The Grant-Rocklin high school football showcase showdown will be played on Saturday at Folsom High School - for all to see. It will be a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
The Sac-Joaquin Section announced when the playoff seedings were released that should these teams meet as 12-0 foes in a Division II semifinal, it would be held at a neutral site. The coaches agreed, wanting to play on an field-turf surface, and in a setting large enough to seat a large crowd.
So it's Folsom, one of the nicest stadiums in the valley.
It's a meeting of the area's top two teams the second half of the regular season - and into the playoffs - and it will be one of the most anticipated meetings in section history. It is rare anywhere in the state for 12-0 teams to meet.
Grant is the defending Open Division state champion, having won 26 consecutive games behind a brutish running game headed by Devontae Butler and an immovable defense that has posted eight shutouts and completely shut down two playoff teams.
Rocklin, on the other hand, is in the midst of its greatest season, using offensive balance and defense. Led by all-purpose threat Jackson Cummings, the Thunder is the only team to beat Nevada Union (11-1), and in Sierra Foothill League play, they downed Granite Bay and Del Oro.
Del Oro just bounced top-seeded and unbeaten St. Mary's.
Del Oro and Folsom will play in another D-II semifinal on Friday, at Folsom, the sudden place to be.
