Game of the Week: Sierra Canyon hosting Bishop Amat in much-anticipated Mission League debut
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DAILY NEWS GAME OF THE WEEK
Bishop Amat (4-1) at No. 4 Sierra Canyon (2-3), 7 p.m.
This is a big one for a lot of reasons.
Sierra Canyon will play in its first-ever Mission League football game Friday night when it hosts league veteran Bishop Amat. The Lancers won the league in unbeaten fashion in 2019 and finished second behind Alemany last fall.
It will be business as usual for the Lancers, who’ve won every game this season handedly except for its run-in with St. John Bosco (a 42-7 loss), but then again, there’s rarely a team that wins a run-in with Bosco nowadays. Despite the loss, it’s fair to say there’s nothing Sierra Canyon has that Bishop Amat hasn’t seen talent-wise after a game with the SJB.
Comparatively, Sierra Canyon is having one of its most underwhelming seasons ever. Coach Jon Ellinghouse has been transparent about the program’s woes this season, which include lopsided losses to JSerra, Oaks Christian, and the most glaring, Mission Viejo, 41-0.
“The fashion in which we are losing this year is uncommon for this program,” Ellinghouse told the Daily News earlier this month.
The Trailblazers’ two wins are over Green Valley of Nevada and Westlake High. Those teams are a combined 3-7 this season. However, this Friday could be an example of how league play can cue a fresh start, because how a team performs in league play is all that matters.
Sierra Canyon is loaded with talent. Terrell Cooks and Dane Dunn in the backfield. Jojo Phillips and LaVon Brown out wide. The defense is led by Stanford-bound lineman Cameron Brandt, safety Ruben Gamboa, and a pair of hard-hitting linebackers in Xavier White and Carmel Crunk.
Could this be the week Sierra Canyon puts it together?
It might be the best chance to, especially after a bye week. The biggest question mark has been the quarterback position which is still being split by Alonzo Esparza and Damon Wrighster. Neither have solidified their two feet as the signal caller this season.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM AMAT
The Lancers have been led by junior Richie Munoz at quarterback. He was an All-Mission League 1st Team Defense selection as a sophomore last season, now he’s behind center and has his team 4-1. It’s impressive.
He’s not been playing defense this season, but that could start changing Friday night now that Damien transfer Frankie Vilalbazo is available. Vilalbazo is a talented dual-threat sophomore that could make his debut this week. There’s no indication that he’ll start (seems unlikely), but he’s expected to play.
Then there’s wide receiver and defensive back Delano Franklin, a 3-star rated athlete with offers from Miami, Florida State, Ole Miss and Georgia, among of a bevy of others. Cal-commit Tiumalu Afalava will pose a threat up front and junior linebacker Stacy Bey are the other standout playmakers for the Lancers.
Prediction: Bishop Amat. Sierra Canyon has yet to put a complete game together this season against top-notch competition and need to still prove its capable.