Picking the preps: Sac-Joaquin Section championship showdowns in Sacramento and Stockton
The high school football season started with practices in the blistering heat of July and warmed up with searing heat of August when temperatures hit a record 115 degrees in some regions. Then there was broiler-plate stretch in September.
The Sac-Joaquin Section championships for Divisions I-VII this weekend promise to be in seasonably cool weather, so gear up, and don’t worry about an umbrella. It doesn’t rain much around here.
Our Bee preview and coverage crew of Chris Biderman, Cameron Salerno and yours truly give it another go at guessing winners in games that suddenly matter the most. Salerno went a season-worst 5-6 in picks last week, and we grieve not at all. He and I are tied for the season at 80-29. If I beat him out, and I will, he will shave his head, or at least run the clippers down the middle. It’s confirmed.
Biderman? He still knows more football than we do, though he couldn’t tell you who won the 1977 Division I section championship (Cordova) or the 1986 D-III crown (Colfax) or the 1999 D-I banner (Grant). How do we know such seemingly unimportant things? It’s our job to know.
We also know this as we can all agree that the Sierra Foothill League has crashed the party in Division I and II with three teams left standing in Folsom, Oak Ridge and Granite Bay.
Onward. Game capsules include division seeding:
Division I
No. 1 Folsom (11-1) vs. No. 3 Oak Ridge (10-2)
Friday, 6 p.m., Hughes Stadium
JoeD: It’s a rivalry, yes, but it’s been a bit lopsided over the years. Folsom has beaten Oak Ridge 17 consecutive times, dating back to 2006, including the Bulldogs taking a 42-13 decision in an SFL opener in a game that was 21-13 at the half. Oak Ridge yielded deep plays in the second half of that one and must prevent that in order to win its second D-I crown in four years. Oak Ridge’s defense has been stellar, including last week when it shut out a Turlock team that dropped 51 on a 10-0 St. Mary’s team, which dropped 45 on De La Salle earlier in the season. Folsom will be without key receiver Onterrio Smith Jr., as he was ejected from a semifinal win over Central Catholic of Modesto for celebrating both of his touchdowns, but the Bulldogs have a capable replacement in Brian Ray, who was tremendous in a semifinal win over Central Catholic. Folsom wins its ninth banner since 2010, 24-21.
Biderman: Folsom has been here before, having gone to the state championship game last year by way of a road win against De La Salle. Quarterback Austin Mack has an offer from Stanford, among others, and has plenty of weapons, including Notre Dame-bound Rico Flores Jr. That said, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising to see Oak Ridge pull the upset, but I’m not going to pick it here. Give me the Bulldogs, 28-24.
Salerno: Can Oak Ridge finally get over the hump and beat Folsom? It’s going to be a challenge. Casey Taylor is gold and was a great hire by the Trojans. Folsom just has too many playmakers such as Rico Flores Jr. and rising WR Ray. Not having Smith will hurt, but the Bulldogs will prevail, 45-24.
Division II
No. 1 Manteca (10-1) vs. No. 6 Granite Bay (9-4)
Saturday, 6 p.m., Hughes Stadium
JoeD: These programs have combined to reach 21 section finals with 14 championships, but they have only met in the playoffs once - in 2001, a Manteca victory. This is a throwback, run-heavy showcase with running backs galore. GB features the speedy Carter Jackson and the powerful Isaiah Ene, and the Buffaloes have Florida State-bound Blake Nichelson, who’s college position will be linebacker. Frank Cusano is GB’s linebacker leader, so hold onto your mouthpieces in this game. McCade Long played well at QB for GB in its semifinal win over Del Oro, so there’s balance, and the Grizzlies are SFL battle tested. Go with the Grizzlies, 17-14.
Biderman: Granite Bay has always been better than its 1-4 record in league, and we’re seeing why. I’m not going to pick against the Grizzlies here, either. They’re like one of those 49ers teams that struggles early in the season and gets hot at the right time. I’m taking the Grizz, 22-18.
Salerno: Granite Bay is playing like a different team right now. I was impressed with the Grizzlies’ run game vs. Del Oro last week. This could’ve been another all-SFL final, but Manteca came back to beat Rocklin last week. Can Granite Bay stop Manteca’s star? Will the Grizzlies play like they did in the first half vs Del Oro? If the answer is yes to both, GB will win. That’s my pick this week, 28-27, Grizzlies.
