Pick the Preps: Folsom-Rocklin, Oak Ridge-Del Oro, Mira Loma-Delta, Delta League and more
Since opening 31 years ago, the Rocklin High School football program produced its greatest football teams in 2005, 2009 and 2021. The roar cascading out of Placer County this season indicates there is another all-time team in the making.
Ranked No. 2 by The Bee this week, Rocklin can hammer home the argument for its legacy if the Thunder can topple top-ranked Folsom on Friday in the Sierra Foothill League clash of the week.
It’s happened before, and not too long ago. In 2021, No. 2 Rocklin dropped the hammer on the No. 1 Bulldogs with a 40-7 triumph, on the Thunder’s homecoming night, no less, behind two-way stars Elias Mullican, now at Sacramento State, and lineman Bobby Piland, now at Utah of the Pac-12. That halted Folsom’s 48-game SFL winning streak.
But Folsom jammed up the dream season with a 20-3 decision in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I finals, ending Rocklin’s campaign at 12-1.
In 2005, head coach Greg Benzel led Rocklin to an 11-2 season, the losses coming to rival Del Oro, 7-0 in SFL play and 18-15 in the section D-II finals.
In 2009, Rocklin with Stanford-bound running back Jackson Cummings went 14-1, storming through the SFL. Cummings rushed for 2,406 yards and 39 touchdowns, and the defense was stout. Rocklin delivered a goal line stand under defensive coordinator Jason Adams, now the head coach, to deny unbeaten Grant 21-19 in the section D-II semifinals and then edged Del Oro 21-14 to win the program’s only section banner.
In the CIF state D-II title game, Servite of Anaheim prevailed 33-30.
And now there is this year’s outfit. The Thunder are especially strong in the trenches, have a prolific running back in Derek Keeley (11 touchdowns), who also makes plays on defense, and a fast-emerging sophomore quarterback in Reeve Slone. He has passed for 1,016 yards and 12 touchdowns with just one interception. He has hit tight end Gavin Correia four times for touchdowns.
Speaking of unbeaten, I went a thunderous 6-0 in our pick/guess segment last week while Matthew Bessette of ABC Jam Productions in conjunction with NFHS broadcasts went 5-1. Area scribe/broadcaster Nick Pecoraro went 4-2. And the coach, at last, had a good week as Scott Tedmon went 5-1 (he also reports he hit his target time in Saturday’s Urban Cow half marathon: “Didn’t cramp up. Still alive. That’s a heck of a day!”
Cosumnes Oaks (3-4) vs. No. 19 Pleasant Grove (3-3)
When: Thursday at Sheldon, 7:15 p.m.
JoeD: We applaud Thursday night games and this figures to be a fun one in the Delta League as both teams need at least one more victory to be playoff eligible. PG has used different QBs due to injury and then found that converted WR Jacob Beals may be the man as he accounted for four scores in a rout of Franklin. CO has a QB leader in Marino Fragata, who has passed for 1,456 yards and 14 TDs. I sense an upset: CO 40-38.
MatthewB: We will be broadcasting this one as both teams look to pick up momentum. CO has 96 points in its last two games. PG seems to have figured out how to navigate the season without injured QB Cole Davis. Eagles win a shootout, 38-35.
NickP: Both teams are coming off of lopsided wins. It’s been rough on PG injury wise. CO’s QB1 has a bevy of targets to throw to. Wolfpack wins, 28-24.
CoachT: This is a tough game to call. When in doubt, take the home team, or, in this case, PG, which calls Sheldon’s field its home turf. PG edges CO, 38-37.
No. 1 Folsom (4-2) at No. 2 Rocklin (6-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: There may be seismic activity within the trenches here as both teams are strongest on the line. That likely means more stops than touchdowns, though superb sophomore QBs Ryder Lyons of Folsom and Rocklin’s Reeve Slone are capable of lighting up anyone. Folsom by a mouthpiece, 21-20.
MatthewB: I’ll be on the broadcast call for this one. Rocklin hasn’t lost a home game since the wheel was invented (OK, Del Oro in 2018). Folsom is coming off an impressive win against previously unbeaten Oak Ridge. In the trenches is where the game will be won or lost. The Thunder keep the home streak alive, 24-21.
