How sweet it is: Woodcreek savors win over rival Roseville in Junction Bowl
Garrett Krupp was a freshman in 2018, when the inaugural “Junction Bowl” was played between Roseville and his Woodcreek Timberwolves.
Krupp remembers the flash and flare of his older brother, Carter Krupp, the then-senior quarterback for the Timberwolves who tossed four touchdown passes and led Woodcreek to a 57-6 victory, its first win over its crosstown rival since 2009.
“I was just in awe of how well he played,” Garrett Krupp recalled. “The whole team played together. … It just left an impression on me.”
It’s Garrett Krupp’s turn as senior QB for the No. 15 Timberwolves, who improved to 5-0 after Friday’s 28-7 win over Roseville in the third annual Junction Bowl. A packed house at Woodcreek set the stage for just its fifth win in the rivalry’s 25-year history.
Head coach Brad Hunkins limbered up before leaping into a postgame mosh pit with his team.
“It’s such a great feeling when you see that scoreboard hit zero,” Krupp said. “Especially when they’re our crosstown rivals and you’re on the winning end by a couple of touchdowns.”
Krupp nearly matched his older brother’s performance from three years ago by throwing for 182 yards and three touchdowns to open Capital Valley Conference play on a strong note. But Garrett was not the only Krupp in the picture Friday. The youngest of the four Krupp brothers, freshman Brody Krupp, opened the scoring with a 6-yard scoring burst and kicked all four extra points for the Timberwolves.
“Obviously, he’s gotten the job done in the last couple games with a touchdown every game,” Garrett Krupp said of his younger brother. “He’s doing great balling out as a little freshman.”
“Little” is not how Hunkins describes Brody Krupp. At 6 feet, 200 pounds, Hunkins says his freshman Krupp “looks like a man-child.”
Woodcreek saw 30- and 11-yard touchdown catches from Nico Nielsen and another from Cooper Young on a 61-yard connection. The Timberwolves’ defense, anchored by third-year varsity seniors Drake Hill, Mitchell Sarmento, Adrian Sims and Dashawn Bradley, created five stops on fourth-down situations and got an interception from Connor Rojas. Woodcreek has allowed just 24 points over its first five games.
“I like how our defense is playing,” Hunkins said. “I would argue we’re in the top part of our conference with our front seven.”
While Roseville owns a 16-5 record in the all-time series with Woodcreek, it’s a spirited rivalry with some healthy gamesmanship. Roseville’s student section packed the visiting bleachers wearing all black and sporting a big banner that read “Beat the Creek.” Several Woodcreek coaches have been known to not even utter the Roseville name. Instead, they refer to it as “The Orange School.”
“It’s cool having a rival like (Roseville),” Nielsen said. “And my senior year, I’m just happy we came out with the win. It means a lot.”
HOW THE ‘JUNCTION BOWL’ CAME ABOUT
There’s the “Holy Bowl” between Jesuit and Christian Brothers, which played out its 50th edition Sept. 11; there’s the “Quarry Bowl” between Rocklin and Whitney; and for the last few years, there’s been the “Junction Bowl.” Although they’ve banged helmets since the mid-90s, the Roseville-Woodcreek rivalry wasn’t given a name until 2018.
The rivalry’s namesake comes from the city’s role in the history of the nation’s pioneering transcontinental railroad. According to the city of Roseville’s history webpage, Roseville was often referred to as “Junction” because the place where the two railroads crossed was appropriately designated as “Junction” on railroad maps. By April 1864, trains began running daily “from Sacramento to the Junction.”
Thus, the idea for the Junction Bowl was born. The winner of this game each year brings home the coveted “Golden Spike” plaque until at least the next season.
“It gave (the rivalry) something tangible to hang onto,” Hunkins said. “It’s given the rivalry an identity.”
Woodcreek opened in 1994, had its first varsity season in ’95 and played its first game against Roseville in ’96, the year both programs entered the Sierra Foothill League. Roseville, which opened in 1902, dominated the first three games in the series.
The Timberwolves’ first on-field win over “The Orange School” came in 1999 thanks to a goal-line stand in the final moments that sealed a 21-19 victory. The win was forfeited, however, as Woodcreek was found to have used an ineligible player, according to local newspaper archives. Woodcreek’s first “official” win came in 2001.
From 1996 to 2013, the two Roseville schools saw varying success in the daunting SFL. Roseville realigned into the CVC in 2014 as Woodcreek struggled to win more than two SFL games in any season for the remainder of its stay. The Timberwolves reunited with Roseville as members of the CVC in 2018 and have each made return trips to the postseason.
ROSEVILLE-WOODCREEK RIVALRY HIGHLIGHTS
While Roseville owns a commanding 16-5 record in its budding history with Woodcreek, there have still been plenty of noteworthy clashes between the two schools that are separated by just 4 miles. Here are a few.
1996: In their first-ever meeting, Roseville dominates Woodcreek, 40-7, as Lawrence Raynor rushes 21 times for 229 yards and a touchdown.
1999: After single-digit showings in its three previous losses, Woodcreek earns its first on-field win against Roseville, 21-19, as the Timberwolves finish the game with a goal-line stand. Woodcreek entered at 0-5 while Roseville was 4-1. The win was later forfeited after Woodcreek was found to have played an ineligible player.
2001: After the 1999 forfeiture, Woodcreek gets its first official win over Roseville, 27-23. Brandon Lewis had four receptions for 85 yards and two TDs on Homecoming Night.
2004: In a high school version of Monday Night Football, Roseville scores 20 unanswered fourth-quarter points to come back and beat Woodcreek 20-16. Addison Gentry threw for 308 yards with both of his TD passes going to Victor Peterson, who had 216 receiving yards.
2013: In their final meeting as SFL members, Roseville holds on for a 38-35 win as Kyle Downie went 12-for-16 with 175 yards and two TDs in the air and had 22 carries for 163 yards and two scores on the ground. This game also featured future NFL players in lineman Kolton Miller and linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk for Roseville.
2018: The first official Junction Bowl saw Woodcreek win the most lopsided game of the series, 57-6. Versatile QB Carter Krupp – named to the Bee’s All-Metro team as a punter that year – threw four touchdowns to help the Timberwolves claim the Golden Spike and notch their first win over Roseville since 2009.
2019: Bee All-Metro players Joe Brijs (138 rushing yards, four TDs) and Cole Errecart (181 rushing yards, TD) carry Roseville to a 55-20 win to even the Junction Bowl series at one game apiece.
Woodcreek (5-0, 1-0 CVC) travels to Bella Vista next Friday while Roseville (2-2, 0-1 CVC) heads to Antelope.