Pick the Preps: Predicting the Holy Bowl, Honor Bowl and other Sacramento-area showdowns
The Honor Bowl and the Holy Bowl kick off on Saturday, capping this week’s Sacramento-area high school football action.
The Honor Bowl has to be seen to be fully appreciated. It is a collection of games pitting teams from various sections in California and sometimes teams from out of state. The event honors those in the military, past and present, men and women who have served and sacrificed, and first responders who live by the same motto.
The Southern California version of the Honor Bowl was last weekend in San Diego, an event that included Oak Ridge. The Trojans visited Wounded Warriors, had a Marine get in their face for a quick taste of what that experience is like and then punctuated their weekend with a 22-20 win over powerhouse Madison of San Diego.
Saturday’s menu in El Dorado Hills starts with Provo of Utah playing Clovis East of Fresno at noon, followed by three-time defending Sac-Joaquin Section champion Manteca facing off against Rocklin at 4 p.m. and capped by Oak Ridge playing Clayton Valley Charter of Concord at 7 p.m.
The Holy Bowl’s first game was in 1969 at American River College and the next one is Saturday at Hughes Stadium. This remains as great of a rivalry series as you’ll find anywhere in the state, pitting Christian Brothers against Jesuit. The game has become a staple at Hughes, to fit everyone in, and the crowd could again exceed 15,000.
Regarding our picks last week, do we have to? I went a sickly 2-6, and I’ll blame the flu that bogged me down, or just plain ignorance.
Matthew Bessette of ABC JAM Productions in conjunction with NFHS went 5-3 and won the week. His crew is livestreaming some of the Honor Bowl action and all of the Holy Bowl. Longtime area media grinder Nick Pecoraro guessed right on three games, and Scott Tedmon, our resident basketball coach guru testing his hand in football, was a solid 4-4. Maybe less training for the next marathon and more film breakdown, eh, coach?
Clayton Valley Charter (1-1) at No. 2 Oak Ridge (3-0)
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: The Ugly Eagles — can’t top the mascot — have for years won with an overwhelming run game, and that presents a fine test for Oak Ridge. The Trojans have played the last two games without defensive stalwarts Markus Hoffman (returns this week) and Gavin Molloy (game-to-game with a leg injury). Oak Ridge backs up a festive Honor Bowl vibe, 24-20.
MatthewB: Self-deprecating nicknames will get you nowhere with me. An Oak Ridge defense that is already playing well gets possibly their best player back in Hoffman. Trojans win, 27-13.
NickP: You want ugly? How about my predictions from last week? Must do better. The Honor Bowl provides a tremendous atmosphere. Beating a top-five San Diego section team last week says a lot about the Trojans, who win this one, 28-17.
CoachT: My Dad, Cliff, served our country in the Navy during WWII and the Honor Bowl represents the best of what high school sports are all about. This is a great matchup with the Trojans prevailing, 27-24.
No. 2 Grant (2-1) at Los Gatos (2-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: Los Gatos is a longtime power from the Central Coast Section, once coached by 266-game winner Butch Cattolico (now assisting his son, Joe, at Granite Bay) and it is still a formidable program. RB Wayshawn Parker, QB Luke Alexander and WR/DB Kingston Lopa continue to sparkle as Grant wins 35-28.
MatthewB: Much respect to both teams for taking this game to fill a void in the schedule. You don’t get better by sitting at home. We talk a lot about Grant’s offense, but the defense is only allowing 11 points per game and DE Jeremiah Tuiileila is living in the opponent’s backfield. Pacers gonna Pace, 27-17.
NickP: Mr. Parker’s contributions are making him an early contender for Player of the Year. If not for mighty Serra of San Mateo, Los Gatos might claim the top spot in the CCS. Take Grant in a game decided in the fourth quarter, 35-32.
CoachT: Los Gatos steps up in class and the talented Pacers are too much for the Cats. Grant rolls 38-24.
No. 4 Rocklin (3-0) vs. Manteca (2-1)
When: Saturday at Oak Ridge, 4 p.m.
JoeD: In our Bee Sac-Joaquin Section Top 10, we have Manteca ranked fifth and Rocklin seventh, and let’s kick off already, OK? Manteca has a 42-35 win over Vista del Lago in which Bryson Davis rushed 35 times for a whopping 325 yards, then a 15-0 win over Granite Bay before last week’s sobering 44-7 loss to section No. 2 St. Mary’s of Stockton. Davis hasn’t played the last two games due to injury. Rocklin’s D shines, 21-17.
MatthewB: The injury report will be a big factor in this one. Rocklin, which finally allowed a touchdown last week, has the playmakers to avenge last year’s playoff loss with a 31-15 win.
