No. 12 Pittsburg Pirates might be best, most entertaining air show in Northern California

SBLive is previewing the High 50 highschool soccer groups in California forward of the 2022 season. Right here’s an inside have a look at the Pittsburg Pirates of the CIF North Coast Part, the No. 12 group in our countdown.

PITTSBURG TEAM PAGE | 2022 SCHEDULE

HEAD COACH

Vic Galli

• 21 seasons as head coach at Pittsburg

2021 SEASON AT A GLANCE

• League report: 5-0 (first Bay Valley Athletic League)

• Factors scored (allowed): 441 (249)

• Gained NCS D1 title over Clayton Valley Constitution, 28-14

• Misplaced in NorCal D1-A title sport to Liberty-Bakersfield, 35-7

2022 SCHEDULE

(all video games 7 p.m. until famous)

• Sept. 3 vs. Liberty-Henderson (Nev.) at Cathedral Catholic-San Diego (Honor Bowl), midday

RETURNING STARTERS

IMPACT PLAYERS GRADUATED/TRANSFERRED

• RB Charles Brown (first-team All-BVAL) — transferred (to Antioch)

• OL Aidan Bandes (first-team All-BVAL) — graduated

• OL Lisala Takafua (first-team All-BVAL) — graduated

• OL Justin Turner (first-team All-BVAL) — graduated

• DL Nicolas Quintero (first-team All-BVAL) — graduated

• LB Jakobe Harmon (first-team All-Metro) — graduated

• LB Kai Inexperienced (first-team All-BVAL) — graduated

IMPACT PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB Jaden Rasada — Sr. — 6-5, 190

Faculty dedication: Miami

Nationwide 2023 recruiting rating: No. 7 (Sports activities Illustrated)

2021 stats: 2,220 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, 5 interceptions

QB coach Juan Corral: “What everybody falls in love with is the arm energy. The child could make each throw. He makes throws that some guys within the league can’t make. He pays consideration to element on movie. Once you simply speak to him, he is aware of what he’s speaking about, what he’s searching for. He’s a child that understands what he needs out of his course of. He makes my job simple. … Head to toe, the psychological, the bodily, the drive that you really want in a quarterback, no matter checklist you need, he’s going to examine each single field. … He’s the entire bundle. Miami is fortunate to get him.”

WR Rashid Williams — Sr. — 6-2, 190

Faculty dedication: Washington

California recruiting rating: No. 15 (247Sports)

2021 stats: 55 catches, 753 yards, 11 TDs

OC Jim Shipe: “He’s a vacuum of the soccer. He has such a wide range. You place the ball on the market and there’s no cross he can’t catch. I’ve by no means coached a receiver like that. A man on his hip, a man in entrance of him, behind him, he’s going to catch it. … He’s fairly superb to see. … Phenomenal child. He’s all the time bought a smile on his face. He’s all the time completely happy. You’ll be able to’t even yell at him and get mad. You yell at him and he’s nonetheless completely happy. He takes it critically sufficient, however not too severe. Full child.”

WR-S Zachary Card — Sr. — 5-10, 175

Faculty dedication: Oregon State

California recruiting rating: No. 74 (247Sports)

2021 stats: 36 catches, 768 yards, 9 touchdowns, 66 tackles, two interceptions

Monitor and discipline: Completed sixth in state in 100 meters (greatest time 10.47 seconds)

Shipe: “He’s a dynamo. So explosive. He had an amazing season final season. I feel he was slightly overshadowed. It’s nearly misleading how briskly he’s. Works in slot, works in area higher than anybody on the group. Phenomenal on protection too.”

CB-WR Khai Taylor — Sr. — 6-2, 170

Faculty dedication: Nevada

2021 stats: 17 catches, 295 yards, 3 TDs, 13 tackles, 3 interceptions

Household ties: His dad performed in CFL and grandfather Altie, a operating again, performed eight seasons within the NFL, seven with Lions.

Shipe: “Actually, he’s most likely essentially the most polished as a receiver. He’s dedicated as a DB and is phenomenal at that spot. However he was harm final 12 months. I feel he’s going to indicate much more as a receiver this season. He’s a vacuum like Rashid.”

