OAKLAND - Castlemont halfback Anthony Ellis runs the football. McClymonds and Castlemont played in the Oakland Section championship game on Saturday, Nov. 26 2022 in Oakland Calif. (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND ATHLETIC LEAGUE
(Predicted order of finish)
No. 1 MCCLYMONDS
Coach: Michael Peters
2022 record: 12-2
What to expect: Until proven otherwise, McClymonds is still the undisputed king of the Oakland Athletic League, an elite program that expects to compete for state titles. The offensive line should be elite, with 270-pound junior Sione Vailea and 6-7 senior Ahmad Robinson paving the way for the electrifying Tajir Golden, who totaled 689 yards from scrimmage in 2022 and is converting to RB this year. Senior Jacob Wasso, a transfer from Freedom, is expected to be the starting QB. Linebackers John “Sharky” Tamale and Amir Gobar lead a defense that graduated almost its entire defensive line. Redmani Albert, Berkeley transfer Jimmy Bush and Tay’Shon Clayton are all stalwarts at DB. Kicker Isaac Espinosa has 50-yard range. McClymonds’ brutal non-league schedule includes games at Bellarmine, San Ramon Valley and De La Salle.
Season opener: Sept. 1 vs. Bellarmine at San Jose City College, 7 p.m.
No. 2 CASTLEMONT
Coach: Edward Washington
2022 record: 6-6
What to expect: After playing every game on the road while their facilities were renovated, the Knights made an unexpected appearance in the Silver Bowl. Longtime coach Ed Washington will try to maintain that momentum going into 2023, where his team is headlined by his son and junior wide receiver Elijah Washington. Washington is drawing interest from Pac-12 schools such as Washington State and Cal. Anthony Ellis, a 215-pound senior running back, should run well behind senior lineman Lamar Lewis and junior Josiah Siona. Senior safety Alex Hall is expected to make plays in the defensive backfield. The Knights will travel south to play at the storied Dorsey-Los Angeles in Week 2.
Season opener: Sept. 1 vs. St. Patrick-St. Vincent, 7 p.m.
No. 3 OAKLAND TECH
Coach: Virdell Larkins III
2022 record: 8-3
What to expect: A year after fielding arguably the best team since the Marshawn Lynch era, longtime coach Virdell Larkins III will look to talented players such as Safir Stills Bey, a defensive back who should also see time at wide receiver, to replace the production that graduated in the Spring. Samuel Towns is a quick running back who flashed talent in limited reps behind Anthony Alonzo, and lineman Master Scott is expected to be an integral part of the offensive line. The aptly-named David “Speedy” Patton IV will give Oakland Tech a burner on the perimeter.
Season opener: Aug. 25 vs Mission-San Francisco, 7 p.m.
No. 4 FREMONT-OAKLAND
Coach: Lloyd Johnson
2022 record: 5-6
What to expect: First-year coach Lloyd Johnson has some talented players expected to make a mark for Fremont, the most highly-touted being four-star and Stanford commit Naki Tuakoi. Isaiah Evans should also be one of the leaders of a hard-hitting defense. The cupboard isn’t bare offensively either, with all-OAL running back Aaron Lipscomb and his 812 yards returning for his senior year. Cameron Scarbrough is perhaps the team’s most versatile athlete, capable of playing defensive end, running back and even some wide receiver.
Season opener: Aug. 25 at College Park, 7 p.m.
No. 5 SKYLINE
Coach: Jonathan Carroll
2022 record: 2-8
What to expect: Skyline’s new coach Jonathan Carroll is something of a familiar face, acting as the school’s running backs coach from 2016-19, when the program reached the Silver Bowl. Expected to headline the offense is senior running back Antonio Stanley, who should run well behind senior guard Isaiah Jamerson and 310-pound blocker Trillion Robinson. Senior safety DeVajae Watts had six interceptions at free safety in 2022, and is expected to shine with Khalid Frinson in Skyline’s secondary. Non-league games against Balboa-San Francisco and Richmond will give Skyline a chance to get some wins before league play starts.
Season opener: Aug. 25 at Maria Carrillo, 7 p.m.
No. 6 OAKLAND
Coach: Terry Hendrix Jr.
2022 record: 0-9
What to expect: It’s a new era on MacArthur Blvd. as former Fremont-Oakland coach Terry Hendrix Jr. takes over a Wildcats program that has not won a game since 2019. He said senior speedster Joshua Oludayo will be the team’s primary playmaker, and should form a dynamic duo with former Oakland Tech quarterback Rahshann Buffin. The other side of the ball is headlined by all-OAL selection Jamar Davis at DT, whom his coach dubbed Oakland’s “knight in shining armor” and senior defender James Fatai. The new coach said the secondary, led by juniors Aaron Boulware and Ymer Belvine, should be a strength. Hendrix Jr. guaranteed that his team, which he expects to field between 20-22 players, will win at least one game this season.
Season opener: Aug. 24 at Turlock Christian, 7 p.m.
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Originally published at Joseph Dycus