No. 13 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 take a look at the Pittsburg Pirates of the CIF North Coast Part, the No. 12 staff 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 recreation to Liberty-Bakersfield, 35-7

2022 SCHEDULE

(all video games 7 p.m. except 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

School 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. Whenever you simply discuss 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 record you need, he’s going to test each single field. … He’s the entire bundle. Miami is fortunate to get him.”

WR Rashid Williams — Sr. — 6-2, 190

School 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 set the ball on the market and there’s no go 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 acquired a smile on his face. He’s all the time completely satisfied. You may’t even yell at him and get mad. You yell at him and he’s nonetheless completely satisfied. He takes it critically sufficient, however not too critical. Full child.”

WR-S Zachary Card — Sr. — 5-10, 175

School 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 (finest time 10.47 seconds)

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

CB-WR Khai Taylor — Sr. — 6-2, 170

School 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: “Truthfully, 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 damage 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

School presents: ASU, BYU, Fresno State, Pittsburgh

2021 stats: 8 catches, 226 yards, 3 touchdowns

Shipe: “He’s your basic deep risk. He’s acquired measurement 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 acquired essentially the most upside. You may’t train 6-5 with that sort of velocity.”

WR/DB Jadyn Hudson — So. — 6-2, 175

School presents: 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 arms. He’s an electrical participant. He begins at security. A returner. Phenomenal arms. Nice measurement and velocity. He’s actually like a Jurrion Dickey.”

WR-CB Noah Quesada — Jr. — 5-11, 175

Shipe: “Fierce competitor. Phenomenal route runner. Wonderful velocity. We’ll must 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 foul downside to have.”

LB Cameron Clanton — Sr. — 5-7, 190

2021 stats/honors: 51 tackles, 7 for loss, 2nd staff 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 staff 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 likely be an enormous take a look at, however undoubtedly the largest problem for the Pirates will likely be a Sept. 16 house date with Folsom.

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

One other house recreation Sept. 30 towards four-time state champion McClymonds must also 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 probably be a slight underdog to Folsom and the Liberty-Henderson a pickup, however it doesn’t seem the league will supply a lot of a problem, similar to it did final 12 months with the Pirates outscored their 5 closest rivals, 233-67.

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

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

MOST REALISTIC SCENARIO

8-2

It may 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 staff jelling late to make a deep playoff push. Then once more, with a lot polish and talent on the QB and WR spots, perhaps Pittsburg will not must take a few defeats. 

COACH/PLAYER TALK

“It’s going to return right down to our younger line. We have now a very good strong line, however we’re going to have to seek out the correct combos. We don’t have any big-time recruits on the road, however it’s going to be an excellent line. How briskly they get there relies on a number 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 way of sure components of the recruiting recreation. Touring. Simply forgetting what it’s wish to be round your staff. … Man, it was an awesome first day of follow. … We don’t cease speaking about how our season ended final 12 months. I feel that can result in having a very good begin this 12 months. Remembering what it was wish to undergo that as a staff. In the meanwhile it was horrible, however take a look at it now and see how a lot it helped us.”

– Jaden Rashada