WR Keynan Higgins — Sr. — 6-5, 185

Faculty provides: ASU, BYU, Fresno State, Pittsburgh

2021 stats: 8 catches, 226 yards, 3 touchdowns

Shipe: “He’s your basic deep risk. He’s bought dimension and he’s a 100-meter monitor man. He’s nearly as quick as Zach. He’s the least polished of the group, however he’s working onerous at it and he’s bought essentially the most upside. You’ll be able to’t educate 6-5 with that form of pace.”

WR/DB Jadyn Hudson — So. — 6-2, 175

Faculty provides: 15 of them, together with Georgia, Michigan, LSU, Oregon, Cal

2021 stats: 58 tackles, 6 catches, 63 yards

Shipe: “Of the group, most likely one of the best with the ball in his fingers. He’s an electrical participant. He begins at security. A returner. Phenomenal fingers. Nice dimension and pace. He’s actually like a Jurrion Dickey.”

WR-CB Noah Quesada — Jr. — 5-11, 175

Shipe: “Fierce competitor. Phenomenal route runner. Glorious pace. We’ll need to attempt to get him on the sector. It’s a loaded place. Even our 7-8-9 guys are good and never a lot of a drop off. It’s not a nasty downside to have.”

LB Cameron Clanton — Sr. — 5-7, 190

2021 stats/honors: 51 tackles, 7 for loss, 2nd group All-BVAL

LB Giomani Enea — Sr. — 5-9, 170

2021 stats/honors: 64 tackles, HM All-BVAL

CB-WR Budha Boyd — Sr. 6-0, 170

2021 stats/honors: 22 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1st group All-BVAL

DE/LB Jewelous Partitions — So. — 6-2, 225

2021 honors: All-BVAL HM as a freshman

REGULAR SEASON GAME(S) OF THE YEAR

The lean on the Honor Bowl in San Diego versus Nevada energy Liberty will probably be a giant take a look at, however undoubtedly the most important problem for the Pirates will probably be a Sept. 16 dwelling date with Folsom.

The Bulldogs took it to the Pirates fairly good in final 12 months’s opener 38-17 earlier than occurring to defeat De La Salle in a NorCal regional last after which dropping within the state championship to Cathedral Catholic.

One other dwelling sport Sept. 30 towards four-time state champion McClymonds also needs to be of notice, however the Warriors want to interchange an skilled quarterback and a few dynamic two-way gamers.

BEST-CASE SCENARIO

10-0

The Pirates will seemingly be a slight underdog to Folsom and the Liberty-Henderson a pickup, nevertheless it doesn’t seem the league will provide a lot of a problem, identical to it did final 12 months with the Pirates outscored their 5 closest rivals, 233-67.

The plain divide with these Pirates is they’re completely loaded within the passing sport with one of many nation’s prime quarterbacks and 5 Division I receivers/athletes to throw to. However the offensive line is totally anew. The protection up entrance can be a bit unproven as is the operating again place with the departure of prime operating again Charles Brown to Antioch. 

A pair of promising backs Elijah Bow (5-9, 190) and Quintel Lawson (5-7, 145) ought to choose up the slack. 

MOST REALISTIC SCENARIO

8-2

It’ll take a while for the road to jell and with Folsom and Liberty-Nevada on schedule early, a pair losses would not be the worst factor for these Pirates. Galli typically has the group jelling late to make a deep playoff push. Then once more, with a lot polish and ability on the QB and WR spots, possibly Pittsburg will not need to take a few defeats. 

COACH/PLAYER TALK

“It’s going to return right down to our younger line. We’ve an excellent strong line, however we’re going to have to seek out the appropriate combos. We don’t have any big-time recruits on the road, nevertheless it’s going to be an excellent line. How briskly they get there depends upon a whole lot of issues. They’ll get there.”

– Vic Galli

“I’m simply glad to be again to the enjoyable a part of soccer. You begin to overlook how that feels after going by sure components of the recruiting sport. Touring. Simply forgetting what it’s prefer to be round your group. … Man, it was an amazing first day of follow. … We don’t cease speaking about how our season ended final 12 months. I feel that can result in having an excellent begin this 12 months. Remembering what it was prefer to undergo that as a group. For the time being it was horrible, however have a look at it now and see how a lot it helped us.”

– Jaden Rashada