Charlie Hwang is the top returning running back for the Matadors, who will play their first home game at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, against Alhambra. And even though it’s only the second game of the season, a win over the Bulldogs could cement a postseason berth for Nick Safir’s team.
Though the games that people remember are the games late in the season – against Campolindo, say, or in the playoffs – those preseason games that are quickly forgotten by fans are much more important to coaches.
For example, game two in the 2025 Miramonte season is a home game against Alhambra, a team that was 3-7 last year and is far removed from the glory days of Bulldog football. But Mats’ coach Nick Safir isn’t looking past a team Miramonte beat 44-0 last season, as a win on Sept. 5 could guarantee a postseason berth.
And games like Windsor, a top 15 team in North Coast Section in 2024, are keys in preparing for Diablo Athletic Play and postseason success.
So here’s a game-by-game look at Miramonte’s preseason, which runs the gamut from we-should-win to competitive to hoping-for-an-upset:
At Oakland Tech, Aug. 29: “I’m wary of this game,” said Safir, even though Miramonte romped last season, 42-6. The Bulldogs have a new coach who takes over a team “that was very young last year.” So not only must the Mats try to adjust on the fly to a new coach’s system, they also must expect improvement up and down the roster. And, as Safir, pointed out, “They have the athletes.”
Alhambra, Sept. 5: “The first home game is always special,” said Safir, but this one is special in another way. There are several ways to qualify for the NCS playoffs, but one of them is to have a .500 record against teams in your own division – which in Miramonte’s case, is Division 5. Alhambra is one of two Division 5 teams on the schedule, so a win here would guarantee Miramonte a .500 record against Division 5 schools, and thus a spot in postseason.
And since the score last year in Martinez was 44-0, a solid effort in the first home game should put to bed any concerns about qualifying for NCS.
Montgomery, Sept. 12: This is the first of a home-and-home with another team with a new coach, though with two games of film to examine, there shouldn’t be too many surprises. But that new coach, Anthony Baustista, was hired late in the process and as a result, the Vikings lost several talented players who transferred to other schools. Still, Montgomery is a step up from the first two games, most likely and fits one of Safir’s scheduling goals: “I want to play quality teams.”
At Benicia, Sept. 19: The second of three crossover games the Diablo Athletic League mandates, Benicia will have a different look by hiring former Denver Bronco running back C. J. Anderson as head coach. Anderson had some high school success at Monte Vista, and has returned from a college gig to install the Broncos’ system in Benicia. “They are extremely physical,” said Safir, “and we’re expecting them to be much improved.”
At Windsor, Sept. 26: Much will be revealed in this game, as Windsor will be a step up in talent and tradition – not to mention it’s two hours (traffic gods willing) to the north. “It’s a nice long drive to a tough opponent,” said Safir. “I want to play one elite team in preseason, and that’s Windsor. This game is about getting ready for the intensity of our league season.”
Windsor went toe-to-toe with North Bay powers Cardinal Newman and Marin Catholic last year, and lost to NorCal champion Amador Valley by nine in the Division 3 semis, so this one will definitely be a challenge.
At College Park, Oct. 3: Long-time Miramonte coach Jack Schram is in his second season at College Park, and after losing in the last 30 seconds last season, Schram and his team will be out for payback this fall. “They didn’t like how the game went last year,” said Safir (the final was 41-37), and given another year in Schram’s system, the Falcons should be even better offensively. And Safir expects an energized home crowd, though the Mats should be accustomed to playing the villain since it will be their fourth road game, and third in a row.
Then comes league play, with matchups against Clayton Valley, Acalanes, Campolindo and of course, the big Homecoming game against Las Lomas Oct. 24, which will celebrate Miramonte’s 70th anniversary. Safir is confident, though, that the preseason schedule will have the Mats fully prepared for the DAL gantlet.
“We’re not taking any weeks off,” he said. “We’ll be ready.”
