No. 15 Pleasant Grove Eagles (6-2, 3-0) vs. No. 3 Folsom Bulldogs (8-0, 3-0)

When: 7:15 p.m. today.

Where: Folsom High School.

Last meeting: Pleasant Grove won 24-20 in 2007.

Pleasant Grove update: The Eagles started the season strongly, sputtered a bit and have since rebounded with a chance to retain their Delta River Valley league title. Tailback Michael Madkins (1,147 yards, 10 touchdowns) is the key. Should Folsom take a big lead, it'll be up to quarterback Taylor Congdon to rally. And Folsom is known to take huge leads.

Folsom update: The Bulldogs are cruising toward their best season since 1990, when they went 13-0, with a prolific offense behind regional Player of the Year candidate David Graves and a defense that includes tackling machine Jared Trainor (16.1 stops a game).

Outlook: The winner likely earns some home playoff games, and the loser takes the harder trek toward the City Championship. So yes, this one matters.

– Joe Davidson

No. 19 Elk Grove Thundering Herd (5-3, 2-2) vs. No. 9 Nevada Union Miners (7-1, 3-1)

When: 7:15 p.m. today.

Where: Nevada Union High School.

Last meeting: Elk Grove won 39-13 in 2007.

Elk Grove update: Not long ago, Elk Grove was 4-0, ranked No. 4 and playing as well as ever. Then a three-game skid threw a wrench into the machine, though a win here could serve as a real blow to the Miners and boost the Herd significantly in the playoff picture. Brooke Brooks leads the Herd ground game.

Nevada Union update: NU played admirably in the muck in falling to Laguna Creek 13-7, and now the Miners return to their synthetic turf, which feels like motoring downhill when the wing-T is humming. Cameron Ryan is the main weapon on offense as a halfback. Junior linebacker Zach Vallejo is one of the top talents in the section.

Outlook: It's a homecoming for Herd coach Chris Nixon, who played wide receiver for his coaching dad, Marshall, at NU in the early 1980s. NU, however, has rolled at home in 2008.

– Joe Davidson

No. 14 Woodcreek Timberwolves (5-3, 3-0) vs. No. 6 Roseville Tigers (6-2, 3-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. today.

Where: Roseville High School.

Last meeting: Roseville won 35-15 in 2007.

Woodcreek update: It's one thing to win five games after going winless the year before. It's another thing to be in contention for the Sierra Foothill League title. That's how far the T-wolves have come. Junior running back James Nunley is their catalyst with 1,181 rushing yards. But senior quarterback Tommy Murphy has been steady, throwing for at least 149 yards and a touchdown in his last two games.

Roseville update: The Tigers are beaming after their 35-34 victory over previously No. 1 Granite Bay last week. A year after missing the playoffs last year despite an 8-2 record, the Tigers have a chance to win the SFL title and earn their first playoff berth since 2006. The team's hopes rest on the shoulders of senior quarterback Mike Moreno. He passed for 245 yards and three touchdowns last week.

Outlook: The winner moves one step closer to claiming the SFL title. That would be a huge accomplishment because Granite Bay and Del Oro were the favorites.

– Quwan Spears

No. 2 Casa Roble Rams (8-0, 3-0) vs. No. 12 Del Campo Cougars (7-1, 2-1)

When: 7 p.m. today.

Where: Del Campo High School.

Last meeting: Casa Roble won 14-10 in 2007.

Del Campo update: The coach in Mike Dimino would love to have star running back-quarterback and linebacker Ryan Dimino back in the lineup for this showdown game. But the father in him wants to make sure that his gifted son, who dislocated his right shoulder in a practice last week before the Cougars' 24-20 loss to No. 11 Rio Americano on Friday, is healthy enough to risk playing. "Right now, with four starters out on defense and two on offense, we are not the same team we were earlier this season," Mike Dimino said.

Casa Roble update: The Rams continue their impressive run and this week have climbed to the top of ESPN-CalHiSports.com's Northern California Division II state bowl rankings. Matt Satchwell is averaging more than 12 yards a carry (96 carries, 1,164 yards) and has 17 rushing touchdowns, Sam Martinez has passed for 1,439 yards and 20 scores, and wide receiver Tristan Baer appears headed for a 1,000-yard season with 37 catches for 829 yards and 15 touchdowns. Defensively, Jaycob Shoemaker is averaging nearly 12 tackles a game.

Outlook: Del Campo can move back into the league title race with an upset in what has been a spirited rivalry between the two schools the past seven seasons. Otherwise, the Cougars likely will face a Week 10 showdown with Bella Vista for the league's No. 3 playoff spot.

– Bill Paterson

Lindhurst Blazers (6-2, 4-0) vs. Capital Christian Cougars (4-4, 3-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today.

Where: Capital Christian High School.

Last meeting: Lindhurst won 26-25 in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI final in 2007.

Lindhurst update: The Blazers pursue a third consecutive section championship under first-year coach Scott Albertson. Lurrell Johnson, who Capital Christian coach Karl Zierhut says is the best running back his team will face, averages nearly 10 yards a carry (134 for 1,329 yards) behind a line anchored by Josh Jackson. Quarterback Rick Davis has 1,723 passing yards and 18 touchdowns.

Capital Christian update: The Cougars are trying to rebound from what Zierhurt called a "perfect storm" 34-21 Halloween loss at Marysville on Friday. Kicking star Brandon Greenly (ruptured spleen) and wide receiver standout Spencer Hagan (concussion) were taken to an area hospital, two key starters were benched for disciplinary reasons, and the Cougars' usually sure-handed receiving corps dropped 11 balls in the rain. Greenly is out for the season, and Hagan is questionable for tonight. Junior quarterback James Lee continues to excel (2,107 passing yards, 25 touchdowns).

Outlook: The Cougars need a win to maintain their league title hopes and avoid what could evolve into a final week game Nov. 14 against Golden Sierra for a playoff berth.

– Bill Paterson