Pick the Preps: Predictions for the Sacramento area’s biggest high school football games
Wasn’t it just yesterday when the season started across Northern California with scrimmages and then season openers?
All true, and all behind us in a flash with the best on the horizon. The high school football season barrels into Week 8 with a showdown of Bee-ranked teams on Thursday, which is also a night in which hard-luck programs in Placer County will taste victory at last.
Friday’s slate includes the usual boat of Sierra Foothill League games and also the likely Capital Athletic League title bout between No. 13 Rio Americano and host No. 10 Vista del Lago.
As for our guessing game, I won the week again with a 4-2 showing, and we’re not gloating. OK, a little. Matthew Bessette of ABC JAM productions, area multimedia guru Nick Pecoraro and retired basketball coach and personality Scott Tedmon vow to up their game. Tedmon has been around so long that he has family ties at a number of the schools we preview here.
No. 17 Twelve Bridges (7-0) at No. 18 Sutter (7-1)
When: Thursday, 7:15 p.m.
JoeD: 12B continues its remarkable rise in quick order, the Lincoln-based school yet to graduate its first class. The Raging Rhinos have a stout defense, excellent line play, a steady QB in Whit Kruse and a dominating difference maker in RB Nathan Crawford. 12B wins 28-20.
MatthewB: Can’t wait to head up to Sutter to broadcast this one. Twelve Bridges’ offense is averaging nearly 44 points. Sutter has only allowed 16 total points in its last five games, including two shutouts. Something has to give. Rhino power is greater than horsepower. TB wins it, 35-27.
NickP: What a great matchup of giant QBs. Whit Kruse of Twelve Bridges and Jagger Beck of Sutter are listed at 6-foot-6, and both can sling it. It’ll be a shootout with the Rhinos winning, 42-40.
CoachT: My former basketball ball boys/wannabe assistant coaches who loved drawing up plays during timeouts (one a weakside lob that actually worked!) also double as my grandsons, Matthew and Joey, who will be Ragin’ Rhinos in a couple of years. If I don’t pick 12B, it will be cold turkey and a cold shoulder for me at Thanksgiving. It’s family first and 12B wins, 31-28.
Oakmont (0-7) at Lincoln (0-7)
When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
JoeD: You name it, it’s happened for these programs: injuries, inexperience, bad breaks, and yet, no quit. Kudos to coaches Jake Messina of Oakmont and Allen Berg of Lincoln for holding it together. Lincoln wins 21-17.
MatthewB: With opportunities to snag that first win dwindling, I expect both teams to come ready to play. Oakmont has lost a few close games this season and that experience will help the Vikings, 20-17.
NickP: I’ve certainly seen my share of frustrating seasons on struggling teams. But there will be reason to celebrate for one of these teams here. Lincoln wins at home, 20-14.
CoachT: My grandsons Matthew and Joey have grown up in Lincoln, where I have spent countless hours at gyms and soccer fields rooting them on with my daughter, Christie, and son-in-law, Brian. Family ties win again and so does Lincoln, 24-20.
No. 13 Rio Americano (7-0) at No. 10 Vista del Lago (7-1)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
JoeD: Let’s keep picking against the upstart Raiders, off to their best start since the 1990s, and providing that bulletin board material. Rio’s strong D takes on Vista’s explosive offense. QB John Koett to WR Matt Long by a yard as VDL wins 21-20.
MatthewB: Rio Americano continues to be one of the best stories of the season as one of just three unbeaten teams in the section (Twelve Bridges and Woodland Christian the other two). Vista del Lago is averaging more than 55 points in its last four games. The Eagles take control of the CAL on their home field, 42-33.
NickP: Last week’s win against Christian Brothers told me not to bet against Rio Americano. The Raiders recorded 10 sacks. They’ll need all of that pressure and more to deal with Vista’s aerial assault. Rio finds a way, 35-30.
