Picking the Preps: Folsom vs. De La Salle; small-school showdown Sutter vs. Colfax
Where has the season gone?
It’s been hot. Sweaty and hot. Smokey, sweaty and hot. Last week gave us what felt like real football weather for the first time with crisp breezes to match the good action.
Our Sacramento Bee prep coverage crew peeled off the best combined week of wild guessing and subjective logic in picking games. Chris Biderman had his best week, and yes, we keep score, as he went 9-1. Cookie for you, sir. Jim Patrick went 9-0 – aced it – and now he can be found running around the office with a Scoopy Bee mascot head. Attention: If he shows up at a game with said headgear, alert security.
Cameron Salerno also went 9-0, and he reminded everyone about it. Showoff. Yours truly went 6-2, and I’m not sure I was really wrong on any of the guesses.
So, we kick off again.
No. 1 Folsom (3-1) at De La Salle (3-1)
JoeD’s pick: De La Salle, or De La Stomp, devoured the best of this region for years, including plowing through exceptional Folsom teams five times from 2012 through last October. Folsom exacted sweet revenge to win the Northern California Division I-AA championship and has the grit to do it again. Folsom wins 28-27.
Biderman: Thank you, thank you! No, seriously, I don’t deserve such applause. Please, have a seat! Alright, whew, what a week it was. Who to thank? Okay, just kidding. The bar is set after going 9-1 last week, so I can’t possibly screw this up worse than I did earlier in the season. I’ll take De La Salle here because surely they won’t lose to Folsom, again, on their home field after what happened in last year’s playoffs. Give me the Spartans (ducks for cover), 30-26.
Patrick: Salerno’s record last week was even better than it sounds. Not only was he 9-0, he also picked the exact score in the Del Oro game. He’s too humble to say anything, so here we are. This game’s tough to pick because they have a common opponent, Serra, which narrowly beat both teams. I’m going with homefield De La Salle, 28-24.
Salerno: De La Salle just isn’t what it once was. The Spartans program doesn’t have the same dominance it once did. They lost to Serra earlier this year and will lose to Folsom 24-21.
No. 25 Capital Christian (1-3) at No. 18 Vista del Lago (2-3)
JoeD: This Capital Athletic League contest will be prolific, Capital is warming up and someone please check Vista star WR Matt Long downfield. He’s tearing everyone apart. Vista wins 35-33.
Biderman: Long has 13 touchdowns in four games (LOL). Give me Vista Del Lago in a high-scoring affair, 44-38.
Patrick: I have no idea what to make of Capital Christian. Its only local loss is to Rocklin, a Division I power. And I keep thinking VDL is building something but the results aren’t there yet. Give me Capital Christian, 35-21.
Salerno: Vista is one of the best 2-3 teams in the section. Love the connection of the quarterback and wide receiver. Vista wins 45-31.
Sacramento (1-4) at No. 13 Christian Brothers (3-2)
JoeD: This CAL game is called, “The Battle for Oak Park” and the subplot is can Sac High keep up with WR star Phillip Bell? The Dragons are banged up and fall 28-17.
Biderman: Christian Brothers finally got junior quarterback Will Littlejohn back in the lineup last week after a preseason finger injury led to freshman Deakon Holden playing admirably in his place. I’ll take the Falcons, 30-22, in a breakout game for Bell.
Patrick: Sacramento could have been really good this year and it’s just not working out. CB wins 28-20.
Salerno: This is the game I’ll be covering. Phillip Bell is a treat to watch. Give me CB 42-24.
No. 17 Sutter (5-0) at Colfax (3-1)
JoeD: I dig small-school showdowns, and this one is a beauty on grass at a tree-lined venue as section newcomer Sutter has been a physical and dominating run team under coach Ryan Reynolds. Sutter prevails 35-20.
Biderman: I’ll be covering this game so surely I’ll make the wrong pick and have to hear about from the winning coach. I’ll go with Sutter, 30-20, which has outscored opponents 222-21 (seriously) to start the season.
Patrick: The Sutter coaches follow me on Twitter and I’m scared of them. Sutter wins 34-24.
Salerno: Sutter is making a name for itself in the school’s first year in the Sac-Joaquin Section. Give me road team 28-24.
No. 23 Roseville (2-3) at Yuba City (2-3)
JoeD: Both teams have tremendous playmaking leaders, Roseville with duel-threat QB Brandon Graydon and YC with QB/LB Nick Afato. YC makes more stops and wins 35-30
Biderman: This one will be close but I’ll take Yuba City because Roseville has struggled on the road so far. Give me the Honkers, 24-20.
Patrick: Honkers. ‘Nuf said. YC wins 34-28.
Salerno: Roseville looked very strong in a loss to Antelope last week. I like the Tigers to bounce back 45-42.
Rosemont (3-1) at Foothill (2-2)
JoeD: The Wolverines have had every bit of bad luck, their games against Cordova and Amador scratched for any number of reasons, and none of it the fault of this gritty group. Rosemont rolls 34-20.
Biderman: As an alum of a certain institution in Columbus, Ohio, I’m reluctant to pick Wolverines in any scenario. But Rosemont’s going to win here, 35-24, on the strength of their offense.
Patrick: I’ve seen Foothill and they’re better than the record suggests, but Rosemont is legit. Rosemont wins 34-14.
Salerno: Rosemont should roll in this one. Too much talent on offense. 42-21.
WHAT GAME IS THIS? Florin (0-5) at Valley (0-3)?
JoeD: What on Earth? Hey, these guys care, too, as this is for the Highway 99 trophy as South Sacramento rivals. They care but they just can’t seem to score. Valley has produced six points in three outings and Florin 14 in five. Florin wins 12-6.
Biderman: There’s no love lost when these two square off. You also have to throw out the record books. This one will be about X’s and O’s AND the Jimmies and Joes. Florin will want this one more, 11-3.
Patrick: I saw Valley last year but I’ve also met the Florin coach and AD. Torn, I choose Valley 26-20.
Salerno: Someone has to win! Florin does just that 13-0.
Season totals:
JoeD: 28-8, and still in full-on denial.
Biderman: 21-15, and really getting a hang of this nonsense.
Patrick: 28-8, and running amok with a mascot head.
Salerno: 30-6, and wondering when the real challenges start.
This story was originally published September 22, 2022 at 5:00 AM.