Prep football roundtable: What to expect in Round 2 of section playoffs
The first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs included some thrillers, some blowouts and a lot of first-round byes for the top-four seeds of the upper divisions.
Friday’s menu of football playoff action features an intriguing slate of games.
Upsets ramp up the playoff intensity. Any surprises so far?
Joe Davidson: Roseville as the 9 seed toppling 10-0 Grace Davis on the road in Division III was a seedings surprise, but maybe that’s about it. Grace Davis folks bemoaned their No. 8 seeding and wondered where the respect was after a perfect regular season. Strength of schedule means it’s time to schedule up. It doomed Grace Davis and boosted Roseville, a credit to coach Adam Reinking. Now Roseville looks to really topple the bracket with an upset at top-seeded Oakdale.
Jim Patrick: It’s like the NCAA basketball tournament. The really good upsets typically happen in the second round, not the first. Let’s look forward instead of backward: There will definitely be an upset Friday somewhere. My guess is No. 3 seed Folsom is going to get a heck of a close game from Lincoln of Stockton, and maybe take a shocking loss.
Cameron Salerno: There were not a lot of surprises in the opening round, as Joe mentioned. I was impressed with what Roseville did. I had a feeling the Tigers could pull an upset. Teams from the Sacramento area tend to do well in the playoffs against teams from the southern part of the section.
What player in Round One impressed you?
Davidson: I loved the effort of Monterey Trail noseguard Melikai Red, who recovered two fumbles in the D-I win over Woodcreek. Said coach T.J. Ewing, “He’s so savage!”
Patrick: Naaman Branyan, the junior Sacramento Charter quarterback, hasn’t been talked about a lot but I think he’s going to be one of the better quarterbacks in the area next year. He throws a nice deep ball, he’s tough and he can run. He had a 14-yard touchdown run Saturday in the win over Golden Valley in D-III.
Salerno: Roman Floyd from Whitney had an incredible performance in the D-ll bracket against Inderkum. He caught two touchdowns and had two interceptions, including one he returned for a 98-yard touchdown.
What’s the most interesting game this week?
Davidson: They’re all good, and I wonder why I ask such brainless questions. But I’m especially curious about Elk Grove at Vacaville in D-II, two teams that run the ball and are superbly coached, and both have tremendous community and campus backing. Elk Grove is 4-1 against Vacaville in the playoffs. This is the third successive season the programs meet in the second round. The winner gets the winner of another showdown between Monterey Trail and Granite Bay.
Salerno: I love all the matchups in the D-ll bracket. Whitney at Antelope should be intense. The Titans are undefeated but they haven’t seen a defense like Whitney’s. If the Wildcats can stop Antelope star running back Curron Borders, I like their chances. Monterey Trail at Granite Bay is also intriguing.
Patrick: The entire D-II bracket is interesting. But Cam already said that, so let’s take a look at D-III. It’s tempting to put third-seeded Manteca on notice that No. 6 Sacramento could steal a win, but No. 7 Christian Brothers at No. 2 Lincoln is really fascinating. Christian Brothers’ offense needs a jolt; will D.J. Crowther play after sitting out against Rodriguez last week? Or do the Falcons have enough firepower without him?
If there’s an upset of the week, where is it?
Davidson: Seedings-wise, I can see Elk Grove toppling Vacaville, or Sacramento beating Manteca in D-III, or Casa Roble over Union Mine in D-V. So yes, upsets could be here, there and everywhere.
Patrick: I already said Folsom and Joe took Elk Grove, my next pick; what more do you want? Sheesh, fine. Let’s say Delta over Esparto in D-VII. I’m basically on that Delta Saints roster now.
Salerno: Sacramento was my darkhorse team in D-III, so I’m going to ride that pick until the wheels fall off. I could see Placer giving Vista del Lago a game in D-IV. The Hillmen are on a roll.
Is this the week Folsom bounces back?
Davidson: Yes. Ace quarterback Tyler Tremain will play in this D-I game against Lincoln of Stockton, his first action since getting knocked out of the De La Salle game, on Oct. 8, and the Bulldogs are a different animal when he’s in charge. Folsom has lost three of four.
Patrick: Folsom is vulnerable because once things turn sour in a season, they don’t tend to turn on a dime for the better. Yes, Tremain’s return is important, but the defense gave up 31 points to Granite Bay and 40 to Rocklin. I think teams have seen something on tape and figured out how to get past the Bulldogs. It could be a shootout with Lincoln.
