Serra Vs. Valley Christian Preview: Players To Watch

Week 1 on the WCAL schedule will start with a splash with both Valley Christian and Serra facing off to start the season. Already two of the top teams in the tough and physical WCAL, both schools have plenty of Division 1 players on both sides of the ball and a hand full of others that can play at the collegiate level. Below we will break down some of the top players from both teams across all classes that will look to make their mark in one of the toughest and most competitive leagues in the entire state.   [player_tooltip player_id="25284" first="Hassan" last="Mahasin"]-Serra Hands down one of the most electric playmakers in the entire state, Mahasin has a good combination of lower body strength and initial burst/top end speed with the ability to go the distance every time he touches the ball. Quick in and out of his breaks while flashing strong hands, he is able to make defenders miss in space and shows good vision in traffic while possessing elite return and YAC ability. Mahasin currently holds multiple FBS offers and will have 15+ by the time it’s all said and done.   Drew Azzopardi-Serra One of the most athletic lineman in the entire Bay Area with an FBS caliber frame and overall athleticism. Showing terrific lateral movement ability and movement skills with natural hip/ankle flexibility while displaying a strong punch, Azzopardi is poised for a break out season for the Padres and will be well known across the region in the coming months.   [player_tooltip player_id="25218" first="Sioeli" last="Helu"]-Serra One of the the top interior defenders in all of Northern California, Helu is currently signed with New Mexico State and is an impressive run defender that is strong enough to two gap and win with strong hands, inside hand placement and a low pad level following an explosive first step. Able to get off blocks and defeat reach/double teams, Helu will look to continue his WCAL dominance this Spring season for the Padres defense.   [player_tooltip player_id="25097" first="Christian" last="Pedersen"]-Serra Already committed to Louiville, Pedersen is a devastating blocker that plays with great physicality and punch at the point of attack while finishing blocks and sustaining them in space. Moving well for his size with fluid hips and a big catch radius, he is a very balanced in-line tight end that will make an impact in the ACC in the coming years and will be one of the top players in the entire state this Spring season.   David Silk-Serra A shifty slot receiver with a quick release off the line without taking false steps, Silk is an underneath threat that is a YAC machine that can also pose as a vertical threat due to setting up his routes and top end speed. Also showing good short area quickness and balance with the ball in his hands, Silk will be one of the top WR’s in the WCAL this season.   Fynn Williams-Serra A downhill, smart and well put together thumper on both sides of the ball, Williams is coming off a solid Junior season in which he contributed to one of the top teams in the state. Williams is a downhill inside linebacker that reads plays quickly while taking good angles to ball carriers both in space and between the tackles in traffic while brining a good thump upon contact and playing with good toughness and physicality.   Andrew Stewart-Serra Playing mostly the Sam linebacker for the Padres last season, Stewart is a very explosive defender that flashes terrific closing speed and open field tackling ability while showing a high football IQ and natural instincts in zone coverage. A high motor player that has quick play recognition, he should start to see college interest come his way after his Spring season.   Malakai Hoeft-Serra Playing mostly strong safety last season, the long and rangy prospect is a very impressive third level defender that can cover a ton of ground and is not afraid to drop down and play in the box/take on blockers and pullers. Displaying good overall speed and an ideal frame for the position, Hoeft also shows natural ball skills and fluid hips in coverage while breaking well to ball carriers and playing with great physicality and toughness.   Clark Khephren-Serra An up and coming edge rusher in the WCAL with plus length and frame, Khephren is a young but talented pass rusher that should have a break out season for the Padres this spring. Active hands and natural bend around the edge while winning with physicality at the POA will land him on college radars in the coming months.   Dominique Lampkin-Serra Stepping in and filling in nicely after the starting quarterback went down last season, Lampkin is a tremendous overall athlete that holds offers to Illinoise State and Fresno State going into his Junior season and will add plenty more through the Spring and Summer. A true Dual-Threat quarterback, Lampkin is a natural long strider with sneaky third level speed and can push the ball vertically into tight windows while making good decisions in the pocket and scanning the field well through out his progressions.   Eric Myers-Serra Although a bit undersized, Myers makes up for it with toughness and physicality from the linebacker and edge rusher position. A very versatile defender that can play at the second level or at defensive end, Myers can get off blocks in a hurry while having a strong initial shock and good closing speed in the open field. As he enters into his Senior season he should draw some D-II and D-III interest and would make an impact for any school at the next level.   Tyler Roberts-Valley Christian Another WCAL player that is already signed, Roberts is a force on both sides of the ball from the tight end and defensive end position and moves well for his size with strong hands and a physical blocker in the box.   [player_tooltip player_id="25372" first="Jurrion" last="Dickey"]-Valley Christian Ranked as a 4-Star recruit and one of the top prospects in the entire country for the 2023 class, Dickey is a dominant weapon that has a rare combination of size, movement ability and speed. A true home run threat with strong hands and high point ability, Dickey is explosive after the catch and can stretch the field with his third level speed and physicality on smaller defenders. After a dominating Freshman campaign he will look to continue where he left off last season.   Jackson Berman-Valley Christian A very impressive two way player for the Warriors, Berman is a phenomenal overall athlete with good speed and lateral agility with the ball in his hands. From the corner position, he is a sound tackler that is not afraid to drop down and bring a good thump upon contact and also has impressive return ability due to patience and a good initial burst.   Will Cuddie-Valley Christian Although a bit undersized for the linebacker position, Cuddie is a true throwback player that plays with tremendous effort and is the anchor to the Warriors defense. A very smart player that is physical in the box and can take on blocks with good pad level and pop, he is fast enough to track down ball carriers from behind and cover/break in space. With two years left, he will continue to be a top linebacker in the WCAL in the future and has college playing abilities.   Nehemiah Muskia-Valley Christian The rising Junior is a physical blocker in the box and can get downhill in a hurry. Muskia has a quick and powerful first step while exploding out of his stance with a strong first punch and leg drive through out first level blocks. Moving well enough to be an effective puller and efficiently get to the play-side shoulder on reach blocks, he is light on his feet and does a good job at controlling defenders with his hands. As he continues to grow, he could see himself playing at the FBS or FCS level from the interior OL position   Marcus Failla-Valley Christian A massive human being that plays with great power and physicality, he projects as a guard at the next level and is one of the toughest lineman in the region. Displaying heavy hands in pass pro with a strong and balanced base and the ability to recover when setting counter moves and finishing blocks with physicality and good leg drive, Failla will have another dominating season that should land him on FCS and some FBS boards this Spring.   [player_tooltip player_id="25147" first="Dominic" last="Oliver"]-Valley Christian One of the top prospects in the 2021 class within the entire state, Oliver is an elite pass rusher and is currently signed to play at SDSU. A natural bender that has a great first step get off and can flip his hips in a hurry, he flashes a quick use of hands at the POA and understands pass rush angles and using blockers weight against them. Oliver also has great closing speed and can play/tackle in space.   Max Dickson-Valley Christian The rising senior is coming off a solid junior season in which he played mostly from the 3-tech position. Displaying the ability to create good knock-back and reseting the LOS while flashing good extension to keep blockers away from his chest, Dickson is a very good interior defender that is athletic enough to rush the passer and convert speed to power in a hurry.   Chase Laubach-Valley Christian A true downhill thumping power back, Laubach is a low to the ground and very strong ball carrier with tremendous balance and natural forward lean. Running behind his pads, he can run through initial contact with good leg drive and is very hard to bring down in traffic while also showing good open field speed at the third level.