The Bee's Joe Davidson breaks down five notable games tonight in addition to No. 3 Nevada Union at No. 1 Elk Grove (all games kick off 7-7:30 p.m.):
No. 6 Oak Ridge (4-0) at Vacaville (3-1)
• The passing of Trojans quarterback Jason Samuels (10 touchdowns, one interception) and the steady running of Blake Martin and Josh Wellman will be countered by the run-heavy Bulldogs, who are seething after a 47-21 loss at Granite Bay.
No. 13 Jesuit (3-0) vs. No. 2 Franklin (4-0) at Cosumnes Oaks
• Franklin's fast defense will have its hands full with elusive Marauders quarterback Thomas Sperbeck, who can run and pass – he accounted for four touchdowns in last week's 28-23 Holy Bowl win over Christian Brothers. Does Jesuit have the speed to keep up with Wildcats running backs Steven Rogers and Christian Fonbuena?
No. 16 Del Oro (0-3) at No. 17 Grant (1-3)
• Both teams are desperate for a win. Injury-ravaged Del Oro is coming off back-to-back heartbreaking losses against state-power Westlake 16-13 in overtime and No. 5 Burbank 28-23. Star running back Brandon Monroe (knee) is questionable. The Pacers are still reeling from this week's apparent murder-suicide involving a Grant assistant coach. Will the Pacers prevail with emotion or buckle because of it?
No. 20 Yuba City (4-0) at No. 7 Placer (3-0)
• The Honkers' veer offense, featuring quarterback Taylor Elkins and running back Nate Van Duesen, will encounter a physical Hillmen defense headed by linebackers Stone Sander and Tony Suverkropp and lineman Eddie Vanderdoes. Also, Placer averages 351 rushing yards with its wing-T.
No. 9 Inderkum (3-0) at Rocklin (1-3)
• If there was ever a trap game for the sky-high Tigers, it's against the Thunder. Inderkum is fresh off a 42-28 win over then-No. 3 Pleasant Grove, and Rocklin has suffered tough losses to Pleasant Grove (35-21), Oak Ridge (16-7) and Del Campo (21-20), combined with a 6-0 win over Whitney.
WANT MORE?
Check out more previews of tonight's top games.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Marcus Green of Franklin High School isn't just the Wildcats' most physical defensive back. He's their best cover man, too. The senior had three interceptions and eight tackles in Franklin's 23-3 victory over rival Cosumnes Oaks last Friday. He was voted The Bee's Prep Football Player of the Week on sacbee.com. No. 2 Franklin (4-0) hosts Jesuit at Cosumnes Oaks tonight.
– Joe Davidson
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