Bishop-O'Dowd-Seaside football

If you're into celebrity sightings or star gazing, and perhaps a little football, Seaside High could be a hot spot on Friday.

 Bishop O'Dowd brings more than just a cast of potential Division I prospects on road trips. From its coach to its personnel, the names on the back of the jerseys are of bay area icons.

 "We won't see a better team all year," Seaside coach Al Avila said. "The program has a reputation for putting players in college. There's a lot of talent on that roster."

 Starting with quarterback Jesse Madden, whose grandfather is Oakland Raiders Hall of Fame coach John Madden.

 One of Madden's targets is 6-foot-4 flanker Sterling Stokes, whose father is former 49ers receiver J.J. Stokes.

 Tailback Nehemiah Kaufman's dad is former Raiders running back Napoleon Kaufman, who is also the Dragons head coach.

 "Madden's grandson can run and throw," Avila said. "He puts the ball in some tight windows. Stokes' kid is a big target. Kaufman can flat out run."

 Based out of Oakland, Bishop O'Dowd won a state title last year at 12-2, with its only losses coming from national power De La Salle and St. Mary's of Stockton.

 "This will be more of a gauge for us," Avila said. "We have seen them in person and on film. Bishop sort of reminds me of our 2006 team -- so many good athletes."

 That 2006 team Avila was referring to won the programs first ever Central Coast Section title. Two players ended up in the NFL while three more earned Division I scholarships.

 The Dragons fell in their opener 27-14 to defending North Coast Section champion Los Lomas, who was 12-1 last year and is off to a 2-0 start this fall.

 Seaside equaled its entire win total from 2018 last week, holding Marina to five yards in total offense in a 48-0 season opening win.

 "I told the guys after the game to pump the brakes," Avila said. "Don't get too excited. This will be a different level of football. The mistakes we made last week will haunt us if we don't tighten up."

 Last fall Seaside went up to Bishop O'Dowd after a crushing loss to Monterey with just 19 players, absorbing a 49-6 pounding.

 "Their first series was a seven minute drive," Avila recalled. "We made them work for their yardage with the guys we had. We just wore down in the second half, like we did the entire season."

 Where the Spartans match up better this year is on the interior lines, where Kefu Leander and Tevita Kamitoni are a menacing presence on both sides of the ball.

 "I believe we'll match up with anyone in the trenches," Avila said. "We have to play at another level. Bishop will man you up. You have to be able to run the ball."

 As big of a measuring stick as this could be for the Spartans, Avila could sit five starters if he doesn't see enough progress in their health from nagging injuries.

 "I need these kids healthy for league," Avila said. "This game won't define our season. But it will tell us what we're about."

 Despite recording its highest point total since 2012, Avila walked out of film last Sunday with an eye on fixing a lot of mental mistakes for this week.

 "Just little things," Avila said. "But we can not have a missed assignment or blown coverage against this team. Everything has to be real tight."

 With the 308-pound Leander and Kamitoni providing protection, quarterback Tristan Cortez tossed three touchdowns in the first half last week while Bubba Quenga rushed for two.

 "We have so much room for improvement," Avila said. "Our skilled guys will get better. Can we play with Bishop? Yes. Could we get blown out? Yes. I hope our kids are ready to play."