Pick the Preps: Inderkum at Grant, Placer at Del Oro, Roseville at West Park and more
The coaches, players and alums of the schools talked about this gridiron showdown for years.
Grant vs. Inderkum.
Why not, right? The schools field powerhouse football programs and are located 5.9 miles from each other — the Pacers of Grant nestled in Del Paso Heights and the Tigers of Inderkum in Natomas. Inderkum won the first meeting, prevailing 17-6 in 2021. Grant won the rematch, 26-20, in 2022, and here we go again.
The series has the potential to be as good of a rivarly as there is in the region, old-school Grant, which stands tall at 93 years old, and new-age Inderkum, which opened 20 years ago. The schools are billing this as the third annual “Capital Classic.” And no more chatter, bluster and bravado. Saturday’s game is a 2 p.m. kickoff, this week’s most intriguing showdown.
▪ Speaking of all talk, our Bee prediction crew had mixed results in picking and guessing games last week. NFHS Network color voice and retired basketball coach Scott Tedmon won the week, going 5-2. The rest of us went 4-3: Me, Matthew Bessette of ABC JAM Productions and the streaming NFHS Network. and Nick Pecoraro, a Bee correspondent and host of the YouTube highlight show “Premier Preps.”
No. 4 Inderkum (2-0) at No. 3 Grant (1-1)
When: Saturday, 2 p.m.
JoeD: Inderkum is sky high after impressive wins over Monterey Trail (27-21) and Marin Catholic (26-0), and Grant is smarting from a 42-14 drubbing at De La Salle. There will be no shortage of speed and ferocity here. Both feature star QBs (Ricky Cole for Inderkum, Luke Alexander for Grant). Grant wins, 24-23.
MatthewB: All eyes will be on Grand Ave, including our NFHS crew. Inderkum shutting out Marin Catholic is one of the more impressive feats of this young season. Grant hasn’t lost on its home field in nearly two years. Pacers win, 21-17.
NickP: Is there a better matchup for an early Game of the Year candidate? Inderkum coach Reggie Harris is a former Grant assistant who’s had eyes on this game for quite some time. He’ll have his Tigers ready for a Saturday slobberknocker. Inderkum, 35-33.
CoachT: Skill, speed and hitting will be in abundance. Indy is formidable, but the Pacers show their grit and championship character prevailing, 27-24.
No. 8 Placer (2-0) at No. 14 Del Oro (0-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: These were longtime Sierra Foothill League rivals before the series stopped in the late 1980s as Del Oro rose to power in the ‘90s. It’s a rumble of a rivalry again. Placer’s array of burners in the backfield will be enough to hold off the Golden Eagles, 28-21.
MatthewB: Placer has looked the part of a title contender. The Golden Eagles are tough to beat in Loomis. The Hillmen come down the hill and leave with a victory, 30-24.
NickP: It’s great to see this Placer County rivalry rekindled over the last couple of seasons. Placer has impressed, but Del Oro is coming in fresh off of an early bye week. Look for the Golden Eagles to win it, 28-27.
CoachT: Placer is loaded and on a mission. Del Oro brings tradition, talent and one of the best student sections anywhere. It will be electric at kickoff but the Hillmen’s speed will turn out the lights in Loomis. Placer wins, 35-21.
No. 16 Roseville (2-0) at No. 10 West Park (2-0)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
JoeD: Roseville has been around the block a time or to, opening in 1912, fielding steady teams for decades. West Park opened in 2020 and came of age in town in quick order. The schools are located just under eight miles apart. WP and QB Jaden Jackson win a thriller, 35-31.
MatthewB: This is one of three three games in the section in which both teams are 2-0. The Panthers take down the Tigers, 35-34.
NickP: I love that all of Roseville’s non-league games stay within the Roseville Joint Union High School District. The Tigers have wins over Antelope and Oakmont. West Park comes out on top, 24-21.
CoachT: When a high school opens in Placer County these days, it seems to take about five minutes to become a contender. Roseville brings confidence and a rugged defense. The difference will be the playmaking of Panthers QB Jackson. WP wins in an instant classic, 28-27.
Whitney (0-2) at No. 13 Twelve Bridges (2-0)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
JoeD: The schools are located less than 1.5 miles from each other, and what a rivalry this figures to be. Whitney opened in 2003 and has has endured highs and lows, and Bridges just graduated its first senior class with a lot of football highs already. This will be physical and fun, won by Bridges and star RB Braeden Ward, averaging 194 yards rushing a game, 35-31.
MatthewB: We will be broadcasting this one live. This could turn out to be one of the great geographical rivalries in the area. These schools are so close, I can almost run the entire distance between them. The Rhinos continue to Rage, 38-31.
NickP: Last week’s win against Reed across the Nevada state line was a testament to the Rhinos’ grit and resolve late in games. Connor Frontiera’s 35-yard field goal sent Twelve Bridges home happy. The Rhinos keep that momentum going in a 34-21 win.
CoachT: Whitney is still searching for the combination to unlock their first win while the Rhinos keep raging. It will be too much Twelve Bridges, 38-21.
Linden (2-0) at No. 24 Destiny Christian Academy (2-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: If slugger Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees was eligible to play this game for Linden, his alma mater, we might lean toward the Lions of San Joaquin County. DCA used to go by Capital Christian, and the new look program is off to a fast start under QB Dallas Munn and RB Malakai Taione, who has rushed for 308 yards and a score, averaging 14.7 yards a carry. DCA slows down the prolific Lions and takes it, 35-21.
MatthewB: It’s early, but Linden looks like a strong small school team. Destiny is bouncing back from a rough 2023 season. Lions over Lions as Destiny wins it, 28-24.
NickP: I’ve seen the athletes that Linden has, and the Lions are legit. But I’m still mad at Aaron Judge for not signing with my beloved San Francisco Giants a couple years back. So, I’m going with Destiny Christian, 31-28.
CoachT: The former Capital Christian Cougars had a tough 2023 season but are now Destiny’s darlings. Cougars have become Lions and are led by their impressive backfield. DCA wins, 34-17.
Union Mine (1-1) at Colfax (1-1)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
JoeD: Maybe the week’s best small-school tilt with the Diamondbacks of El Dorado stinging from a 42-0 loss to powerhouse Truckee, and Colfax coming off a 27-20 setback to Northern Section power East Nicolaus. Robert Meyer is the best kicker/punter around, and he’s the difference for Colfax in a 20-17 victory.
MatthewB: We get to see how much resolve these two programs have coming off losses. This game went to overtime last year with Colfax going for two and the win at Union Mine. The Diamondbacks return the favor, 24-21.
NickP: Colfax had a strong win over Colusa in a season opener before meeting East Nicolaus. Brayden Howard, Jaiden Shahin, Wyatt Powell and Zach Danuser are all part of a defense that helps the Falcons of Colfax fly, 28-21.
CoachT: Colfax has been impressive taking down defending State 6-A champion Colusa and giving East Nic all it wanted. UM beat a tough McQueen team before being roughed up by Truckee. D’backs strike early but the Falcons win, 31-21.
Totals:
Joe D: 9-4
CoachT: 9-4
MatthewB: 8-5
NickP: 8-5