High school flag football preseason rankings: Bay Area News Group Top 15

Bay Area News Group girls flag football preseason Top 15

(Mercury News & East Bay Times)

No. 1 MENLO SCHOOL

Record last season: 16-2

Coach: Noah Lubarsky

Comment: The defending CCS Open Division champions bring back top quarterback Ava Allen and are favorites to repeat.

No. 2 SAN RAMON VALLEY

Record last season: 18-6

Coach: Chad Cochran

Comment: The Wolves won the NCS Division I title last season without any seniors and return an experienced group.

No. 3 GRANADA

Record last season: 15-7

Coach: Jared Muela

Comment: The Matadors advanced to the NCS D1 final after a 13-7 upset win over top-seeded, previously unbeaten Las Lomas in the semifinals.

No. 4 LOS GATOS

Record last season: 22-6

Coach: David Claveran

Comment: The Wildcats went undefeated in league play before losing in the CCS Open Division championship to Menlo. Safety Sophie Riese is expected to make a big impact.

No. 5 ACALANES

Record last season: 17-2

Coaches: Mike Ivankovich and Joe Escobar

Comment: Coming off an NCS championship defeat to Cardinal Newman, the Dons are led by junior running back Isabelle Agnost.

No. 6 SACRED HEART PREP

Record last season: 20-3

Coach: Dennis O’Malley

Comment: Behind elite wide receiver Cate Hansen, the Gators are favorites in the WBAL.

No. 7 CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER

Record last season: 19-4

Coach: Kyle Behmlander

Comment: Coaches expect the Ugly Eagles to take a big leap this season after they weren’t quite ready in the playoffs a year ago.

No. 8 CASTRO VALLEY

Record last season: 18-8

Coach: David Pak

Comment: Castro Valley played No. 1 seed Las Lomas tough in the quarterfinals last season and has playoff experience this year.

No. 9 MENLO-ATHERTON

Record last season: 16-2

Coach: Jason Knowles

Comment: The Bears fell in the CCS Open semis last year after going on a seven-game winning streak late in the season.

No. 10 CARLMONT

Record last season: 12-5

Coach: Oscar Fabic

Comment: The Scots are expected to be back with a vengeance with many returners after a first-round exit in the Open CCS playoffs a season ago.

No. 11 LAS LOMAS

Record last season: 25-1

Coach: Tim Kruger

Comment: The Knights lost just one game last season and it was in the NCS semifinals to eventual champions Granada. QB Maggie Kruger leads them on a revenge tour.

No. 12 CALIFORNIA

Record last season: 17-4

Coach: Brad Bretzing

Comment: The Grizzlies were the No. 2 seed in the NCS Division I playoffs and in the way of San Ramon Valley’s steamroll to a title.

No. 13 LIBERTY

Record last season: 18-2

Coach: Mike Gregory

Comment: The Lions are looking to four-peat in the Bay Valley League.

No. 14 MILPITAS

Record last season: 20-7

Coach: Matt Robbins

Comment: Bren Davis enters her senior year a threat on the ground and in the air for Trojans.

No. 15 HERITAGE

Record last season: 17-3

Coach: Jason Jeffrey

Comment: Sophomore QB Lily Brakel is one of the up-and-comers to watch this season.

Editor’s note: Teams eligible for the Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The news organization’s high school staff chooses the teams.