Picking the Preps: League showdowns for Sheldon, Casa Roble and Dixon
Week 10 is here, in a flash, with plenty to play for before the start of the Sac-Joaquin Section football playoffs.
League championships are still to be determined in the Golden Empire League, the Sierra Valley Conference and a share of the title is at stake for Sheldon in the Delta League.
Teams must win four games to be eligible for the playoffs. But for those in leagues that are not deemed especially strong, it could take six wins, maybe even seven, to extend the season. The criteria for playoff selections includes win-loss totals, strength of nonleague and strength of schedule.
As for our (not-so) trusty Bee staff picks, only Cameron Salerno had any measure of a clue last week, going 7-3 in game predictions. Jim Patrick went 4-6 - he’s trying! - and yours truly went a fair-to-average 5-5.
No. 4 Granite Bay (7-2) at No. 2 Folsom (7-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Folsom’s streak of winning every league championship since 2012 came to an end this fall as Rocklin took Sierra Foothill League honors, and Granite Bay can score a big one for its program with a victory here. Grizzlies coach Joe Cattolico was the last area coach to stick Folsom with a league loss before Rocklin did so earlier this season, doing so when he led Pleasant Grove past the Bulldogs in the Delta League in 2011. There could be a Folsom-GB rematch in the Division I playoffs.
Bee picks: JoeD: Folsom 35-24; Patrick: Granite Bay 31-28; Salerno: Folsom 45-14
No. 3 Jesuit (8-1) at No. 9 Sheldon (7-2)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: Both teams are rolling, including Jesuit with an eight-game winning streak despite injuries, but kudos to program depth and classy coach Marlon Blanton who expertly keeps it all together. Sheldon aims to pass with Jesiah Machado, and the Marauders aim to pass rush with stoppers such as Kai Wallin. A Sheldon victory gives coach Chris Nixon and the Huskies a share of the Delta League crown.
Bee picks: JoeD: Jesuit 35-28; Patrick: Jesuit 35-21; Salerno: Jesuit 42-28
Cosumnes Oaks (5-4) at No. 7 Elk Grove (5-3)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: CO enters this Delta League show having just toppled prolific Capital Chritian with a good pass rush, but it’ll take a fierce run-stopping defense to slow the run-heavy Thundering Herd, led by Ethan Archuleta and Zeke Burnett.
Bee picks: JoeD: EG 35-30; Patrick: EG 34-14; Salerno: EG 42-41
No. 18 Woodcreek (7-2) at No. 11 Yuba City (6-3)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: What a nice collection of teams in the Capital Valley Conference, won by Antelope. The Honkers are especially tough at home behind QB Nick Afato, though Woodcreek is led by its own star QB in Garrett Krupp.
Bee picks: JoeD: YC 31-30; Patrick: YC: 28-21; Salerno: Woodcreek 28-27
Oak Ridge (3-6) at No. 13 Whitney (4-5)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: The playoffs start now for Oak Ridge, needing a victory to secure its 13th playoff bid in 15 seasons. Whitney is eager to bounce back from the loss to Folsom when its stout defense was taken to task.
Bee picks: JoeD: Whitney 17-14; Patrick: Oak Ridge 21-14; Salerno: Oak Ridge 21-17
No. 16 Sacramento (8-1) at No. 19 Vista del Lago (6-3)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Whats the over-under for points here? A ton? Agreed. Both bound into the playoffs as a threat in D-III, thanks to a bounty of skill players and superb coaching.
Bee picks: JoeD: Sac 48-45; Patrick: Sac 48-34; Salerno: Sac 45-37
No. 24 Casa Roble (5-3) at No. 22 Dixon (5-3)
When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: The Golden Empire League is at stake here with the established Rams, who have run through the GEL since 2018, and the upstart Rams. Dixon has a recent win over Pioneer, which just toppled Casa Roble. This one won’t be boring, or your money back.
Bee picks: JoeD: Casa 28-27; Patrick: Salerno: Casa 27-21
No. 25 Rosemont (8-1) at No. 25 Bradshaw Christian (8-1)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: If Union Mine takes care of El Dorado, it wins the Sierra Valley Conference outright due to head-to-head wins over these teams, but there’s a share of the title at stake if UM loses. Both teams here run a ton to set the tone and to chew clock, so this one could be over by 8:30 p.m.
Bee picks: Rosemont 21-20; Patrick: BC 28-21; Salerno: BC 17-14
Davis (1-7) at Franklin (1-7)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Outlook: These proud programs with a ton of playoff berths to their credit hit hard times this season amid injuries and stout competition in nonleague and Delta League play. The winner here won’t be so glum when turning in gear Monday.
Bee picks: JoeD: Franklin 28-27; Patrick: Franklin 35-14; Salerno: Davis 35-21
Delta (7-2) at Foresthill (7-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: A fun small-school game with playoff implications as eight wins will for sure secure a postseason bid. Who’s up for a mud game?
Bee picks: JoeD: Delta 21-19; Patrick: Delta 34-20; Salerno: Foresthill 20-14
Bee season totals: JoeD: 55-24; Patrick: 48-31; Salerno: 52-27.
This story was originally published October 28, 2021 at 7:14 AM.