Prep football: How 24 of 25 of our ranked Sacramento teams can win a section championship
The regular-season football schedule is finished. Put to bed, stored for the archives. The real season starts Friday with the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs that include 80 teams, seven divisions, expectations for the powerhouse programs and high hopes for the dark horses.
Twenty four of The Bee’s 25 ranked teams are in the postseason. Only Laguna Creek missed out at 7-3 (details in the rankings).
THE BEE’S TOP 25
1. Folsom (9-1)
If the Division I top-seeded Bulldogs don’t reach their 10th section final since 2010, that’ll be a stunner. They can win if the line continues to pass protect, QB Austin Mack continues to flourish and the defense continues to stuff teams.
2. Monterey Trail (8-2)
The D-I No. 4-seeded Mustangs fully expect to reach their fourth consecutive final and their second in D-I since 2019 behind the offensive line, the veer run game and big plays by WR Hasaan Miller.
3. Rocklin (7-3)
The Thunder have unfinished business, reaching the D-I finals a year ago at 12-0 before falling, and they now loom as a threat in D-II as the fourth seed. If QB Joey Roberts plays like the leader he is, the run game moves the chains and the defense plays like it did in a 14-7 loss to Folsom, it’s doable.
4. Oak Ridge (8-2)
The Trojans seek their second D-I section crown since 2019 and badly crave another shot at Folsom after a tough regular-season loss to their rivals. A rematch happens if QB Maddox Varella and RB/LB Jake Hall make plays and stops.
5. Del Oro (8-2)
The Golden Eagles are seeded second in D-II and can win it if QB Caden Pinnick keeps playing big, if the lines continue to dictate tempo and if Thomas Graham III keeps making plays on defense and special teams.
6. Elk Grove (7-3)
D-II section winners in 2019, the Thundering Herd are seeded sixth in D-I and can win it if the offensive line continues to maul opponents, if the run game keeps running and QB David Hale keeps playing beyond his years.
7. Jesuit (8-2)
The Marauders are the fifth seed in D-II and could get Rocklin in the second round. To win this bracket, Jesuit has to maintain offensive balance and play the best defense of its life.
8. Sheldon (7-3)
Should the No. 8-seeded Huskies get past Lincoln of Stockton, they earn a shot at Folsom. To win there, Sheldon has to unleash QB Jesiah Machado and WR Scott Nixon even more and get RB Devin Green off and running to win a shootout.
9. Placer (10-0)
The Hillmen are the top seed in D-III and win this bracket if teams can’t solve their tricky and prolific wing-T and the defense handles speedy receivers, of which there are many in this field.
10. Grant (7-2)
The Pacers have won seven section titles and seek their first in D-III. To do so, QB JoJo McCray has to continue to sizzle and the defense has to keep attacking and force turnovers.
11. Granite Bay (6-4)
The Grizzlies, as the sixth seed in D-II, can win it if the run game controls tempo and the defense plays like it did in SFL battles. A potential second-round game is at 10-0 Downey.
12. Vacaville (7-3)
The 8th-seeded Bulldogs are a battle-tested lot and can make a run in D-II if they can get past Lodi in an opener and then powerhouse top seed Manteca.
13. Christian Brothers (8-2)
The Falcons last won a section championship in 1983, in D-I, but they can take the D-III bracket as the 4-seed if teams can’t contain WR star Phillip Bell and the defense makes stops like it did to allow the big rally to beat Vista del Lago last week.
14. Vista del Lago (6-4)
The Eagles are seeded sixth in D-III, open with Yuba City and could then face loaded Grant. To win, more of the same is in order: Johnny Kuett passing short, medium and long to Matt Long and Crew Santero.
15. Casa Roble (9-1)
The Rams have won nine straight, are the second seed in D-IV, and can win it if Conner Campbell keeps hitting receiver Cole Owens, the run game maintains balance and defenders play out of their minds.
16. Sutter (10-0)
The top-seeded Huskies can win the D-V field if they do what they did to win so many Northern Section crowns: Run game, line play, ferocious defense.
17. Liberty Ranch (10-0)
Seeded third in D-V, the Hawks can win this deal if they keep going to RB marvel Arthur Draeger, get star performances from TE/DE Cody Smith and defend with success.
18. West Park (8-1)
Seeded third in D-IV, the Panthers can win it if they don’t think about how newer schools aren’t supposed to be this good and if QB Develle Barksdale raises his game to yet another level.
