And along came Poly.

Forever stung by the 2008 State Open Bowl loss to the Grant Pacers, Long Beach Poly High School coach Rob Lara eagerly accepted an invitation to come to Del Paso Heights on Saturday to try to settle a score. This is the capper of the Smackdown in Sactown Football Classic, a showcase that makes for the most intriguing out-of-region showdown in regional history.

State commissioners assigned to name state bowl entrants in 2008 mostly snickered at the idea of a Sacramento team getting a bowl nod, such was the lack of respect for the region in general.

Except for Pete Saco of the Sac-Joaquin Section, who pushed for the Pacers and promised an inspired effort. The Pacers delivered a 25-20 stunner against the Jackrabbits, then ranked No. 3 in the country. Grant won the region's first football state championship, and coach Mike Alberghini was named the National Coach of the Year, another area first.

So here comes Poly again, ranked 13th in the state by Cal-Hi Sports and motivated to get back on the national radar after going 6-6 and 8-3 the past two seasons.

"We're bringing a little something extra," Lara told reporters recently. "Grant ruined what could have been my first undefeated season as a head coach."

Poly comes in with its normal cast of superb athletes, including five who are headed to Arizona State on scholarship. Grant, typically fast and ferocious, is led by one of the nation's top recruits in tailback-safety Shaq Thompson, who vowed this week, "We'll be ready."

This is Poly's opening game. Grant, ranked No. 2 by The Bee and No. 7 in the state, showed tremendous resolve in rallying to beat Folsom 43-16. The Pacers trailed 16-7 at halftime and winced as three starting linemen suffered knee injuries, two of whom likely are out for the season. In addition, Grant is without top linebacker Abnor Toma, out for the season with a knee injury.

Still, these are the Pacers, who are always motivated.

"The good thing is the kids are hard workers, and we'll respond," Alberghini said.

Meanwhile, in Loomis – State power Westlake takes on Bee No. 3 Del Oro on Saturday in the capper of the Battle at the Capital.

Westlake is coming off a 13-1 season and boasts 6-foot-3, 295-pound Colorado commit Justin Solis on the defensive line. He'll face a superb Del Oro offensive line that includes Zach Heath and Logan Lamb and a running game of Brandon Monroe and Nick O'Sullivan that devoured Spanish Springs of Sparks, Nev., for a 54-14 win.

ESPNHS and Cal-Hi editor Mark Tennis deemed the Grant and Del Oro contests tossups.

And in the Bay Area – Folsom takes on highly regarded San Ramon Valley in the capper of the Battle in the Bay event at Diablo Valley College on Saturday in a matchup of star passers.

Folsom's Tanner Trosin passed for 345 yards against Grant (170 to J'Juan Muldrow), and San Ramon Valley has Cal-bound Zach Kline, whose team has not yet played this season.

And back at Grant – Franklin, fresh off a 33-28 win over Sheldon, now braces for another wildly athletic team in Bishop O'Dowd at Grant on Saturday afternoon. The Dragons of Oakland are coached by former NFL linebacker Hardy Nickerson, whose linebacker son plays for O'Dowd and is headed to Cal. Franklin defensive end Nate Di Donato had two sacks against Sheldon.

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