The Bee's Joe Davidson breaks down five notable games tonight.
No. 6 Granite Bay (3-3) at No. 10 Rocklin (3-3), 7:30 p.m.
Both teams played brutal early schedules and are a bounce or two from winning records. None of that matters tonight, with the winner improving to 2-0 in the Sierra Foothill League scramble that also includes Del Oro and Nevada Union. Granite Bay quarterback Grant Carraway has been strong, while Rocklin features two passers in Daniel Kniffin and Logan Webb. Both will test the Grizzlies' defense, led by linebacker Beau Hershberger.
No. 1 Elk Grove (6-0) at No. 15 Grant (2-4), 7:15 p.m.
Elk Grove has won 17 straight regular-season games, including a thriller over Grant last season en route to the Delta Valley Conference championship. Elk Grove features running backs Wadus Parker and Robert Frazier, and Grant counters with workhorse Marquise Carter-Petit. Grant, des- perate for a win to keep its playoff hopes alive, also has dangerous quarterback Isaiah Rios, who nearly led an upset over No. 2 Franklin last week.
Bear River (6-0) at No. 5 Placer (6-0), 7:30 p.m.
The Pioneer Valley League race could be decided tonight, and if last year's game between these rivals is any indication, expect a slugfest. Placer won 10-6 a year ago but is better on both sides of the ball and has the No. 1 NorCal bowl ranking in Division III. Bear River also is better this season and has won three consecutive road games with its defense and running game.
No. 8 Pleasant Grove (4-2) at No. 20 Ponderosa (5-1), 7:15 p.m.
The Bruins, already with more wins than in their previous two seasons combined, used a punishing running game and defense to beat Jesuit 17-3 in a Delta River League opener last week. Pleasant Grove is much faster than Jesuit and will unleash tailback Isaiah Saunders, who went for 268 yards and six touchdowns in a rout of Sheldon. Both quarterbacks, Dre Terrell of Pleasant Grove and Jake Bist of Ponderosa, have been spectacular at times.
Davis (4-2) vs. No. 2 Franklin (6-0) at Cosumnes Oaks, 7:15 p.m.
Franklin must avoid looking past tonight's game to next week's DVC showdown at Elk Grove, especially after the Blue Devils clobbered then-No. 18 Monterey Trail last week. Grant Dickerson passed for 212 yards and two touchdowns for Davis, completing 5 of 6 passes on fourth down, and has a deep threat in C.K. Hicks. Franklin counters with backs Kyran Harris, Christian Fonbuena and Joey Banks, and quarterback Trent Spallas.
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