Top 25 Northern California Coast high school football rankings (10/3/2023)
Expectations were high for the Riordan football team in 2023.
With a humbling 24-14 loss to Southern California juggernaut St. Bonaventure, the hype was quelled somewhat on Sept. 9.
But the Crusaders, with roughly a dozen top-end transfers, and some excellent parts returning from 2022, showed what all the excitement was about, following a 42-17 home win over Valley Christian on Saturday.
Sophomore quarterback Mike Mitchell Jr., one of the key returners, had a breakout game by completing 21 of 29 passes for 373 yards and a school and West Catholic Athletic League record, six touchdown passes.
The Crusaders piled up close to 500 yards against a defense that had allowed less than 10 points per game coming in. The win moved them to 4-1 and 2-0 in West Catholic Athletic League play and jumped them five spots to No. 6 in the Northern California Coast rankings, which combine four NorCal sections (North Coast, Central Coast, San Francisco and Oakland).
They were the biggest climbers of a list that largely stayed the same.