Pick the Preps: Predictions for No. 3 Rocklin vs. No. 2 Oak Ridge and other top matchups
Week 10 or Week 11?
Where are we? Regardless, the final weekend of the Sacramento-area high school football season has arrived.
Why the confusion? We’re easily confused, for starters, but we’re also asked this regularly: What exactly is Zero Week? In short, prep programs in California have 11 weeks to play 10 regular-season games, with a good many of them using a bye week. The opening week of the season is Zero Week (not a fan of the description), and so it goes.
Most area teams know their postseason fate — they’re in or they are not. Some teams are still trying to secure league championships and others playoff positioning.
Speaking of leaders, and because we keep score, I now lead the pack in our Pick the Preps tour, guessing at my best in recent weeks. My fellow prep enthusiasts for this weekly report are Matthew Bessette of ABC Jam Productions and the NFHS Network, which broadcasts games all over the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section; versatile area media talent Nick Pecoraro; and retired area prep basketball coach Scott Tedmon.
We will continue our picks throughout the playoffs. I will join assistant section commissioner Will DeBoard of the section office on Sunday afternoon for a bracket release show on the NFHS Network, produced by our man Bessette. It will air at 1:30 p.m. Wheel out the big screens and order up the pizza for the watch party.
No. 3 Rocklin (8-1) at No. 2 Oak Ridge (8-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m
JoeD: The coaches in this one are the best of friends, Casey Taylor of Oak Ridge and Jason Adams of Rocklin, and they stress the weight room and all-out physicality. Mouthpieces may fly in the trenches with all the power and might, the strength of both teams. If Granite Bay can beat Folsom on Friday, the winner here will clinch a share of the SFL crown, and both seek high playoff positioning: OR in D-I and Rocklin in D-II. OR wins a welts and bruises showdown, 17-16.
MatthewB: There will be some hitting in this one. Reeve Slone is coming off of a five-touchdown performance to beat Granite Bay. The Oak Ridge defense is as good as they come but the Thunder win a close one, 21-20.
NickP: I’ll have coverage of this game for The Bee. Both teams are looking to establish home-field playoff advantage until the section finals. I’m going with the Trojans, who haven’t lost at home this year, 24-21.
CoachT: Smash mouth is the theme of the day in this battle of area bruisers. OR wins in the trenches and with Jasen Womack toting the rock. Trojans triumph, 24-20.
No. 6 Granite Bay (5-4) at No. 1 Folsom (7-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: Never mind GB’s record. This is a superb running team, and if the offensive line gets just enough of a seal or surge, RB Carter Jackson can hit the jets with power and FB Isaiah Ene can run with power. And this: GB capped the 2021 regular season with a 31-21 road win at Folsom. Why does that matter now? It doesn’t. It’s food for fodder. Folsom’s D-line stands tall in this game, as does superb QB Ryder Lyons, who accounted for eight TDs as Folsom scored on all nine of its possessions to take out Del Oro 61-21 last week. Folsom wins 42-28.
MatthewB: I’ll be broadcasting this one as Folsom tries to go through another SFL season unblemished. Granite Bay will look to keep the ball away from Folsom with its run game but the Bulldogs lock up the top seed in D-I on the blue turf, 35-21.
NickP: Granite Bay gave Rocklin a run for its money in a triple-OT classic last week. But the Grizzlies have been bitten by the injury bug more often than they have liked this season. Folsom finishes its regular season strong, 45-21.
CoachT: GB’s high-powered running game of Jackson and Ene will have moments, but Folsom has my Player of the Year front-runner in Ryder Lyons and a whole lot more. Bulldogs roll, 45-21.
No. 5 Grant (7-2) vs. No. 15 Laguna Creek (7-2)
When: Friday at Cosumnes River College, 7:15 p.m.
JoeD: The Pacers have their backfield in a downhill roll with the speedy Wayshawn Parker and the powerful Devin Green, and QB Luke Alexander is always a threat to stretch defenses. LC has its best team in more than 20 years, a credit to classy coach Ryan Nill, whose team can record perhaps its biggest regular-season victory ever here (the school opened in the Elk Grove Unified School District in 1994). LC lost to Monterey Trail 41-35 in a Metro League opener and had a bye last week while Grant lost to MT, 35-34. Pacers by a yard, 38-35.
MatthewB: Our ABC Jam broadcast crew will carry this one. Grant will be hungry and Laguna Creek is trying to maintain its position in a loaded D-II bracket. Pacers gonna pace, 34-31.
NickP: I expect this one to be a barn burner. Both teams can score in bunches. Grant will be hungry to bounce back from the Monterey Trail loss while Laguna Creek looks for a signature win to bolster its playoff resume. Pacers outpace the Cards, 49-44.
CoachT: It’s almost playoff time and that means it’s Grant time. LC’s had a terrific season, but the Pacers prevail, 42-34.
No. 21 Roseville (7-2) at No. 12 Woodcreek (8-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: This one is for Junction Bowl bragging rights in one of the more spirited rivalries in the section, dating back to when Woodcreek opened in Roseville in 1994. Woodcreek’s stout D has to deal with Roseville’s dangerous WR/return ace Joel Bradley, who averages 156.1 yards of offense per game, scoring on receptions, kickoffs and punt returns. The D does just enough to lead Woodcreek to a 28-20 triumph.
MatthewB: It’s possible this won’t be the last time these teams see each other as they both figure to be factors in D-III. I’ve got Timberwolves over Tigers, 27-21.
NickP: “The Orange School” holds a 16-6 all-time series lead over Woodcreek, but the Timberwolves have won three of the last four over Roseville. The Junction Bowl always produces a great atmosphere in Placer County. Woodcreek takes home the coveted Golden Spike with a 27-24 win.
CoachT: Woodcreek’s lone blemish was a 20-15 loss to No. 9 Inderkum. Since that defeat, the Timberwolves have dominated, outscoring opponents 212-28. T-Wolves howl into the playoffs, 38-21.
Pleasant Grove (4-5) at Sheldon (3-6)
JoeD: This figures to be an entertaining Delta League contest with a lot on the line. PG can improve its D-I playoff positioning with a victory and Sheldon needs a win to secure a playoff. The coaches — Josh Crabtree of PG and Chris Nixon of Sheldon — are longtime friends who can relate to injuries stalling progress. PG finds a way, 24-23.
MatthewB: Both teams have faced about as much adversity as possible. Pleasant Grove is playoff bound. Sheldon is trying to punch its ticket into the D-I bracket. Huskies get it done, 17-13.
NickP: No true home field advantage here as both teams share the same stadium for home games. Sheldon is staring down a do-or-die regular-season finale to get into the playoffs, but PG will have the final say, 20-17.
CoachT: Sheldon is rested and ready coming off a bye week. The Huskies need the win to secure a playoff spot. Sheldon gets it done, 21-20.
Season totals (last week and overall):
JoeD: 4-1 (44-18)
MatthewB: 3-2 (43-19)
NickP: 3-2 (39-23)
CoachT: 3-2 (34-28)
This story was originally published October 26, 2023 at 5:00 AM.