NickP: I like this matchup because it sounds like a great hot wing flavor: Buffalo-Thunder! Manteca has proven it can play with the big boys, but Rocklin prevails, 31-20.
CoachT: There’s no shame in Manteca losing to a tremendous St. Mary’s team. It’s a new week and a big week for all Buffaloes as they take down Rocklin, 24-21.
No. 10 Jesuit (1-1) vs. No. 15 Christian Brothers (2-1)
When: Saturday at Hughes Stadium, 7 p.m.
JoeD: The Holy Bowl is always a good show. Jesuit QB C.J. Lee and his offensive line are a load, as is RB Ezekiel Castex of CB, who bolted for 263 yards and four TDs against Pleasant Grove but missed last week. He’s fired up and ready to go, but Jesuit holds on, 35-31.
MatthewB: I am thrilled to broadcast this game. CB bounced back after a loss last week thanks in large part to an unlikely hero in RB Daniel Kamara. Jesuit has looked strong under the lights in Carmichael and the Marauders take down the Falcons, 17-13.
NickP: Both teams’ losses this season have come down to the wire, and I expect this game to continue that trend. Jesuit has only lost twice in the Holy Bowl over the past 20 years, so I’ll stick with the Marauders, 24-23.
CoachT: Arguably the best rivalry in town, the team with the ball last wins. That will be Big Red as they score late, eking out a 38-37 win in a classic.
Bradshaw Christian (2-1) at No. 16 Sutter (2-1)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
JoeD: What a fun small-school showdown, and a rematch of sorts from last spring’s section Division V baseball title game, won by Jagger Beck and the Huskies in 13 innings over a lot of Pride players from BC. Beck will QB this contest, countering Ethan Rickert, a star baseball player. When it’s this close, go with the home team — Sutter, 35-21.
MatthewB: I don’t think we will need 13 innings to decide this one. Love to see all of these multi-sport athletes competing for both teams. Sutter scored twice in the fourth quarter to beat McQueen of Reno last week. The Huskies keep that momentum going, winning 36-34.
NickP: Yes, we remember that 13-inning marathon. Hopefully it doesn’t take 13 overtimes to settle this one. Sutter gets it done, 24-17.
CoachT: It’s the Huskies second season in this section while the Pride has been a fixture of excellence. Sutter continues to take names, chalking up a hard-earned 38-28 victory.
No. 19 Laguna Creek (2-1) vs. No. 18 Pleasant Grove (2-1)
When: Friday at Sheldon, 7:15 p.m.
JoeD: LC has a load of a RB in Armon Thorntona, fresh off of a 281-yard, five-TD effort to beat Roseville 39-30, and PG is hurting with sidelined QB leader Cole Davis (clavicle). It’ll be a great vibe in the Elk Grove Unified School District with LC winning, 28-20.
MatthewB: Such a fun matchup between teams playing good football. Pleasant Grove has struggled against the run the last two weeks and that does not bode well against the Cardinals. Laguna Creek starts 3-1 for the second consecutive season, winning 41-27.
NickP: Both of these teams have made me eat my words over the past couple of weeks. I hope to have redemption with at least one of them as the Cardinals prevail 32-21.
CoachT: Bragging rights are up for grabs in this neighborly meeting. The Cardinals ground game will be the difference, besting PG 27-17.
Colfax (2-1) at No. 24 Union Mine (3-0)
When: Friday in El Dorado, 7 p.m.
JoeD: This game will entertain, and it’ll fill up at UM’s nice venue as first-year coach Brandon Pacheco has the Diamondbacks in a good groove, including RB Jake Cherrington (147 yards, three scores to beat Amador 42-17). Colfax coach Jason Stowers raves about his 6-foot-5 QB River Roach, and we rave about guys with such cool names. Colfax wins, 28-27.
MatthewB: Union Mine is looking for its third 4-0 start in program history and to match last season’s win total. Colfax seems to have figured some things out after losing the opener to Truckee. Falcons win 34-30.
NickP: When my dad was younger, he used to train falcons and collect snakes. So, by this logic, this game is a toss-up. I’ll take the Diamondbacks, 26-21.
CoachT: In the most fitting mascot worthy game to date, the Diamondbacks do it on the terra firma while the Falcons let it fly. UM grounds Colfax, 31-21.
Season totals:
JoeD: 9-10 — I used to be good at this.
MatthewB: 13-6 — He’s really good at this.
NickP: 10-9 — He thinks he’s good at this.
CoachT: 8-11 — He doesn’t know what to think.
This story was originally published September 7, 2023 at 5:00 AM.