With the 2014-2015 prep sports season now officially over, it's time to once again start talking about football.

The San Pedro High football team went 11-2 during the 2014 season, ending up as one of three co-champions in the ultra-competitive Marine League, and reached the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division I semifinals, where it fell short in a 33-30 loss to league nemesis Carson, whom the Pirates defeated 17-15 in the 2014 season finale to forge a share of the title with both the Colts and eventual Division I champion Narbonne of Harbor City. An experienced team eager to get things rolling for 2015 sounds like it may be another promising year for the Pirates and head coach Mike Walsh, who enters his 25th season at the helm.

For the first time in a while, San Pedro's 2015 schedule is even with five games on the road, and five games at their friendly confines of Pirate Stadium. The set of opponents appears to be their toughest to date but the good news is... there is no sign of Locke of Los Angeles on the docket for the first time since the 2004 season.

However, the season opener on August 28 at Downey High will be a test, considering the Vikings were CIF-Southern Section Northeast Division runner-ups a season ago. The September 3 home opener against Roosevelt of Los Angeles is a rematch of last year's Division I first round game, which the Pirates won, 28-7 at San Pedro High.

San Pedro also plays at Redondo Union on September 11 as the Pirates renew their cross-beach battle with the Sea Hawks after a year absence. Redondo won the prior two meetings, 13-9 at San Pedro in 2012, and rallying to win 25-24 at Redondo in 2013.

Another notable game on the schedule is their Marine League opener on October 9 against Harbor Area neighbor Banning of Wilmington at Banning High considering the 79th all-time meeting with the Pilots takes on a whole new meaning with San Pedro now leading the all-time series (38-37-3). Banning is heavily improved and will be more than a formidable opponent despite San Pedro winning the last seven and 11 out of their last 12 meetings.

The one game ALL San Pedro fans will look forward to will most assuredly be the finale on November 6 when Narbonne comes to town. If the Pirates are victorious against Banning and at Carson on October 30, their annual rivalry duel with the CIF-LACS Division I odds-on favored Gauchos may determine the Marine League title.

Even the season opening scrimmage on August 21 will challenge the Pirates, as they will take on reigning CIF-SS Western Division champion Palos Verdes providing San Pedro a great chance to prove themselves right away a week before traveling to Downey.

San Pedro's top returning players for the 2015 season includes returning Marine League Defensive Player Of The Year Antonio 'A.J.' Frazier, also a two-time Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass and All-City selection. Senior quarterback Jacob Miller returns for his third year as a starter, while senior tight end Mike Spinosa is a returning All-City standout and Marine League Co-Lineman Of The Year.

Senior WR/DB Christian Michaels and senior RB/DE Donte Huddleston also returns, while juniors WR/DB Mikey Hernandez Jr., linebacker Nick Zabatta and wide receiver Raymond Geha all have great upsides.

SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL 2015 SCHEDULE (* - Denotes Marine League Game)

Friday 8/21 vs. Palos Verdes @ SPHS (Scrimmage - Times TBD)

Friday 8/28 @ Downey (7 pm)

Thursday 9/3 vs. Roosevelt @ SPHS (7 pm)

Friday 9/11 @ Redondo Union (7 pm)

Friday 9/18 vs. Culver City @ SPHS (7 pm)

Friday 9/25 - BYE WEEK

Friday 10/2 vs. Fairfax @ SPHS (7 pm)

Friday 10/9 @ Banning* (7 pm)

Friday 10/16 @ Washington Prep (7 pm)

Friday 10/23 vs. Gardena @ SPHS (7 pm)

Friday 10/30 @ Carson (7 pm)

Friday 11/7 vs. Narbonne @ SPHS (7 pm)