasons. This time, Skyline has gone with an OAL standby in longtime Tech coach Virdell Larkins, who has creditable godfather in former Skyline coach John Beam . What will be another rebuilding year for the school in the Oakland hills, the Titans will at least have some weapons to work with. Receiver, De’Maria Lockson should be a top target as a senior, and Khaled Johnson and N’gai Washington-Natson both weigh over 270 pounds and can play both offense and defense lineman. With an experienced on-field coach, a reasonable schedule against non-league teams, and the bottom of the OAL in a state of disarray, don’t be surprised if Skyline goes for the rate of . 500 this season.
Season opener: Sept. 6, Washington-San Francisco, 7 p. m.
Coach: Tyler Newell
2023 record: 1-9
What to expect: As has been the case All-OAL running back Aaron Lipscomb a senior will be again expected to showcase his skills in all front for Tigers’ offense. That is about the end of the road as far as anyone can tell at this point in time. While Naki Tuakoi and a few other much-improved players will be graduating, first-year coach Tyler Newell will need to rebuild the team and find new sources of scoring and energy both on the offence and the defense. Tight end Alejandro Loud should also be a factor on the defensive line with sophomore edge Lotima Fonua. One of those players was Emanuel Funches, a 350-pound lineman who opened holes for Lipscomb last year.
Season opener: Sat. Sept. 1 at Lincoln-San Francisco, 2 p. m.