Division III
No. 3 Grant (9-2) vs. No. 4 Christian Brothers (10-2)
Friday, 1 p.m., Hughes Stadium.
JoeD: First of all, what an odd kickoff time, but school is out with the Thanksgiving holiday, so there is that. These programs are tradition rich with Grant winning seven section championships since 1991, the last in D-1 in 2014, and CB having produced storied teams that won D-I titles in 1981 and ’83 with the Falcons last reaching a final in 2016. This data doesn’t factor into this game, but the former players dig it and it inspires my guy Biderman, who has seen both teams. Grant is simply too fast on offense, defense and special teams. Pacers win, 35-21.
Biderman: My feeling the last few weeks is that Grant had too much talent to be all the way down in D-III. I would love to see the Pacers’ star power go up against better competition this postseason (attention schedule makers, let’s get a Grant-Folsom game on the docket). Grant’s performance against Patterson was incredible. And as great a story as Christian Brothers’ quarterback situation is, along with one of the most talented players in the section, wideout Phil Bell, it’s hard to see the Falcons keeping up with the Pacers’ ridiculous offense. Grant wins, 34-28.
Salerno: Grant is coming off an 80-point showing on the road vs Patterson. The Pacers simply have too many playmakers. Grant has the team to win a state title, especially because the Pacers are playing in Division lll. It’s not their choice, but Grant could compete in D-ll this year. Pacers win, 45-21.
Division IV
No. 1 Vanden (11-1) vs. No. 7 Capital Christian (7-5)
Saturday, 1 p.m., Hughes Stadium
JoeD: Vanden is the defending section champion that went on to win a CIF state crown, and 14 starters returned to repeat, headed by QB star Tre Dimes. Capital Christian has won section titles before, including in 2018 in D-III, but the Cougars rise from a 1-5 start to a six-game winning streak is particularly impressive, a credit to coach Saul Patu and his young team, headed by QB Eddie Brusuelas and do-all senior star Kanye Clark. Experience wins here as Vanden squeeks one out, 35-34.
Biderman: I saw both teams win in person this year and both were impressive. Capital’s speed at running back and receiver jumps off the field. But Dimes — who, let’s be honest, has been blessed with one of the best quarterback names in history — is really good. I’m torn, but I’m picking Capital Christian in a barn burner, 44-38.
Salerno: I’m giving my apology to Capital Christian. I have picked the Cougars to lose the last two weeks and they have proven me wrong. Capital Christian is playing good football right now and it’s impressive to watch. Clark is very underrated. The Cougars win, 45-42.
Division VII
No. 3 Woodland Christian (11-1) vs. No. 1 Ripon Christian (10-2)
Friday, 6 p.m., St. Mary’s High School (Stockton)
JoeD: Can we call this the “Probation Bowl?” Ripon Christian wasn’t allowed to host playoff games this season, punishment handed down by the CIF for its involvement in a spring 2021 club team during COVID shutdowns. WC needed an 11th-hour temporary restraining order from a Yolo County judge to even compete in the section playoffs after the CIF declared the school had to forfeit its wins for a paperwork oversight involving freshmen who required waivers to play varsity football. OK, back to the game. There will be talent all over the field as these programs are hardly small-school pushovers, be it RC QB star Trey Fasani or WC’s do-all star, Billy Hinkle. WC wins a thriller, 35-33.
Biderman: I saw Hinkle run all over a team in the opening round of the playoffs, which nearly didn’t happen, as Joe alluded to above, but I’m going to take Ripon Christian here. The Knights have outscored opponents 210-20 in their last five games and they’ll win this one, 40-35.
Salerno: Joe is too funny. I don’t know a lot about either team, but people rave about Hinkle. For that reason, I’ll pick WC to win, 35-32.
The other title games:
▪ D-V: No. 2 Sonora (10-2) vs. No. 5 Escalon (10-3), Saturday, 6 p.m., at St. Mary’s
▪ D-VI: No. 1 Summerville (11-1) vs. No. 2 Hughson (10-2), Saturday, 1 p.m., at St. Mary’s
Check out the coverage from our friends at The Modesto Bee and FrontRowPreps for insight on those teams and those games.
Season totals:
JoeD: 80-29
Biderman: 70-39
Salerno: 80-29
This story was originally published November 23, 2022 at 6:00 AM.