Stand up for kickoff: 10 high school football games to ponder in the Sacramento area
Welcome back, fall football frenzy and fun. We hope.
Poor air from wildfires could lead to the postponements or cancellations of area games Friday. It has already led to a number of canceled practices Wednesday. Smoke resulted in the cancellation of the Hug of Reno at Colfax opener as Hug players were not able to get in enough required padded practices to compete, stuck indoors due to poor air quality.
Colfax players can understand. Some lost their homes from the recent River Fire. Players within El Dorado County can also understand amid anguish. El Dorado’s home opener against Amador in Placerville may not happen as the Caldor Fire rages on. Cougars coach Christian Mahaffey and four assistant coaches have had to evacuate their homes, as have at least 10 players.
Sizing up 10 games of note from the Sacramento region, with Bee rankings:
No. 1 Folsom at No. 2 Monterey Trail
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: The last time these programs met was in the 2019 Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, won by Monterey Trail in a thriller with four scoring drives of 15 or more plays. It’ll take that sort of ball control for MT and QB Frank Arcuri to pull off another victory. The aim is to make stops and then to keep the ball away from Folsom’s terrific 1-2-3-4 punch of Tyler Tremain, Rico Flores, Walker Lyons and Justin Arnaz. This is the Access Sacramento Hometown Sports Game of the Week with announcers Will James and Jim Dimino.
Turlock at No. 3 Rocklin
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: One of the best from the southern part of the section takes on one of the best in the northern part. Rocklin is led by QB Kenny Lueth, WR Nathan Kent and bruising RB Elias Brown, all of whom will work behind lineman Bobby Piland. Turlock has two QBs in Cade Gilbert and Beau Green and top lineman Ashton Patterson.
No. 4 Elk Grove at No. 19 Inderkum
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: Elk Grove thunders into Natomas having impressed in its scrimmage at Folsom with lineman leader Simi Pale and a bevy of backs, including Zeke Burnett. This will be the Inderkum coaching debut for Reggie Harris. The former Grant defensive coordinator had many a spirited duel against Elk Grove in past Delta League meetings.
Davis at No. 5 Vacaville
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: The host Bulldogs will break in their sparkling new Tom Zunino Stadium before facing a Blue Devils bunch that welcomes back coach Mark Johnson, who headed the program years ago. The late/great Zunino is a section Hall of Famer and the father-in-law of longtime Vacaville coach Mike Papadopolous, who returns RB Darin Leon-Guerrero and QB Ryan Vaughan.
No. 6 Granite Bay at Vista del Lago
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: First-year coaches will work the sideline here as Joe Cattolioc heads Granite Bay and Vista del Lago with Kyle Landes as the programs meet for the first time. QB Noah Mitcheom leads the visiting Grizzlies and QBs Jakob Hollingshaus and Johnny Koett and RB Tyler Petersen for VDL.
No. 11 Placer at No. 21 Casa Roble
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: This is a terrific matchup of smaller-school heavies led by spirited/fun coaches. Placer and coach Joey Montoya usher in promising QB Andy Hall, who has lineman Zander Esty to work behind. Casa Roble coach Chris Horner graduated a ton but returns four starting linemen in Ben Gumpfer, Adam Lish, Ryan Nishida and Cody Wills to protect new QB Jason Lindahl.
No. 15 Pleasant Grove at Kennedy
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: The coaches will embrace before and after this one, old friends meeting as head coaches for the first time. Pleasant Grove’s Matt Costa, the former Kennedy coach, has been a mentor for Brian Lewis, The Bee’s Coach of the Year for the spring 2021 season. Lewis has to find a way to deal with PG’s dynamic QB, Devin Hall.
No. 13 Cosumnes Oaks at No. 8 Oak Ridge
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: First-year coach Martin Billings starts his Cosumnes Oaks varsity tenure against Casey Taylor, in his first season at his alma mater. CO is led by QB Steven Duran and a quick defense, and OR is balanced with two quarterbacks and will run the ball with Reece Catchings, Jake Hall and Dwight Martin.
No. 17 Del Oro at Lincoln
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: This has the potential to be a fierce rivalry, and it boiled a bit in 2017 when Del Oro beat Lincoln on a last-play field goal in the Division II playoffs. The host Zebras welcome new coach Allen Berg, and the Golden Eagles aim to recover from a tough spring behind standout QB leader Ryan Lewis.
No. 23 Roseville at No. 24 Oakmont
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: These programs have been crosstown rivals since Oakmont opened in 1966, and here we go again. Oakmont has experience in the trenche with Mateo McCammon and Connor Coscolluela, who have to protect QB Danny Myles. Roseville, which opened in 1902, returns 12 starters, including do-all brothers Brandon and Ryan Graydon.
Other games:
Kickoffs are between 7-7:30 p.m., unless noted:
Esparto at Natomas, 6 p.m.
Delta at San Juan
Woodland at Marysville
Center at Rio Linda
Nevada Union at Bella Vista
Ponderosa vs. Rio Americano at Del Campo
Modesto Christian at Foresthill
Atwater at Capital Christian
Vanden at Yuba City
Ripon Christian at Galt
Wood and Pioneer
Christian Brothers at Burbank
Orestimba at Rio Vista
Union Mine at Dixon
El Camino at Armijo
Damonte Ranch at Antelope
River Valley at Sheldon
Union Mine at Dixon
Cordova at Rosemont
Del Campo at West Park
Woodcreek at River City
Whitney vs. Franklin at Cosumnes Oaks
Foothill vs. Laguna Creek at Cosumnes River College
Saturday
Stagg at Sacramento, 1 p.m.
Bear River at Truckee, 1:30 p.m.
Valley Christian at Mira Loma, 11 a.m.
Mesa Verde vs. McClatchy at Kennedy, 7:30 p.m.
* Update us: Coaches or statkeepers are encouraged to send The Bee game results to ensure publication in roundups, news and notes. Email to jdavidson@sacbee.com by Saturday, 1 p.m.
This story was originally published August 19, 2021 at 8:47 AM.