Daily Countdown: The best high school football teams in the area — covered by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News and Whittier Daily News — are ranked in the preseason Top 10. The countdown will conclude with the top team unveiled on Saturday.
NO. 3 ST. FRANCIS
2021 record: 10-3; Angelus League co-champions (2-1); lost in CIF-SS Division 4 final
Strengths: The Golden Knights, who reached the CIF-SS Division 4 final last season, replace star RB Max Garrison with all-purpose back Devyn Turner, a senior transfer from Allen, Texas. Golden Knights coach Dean Herrington calls Turner the best pass-catching back he’s ever coached. That’s a big endorsement. Turner rushed for 1,046 yards with 18 touchdowns to help his team to an 11-3 record in Texas, and rushed for 100 yards in four games. At QB, the Knights return 6-foot-6 Jack Jacobs for his senior season. In 2021, he threw for 1,927 yards and 10 touchdowns and was one of the area’s best rushing QBs with 533 yards. When you add three senior wide receivers via transfers — DruShun Phillips (Turner’s cousin) from Georgia, Antonio Merlos from Notre Dame and Hank Foley from Santa Monica — it’s no wonder Herrington thinks this offense will more explosive than last year’s team. Offensive linemen Racin Delgatty, who has offers from Arizona State, Nevada and others, and junior Phillip Ocono, who has an offer to San Jose State, are as good as it gets up front. The Golden Knights could get in trouble on defense, where they have holes to fill and depth could become an issue. But overall, on paper, they’re solid as usual.
Outlook: Adding Paraclete and Cathedral to the Angelus League will spice things up this season, but St. Francis, Loyola and St. Paul still look like the teams to beat. St. Francis’ toughest nonleague game might be its opener against West Ranch. If it wins, it has a good chance to run the table during nonleague and looks like a squad that can finish 9-1 or 8-2, and that could earn the Knights a spot in the Division 3 or 4 playoffs. When you have an offensive-minded coach like Herrington and a confident quarterback like Jacobs with weapons galore and a talented running back transferring in, watch out. Better than last year’s finalist team? Very possible.
Coach Herrington said: “Our offense is light years ahead of last year. (QB Jack) Jacobs has weapons this year to throw to. We had to put our second- and third-string running backs at wide receiver last year. (RB Devyn) Turner is as good a pass-catching running back I’ve ever coached. Defense is questionable with only three starters returning.”
Top returning players offense
Jack Jacobs, QB, Sr.; Angelus League first team, All-CIF-SS Div. 4
Racin Delgatty, OL, Sr.; Angelus League first team, All-CIF-SS Div. 4
Phillip Ocon, OL, Jr.; Angelus League first team, All-CIF-SS Div. 4
TE Preston Jernegan, TE, Jr.; Angelus League first team, All-CIF-SS Div. 4
Jett McCullough, WR, Sr.
Naasir Asiata-Tatum, Guard, Sr.
Top returning players defense
LB Preston Jernegan, LB, Jr.; Angelus League first team, All-CIF Div. 4
Phillip Ocon, DT, Jr.
Racin Delagtty, DL, Sr.
John Calmette, LB, Jr.
Top newcomers & transfers
Devyn Turner, RB, Sr.; transfer from Allen, Texas
DruShun Phillips, WR/FS, Sr.; transfer from North Springs, Georgia
Antonio Merlos, WR, Sr.; transfer from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame
Hank Foley, WR/DB, Sr.; transfer from Santa Monica
Alex Juarez, DE, Jr.; transfer from Paraclete
2022 SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 vs. West Ranch at Valencia HS
Aug. 26 at Mira Costa
Sept. 2 at Millikan
Sept. 9 vs. St. Pius X-St. Matthias
Sept. 16 vs. Muir
Sept. 30 vs. Paraclete*
Oct. 7 at Cathedral*
Oct. 14 vs. Crespi*
Oct. 21 vs. St. Paul*
Oct. 28 at Loyola*
* league game
– Fred Robledo