Pick the Preps: Grant-West Park for the Metro League, Vanden takes on Sacramento, and more
Jason Tenner knows about the Grant Pacers experience because he’s lived it.
In his first season as head coach at Ponderosa High School, Tenner’s Bruins took on the storied powerhouse Pacers in a 2007 first-round playoff game. Ponderosa upset a Sacramento Bee top-ranked team that was coming off of a 13-0 season in 2006 and went on to go 14-0 in 2008 as CIF State Open Division champions. In Ponderosa’s stirring 24-21 effort, Lyndell Scarr rushed for 188 yards and a score and brother Ryan Scarr recorded 13 tackles, revving up the alums and fans in Shingle Springs.
Flash to today: Tenner is in his fifth season as the founding coach at West Park of Roseville, which on Friday hosts the biggest game in the brief history of the program. Bee-ranked No. 2-ranked Grant visits No. 7 West Park with Metro League championship implications on the line in a setting that figures to be festive and fun.
It’ll be a classic old school against newer school. Grant opened in 1932, and West Park still glistens with one of the most spectacular campuses in the state. Tenner has old-school values, too. He was a multisport star at Homestead High in Cupertino who played four seasons on the defensive line for the Villanova Wildcats, earning all-conference honors as a team captain.
Tenner got his head-coaching start at Leland High in San Jose; jumped at the chance to coach at Ponderosa, where he won two league crowns in nine seasons leading the Bruins; and beat out a good crop of candidates to land the West Park gig in a booming area of growth.
Grant coaches also remember that 2007 playoff game. Pacers head coach Carl Reed was an assistant to Mike Alberghini that season, for starters.
▪ On the topic of big efforts, someone contain the glee of Scott Tedmon, the retired area basketball coach who now looks like something of an expert in picking football games when he isn’t doing color work for the streaming NFHS Network. Tedmon went 5-1 in game projections last week, a year after running a badly beaten last place for the season.
The rest of us went 4-2. The rest of us: yours truly, Matthew Bessette of ABC JAM Productions by way of the NFHS Network, and Bee freelancer Nick Pecoraro, who hosts the weekly, highlight-heavy “Premier Preps” on YouTube. We wallow in Tedmon’s shadow.
▪ For a quick-hit guide and refresher of which area teams are in what leagues, go here.
No. 2 Grant (4-3) at No. 7 West Park (7-0)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
JoeD: People moaned and cringed when West Park was realigned to the city-heavy Metro League before the start of this academic year, but this game alone is an example of why it can be a cool deal as realignment cycles go every four years. WP must deal with the speed and ferocity of Grant, and the Pacers have to deal with WP’s offensive balance, defensive tenacity and determination. Go with old school here as Grant prevails, 35-30.
MatthewB: A Metro League championship could be decided here. West Park has been in some battles this year with five wins decided by one score. Grant has been quite the opposite with none of its contests decided by single digits. The Pacers take control of the Metro with a win, 31-28.
NickP: I’ll have some “Premier Preps” highlights of this game, and there’s bound to be plenty with these two formidable teams. This has a chance to be a great Metro League rivalry for at least the next four years. Grant gets it off to a good start with a 28-24 win.
CoachT: After retiring from coaching hoops, it took me a season to get football focused, but now it’s full gas and glee this year. Speaking of football focused, Grant and West Park are all business for their big showdown. The difference will be the Pacers speed and experience. Grant gets it done, 31-21.
Vanden (4-2) at No. 15 Sacramento (5-1)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
JoeD: The Dragons have a quaint and cozy home setting in Oak Park for day games and have to back it up if they want a shot at the Monticello Empire League championship with longtime MEL heavy Vacaville coming to town next week. This will be a track meet on real grass, and the Dragons squeeze out a 24-21 victory behind RB Darius Moore and company.
MatthewB: Both are looking to rebound from losses. The Dragons get back on track, 21-14.
NickP: This stretch of the MEL is a true test for the Dragons, who fell to Rodriguez by two points last week. Vanden and Vacaville back-to-back is no joke, either. The Vikings have one of the best QBs in the section in Kalani McLeod. I’ll take Vanden, 35-28.
CoachT: Vanden is on a two-game slide, while the Dragons are coming off a tough 15-13 road loss to Rodriguez. Sac is back at home and that will be the difference as the Dragons win in a doozy, 28-27.
No. 25 Union Mine (5-1) at No. 20 Bradshaw Christian (6-0)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
JoeD: This will decide the Sierra Valley Conference crown, and until someone can stall BC’s vaunted run game and steady senior QB Ethan Rickert and score on that stout defense, the Pride will keep winning. UM is capable of an upset, absolutely, but BC wins, 21-13.
MatthewB: This one should be a big-time slugfest between small-school heavyweights. Can Union Mine knock off one of the few unbeaten teams left in the section? The Diamondbacks are capable but the Pride are just too good, 35-28.
NickP: Union Mine RB Brock Buak is having a breakout season, and we all know about the RB trio of Mateo Mojica, Brandon Burden and Nathan Zeppieri. But it’s what the Pride has done defensively — six points allowed over its last three games — that will set them apart. Bradshaw wins, 40-21.
CoachT: The Pride has been mauling all comers and breaking scoreboards along the way, scoring 50 or more three times. UM has won four straight, averaging over 37 points per game. Led by Rickert and the three-headed RB monster, the Pride will prevail, 38-27.
Lindhurst (3-3) at Highlands (5-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: In the 1980s, Highlands stood as a section all-sports, large-school powerhouse, including sending scores of players to the college ranks and sometimes the NFL. The Scots are in Division VI now, in contention for the Sierra Delta League crown, under longtime coach and alum, Matt Cokley. Lindhurst has a player in the versatile Henri Reed. Scots win, 30-24.
MatthewB: One of my favorite things about doing the Pick The Preps is picking matchups like this. Lindhurst and Highlands are having strong seasons and very deserving of some focus this week. I have Highlands taking this one, 23-20.
NickP: After some rough years in the GEL and PVL and playing an independent schedule, Lindhurst has itself in the mix for the SDL crown. Highlands is trying to regain that annual playoff status. I’ll go with Lindhurst, 31-23.
CoachT: There’s a ton on the line as these two try remain contenders in the competitive SDL. Highlands has been more consistent, and more importantly, how can I pick against my namesake? Scots win, 34-21.
Pleasant Grove (3-3) vs. Franklin (5-2)
When: Friday at Cosumnes Oaks, 7:15 p.m.
JoeD: The visiting Eagles need a win to be CIF playoff eligible and showed a lot in going for two points and the win late in a one-point loss to Delta League favorite Monterey Trail, an example of coach Josh Crabtree’s zest to seize the moment. QB Cole Davis can stretch the field but will have to look out for Franklin DE Aderian Adelabu, who has 7.5 sacks. PG prevails, 28-21.
MatthewB: Pleasant Grove nearly pulled off a Delta League stunner a week ago while Franklin scored a big win league win. I’m taking PG in this one, 27-20.
NickP: PG can qualify for the postseason with that fourth win, and the Wildcats want to keep the Eagles at bay to try and leapfrog them into one of the top 12 D-I playoff spots. Franklin wins a tight one, 27-25.
CoachT: Pleasant Grove took powerful Monterey Trail down to the wire while Franklin comes off an impressive win over Sheldon. The difference will be Eagles’ QB Davis making plays late in a tight one to win, 31-28.
Season Totals
JoeD: 28-14
MatthewB: 31-11
NickP: 28-14
CoachT: 33-9