Pick the Preps: CIF Sac-Joaquin Section football semifinal playoff predictions, analysis
Two guys in Inderkum Tigers colors won’t flinch a bit on Friday in Folsom.
The Reggie and Reber coaching duo that has fueled their prolific team from the Natomas Unified School District head into a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinal at top-seeded Folsom having experienced success there before as program leaders where so many else have faltered. Now, Inderkum head coach Reggie Harris and offensive coordinator Justin Reber are assuring their players that Folsom, for all of its championship pedigree, still has to deal with these Tigers of another stripe and that anything can happen. This club does not lack in confidence, from the coaches on down.
Harris is the defensive coordinator for the surging, defensive-minded Tigers, who have won 11 consecutive games, and Reber is the play caller whose unit is averaging 53 points entering this rare meeting between the programs. Harris was the defensive coordinator at Grant in 2010 and 2011 when the Pacers blasted Folsom in regular-season openers. Reber was the head coach at Sacramento High in 2016 when his Dragons stunned host Folsom 32-27 in a nonleague game that halted the Bulldogs’ state-leading 48-game regular-season winning streak. The Dragons also ended Folsom’s regional-record 52-game streak against section competition that night.
That Sacramento Dragons effort remains as big of a regular-season upset as this region has ever seen.
“We’ll be ready and they’ll be ready,” Harris said after his team eliminated Monterey Trail 50-21 in a quarterfinal.
Said Reber: “As coaches, Reggie and I know what it’s like to play on Folsom’s blue turf. I think our guys will be ready. I know we’re excited.”
Speaking of excited, be sure to ask our prep enthusiasts how their picks went last week. Multimedia guru Nick Pecoraro is gloating after his 6-1 showing, as is broadcaster Matthew Bessette of ABC Jam Productions with the NFHS Network. But not ego-free me and certainly not retired basketball coach Scott Tedmon, who asked the other day if this is the time to take this picking business a bit more seriously.
Previews include division seeding. All games are in semifinal rounds.
DIVISION I
No. 5 Inderkum (11-1) at No. 1 Folsom (9-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: Inderkum has no pressure, rolling along and expecting to be here — and vowing to do what it does best: pass with dual-threat QB star Ricky Cole, run with a number of grinders and get after it on defense. The key is in the trenches, where Folsom has dominated over the years and is a load on defense with Elijah Gulewich, Lucas Hardeman and two-way bruiser Theo Greule. Can Inderkum contain QB star Ryder Lyons or burner WRs such as Brian Ray III and Jameson Powell? Folsom in a fun one, 35-28.
MatthewB: This one features two of the best passing attacks in the section. Both teams have guys in the secondary that can make plays. Inderkum has ball hawks in Baron Taylor and Christian Harris. BYU commit defensive back RJ Whitten leads the way for Folsom’s group. Tough to pick against the Bulldogs, 42-35.
NickP: I’m not much for bragging, but after going 11-1 with my postseason picks so far, someone in our text thread threw out the nickname “Playoff Pecoraro.” True story. This one will be a shootout between two teams on a mission. A great matchup of playmaking QBs in Lyons and Cole, but this one will come down to who can put the most pressure on them. Indy has arguably the best secondary in the section. Fortune favors the bold, and Inderkum shocks Folsom, 45-42.
CoachT: It’s the semis and time for me to get serious. Can the Bulldogs put out the fire that is Indy and Ricky Cole? It’s tough duty for the Dawgs’ D, but the Folsom defense is fully equipped and up to the task. Bulldogs advance to another final, 27-20.
No. 3 Oak Ridge (9-2) at Central Catholic-Modesto (9-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: CC has a record 20 section championship banners hogging up all the space on the gym walls, most of them achieved in smaller divisions. The Raiders and new section-record holder coach Roger Canepa (283 victories at various stops) have moved up in division and fared just fine. CC has star power and lost only to section D-I top seeded St. Mary’s of Stockton and to NorCal No. 1-ranked Serra of San Mateo, teams that are a combined 21-1. Oak Ridge has defensive heavies Markus Hoffman, Gavin Molloy and Kaleb Edwards, who is also a national recruit as a 6-foot-6 tight end. Oak Ridge in a fierce one, 28-27. (Bonus note: No game in this section has ever featured two coaches with as many victories as this one. Oak Ridge’s Casey Taylor has 203 wins, 149 of those at Del Oro).
MatthewB: This will be a slugfest played on natural grass. If you love offensive line play, you’ve come to the right place. Fresno State commit Ethan Dasmann dominates the trenches for the Trojans. Central Catholic’s Florida State-bound Manasse Itete is one of the best in the country on the line. Oak Ridge wins, 20-17.
NickP: There is no doubt that this one will be won in the trenches. Oak Ridge defensive stoppers Hoffman, Molloy and company line up across from the likes of Itete (6-7, 270), Troy Leota (6-2, 345) and Rowdy Addington (6-0, 260). And CC QB Tyler Wentworth — committed to Clemson for baseball — can make game-changing plays on both sides of the ball. Raiders win, 33-24.
CoachT: In a matchup of great programs and legendary coaches, this shapes up to be a classic. CC is fearless and on its home turf. OR is loaded on defense. Offensively, Jasen Womack is a burner while QB Joaquin Graves-Mercado is finding his groove and has a bevy of targets. Trojans prevail in a physical battle, 24-21.
