Prep football: Our midseason-ish rountable focuses on best teams, players and scenes
Technically, the middle of high school football season would have been during halftime of any of last week’s games.
But nobody likes anybody that says the word “technically” in a sentence, so let’s just roll with the motif here, OK? Welcome to our midseason-ish review of the prep football season.
The Sacramento-area season has not disappointed. We’ve had our eyes on teams big and small. Here’s what our writers – Joe Davidson, Chris Biderman, Jim Patrick and Cameron Salerno – think of the first half of the season.
What’s been the biggest surprise so far?
Davidson: This is a refreshing surprise in every way: The return of the Grant Pacers. This is a program that set the regional standard of excellence, registering the most victories in the 1990s and 2000s and sending truckloads of guys to the college and NFL ranks under famed coach Mike Alberghini before a steep decline, including going 0-9 in 2021. The Pacers are 4-1, fast and fun again, with a number of college prospects. It’s all a testament to coach/alum Carl Reed and his staff. Area football is better when Grant is relevant.
Biderman: I was surprised Sutter hadn’t been poached by the Sac-Joaquin Section years ago. It’s a top-flight program in a high school football-crazed town and they hadn’t lost a league game in years. After seeing them play a couple weeks back, it wouldn’t surprise me if they win a section championship in their first year here. They remind me of a small school version of De La Salle given their physicality, discipline and veer offense.
Patrick: I’m a sucker for any program that’s been struggling and seems to be on the come-up. That said, the Hiram-Johnson Warriors are impressive by any standard. Quarterback Marino Fragata got injured in a game with Woodcreek – Johnson led 22-21 at halftime before taking a loss – and senior Jhayson Fowler took over in the backfield. No problem. He threw for two touchdowns, ran for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Fowler is tied for third in points scored in the Sac-Joaquin Section with 102. Here’s hoping Fragata comes back and Johnson gets a coveted spot in the playoffs.
Salerno: I’m going to go with Oak Ridge. I know they have always been a powerhouse and just lost to Folsom last week, but it’s been a resurgence of a season for the Trojans. They won three games in 2021 and have already won five games in dominant fashion. Oak Ridge is stuck in Division l for the playoffs, but I have love the job Casey Taylor has done this season. Taking over a school you graduated from isn’t easy, but Taylor is up for the challenge.
Who do you like for MVP?
Davidson: I’m big on section champions having the upper hand in MVP and Coach of the Year races because the playoffs are where it matters most. At this point of the season, I’d go with the obvious, such as Austin Mack and/or Rico Flores, Jr., or maybe the not-so-obvious choice of a difference-maker in the trenches.
Patrick: Woodland Christian doesn’t put stats on MaxPreps, apparently, so I can’t regale you with tales of Billy Hinkle, the do-all quarterback/running back/receiver/defensive back. I have a hunch Folsom quarterback Austin Mack is in the conversation. My vote would go to Liberty Ranch running back Arthur Draeger, whose 114 points scored leads the section and an unbeaten team.
Biderman: Marino Fragata of Johnson is second in the entire state in passing yards fan a team that has a shot at making a run in the section. He’s 21st in the country despite playing a game or two fewer than the other signal-callers on the national leaderboard.
Salerno: I agree with Joe. The best two players this season have been Austin Mack and Rico Flores Jr. An outside-the-box pick for player of the year is Jhayson Fowler. He’s had a terrific season so far for Johnson and is one of the leaders in interceptions.
Which teams are going to win section titles?
Davidson: At this rate, it’s Folsom in Division I, again, though Monterey Trail and St. Mary’s will have a say. In D-II, I like Del Oro or Elk Grove. Liberty Ranch and Sutter in smaller divisions because they run and play defense. But upsets do and have happened.
Biderman: I couldn’t possibly pick against Folsom in Division I. I’ll stick with Granite Bay in Division II because I saw what they did to Elk Grove the first week of the season firsthand. Sutter is my small-school pick.
Patrick: Do you mean other than Folsom? Because Folsom is winning a section title. Woodland Christian in little Division VII is my pick, Del Oro in Division II and I think Liberty Ranch has a shot at the Division IV title.
Salerno: Del Oro or Granite Bay both have a strong chance to win the Division ll bracket that will likely be headlined by Manteca. Folsom is the top dog (no pun intended) in this section and will be until someone beats them. Placer has looked really good in Division lll and Vista del Lago can make a run if it’s in Division lV.
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen?
Davidson: The student sections at local games have never been more heavily attended, creative or fun. Oak Ridge has a party for home games in the student section, sort of a karaoke/concert feel with a football game as a backdrop. The outfits for some of these student sections are classic, such as red, white and blue coveralls.
Biderman: I’ve heard rumors of fans blowing up pictures of Cam Salerno’s face and printing them on signs, but haven’t been able to confirm. The funniest thing that’s happened to me is getting approached by a coach about my weekly picks. As someone relatively new to the area who has spent most of his career covering the NFL, I implore our readers to take my picks with the grainiest of salt. I don’t hate your school (or do I?). Oh, another thing. I saw a very good dog run onto the field at a Colfax game. More dogs, please.
Patrick: High school games are an absolute scene, every week. For me, it was the guy who was flying a drone over the field during a game and got yelled at by officials and school administrators to ground it. He kept insisting that somebody had signed off on it, but the game was delayed for a minute while the head official insisted he stopped flying. Only in high school.
Salerno: Students yelling my name at games and asking me if they have the best student section. It’s been great getting to know the student section leaders this season. It’s just great to have full crowds back in the area this season.
What’s the most disappointing thing you’ve seen?
Davidson: No contest, and for all the wrong reasons. The Amador and River Valley seasons getting canceled due to offensive social media posts aren’t just disappointing to the highest measure, but it’s troubling. Yes, some will argue that we’re white, so what do we know. We know in talking to Black coaches over the years and last week and seeing, hearing and feeling their anger, disgust and profound hurt on topics of racism, it’s quite clear: This sort of stuff isn’t funny, isn’t cool, has no place in society and will for certain ruin teams and legacies.
Biderman: I agree with Joe. There’s no place for that stuff and we should all have zero tolerance for it. Something else I thought has been disappointing: all the unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for players celebrating. I’ve seen kids ejected and suspended multiple games for spinning balls after touchdowns or doing “the griddy.” I saw one flag for a player pointing at his father after scoring. Are penalties really necessary? Football is a game, after all, and as long as the celebrations are good-natured and not directed at opponents, I don’t think they should be penalized, let alone suspended. The NFL loosened its rules on celebrations and even encourages them these days. I think there’s a way to allow kids to celebrate that doesn’t hurt the emphasis on sportsmanship. This isn’t about the referees enforcing the rules, it’s more about the rules themselves.
Salerno: Joe said it perfectly. I know something else that has been disappointing to some (and it’s a much smaller issue to the former) is the referee shortage in the area. The reason is it’s simply not worth the money to get yelled at by coaches and parents from the stands. It was sad to see in a few of the games I covered parents coming down from the stands to yell at referees. The golden rule is be kind.
Patrick: Joe and Cam nailed the obvious one. I’m disappointed for Sacramento Charter. This was always supposed to be the Dragons’ year, with a senior quarterback, stud running back and a killer defense. Instead, Sac is 1-6 and going to miss the playoffs. I’m always rooting for schools in the city and the Dragons’ fall is just too bad.
This story was originally published October 6, 2022 at 5:00 AM.