CoachT: My daughter, Rachel, went to Rio, was on the dance team and played tennis. My nephew, Matt, was the Raiders JV baseball head coach and I was his assistant coach for a year. It’s more family flavor here and Rio’s win over CB was no fluke. Raiders upset VDL 28-27.
No. 5 Granite Bay (5-2) at No. 2 Oak Ridge (6-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: You need depth to survive the SFL gauntlet, and GB will now lean on freshman QB Dom Cattolico, who is eager for the shot and knows the system well as he is the son of head coach Joe Cattolico. GB has star runners in burner Carter Jackson, coming off games of 270 and 281 yards and seven total TDs, and the brutish Isaiah Ene. It’s a great test for OR’s stout line, and RB Jasen Womack is poised for another big game. OR 24-21.
MatthewB: With win No. 200 in his rear-view mirror, Casey Taylor now has to figure out how to stop Carter Jackson. Markus Hoffman, Gavin Molloy and company get it done up front as Oak Ridge wins, 24-21.
NickP: Can anyone stop Carter Jackson? The Cal commit is averaging a whopping 275 yards per game since SFL play started. But the Trojans’ strength is getting into the opponent’s backfield and stopping the run. I’ll go with the Trojans, 28-21.
CoachT: My amazing wife, Teri, who supported my coaching for decades and is now putting up with my weekly prep picks, is friends with talented Trojans QB Joaquin Graves-Mercado’s mother, Kate. Teri has expressed her views on this game, if you know what I mean. My son-in-law, Brian, went to GB. Sorry, Brian, but Teri wins and so does OR, 31-28.
Winters (5-1) at East Nicolaus (4-2)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
JoeD: What a terrific showdown of small-school heavies in this Sacramento Valley League contest of storied programs. Both rely on the run. EN averages 257.3 yards rushing a game, and Logan Cleary and Mason Taylor have each rushed for six TDs. Winters features Gio Jimenez, who has 663 yards and nine TDs as the Warriors average 288.5 yards rushing. Winters by a yard, 21-20.
MatthewB: Last year, East Nicolaus handled Winters 54-28. This year is a different story. Winters shows its Warrior spirit on the road, 35-30.
NickP: A great Northern Section showdown, and a possible playoff preview? I’ll go with Winters, 31-28, but it could be a different result if these two meet in the postseason.
CoachT: No community is more passionate about their team than EN, which includes a friend of mine whose kids are Spartans. EN in a nail-biter, 34-31.
Union Mine (5-2) at Rosemont (4-3)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
JoeD: The loser of this contest is all but out of the Sierra Valley Conference title race with Bradshaw Christian and Liberty Ranch still unbeaten in league play. UM and Rosemont each have a league loss. UM has played inspired under first-year coach Brandon Pacheco with losses of 22-21 to Colfax and 19-7 to Bradshaw Christian, but Rosemont will have the fastest guy on the field in RB Michael Cherry, who has bolted for 974 yards and 15 TDs, averaging 203.7 yards of all-purpose yards. Rosemont wins 30-24.
MatthewB: I’ve picked against Union Mine twice this season and I’d like to be able to show my face in El Dorado at some point. Diamondbacks win, 27-24.
NickP: These two each have an outside chance at hosting a first-round playoff game. One good way to enhance that opportunity comes with a win Friday. Put the Cherry on top as Rosemont rolls 33-24.
CoachT: The family stars have aligned this week. My first grandchild, Billy, son of Rachel (of Rio fame, see above) is a freshman at Rosemont. Billy’s been my buddy for 15 years, so this one’s for you. Papa’s picking Rosemont for all the right reasons, 34-24.
Last week’s records and season totals
JoeD (4-2, 35-16): My self esteem is better when I’m leading the pack.
MatthewB (2-4, 35-16): Suddenly wondering where his mojo went.
NickP (3-3, 32-19): Won’t pick against Rio any more.
CoachT (3-3, 28-23): Playing the family card, as if that’ll save him here.
This story was originally published October 12, 2023 at 5:00 AM.