Prep football preview: Breaking down 10 games, with predicted scores, league showdowns
Just like that, the sixth week of the high school football season is here. The air quality is fine and COVID testing woes costing teams games has faded considerably with about one game a week getting scratched do to positive tests. The first week of the season included 12 such cancellations.
League play continues, including a Sierra Foothill meeting in Placer County on Friday with No. 2 Rocklin. Saturday’s menu includes nonleague meetings between No. 8 Inderkum and No. 3 Jesuit, and No. 19 Monterey Trail is eager for its first win as it hosts Clayton Valley Charter of Concord to cap the week.
In our Bee Staff picks, yours truly went and Jim Patrick went an uninspired 6-4 last week while Cameron Salerno is gloating at his 8-2 showing.
No. 5 Del Oro (4-1) at No. 2 Rocklin (4-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: SFL rivals meet with plenty on the line as Rocklin aims to remain unbeaten right up to the Oct. 15 game at top-ranked Folsom, and Del Oro wants to bounce back from its loss to Granite Bay. The QB’s in this one are among the best in the section: Kenny Lueth for Rocklin and Ryan Lewis of Del Oro.
Bee picks: JoeD: Rocklin 28-14; Patrick: Rocklin 42-14; Salerno: Rocklin 35-21
No. 8 Inderkum (3-0) at No. 3 Jesuit (3-1)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Outlook: The visiting Tigers play aggressive, quick-to-the-ball defense and are off to a fast start under first-year coach Reggie Harris. Jesuit has won three in a row after opening with a loss at Folsom, thanks to strong defense and runners Garrett McGriff and Kai Santos and QB Preston Vukovich.
Bee picks: JoeD: Jesuit 21-17; Patrick: Jesuit 28-7; Salerno: Jesuit 28-24
No. 4 Granite Bay (4-1) at No. 7 Oak Ridge (2-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Oak Ridge has mixed-results losses to No. 6 Vacaville, a game the Trojans felt they had, and the crushing 54-7 loss at top-ranked Folsom in a game that never had a chance. How does OR respond now? Granite Bay has a win over Vacaville and impressed in beating Del Oro.
Bee picks: JoeD: GB 28-24; Patrick: GB 27-21; Salerno: GB 35-31
No. 15 Christian Brothers (2-2) at No. 17 Capital Christian (2-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Expect more high-scoring fun as these teams can light it up behind ace QBs, Capital with Anthony Garcia and CB with Jake Elorduy. A CB loss here puts the Falcons at 0-2 in the CAL.
Bee picks: JoeD: Capital 48-42; Patrick: Capital 42-27; Salerno: Capital 52-45
Clayton Valley Charter (3-1) at No. 19 Monterey Trail (0-4)
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: MT’s brutal nonleague schedule ends here after enduring losses to powerhouse programs Folsom, De La Salle, Los Gatos and Lincoln of Stockton. CVC of Concord, a 2019 CIF State champion, is similar to MT in that it lives to run the ball. This one may end by 8 p.m. with so few passes attempted.
Bee picks: JoeD: MT 35-34; Patrick: CVC 34-21; Salerno: MT 28-24
No. 20 Sheldon (3-1) at Cosumnes Oaks (2-2)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: This figures to be a fun and fast Delta League contest with Sheldon looking to do-all grinder Edgar Montes and QB Jesiah Machado and CO looking to counter with offensive leader in QB Ranvir Mahli and defensive leader in DB Steven Duran III. Sheldon assistant coach and Bee 2015 Player of the Year Ryan Robards of Elk Grove High fame said he expects postgame drinks and hugs from his father Steve Robards, a member of the CO staff.
Bee picks: JoeD: Sheldon 28-27; Patrick: Sheldon 35-21; Salerno: CO 21-20
El Camino (3-1) at No. 21 Vista del Lago (2-2)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: The visiting Eagles have won two blowouts (Armijo 35-6 and Cordova 50-12), lost a tough one to Wood (28-24) and inched past Rio Americano (19-18) in an encouraging start with QB Luke Coleman. Vista has lost shootouts to Granite Bay (38-22) and Capital Christian (62-40) and won shootouts over Casa Roble (48-40) and Placer (47-37) with QB Jakob Hollingshaus averaging nearly 300 yards passing a game.
Bee picks: JoeD: VDL 48-28; Patrick: VDL 34-27; Salerno: VDL 35-28
Johnson (4-0) at West Park (0-4)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Upstart Johnson is off to its best start in years and is fast and dynamic with a rushing attack that averages 273 yards a game with QB Jayson Fowler rushing for seven scores. West Park of Roseville, with its first varsity football team, is led by QB Develle Barksdale.
Bee picks: JoeD: West Park 24-21; Patrick: Johnson 33-13; Salerno: Johnson 28-27
Casa Roble (1-2) at Ponderosa (2-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: This is an interesting nonleague meeting between well-coached teams, the visiting Rams under Chris Horne, who has agonizing losses to Vista del Lago (48-40) and Oakmont (28-20) and Ponderosa under Davy Johnson, whose bunch has beaten Del Campo and Burbank.
Bee picks: JoeD: CR 35-21; Patrick: CR 21-20; Salerno: CR 31-21
Galt (0-4) at Amador (0-4)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Someone has to win, and did we just jinx it to be a scoreless tie? The visiting Warriors have losses of 21-12 to Ripon Christian, 22-7 to Linden and 26-20 to Johnson, so it’s not a hideous 0-4. Amador has played a much stronger schedule, including losses to ranked teams in El Dorado, Union Mine and Rosemont.
Bee picks: Amador 14-13; Patrick: Galt 41-7; Salerno Galt 21-20
Bee season totals: JoeD: 20-9; Patrick: 19-10; Salerno: 21-8.