DIVISION II
No. 6 Del Oro (8-4) at No. 2 Rocklin (10-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: This is a Sierra Foothill League rematch of Placer County rivals, won 35-14 by Rocklin on Oct. 13 when Reeve Slone hit Nate Martin for two touchdown passes. DO is coming off a spirited 40-34 triple-overtime victory at Jesuit, and Robert Garcia for mayor in Loomis after his game-winning rushing touchdown, right? DO is banged up, like many teams, but a more pressing question is whether the Golden Eagles deal with the stout defensive line of Rocklin, headed by John Correa, Spencer Patton and Koen Bell? Can Rocklin handle DO QB star Caden Pinnick, who isn’t ready for the season to end? Rocklin in a grinder, 21-17.
MatthewB: I love a good rematch and I’ll be there to broadcast this one live at Rocklin. Del Oro has playmakers at receiver in Jackson Malbrough and Beaux Sauve and both went over 100 yards receiving against Jesuit. Rocklin’s versatile offense is tough to stop, but expect a heavy dose of RB Derek Keeley pounding the rock in this one. The Thunder win, 34-28.
NickP: That Del Oro-Jesuit game was one of the best games I’ve ever covered. Caden Pinnick is as good as they come, and the Golden Eagles are filling the holes left by injuries to key starters. The Rocklin-Del Oro rivalry is about as evenly matched as you can get over the past decade. Should be another thriller with Del Oro winning, 30-24.
CoachT: The Golden Eagles are flying higher than a drone at maximum altitude after their epic win over Jesuit. Pinnick is magical every time he steps on the field. Rocklin has a flamethrower of its own in Slone. The Thunder are too deep, talented and physical, winning this one 34-24.
DIVISION III
No. 4 Oakdale (8-3) at No. 1 Grant (9-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: Linden was well over its head in getting crunched by the speed, ferocity and drive of the Pacers last week, trailing 56-0 at the half as Luke Alexander hit Kingston Lopa for three touchdown passes. Wayshawn Parker and Devin Green combined for 244 yards and five TDs on just 11 carries. Oakdale is as storied as they come, having reached 17 section finals with five banners, but the Mustangs have not faced a team quite like this. Pacers prevail, 42-20.
MatthewB: A bye can sometimes throw a team off, but not the Pacers as they scored 82 in their first-round game. Oakdale had a fantastic win over a really good Merced team. Grant just has too much firepower and Pacers gonna pace, 49-35.
NickP: Oakdale’s first-year head coach Garrett Martin has picked up right where longtime Mustang leader and 200-game winner Trent Merzon left off. But the more horsepower in this game will come from the Grant sidelines as the Pacers will look to repeat as section champs, beating Oakdale in the semis, 45-21.
CoachT: Oakdale has a sustained history of success and will come into this one prepared. Grant presents the Mustangs with their biggest challenge of the year. Pacers are looking for another CIF state title and Grant takes a step in that direction with a 45-21 victory.
No. 3 Vanden (9-2) at No. 2 Woodcreek (10-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: Vanden won section D-IV titles in 2021 and 2022 and now seek to extend the career of retiring/beloved coach Sean Murphy, an alum of the school. The Vikings are skilled and talented, but Woodcreek has a special season brewing, its finest since opening nearly 30 years ago in Roseville. The Timberwolves reach their first section final here with a 28-27 victory.
MatthewB: This one is a sneaky contender for the game of the week. Vanden dethroned Vacaville to take the Monticello Empire League crown and Woodcreek’s only blemish came at the hands of Inderkum. The Vikings find a way, 24-21.
NickP: I’ll have coverage of this game Friday. It’s a terrific matchup between a team trying for a section three-peat in Vanden and one looking to make its own mark on school history in Woodcreek. Vikings QB Kalani Mcleod is the section’s leading passer with more than 3,000 yards and will put the Timberwolves defense to the test. Vanden wins, 34-30.
CoachT: Woodcreek is having its greatest season in school history. Vanden stands in the way of the Timberwolves playing for the coveted blue banner, but Woodcreek’s dream of reaching its first section final becomes a reality with a 24-20 victory.
Other semifinal games
Division II
No. 4 Manteca (8-3) at No. 1 St. Mary’s (10-1)
Division IV
No. 5 West Park (10-2) at No. 1 Escalon (10-1)
No. 3 Patterson (10-1) at No. 2 Vista del Lago (10-1)
Division V
No. 4 Los Banos (10-1) at No. 1 Twelve Bridges (11-0)
No. 3 Hilmar (8-3) at No. 2 Casa Roble (10-1)
Division VI
No. 4 Hughson (8-3) at No. 1 Sutter (9-2)
No. 3 Bradshaw Christian (9-2) at No. 2 Sonora (9-1)
Division VII
No. 2A Orestimba (9-3) at No. 1A Ripon Christian (11-1)
No. 2B Stone Ridge Christian (9-1) at No. 1B Woodland Christian (11-0)
Last week and season totals
MatthewB: 5-2 (56-23)
JoeD: 4-3 (55-24)
NickP: 6-1 (53-26)
CoachT: 2-5 (45-34)
This story was originally published November 16, 2023 at 5:00 AM.