Prep football: Breaking down 10 games of note, with predicted scores, key showdowns
The season’s third week of high school football season is here, fingers crossed with drift smoke from Northern California wildfires making for hazardous air quality and COVID-testing snags. Those factors have left quite a few teams with just one game.
For Bear River High School, there have been no games, and not even close. First-year co-coach Tanner Mathias had his first three contests canceled due to either poor air quality or COVID issues.
“We need a game,” he said. “The kids have worked hard. They need a game.”
As it stands at noon Thursday, Bear River will open its season Sept. 10 at Liberty Ranch in Galt. Union Mine canceled its home game Friday against South Tahoe due to poor air quality, and South Tahoe residents have been evacuated because of the Caldor Fire.
Salinas of the Central Section scratched its Friday game at Placer, fearful of bad air quality, but Placer was in quick order able to schedule Antelope for a home game.
As of Thursday afternoon, there has not been a rush of canceled games due to COVID testing, unlike last week when 12 games crumbled due to testing issues. Jinx, jinx, jinx.
The Bee for kicks and giggles will now offer up Bee staff predictions on the 10 games we preview each week, or subjective guess work as none of us has broken down film or tendencies. I will be joined weekly by Bee buds James Patrick and Cameron Salerno with weekly picks, and may the winners live and laugh it up.
Pittsburg (0-0) at No. 1 Folsom (2-0)
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Outlook: Instant thriller here as the No. 4-ranked team in Northern California heads to Folsom, Bee-ranked No. 1 in the Sacramento area for the better part of 12 seasons and ranked second in NorCal. The last NorCal team north of Fresno to beat De La Salle, in 1991, Pitt’s opening game against Serra of San Mateo did not happen due to poor air quality. Folsom has stormed to a fast start behind QB Tyler Tremain, who has 11 touchdown passes, and a stout defense headed by Josh Tremain and Justin Eklund. We favor the team with games under their belts.
Bee picks: Joe D: Folsom 35-30; Patrick: Folsom 42-21; Salerno: Folsom 49-21.
Lincoln-Stockton (0-0) at No. 4 Oak Ridge (1-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: A week after the air quality index was above 500 in El Dorado Hills, it’s looking clear and promising for this game to happen. Oak Ridge is coming off a 17-10 loss to No. 3 Vacaville and has played good defense in two games, and Lincoln is eager for a game after having its last one smoked out. Lincoln has a dynamite RB in Jonah Coleman.
Bee picks: JoeD: Oak Ridge 28-24; Patrick: Oak Ridge 35-7; Salerno: Oak Ridge 24-17.
No. 7 Jesuit (0-1) at No. 5 Granite Bay 2-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: The Grizzlies impressed in wins at Vista del Lago and at Davis with a balanced offensive attack while the Marauders were taken to task by Folsom on Monday, though Jesuit is hardly a pushover. Kudos to scheduling for Big Red, who need a big effort on offense to keep pace with GB.
Bee picks: JoeD: Granite Bay 24-17; Patrick: Granite Bay 31-7; Salerno: Granite Bay 35-21.
No. 8 Capital Christian (1-0) at Valley Christian-San Jose (1-0)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: This is a nice cross-sectional showdown featuring fine QBs, Anthony Garcia of Capital and Jurrion Dickey of VC of the Central Coast Section and one of the most storied programs in the region. The Bay Area media is picking VC. What do they know that we do not?
Bee picks: JoeD: Capital 35-34; Patrick: Capital 27-14; Salerno: Capital 28-24.
No. 12 Christian Brothers (1-0) at No. 22 Sheldon (1-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Ever heard this line before: The team that makes stops wins. Both teams are prolific, Sheldon led by QB Jesiah Machado, RB Isaiah Bickham and WR Scott Nixon and CB with QB Jake Elorduy, RB D.J. Crowther and WR John Marengo. First team to 35 wins.
Bee picks: JoeD: Sheldon 35-31; Patrick: CB 31-20; Salerno: CB 28-17.
Lincoln (1-1) at No. 14 Whitney (2-0)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: A nice Placer County rumble to fire up the student rooting sections and teams that don’t want to yield a thing on defense. Whitney is led by QB Jacob Smiley, RBs Anthony Parker and Takai Takahashi, WR/DB Phoenix Rose and DL Brandon Long. Defensive-minded Lincoln lost to Del Oro 13-7 and took a forfeit from Yuba City after the Honkers did not secure a mandated ambulance for Monday’s game.
Bee picks: JoeD: Whitney 31-21; Patrick: Whitney 31-7; Salerno: Whitney 35-17.
Vista del Lago (0-1) at No. 16 Casa Roble (1-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: The host Rams beat Placer 40-33 behind QB Jason Lindahl’s four touchdowns and strong line play and VDL held its own against loaded Granite Bay in a 38-22 setback as Jakob Hollingshaus passed for 340 yards and three touchdowns. It’s a fun toss-up game, and we’re sensing upset.
Bee picks: JoeD: Vista 28-27; Patrick: Casa 35-33; Salerno: Vista 35-31.
Clayton Valley Charter (1-0) at No. 21 Del Oro (1-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: CVC of Concord won the CIF state Divison 2-AA championship in 2019, something DO did in 2016, and it runs a ton behind big, fast linemen. Del Oro has played stout D in beating Lincoln 13-7 and Del Campo 36-0 behind leaders in QB Ryan Lewis, RB Gavin Guillen and stopper Jimmy Brear.
Bee picks: JoeD: Del Oro 21-20; Patrick: Del Oro 28-21; CamS: Del Oro 24-17.
No. 23 Nevada Union (1-0) at Woodcreek (2-0)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: NU has a truck dressed in a uniform in QB/LB Gabe Baker, all 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds of him, and Woodcreek is eager for the chance to slow him down, having beaten River City 43-3 and West Park 49-14 behind stellar D.
Bee picks: JoeD: Woodcreek 24-21; Patrick: Woodcreek 31-10; Salerno: Woodcreek 35-28.
Bella Vista (0-1) at Highlands (1-0)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: Highlands is superbly coached by alum coach Matt Cokley, and he’s aware of how dangerous Bella Vista is, though his players may not know that the Broncos have lost 48 consecutive games. That streak ends soon. Is it here and now?
Bee picks: JoeD: BV 21-20; Patrick: Bella 33-20; Salerno: Highlands 35-31.
This story was originally published September 3, 2021 at 5:00 AM.