LOS ALTOS HILLS – If there is a debate about the identity of the top high school quarterback in the Bay Area, Acalanes Coach Joel Isaac would shut it down quickly.
His guy, senior Tyler Winkles, threw five touchdown passes – all in the first half – in the Dons’ season-opening 35-14 victory over Archbishop Mitty in a matchup of Bay Area News Group Top 25 teams, at Foothill College on Friday night.
“As everyone knows, he’s the best quarterback in the Bay Area,” Isaac said. “Hands down. Without a doubt.”
Winkles definitely looked the part, completing 24 of 35 passes for 323 yards, and leading a second-quarter 28-point onslaught that turned a deficit into a rout. This came after a 2,700-yard, 28-touchdown season a year ago in which the Dons went undefeated in the regular season.
Acalanes’ Finley Rivera (13) catches for a touchdown over Archbishop Mitty’s Noah Fishman (11) during the first half at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Acalanes, ranked No. 8 in the BANG Top 25, fell behind on a 90-yard TD return of the opening kickoff by Mitty’s Noah Fishman, who found room up the right side, got a block from Justin Davis, and never was touched.
And on the game’s second play from scrimmage, Mitty’s Cash Ritchie snared a one-handed interception – one of two for Mitty on the night – while the Monarchs built a 14-7 first-quarter lead.
Unfortunately for No. 22 Mitty, the door slammed shut. Acalanes held Mitty to 118 total yards, but it was the nightmarish second quarter that the Monarchs will remember.
It began with a 40-yard Winkles throw that Jackson Boselli made an adjustment on, cutting inside at the goal-line to beat the defender to the ball, tying the game. It continued with TD passes of 23 yards to Finley Rivera, and 38 yards to Boselli before the coup de grace – a 37-yarder to Rivera with no time left in the first half. The right-handed Winkles threw downfield while running to his left and it was on-target against a defense that knew he was going to go deep.
Acalanes’ Tyler Winkles (6) passes the ball against Archbishop Mitty during the first half at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
“The one thing we knew going in is that when he gets to his third step, that ball’s usually coming out pretty quick,” said Mitty coach Danny Sullivan, a quarterback at Los Gatos High and Arizona State. “He’s showing that he’s just a pure athlete. I told him after the game that I was super impressed with what he does.”
Rivera had seven catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns and Boselli had four catches for 92 and two TDs.
Winkles, who is listed at 5-11, had limited football recruitment because of his lack of height. He has committed to play baseball at Washington State. He is a middle infielder.
However, that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to up his game in football.
“I’ve really worked on decision making,” Winkles said. “But the most important part is being a leader and bringing my teammates with me. I’ve been leading by example, trying to speak up, get people on the train with me. Just keep it rolling.”
Said Isaac, “Tyler gets better every single day because he works for it.”
While Mitty’s night began ideally, it ended with both its quarterbacks shelved by injuries. Senior Tyler Bennett (4-for-13 for 35 yards and two interceptions) got the start and was relieved by sophomore Drake Coleman (3-for-9 for 35 yards) in a rotating system. Kai Imahara, a transfer from Wilcox who wouldn’t have been eligible until early October, is out for the season with a knee injury. They are the only three quarterbacks listed on the roster.
Archbishop Mitty head coach Danny Sullivan looks on during the first half against Acalanes at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Acalanes head coach Joel Isaac looks on during the first half against Archbishop Mitty at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Archbishop Mitty’s Kai Imahara (1) looks on before the game against Acalanes at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Archbishop Mitty students cheer on during the game against Acalanes at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
Archbishop Mitty’s Justin Mungaray (24) runs the ball against Acalanes during the second half at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)