OAKLAND ATHLETIC LEAGUE
(Predicted order of finish)
No. 1 MCCLYMONDS
Coach: Michael Peters
Spring 2021 record: 6-0
What to expect: The Warriors have a 74-game winning streak against OAL competition, and there’s no reason to believe it won’t continue this season. In their last 10 games against OAL opponents, McClymonds has scored 570 unanswered points. Veteran coach Michael Peters once again has a roster that is supremely talented. It begins with second-team all-Bay Area News Group quarterback Dreyan Paul, a senior who threw four touchdown passes in a 34-14 victory over Manteca last spring. Defensive back Dwayne McDougle is a threat on offense and defense, but baseball is his best sport. Tigana Cisse and Simeon Mitchell give the Warriors size and athleticism up front. Running back Tajir Golden is a home run threat any time he has the ball in his hands, and Jay’Vion Cole is part of a deep secondary and wide receiver corps. The non-league schedule is brutal with Marin Catholic, Menlo-Atherton and Pittsburg on three successive Fridays beginning Sept. 17.
Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Tamalpais, 7 p.m.
No. 2 FREMONT
Coach: Omari Murphy
Spring 2021 record: 0-0
What to expect: Fremont did not play last spring and comes into this season with a 23-game losing streak. Don’t expect it to last long. The Tigers open the season with five winnable games before playing McClymonds on Oct. 22. Coach Omari Murphy likely will need those games to see what he has, as much of the Fremont roster consists of transfers and players who did not play in the spring. The biggest name on the roster could be athlete Elijah Jackson, who transferred from San Leandro. He is rated a three-star recruit by 247sports. Other expected standouts include tight end Etuate Finau and wide receiver Te’Ron Nix. Both are rated two-star prospects by 247sports.
Season opener: Sept. 3 vs. Kennedy-Richmond, noon
No. 3 CASTLEMONT
Coach: Edward Washington
Spring 2021 record: 0-4
What to expect: Despite going winless in the spring, coach Edward Washington is very enthusiastic about this fall. He has some size up front in two-way lineman Angel Martinez, a junior who goes 6-1, 280, and inside linebacker Jaylen McGary, who weighs in at 220 pounds and with a 4.2 grade point average. McGary is a transfer from Berkeley. Running back Joshua Jones was all-OAL two years ago, and is a tough runner at 5-10, 205. Derek Cardenas is a 5-8 speedster at wide receiver. “If he was six-feet tall, he’d be on everybody’s radar,” Washington said. The Knights play a tough non-league schedule that includes back-to-back games against Bishop O’Dowd and Acalanes before their league-opener against Oakland Tech on Oct. 15.
Season opener: Sept. 3 vs. Encinal, 7 p.m.
No. 4 OAKLAND TECH
Coach: Virdell Larkins
Spring 2021 record: 2-2
What to expect: The battle for second behind McClymonds between Oakland Tech, Castlemont and Fremont is wide open. The best player might be Qai Smith, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound offensive guard and defensive tackle who impressed at summer camps, according to coach Virdell Larkins. ”He’s a good leader who will be an anchor for this team,” Larkins said. Omar Staples, who doubles at tight end and outside linebacker, should be another key player for Tech. The team also is expecting big things from junior defensive back/wide receiver Anthony Alonzo, a transfer from Las Lomas.
Season opener: Aug. 27 vs. Mission-San Francisco, 7 p.m.
No. 5 SKYLINE
Coach: Koresh “KC” Adams
Spring 2021 record: 3-2
What to expect: New coach KC Adams took over about a month ago from Joe Bates, who left for personal reasons and has moved to Florida. Adams was a longtime assistant under John Beam at Skyline and Laney College. The Titans’ only losses last spring were to McClymonds, but this could be a rebuilding season. Skyline has size — it might be the biggest team in the OAL — but there are questions at the skill positions. Darius Fonteno and Devynn Trahan give the Titans a pair of outstanding defensive linemen. Fonteno is a 6-0, 286-pounder whom Adams describes as a great athlete. Trahan measures 6-5, 330 and will play both ways. Skyline did lose one of the league’s better players in defensive end/tight end Tyher Howard-Thompson, who transferred to Lincoln-Stockton. Jeremy Barr is a wide receiver/cornerback who should stand out on both sides of the ball.
Season opener: Sept. 4 at Balboa-San Francisco, 2 p.m.
No. 6 OAKLAND
Coach: Brandon Allen
Spring 2021 record: 0-1
What to expect: The Wildcats played one game last season, lost to McClymonds 60-0, and shut it down. Coach Brandon Allen said this season will be a learning experience for him and his players, but his goal is to bring the “Oakland High football program back to prominence.” A key player this year will be senior quarterback Ryan Gistarb. On the defensive side, keep an eye on defensive end Elian Montano. A native of El Salvador, this will be just his third year playing football, but Allen said he already is one of the best players on the team. Academically, he’s a 4.0 student.
Season opener: Sept. 10 at Pinole Valley, 7 p.m.