Salerno: If people didn’t know how valuable Tremain was for Folsom, they sure do now. Having him back this week should provide a big spark for the Bulldogs. Folsom will need Tremain.
Does Del Oro have a shot at Jesuit in D-I?
Davidson: Del Oro always has a shot because it’s DO, winner of 12 section crowns since 1989, but no one plays well at Jesuit unless it’s the team in red. It’s always unseasonably hot on that field, even this time of year, and the Marauders love it. Big Red rolls on here in the first playoff meeting between the storied programs.
Patrick: Del Oro coaches will like our answers here for the bulletin board material, but I don’t think even that matters. Del Oro went 2-4 in the Sierra Foothill League. Jesuit is very good this year. No, Del Oro isn’t going to win. Clip it. Paste it. Send Joe the hate mail.
Salerno: Jesuit has an interesting home-field advantage. They don’t normally get a ton of fans at games because they play on Saturday afternoons. If this was a Friday night game, the place would be packed. Hopefully, Jesuit gets lights soon. Jesuit should advance. The Marauders have their eye on the prize — a rematch with Folsom — a team that beat them handily in the season opener.
Do the Lincoln Zebras roll on, and is that a cool mascot or what?
Davidson: If defense wins championships, then the Zebras are the favorite to beat fast and skilled Christian Brothers in D-III play, thanks to a Bee Defensive Player of the Year candidate in linebacker Jordan Wagner.
Patrick: What’s not to like about Lincoln? They are the Fighting Zebras for crying out loud! In addition to having the best mascot around, the defense has allowed all of two touchdowns in the last five games. Oh, and the Fighting Zebras almost beat Del Oro, a Division I team. Yeah, they’re going to be fine Friday night.
Salerno: Lincoln has an unreal defense, the backbone of that team. I can’t pick against the Zebras. Lincoln had The Bee’s score prediction against Whitney pinned up on a bulletin board. We all picked Whitney to beat Lincoln, but the opposite happened. Talk about bulletin board material.
Closing thoughts?
Davidson: The coach-speak in me says with gusto, “You’ve got to block, you’ve got to tackle and you have to play situational football and take care of business!” That’s similar to how we cover games. Really, the days of the intrigue games only in the upper divisions are long gone. Right on down to D-VII, the games are all fun.
Patrick: It’s been a great high school football season and I hope we get some nail-biters this week. We’re due.
Salerno: I won’t be here this weekend. I’ll be following the games closely from an out-of-state location. I’ll be back in time for the next round of the playoffs. This is the best slate of quarterfinals matchups I’ve seen. Let’s play football!
CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs
All games Friday at 7 p.m., unless noted
Division I
No. 8 Sheldon at No. 1 Rocklin
No. 5 St. Mary’s at No. 4 Edison
No. 6 Lincoln-Stockton at No. 3 Folsom
No. 7 Del Oro at No. 2 Jesuit, Saturday, 1 p.m.
Division II
No. 9 Lodi at No. 1 Central Catholic
No. 5 Whitney at No. 4 Antelope
No. 6 Elk Grove at No. 3 Vacaville
No. 2 Granite Bay at No. 7 Monterey Trail
Division III
No. 9 Roseville at No. 1 Oakdale
No. 5 Patterson at No. 4 Yuba City
No. 6 Sacramento at No. 3 Manteca
No. 7 Christian Brothers at No. 2 Lincoln
Division IV
No. 8 Wood at No. 1 Kimball
No. 5 East Union at No. 4 Merced
No. 6 Placer at No. 3 Vista del Lago
No. 7 Dixon and No. 2 Vanden
Division V
No. 8 Woodland at No. 1 Escalon
No. 5 Ripon at No. 4 Pioneer
No. 6 Hilmar at No. 3 Sonora
No. 7 Casa Roble at No. 2 Union Mine
Division VI
No. 8 Linden at No. 1 Bradshaw Christian
No. 5 Rosemont at No. 4 Hughson
No. 6 Waterford at No. 3 Livingston
No. 7 Liberty Ranch at No. 2 Argonait
Division VII
No. 8 Rio Vista at No. 1 Woodland Christian
No. 5 Delta at No. 4 Esparto
No. 6 Big Valley Christian at No. 3 Le Grand
No. 8 Mariposa County at No. 2 Vacaville Christian