Late in prep football season, teams use a bit of trickery

When high school football rivals meet, every play matters, especially with a championship at stake.

And sometimes, a bit of trickery is in order. With league races winding down, coaches are digging deep into the playbook.

On Friday in Loomis, Del Oro attempted a deep halfback pass against Oak Ridge on the game’s first play from scrimmage, but it just missed. Oak Ridge led 21-0, in part due to a 75-yard trick-play pass from Parker Barry to Cameron Stone, and the Trojans held on when Marco Baldocchino hit Kyle Brown on fourth down with just over two minutes to play, sealing a 34-32 victory.

Barry has completed all three of his pass attempts this season – two for touchdowns – for a 177.1 quarterback rating. He is among several “gritty” Oak Ridge players who have drawn praise from the coaches.

“We have been waiting for the right scenario to pull the trigger and call the play,” said Oak Rige coach Eric Cavaliere, who got the idea for the play involving Barry after watching a college game this season. “I informed the official prior to the game of this play, and was in the side judge’s ear when the play was called so he would know it was coming.”

Rankings shuffle – Oak Ridge jumped from No. 7 to No. 3 in The Sacramento Bee’s rankings after downing previous No. 3 Del Oro. The new ranking adds to the allure of the Nov. 4 regular-season finale between Oak Ridge and host No. 2 Folsom, likely for the Sierra Foothill League title.

Sheldon rose four spots to No. 5 after beating previous No. 5 Grant 20-14 on Graylon Lindsey’s 4-yard touchdown run in the closing seconds. In the regular-season finale, the Huskies host No. 4 Elk Grove, possibly for the Delta League championship.

Mr. Consistency – Lincoln’s Ryan Graham has rushed for 1,027 yards and 17 touchdowns, scoring at least twice in every game. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound senior rushed for a career-high 223 yards and two scores in a 36-35 loss to Colfax on Oct. 14. Lincoln (4-4), needing at least one win to have a shot at the playoffs, closes its Pioneer Valley League schedule against Foothill and Placer.

Bobble to bomb – Christian Brothers’ Tyler Vander Waal delivered one of the oddest touchdowns of the season last week. The senior took a snap against El Camino, lost the ball in the air for a split second, gathered it and completed a pass to Jack O’Hearn, who raced for a 61-yard touchdown with a nice block from Spencer Webb. Christian Brothers won 37-27 as Vander Waal, who has committed to Ball State, passed for 205 yards and Jamarri Jackson ran for 177 yards and two scores. The Falcons moved up two spots to No. 16 in the rankings.

Orman update – Galt’s Zach Orman was reported to have rushed for 177 yards in a 33-30 overtime win against Union Mine, but the record-setting senior ran for 301 yards and five touchdowns on 34 carries.

With 4,635 yards over three varsity seasons, Orman is 99 yards shy of sixth place on the area’s all-time rushing list. That spot is held by Grant’s Devontae Booker, who totaled 4,734 yards in 2008-09. Booker is now a rookie for the Denver Broncos.

Orman is 370 yards behind fifth-place Mark Jenkins of Pleasant Grove (5,005 from 2009 to 2011) with two regular-season games to play – as well as potential playoff games.

This story was originally published October 24, 2016 at 4:55 PM with the headline "Late in prep football season, teams use a bit of trickery."