Central Grizzlies set aim on Oak Ridge in NorCal finals as Bee predicts title winners
They dropped 46 points on the state’s fourth-ranked team a year ago in a championship game of 13-0 heavies ... and lost by 38.
So yes, the Central High School Grizzlies of Fresno will invade El Dorado Hills on Friday night with a fangs and claws, a sense of unfinished business and plenty to prove.
The longtime Central Section powerhouse program had dream seasons end at the hands and cleats of the Folsom Bulldogs in CIF Northern California Division I-AA title bouts the past two seasons. Folsom won 54-35 in 2017 and went on to win a state banner. CIF criteria includes fairness and scheduling balance. In that NorCal 84-46 final in Fresno, which set scores of scoring records, Folsom repeated as CIF state winners.
Now Central (13-0) will make the near four-hour trip from the valley to Oak Ridge (11-2) on Friday for another shot at the NorCal Division I-AA trophy. Central is irked it has to travel, with Folsom having been eliminated.
Folsom isn’t in this dance because the Bulldogs fell to Monterey Trail in Sac-Joaquin Section semifinal play, which then fell to Oak Ridge in the Division I finals in the wind and rain at Hughes Stadium.
The NorCal games were selected by the 10 state section commissioners based on competitive equity and not enrollment, a model that has produced thrilling NorCal games.
We size up some of the CIF NorCal Regional finals on teams after going 3-3 in section final picks last week. Then again, we didn’t throw any interceptions, miss tackles or blow deep-coverage assignments. We did hold our water, and then some.
JOED PICKS THE PREPS
Division I-AA
Central-Fresno (13-0) at Oak Ridge (11-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Storyline: Central doesn’t want a threepeat loss in this game after falling to Folsom in the previous two NorCal titles, and Oak Ridge seeks its first NorCal title in its first appearance. The QBs are stellar here, Oak Ridge with Justin Lamson (3,015 yards passing, 23 TDs) and Central with Jameson Silva (2,744, 38). Central had 10 sacks in a section title win and Oak Ridge allowed none in its section finale.
We think we know: Oak Ridge 35-34
Division 2-AA
Elk Grove (10-4) at Clayton Valley Charter (8-5)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Storyline: This one may go quick as both teams rely on the run. Elk Grove has churned, grinded and bolted for 5,533 yards, including 1,877 yards and 26 scores for QB Carter Harris, 1,221 and 17 for Hunter Hall and 1,027 and 14 for Damian Allen. CVC has gone for nearly 4,300 yards with its own version of smash-mouth ball.
We think we know: Elk Grove 35-30
Division 2-A
Manteca (11-2) at McClymonds-Oakland (10-0)
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Storyline: Mack, as the powers from the East Bay have long been called, are eager for a game after roaring through league and section play as a two-time defending CIF State small-school champion. Now it’s a bump up in classification with a roster of playmakers, and Manteca has one as well in RB Trabron Russell, a 1,500-yard rusher. Manteca lost to Downey of Modesto 54-48 this season and Mack steamrolled Downey 55-6, which means what, exactly?
We think we know: McClymonds 28-24
Division 3-A
Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park (10-3) at Sierra-Manteca (11-3)
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Storyline: Sierra is proof that the town of Manteca is big enough for two powerhouse prep programs. RB Kimoni Stanley is hard to tackle as a 2,000-yard rusher. Rancho Cotate is coming off a 7-0 North Coast Section title win over Las Lomas behind its star back, Rasheed Rankin.
We think we know: Sierra 28-20
Division 4-AA
Sutter (12-1) at Ripon (12-1)
When: Friday, 6 p.m.
Storyline: This is a game that pits players who grew up in their small communities, eager to play varsity football. Ripon impressed in its 21-13 win over previously unbeaten Center in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-V final, for its first title since 1996, behind steady QB Nico Illardi. Sutter downed previously unbeaten Paradise 20-7 in Northern Section D-III play for the program’s sixth banner this decade. Landon Cooper has rushed for 1,616 yards and 18 TDs for Sutter.
We think we know: Sutter 24-21
Division 6-AA
St. Bernard’s-Eureka (10-3) vs. East Nicolaus (12-1)
When: Friday at River Valley, 7 p.m.
Storyline: East Nic, as the guys like to go by, has gone 38-1 the last three years in Northern Section play and now the Spartans seek their second trip to a CIF State final since 2015. Gavin McAuliff is the key for East Nic, having passed for 1,392 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushing for 1,246 and 21. The Crusaders up by the Oregon border will drive some 265 miles and 5.5 hours for this one and then unleash its own impressive QB in Will Omey (3,184 yards passing, 36 TDs, 1,197 rushing, 13 scores).
We think we know: East Nicolaus 21-17