Pick the Preps: CIF Sac-Joaquin Section high school football playoff predictions, analysis
The urgency of any postseason is as emphatic as a forearm to the facemask: The winners advance and the other guys have long goodbyes and turn in gear.
The CIF Sac-Joaquin playoffs will dot the Sacramento region and beyond starting Friday at home sites where there will also be a different feel. No more Homecoming. No more Senior Nights. No more junior varsity games, and a lot more places to park.
Kickoffs will be an instant after the national anthem, 7 p.m. sharp, meaning a good many of us can get home before curfew.
Our game-picking crew of prep enthusiasts are fired up for the postseason, too. Matthew Bessette of ABC Jam Productions, in conjunction with the NFHS broadcast network, went 5-0 in his picks last week to cap the regular season. I went 3-2, an outrage, and area multimedia grinder Nick Pecoraro went 3-2. Coach Scott Tedmon, a basketball purist now finding his footing in our football predictions, went an encouraging 4-1.
The top four seeds in Divisions I-VI have opening-round byes this week. Games featured below are listed by division seeding.
Division II
No. 9 Vacaville (6-4) at No. 8 Elk Grove (6-4)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: Storied programs collide for the fourth time in six postseasons with some of those showdowns turning out to be classics, including EG prevailing 52-48 in 2021 in the fog of Solano County. No fog here, but plenty of fun as the Thundering Herd prevail 35-28 behind QB/runner David Hale.
MatthewB: Vacaville’s going to look to ride power back Cristian Diosdado while Elk Grove runs the option offense as well as any team in the section. The Thundering Herd share the ball on their way to the quarterfinals, 30-27.
NickP: Both teams responded incredibly to league defeats to finish the regular season strong. If you’re attending this game, you should be home in time to throw on a fire and catch up on your favorite shows as both teams run the heck out of the ball. Vacaville tends to throw more with QB Brody Fortunati. My coin flip says to go with the Bulldogs on the road, 24-20.
CoachT: Vacaville has been disappointing at times this season. The Bulldogs have plenty of talent and quality coaching, but they haven’t consistently put it together. Now they find themselves on the road against a tough, physical, tested Herd. Bulldogs don’t disappoint here, edging EG 28-27.
No. 11 Laguna Creek (7-3) at No. 6 Del Oro (6-4)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: Del Oro hosting despite a 1-4 showing in the Sierra Foothill League is reflective of how strong the conference is, and the Golden Eagles are worthy. But are they healthy? LC is an athletic, well-coached squad that aims to jolt the field. DO grinds away, 17-14.
MatthewB: Declan Follette and Laguna Creek need to control the line of scrimmage in order to pull off the upset. Del Oro’s going to have the whole town of Loomis and beyond on hand. The Golden Eagles stay golden, 28-21.
NickP: To emphasize Joe’s point on strength of schedule, DO’s opponents combined for 70 wins and all except one are hosting playoff games. LC has wins over two playoff teams and took D-I No. 4-seed Monterey Trail to double overtime. The Cardinals put up a fight, but Del Oro wins, 27-24.
CoachT: LC finished a strong third in the Metro behind powers Monterey Trail and Grant, but nothing compares to the SFL, where every game is a heavyweight fight. DO wins, 24-21.
Division III
No. 10 Yuba City (4-6) at No. 7 Christian Brothers (6-4)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: CB reached the section finals last season and has a lot of players back for another run, but the road has not been easy. A 31-13 Capital Athletic League loss to Rio Americano jolted the Falcons, but a 35-28 setback to 9-1 Vista del Lago was gritty enough to show they are capable of beating top teams. YC lost its six games in succession, including competitive setbacks to Chico, Roseville and Antelope, before winning the last two. CB wins, 35-30.
MatthewB: The Honkers ended the regular season on a positive note and hope to carry that momentum behind two-way star Xavier Butler. Christian Brothers has capable quarterbacks William Littlejohn and Deakon Holden, and the Falcons use them both. The Falcons win, 27-23, setting up a rematch from last year’s playoffs against Woodcreek.
NickP: Shout out to the Capital Valley Conference for getting five playoff teams this year, including the Honkers. How can you not love that nickname? But my gut tells me the Falcons will feast on Friday, 35-27.
CoachT: CB is looking to recapture the magic after stumbling along the way in the regular season. Payoff is in the playoffs. Falcons cash in, 31-17.
Division IV
No. 10 Rio Americano (8-2) at No. 7 Fairfield (6-4)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: The upstart Raiders last won nine games in the 1990s, and they can reach that milestone if the defense comes to work here. That unit was taken to task on Saturday, falling 48-26 to surging Sacramento, a setback that fired up the coaches. Fairfield in a season-opening win over Cordova halted a 38-game losing streak, stretching back five seasons, revving up a lot of proud alums dating back decades. The Falcons have speed with QB Tristen Smith (20 touchdown passes) and RB Tre’Von Moten (10 TDs), but the Rio D comes to work, leading to a 35-14 triumph.
MatthewB: Rio Americano has lost two of three after winning seven straight to start the season. Fairfield has playmakers to attack the Rio defense and earns a massive win to move on to the quarterfinals, 17-14.
NickP: Both teams come in with a tremendous chip on their shoulders — Fairfield ending a demoralizing losing streak to reach the postseason for the first time since 2009 and Rio with its best season since the first PlayStation console was released. I won’t blame Rio for making me feel old. Raiders win, 21-14.
CoachT: Fairfield’s season is one of the region’s best feel-good stories. Rio’s resurgence is real and the Raiders keep their championship dreams alive by defeating the Falcons, 38-24.
Division V
No. 9 Dixon (3-7) at No. 8 Rosemont (5-5)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: The visiting Rams of the Golden Empire League have a four-point loss to Pioneer, an 11-point loss to Wood and an eight-point setback to Winters, a few bounces away from a .500 season. Rams coach Wes Besseghini has his program in the playoffs for the 15th time in 16 seasons. Rosemont of the Sacramento City Unified School District has more speed and has had a better season. RB star Michael Cherry has rushed for nearly 1,500 yards. He he leads the way here to a 30-20 victory.
MatthewB: Dixon has to be ready to tackle, which is a strength of Kolten and Max Graef, who have over 80 stops each. Rosemont hasn’t been in a game decided by single digits this season and it’ll be interesting to see how the Wolverines respond. They win it, 35-29.
NickP: Three-win Dixon is one of two teams benefiting from the section’s exception for the D-V bracket, which only saw 10 teams reach the playoff-qualifying mark of four wins. Rosemont has one of the best runners in the section in Cherry, who helps the Wolverines avoid the “trap” game with a 35-28 win.
CoachT: This one will be closer than the records indicate. However, it’s too much Cherry as Rosemont advances past the stubborn Rams, 28-24.
Season totals
JoeD: 47-20
MatthewB: 48-19
NickP: 42-25
CoachT: 38-29
This story was originally published November 1, 2023 at 5:00 AM.