19. Antelope (7-3)
The Titans are seeded 10th in D-II and must first win their opener after going 10-0 last season only to fall in the first round. Success will be rooted in the running game featuring Curron Borders.
20. Woodcreek (7-3)
The Timberwolves are seeded eighth in D-III and could draw Placer in the quarterfinals. A win there and it’s wide open.
21. Dixon (8-2)
The Rams are the seeded sixth in D-V and will go as far as QB star Jett Harris can take them, and that could include a second-round trip to Galt to face 10-0 Liberty Ranch.
22. Lincoln (5-5)
The Zebras are an irked lot, steaming from a crushing loss to West Park last week but seeded No. 5 in D-IV. They can make a title run if RB Ryan Henning runs wild and LB star Peyton Raper continues to be a tackling machine.
23. Laguna Creek (7-3)
Bless the hearts of the heartbroken Cardinals, who did not get into the D-II playoffs because the school didn’t meet enough criteria, including a high-enough CalPreps ranking, never mind a regular-season win over Roseville. Still, this is the school’s best team in more than 10 years.
24. Roseville (6-4)
The Tigers are a true dark horse and they can shake up the D-III field as the No. 10 seed if duel-threat QB star Brandon Graydon keeps doing his thing and the defense doesn’t allow teams to make games a shootout.
25. Pioneer (7-3)
The Patriots are the No. 7 seed in D-V, open with dangerous Center and could face No. 2 Sonora in the second round. To win, RB Jack Carner has to rush for 150 or more yards and his team has to find offensive balance.
Bubble: Bradshaw Christian 8-2; Capital Christian 4-5; Center 6-4; Colfax 6-3; East Nicolaus 8-1; Johnson 7-3; Natomas 7-3; Woodland Christian 9-1.
Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs
Openers Nov. 5 at home sites, 7 p.m., unless noted
Division I
No. 9 Lincoln-Stockton at No. 8 Sheldon
No. 12 Stagg at No. 5 Central Catholic
No. 11 Johnson at No. 6 Elk Grove
No. 10 Edison at No. 7 Turlock
Byes: No. 1 Folsom, No. 2 St. Mary’s, No. 3 Oak Ridge, No. 4 Monterey Trail
Division II
No. 9 Lodi at No. 8 Vacaville
No. 12 Gregori at No. 5 Jesuit, Saturday, 1 p.m.
No. 11 Inderkum at No. 6 Granite Bay
No. 10 Antelope at No. 7 Tracy
Byes: No. 1 Manteca, No. 2 Del Oro, No. 3 Downey, No. 4 Rocklin
Division III
No. 9 Golden Valley at No. 8 Woodcreek
No. 12 Ceres at No. 5 Merced
No. 11 Yuba City at No. 6 Vista del Lago
No. 10 Roseville at No. 7 Oakdale
Byes: No. 1 Placer, No. 2 Patterson, No. 3 Grant, No. 4 Christian Brothers
Division IV
No. 9 Buhach Colony at No. 8 Los Banos
No. 12 Natomas at No. 5 Lincoln
No. 11 Nevada Union at No. 6 East Union
No. 10 Wood vs. No. 7 Capital Christian*
Byes: No. 1 Vanden, No. 2 Casa Roble, No. 3 West Park, No. 4 Kimball
Division V
No. 9 Rosemont at No. 8 Ripon
No. 12 Pacheco at No. 5 Escalon
No. 11 Foothill at No. 6 Dixon
No. 10 Center at No. 7 Pioneer
Byes: No. 1 Sutter, No. 2 Sonora, No. 3 Liberty Ranch, No. 4 Hilmar
Division VI
No. 9 Union Mine at No. 8 Esparto
No. 12 Delhi at No. 5 Bradshaw Christian
No. 11 Argonaut at No. 6 Colfax
No. 10 Modesto Christian at No. 7 Twelve Bridges
Byes: No. 1 Summerville, No. 2 Hughson, No. 3 Orestimba, No. 4 Marysville
Division VII
No. 8 Rio Vista vs. No. 1 Ripon Christian*
No. 5 Mariposa vs No. 4 Stone Ridge*
No. 6 Gustine at No. 3 Woodland Christian
No. 7 Delta at No. 2 Le Grand
*Cannot host due to CIF sanctions.
For full brackets, go to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section site
This story was originally published October 31, 2022 at 7:21 AM.