NickP: I’m covering this whopper of an SFL matchup for The Bee. This will be decided in the fourth quarter and Rocklin makes just enough plays to stun the Bulldogs, 24-21.
CoachT: After watching budding superstar Ryder Lyons in person last Friday, I’m running with the Bulldogs to a section title ... and beyond. Folsom will quiet the Quarry, 24-21.
No. 3 Oak Ridge (5-1) at No. 6 Del Oro (5-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: It’ll always mean something for OR coach Casey Taylor when he’s in Loomis and on this campus, where he coached championship teams for 15 seasons, winning six section crowns and reaching four CIF state finals, taking it in 2015. Caden Pinnick will have his moments for DO at QB, but the Trojans are fired up to bounce back from the Folsom loss and to douse their coach with his 200th career victory. OR wins 28-21.
MatthewB: These teams are in need of a bounce back from a loss for the first time this year. There are no weeks off in the SFL, especially when going up against a former team or coach. Trojans win and Taylor gets his his milestone victory, 27-21.
NickP: Coach Taylor should get a nice ovation from the Del Oro crowd. He should get an even louder one from his own sideline as his team celebrates a memorable victory. Trojans win 35-30.
CoachT: OR showed its mettle hanging with mighty Folsom for three quarters before it got away. This one will be special as the Trojans triumph for win No. 200 in Coach Taylor’s tremendous career, 27-24.
Vanden (4-2) at No. 13 Vacaville (3-3)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
JoeD: The Bulldogs have not lost a Monticello Empire League game since 2016, but there have been some close calls, and this will be one of them. Vacaville prevails, 24-21.
MatthewB: The “V” can mean “Victory” for only one team. Vanden is a D4 powerhouse and the defending section champion. Vacaville is a battle-tested heavyweight. Bulldogs flex their muscle, 30-27.
NickP: Throughout the section, only St. Mary’s of Stockton has an active league winning streak longer than Vacaville. The Bulldogs continue to shine at one of the best home atmospheres around and win, 34-21.
CoachT: For this week, the plan is: When in doubt, take the home team. This is a coin-flip contest. Vacaville will win in front of its raucous student section, 17-14.
No. 21 Rio Americano (6-0) at No. 20 Christian Brothers (5-2)
JoeD: Off to their best start since 1994, the Raiders of Rio face their stiffest challenge yet, against the defending Capital Athletic League champions on homecoming night. CB in a tight one, 27-26.
MatthewB: Rio Americano is one of four remaining unbeaten teams in the entire section. CB is one long field goal away from being a one-loss team. I am rolling with the Falcons in this one, 24-17.
NickP: Much respect to Rio and the job done under head coach Reid Sanders, who was 4 years old the last time the Raiders were this good. But I’m afraid Rio’s good fortune will run out (at least for this week) against CB. Falcons win, 28-21.
CoachT: This figures to be another tight matchup and you know the drill. Take the home team. Falcons win, 31-28.
Mira Loma (5-1) at Delta (5-1)
JoeD: We dig the small-school contests, and these programs are in an upward cycle, having first produced memorable championship teams in the 1960s. This is a nonleague game, on the grass in Clarksburg, where Gavin McAllister has played inspired at QB for the Saints since the stunning death last month of his brother, Sacramento City College lineman Justin McAllister. Kid brother leads Delta in a fun one, 35-31.
MatthewB: Mira Loma has Brennan Collins and Brad Williams Jr. on pace to rush for well over 1,000 yards. Delta is a story of perseverance, playing remarkable football. Delta wins, 36-33.
NickP: Being a Sac City guy, it was especially awful to hear about young Mr. McAllister. Little brother Gavin and the rest of the Clarksburg crew are pulling the heartstrings Delta’s way. Saints, 40-35.
CoachT: I graduated from ML in 1972 when we ruled the region during our football glory days under legendary coaches Don Brown and Gerry Kundert. But I’m sticking with my home team theme as the Saints secure the win, 48-28.
Season totals and Joe D’s remarks
JoeD (31-14): Unbeaten last week and it’s about time.
MatthewB (33-12): Tailed so closely by JoeD he can smell him.
NickP (29-16): Owes us beverages if he doesn’t win this race.
CoachT (25-20): Will owe us steak and lobster if he finishes last.
This story was originally published October 4, 2023 at 5:00 AM.