Pick the Preps: CIF Northern California championship football playoff game predictions
Five Sacramento-area teams remain in the hunt for two more championships in a marathon of a season that started with searing-hot mid-July practices.
The winners of the CIF Northern California Regional Championships will advance to the CIF state finals Dec. 8-9 in Southern California at one of three junior college venues. No rain is forecast for Friday or Saturday in the Sacramento region, so it’s a perfect time to head to a game to see your breath in the crisp air and watch top-tier teams compete.
This week marks the final set of predictions from our fearless prep enthusiast foursome of yours truly, broadcaster Matthew Bessette of ABC Jam Productions in conjunction with the NFHS Network, multi-media guru Nick Pecoraro and retired basketball coach/football fan Scott Tedmon.
Bessette leads the race by one game. Winner gets a new set of shoulder pads and a blocking sled for the back yard. Game on.
Grant (11-2) at Rocklin (12-1)
What: Division 2-AA
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: ABC Jam/NFHS Network
JoeD: Not everyone is a fan of this matchup, bristling on social media sites, including those who would prefer to see these teams take on heavies from the Bay Area or Fresno. This figures to be a tremendous showdown in Placer County, and it’s the right matchup as the CIF bowl committee ranked the NorCal teams and scheduled games accordingly. This contest will feature the defensive might of Rocklin, especially in the trenches, against the offensive fireworks of Grant. The Pacers are led by QB Luke Alexander (2,863 yards passing, 41 touchdowns), the 1-2 running back punch of Wayshawn Parker (1,732 yards, 21 TDs) and Devin Green (511 yards, nine TDs), and receivers Kingston Lopa (646 yards 14 TDs), freshman Koby Shabazz (707 yards, five TDs) and KJ Jones (534 yards, six TDs). Grant has to contain superb Rocklin sophomore QB Reeve Slone (2,273 passing yards, 21 TDs, 374 rushing yards, seven TDs) and grinder back Derek Keeley (1,024 yards, 19TDs), who doubles as a fierce linebacker. Rocklin coach Jason Adams was the defensive coordinator when the Thunder used a late goal-line stand to halt Grant’s 12-0 season in a 2009 D-II section semifinal. He may show game film of that classic to his guys this week for fun. If Rocklin controls the line of scrimmage, the Thunder wins. If Parker gets one breakaway, it’s the Pacers, and he gets that one breakaway for a 24-23 triumph.
MatthewB: I have a feeling the atmosphere at this game is going to be one of the best at any high school game in the state. Grant’s offense was unstoppable against Woodcreek in the section D-III game. Rocklin’s defense had possibly the best performance of any unit all season against St. Mary’s to win the section D-II banner. The Thunder have only lost one game on their home field in the last five years and that number will remain unchanged. Rocklin wins, 21-17.
NickP: How can you not be a fan of this one? The city of Rocklin will surely be rocking with the Pacers in town. Some on social media say that Grant wouldn’t be able to hang with larger schools. I say those people are in for a rude awakening. Grant will hang, no problem. But Rocklin has beaten five of the section’s top 10 teams. The Thunder advance with a photo finish, 24-21.
CoachT: This is a classic contest pitting the immovable object against the irresistible force. Can the Pacers dynamic offense solve the Thunder’s dominating D? Both teams have dudes all over the field. Wayshawn Parker makes his case for Bee Player of the Year, leading the Pacers to a razor-thin win, 21-20.
Pittsburg (13-0) at Folsom (11-2)
What: Division 1-A
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Broadcast: ABC Jam/NFHS Network
JoeD: Some are disappointed that Folsom didn’t get another NorCal title shot with De La Salle, but coaches from both schools agreed that they’ve had enough of each other, saying so with all manner of respect and admiration, and the NorCal committee had DLS and Clovis North ranked higher than Folsom. So here comes Pittsburg of the North Coast Section, big and strong in the trenches and loaded with speed and playmakers. Sounds a lot like Folsom, which is led by QB Ryder Lyons, who scored the game winner and had five total scores to beat rival Oak Ridge in a 34-27 thriller to win the section Division I crown. He has 3,218 yards passing and 36 TDs and has rushed for 19 scores, thanks in part to his stout line, including two-way bruiser Theo Greule. Lucas Hardeman and Elijah Gulewich have had tremendous seasons in the trenches as well, and they will have to maintain that intensity here. Pittsburg is in its fourth NorCal final in recent years, beating Granite Bay in 2017 and Manteca in 2022. This season, Pittsburg beat Granite Bay (41-21) and Monterey Trail (10-7) in early nonleague games and pulled away from San Ramon Valley of Danville to win the NCS championship as Jamar Searcy rushed for 134 yards and three scores. Elijah Bow has 1,242 rushing yards and 15 TDs. Marley Alcantara has passed for 2,515 yards and 35 TDs. This won’t be boring. Folsom prevails, 35-30.
MatthewB: This one is loaded with guys that’ll play big-time college football and it’s fitting that it will be played on a Saturday. Pittsburg is one of very few teams left in NorCal that is unbeaten. Folsom is looking for yet another appearance in a state bowl and will have too much fire power, 37-30.
