DIVISION I

FAVORITE

• Pleasant Grove (9-1): Eagles boast great lines, fast backs, emerging QB in Cody Demps, composed coach in Joe Cattolico; eager for rematch with Lincoln (its only loss this season).

CONTENDERS

• Lincoln-Stockton (9-1): Trojans have wins against Pleasant Grove and Grant, and feature dominant run game; may have to get past Nevada Union and Granite Bay.

• Granite Bay (8-2): Grizzlies beat Stockton's St. Mary's, which beat Lincoln; excellent QB leader in Brendan Keeney. Can defense stop the run?

• Grant (7-3): If one player makes a difference, then say hello again to Shaq Thompson; improving defense could draw Pleasant Grove in semifinal.

• Nevada Union (7-3): Close losses to Del Oro and Granite Bay prevented 9-1 mark; QB Kyle Cota, LB Tanner Vallejo are keys.

DARK HORSE

• Burbank (9-1): Titans lost only to Grant, and have athletes and coaching staff to topple teams at their new home stadium.

– Joe Davidson

DIVISION II

FAVORITE

• Elk Grove (10-0): Wins over Nevada Union, Grant, Franklin; clock-chewing run game, spirited defense, excellent coaching have fueled revival.

CONTENDERS

• Folsom (8-2): Never count out a Kris Richardson-coached team, especially with red-hot QB Tanner Trosin setting records. How will defense do?

• Buhach Colony-Atwater (10-0): Two national recruit linemen boost run game, but how good was the schedule? Not nearly as tough as others.

• Vacaville (9-1): Bulldogs live to run, can defend the run and have a win against Granite Bay. Can they pass in a pinch?

• St. Mary's-Stockton (8-2): Losses were to Granite Bay and Concord's De La Salle; excellent balance on offense, superbly coached by Tony Franks.

DARK HORSE

• Inderkum (9-1): Young team with four senior starters has coach Terry Stark optimistic and beaming. Tigers can run, but can they pass if they get behind?

– Joe Davidson

DIVISION III

FAVORITE

• Del Oro (9-1): Line play, offensive balance and unsung difference-makers in Tanner Huber, Alex Bertrando and Russell Smith make for title team and bowl hopes.

CONTENDERS

• Oakdale (10-0): Mustangs eager for title rematch with Del Oro and boast one of program's greatest teams; can run and defend.

• Casa Roble (8-2): QB Mitch Samson concerns all defenses; Rams' defense has improved tremendously; could get rematch with Oakdale in semifinal round.

• Whitney (8-2): Wildcats have no easy road, particularly if Del Oro looms, but QB Jake Rodrigues is one of section's top talents as a passer and a runner.

• Vista del Lago (7-3): Eagles seek first playoff win under coach Chris Jones, and with record-breaking WR Logan Smith, sky really is the limit.

DARK HORSE

• Cosumnes Oaks (7-3): Excellent leader in do-all talent Marcus Rios; great team speed and run game, but stopping the run has been a defensive concern all season.

– Joe Davidson

DIVISION IV

FAVORITE

• Escalon (10-0): Of all the great teams the Cougars have produced, this could emerge as the best, which is a scary prospect for the rest of the field.

CONTENDERS

• Colfax (10-0): Offensive balance this season brings to mind previous four title teams; Falcons have won 17 of 18 games dating to last season.

• Central Catholic-Modesto (8-2): Raiders have a one-point loss to St. Mary's and seven-point setback to Los Banos, and program has great culture of success (15 section titles).

• Liberty Ranch (7-3): From 1-9 to this, and no challenge has been too great; excellent RB in John Wiernicki. Will first-time playoff nerves boost or burn team?

DARK HORSE

• Argonaut (9-1): One-loss teams generally don't get listed here, but look who shares the upper bracket with the Mustangs: Escalon.

– Joe Davidson

DIVISION V

FAVORITE

• Le Grand (10-0): The combination of QB Alex Bucio (34 TD passes, two interceptions), RB Daniel Guizar (1,498 rushing yards) and WR Zachary Moreno (1,178 receiving yards) makes the defending champions an overwhelming favorite to repeat.

CONTENDERS

• Millennium-Tracy (10-0): Run-pass threat QB Jamani Woods fuels the upset-minded Falcons.

• Highlands (8-2): The Scots seek redemption after last season's 61-7 loss to Le Grand in the Grape Bowl finale; QB Kurtis Stamm and section sack leader Ray Edwards (19.5) are a year older and wiser.

DARK HORSE

• Rio Vista (8-2): Rams could go far with RB Javis Blalock, a blazer averaging nearly 20 yards a carry.

– Bill Paterson

DIVISION VI

FAVORITE

• Bradshaw Christian (9-1): The Pride makes its fifth straight playoff appearance and seeks a third section title in four years by doing what it does best – run, baby, run.

CONTENDERS

• Foresthill (9-1): The Wildfires, the pride of the foothills and the section's smallest public school football program, have heady leaders in QB Tom Sawyer and DB Nick Gleason and are riding a nine-game winning streak.

• Ripon Christian (6-4): With former NFL quarterback and Del Oro star Randy Fasani calling the offensive plays, the Knights seek more than just their first postseason football win in school history.

DARK HORSE

• Vacaville Christian (6-4): The Falcons' record is misleading as three league losses came to D-V teams, the other to league champion Bradshaw Christian.

– Bill Paterson

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