NickP: Folsom has two wins over Pittsburg in recent seasons: 38-17 in 2021 at Folsom and 23-15 in 2022 at Pitt. Not that any of that will matter Saturday as the Pirates are in the midst of a 13-0 campaign. But Lyons proved in the section finals he is as good — and as clutch — as they come in leading the Bulldogs past Oak Ridge. Folsom prevails, 28-16.
CoachT: Pittsburg is a problem with its physical prowess and cage-match mentality. The Bulldogs love to hit as well, and that includes my POY front-runner Lyons as he rumbles down the field taking on all comers. The difference will be Folsom’s linemen “Goons” who will push the Pirates around just enough to pick up the win, 28-24.
Casa Roble (12-1) at Soquel (11-2)
What: Division 4-AA
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: TBA
JoeD: Casa Roble expected to have this sort of season back in the summer, and coach Chris Horner has been one fired-up leader who has been inspired by his team’s resolve and ability to soldier on despite mounting injuries. The Rams are big in the trenches, balanced on offense, have a steady passer in Connor “Freaking” Campbell, as coach Horner likes to say at various volumes of excitement, and a playmaking receiver in Cole Owens. Campbell has 2,338 yards passing and 32 TDs with just three interceptions. RB Braylen Blevins has 951 yards and 12 TDS. Richie Graham has 811 yards and 11 TDs. LB leader Evan Combs is averaging 16 tackles per game. Soquel of Santa Cruz County is new to all of this, a first-time Central Coast Section champion that has passed for 16 TDs and rushed for 21 and plays stout defense, including two playoff shutouts. Rams muscle through, 24-21.
MatthewB: Soquel has played a really tough schedule with teams that are still playing in Los Gatos, Palma and Salinas. Casa Roble showed incredible resolve to beat Twelve Bridges in the section finals, only holding the lead for the last 2:16 in the game. Campbell showed up in a big way and he will it here, too. The Rams earn a trip to state, 31-27.
NickP: I didn’t fully understand the Tasmanian devil-like intensity of Rams coach Horner until I saw it up close and personal Friday afternoon in the wake of his son, Ethan, clinching Casa Roble’s second section championship with a go-ahead two-point conversion. I’m not supposed to play favorites, but I live in Orangevale, and he’s the kind of guy I like rooting for. Rams move on, 28-21.
CoachT: Casa is still feeling the electricity of its section title victory. Eccentric Rams coach Horner has a method to his freaking madness. Horner will have Casa ready to roll and that’s bad news for Soquel. Rams win, 28-17.
Woodland Christian (13-0) at Orland (11-1)
What: Division 5-A
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Broadcast: TBA
JoeD: Orland of the Northern Section, located some 100 miles north of Sacramento, is on quite a roll. A school that opened in 1891, the Trojans stormed through a 15-0 season in 2022 and won the 5-A state crown with a muddy 20-7 effort over Shafter of Kern County, igniting an all-time postgame rant by the Shafter coach, who before the game said mud was part of the fun and then angrily changed his tune and slammed the CIF for not caring enough in allowing any title games to be held on grass. The nerve. Orland is a run-heavy outfit, having rushed for 4,273 yards and 64 TDs, and the team may well finish the season with three 1,000-yard rushers. Woodland Christian has impressed under coach Michael Paschke, who has just three senior starters, but the Cardinals may not have gritty QB leader Gabe Sanchez, who hurt his ankle on Saturday in the section finals. That coupled with Orland’s power run game and two-year momentum leads to a Trojans win, 21-17.
MatthewB: Woodland Christian’s section title win at Hughes Stadium might’ve been the most impressive of the weekend as it lost Sanchez on the third play and never missed a beat. Orland has three guys averaging over 70 yards rushing per game. Unfortunately, I think WC’s season ends here as the Trojans win, 27-24.
NickP: A season of redemption continues for Woodland Christian, which got an incredible performance from backup QB Isaiah Hunt in leading the Cardinals to their first section crown in three consecutive championship game appearances. And who can forget about 6-foot-7, 360-pound ball-hawking defensive lineman Noah Rico’s interception in the D-VII championship game? Good times, right there. If WC can get another big game from do-it-all Noah Hinkle (three TDs and two interceptions on defense Saturday), this game might be in the cards for the Cards. Woodland Christian wins, 17-14.
CoachT: Coach Paschke’s crew was so impressive late against Ripon Christian in the section finals, blowing open a close game to take home their first banner. Hinkle, WC’s sophomore RB, was huge at Hughes and plays with swagger. The confident Cardinals travel north on I-5, stop at Orland, and take out the Trojans, 31-28, on their way to a state bowl.
Last week/season totals:
MatthewB: 5-1 (65-25)
JoeD: 4-2 (64-26)
NickP: 5-1 (59-31)
CoachT: 5-1 (55-35)
This story was originally published November 30, 2023 at 5:00 AM.