Pick the Preps: Predicting Folsom-Grant, Rocklin-Turlock, more as football returns
The football season has roared up on us, much like the heat that will cook the Sacramento region when high school teams kick off the 2024 season on Friday.
Temperatures throughout the area are forecasted to eclipse 100 degrees, so hydrate and reach for your mouth piece and eye black. It’s go time.
The Sacramento Bee’s panel of prep football blowhards returns for another season of picking and projecting scores for some key games.
I am joined in the guessing of games by Matthew Bessette of ABC JAM Productions by way of the NFHS streaming network; longtime area journalist Nick Pecoraro; and the coach, as in Scott Tedmon, the girls basketball coach at Sacramento Adventist Academy who fills his fall Friday nights doing color commentary on NFHS. Tedmon is quick to remind that he won the season picks last season, so here’s your wad of roses or weeds, or whatever.
The monster game of the week is the final one, on Saturday night in Del Paso Heights, where Bee No. 1-ranked Folsom takes on No. 2 Grant on ESPN.
Turlock at No. 4 Rocklin
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
JoeD: Highly ranked by The Modesto Bee, the Bulldogs come to Placer County seeking a second opening win over the Thunder since 2022. Rocklin QB Reeve Slone is poised for a big season, and he leads the way to a 28-20 victory here.
MattB: I’m excited to be on the call for this one as these teams are meeting to open the season for the fifth consecutive year. Turlock’s Scout Silva and Rocklin’s Slone makes up one of the best QB matchups in Week 0. The Thunder win, 28-24.
NickP: Rocklin has taken all but one of the first four meetings in this series. I’ll take Rocklin, 32-21.
Coach T: I’ll be doing color commentary with Bessette on this one, and we will be talking about two outstanding QBs in Silva and Slone. The Thunder is talented and young, but youth does not prevail as the Bulldogs win, 27-21.
No. 6 Twelve Bridges at No. 18 Christian Brothers
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: The visiting Rhinos were not as sharp as their coaches expected in last week’s scrimmage against Woodcreek, and now there’s a chance to do something about it. A cast of new players will lead to another Bridges win in this series, 30-20.
MattB: We will have an ABC JAM crew covering this one, and our eyes will be locked in on the trenches with Colton Hogge of the Rhinos and Diego Taylor of the Falcons lining up. Twelve Bridges’ run game will be too much, 35-30.
NickP: What will the Raging Rhinos do for an encore from a section and NorCal championship season? QB Connor Frontiera and RB/LB Chase Wyhlidko are key cogs. For CB, Deakon Holden looks to return from a season-ending injury last year to hold down the QB job. Twelve Bridges wins, 28-21.
Coach T: Coach Chris Bean’s Raging Rhinos have reloaded and are ready for all comers. CB will be rocking but not enough to stop the 12B stampede in a 35-17 win.
No. 7 Jesuit at No. 21 Woodcreek
When: Friday, 8 p.m.
JoeD: Jesuit’s veer rushing attack, big line and speed at the skill positions present problems for the host Timberwolves. Big Red wins 24-21.
MattB: Jesuit head coach, Marlon Blanton is one of the longest tenured head coaches in the area as he enters his 14th season. Woodcreek has a new coach in Kyle Stowers. The Marauders veer their way to a win, 24-20.
NickP: Woodcreek QB Josiah Melendez was impressive as a dual threat in limited action last year, WR Trace Murchison is a key piece, and Jesuit features Teddy Rios under center with guys like Ryan Reeves and Stevie Hughes to catch passes. Go with Jesuit, 24-20.
Coach T: Woodcreek’s effort in their scrimmage against Twelve Bridges was superb. Big Red does not care. Jesuit rolls, 34-21.
No. 9 Inderkum at No. 8 Monterey Trail
When: 7:15 p.m. Friday
JoeD: A host of new players step up for these traditional playoff programs as MT veteran coach T.J. Ewing matches wits against first-year Inderkum coach Justin Reber. MT in a fun one, 24-23.
MattB: The contrast in styles between these two is a joy to watch. The visiting Tigers aerial assault looks to attack from all angles, and the Mustangs will look to ground and pound the defense into submission. Inderkum beats Trail for the third straight year, 31-30.
NickP: I’ll be at this game reporting for The Bee. There are Coles all over the field for Inderkum (Cruise, Jordan and Brody). The key for MT will be the line of scrimmage. Mustangs win, 27-24.
Coach T: This one figures to be a beauty that goes down to the wire. The Tigers come out strong early but the Mustangs ground game is too much as Trail prevails, 24-20.
Whitney at No. 13 West Park
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
JoeD: In this all-Placer County rumble, won in a slugfest a year ago by West Park, expect some terrific quarterback play. West Park’s lines may be the difference in a 28-17 victory.
MattB: Geographically this is the closest matchup of the week of our games, and both teams bolster electric QBs in Carson Floyd for Whitney and Jaden Jackson of West Park. Whitney takes it, 27-24.
NickP: Floyd is one of the rare athletes who can sling TD passes on offense and take them away on defense. Don’t be surprised if this is the year that West Park gets over the hump behind its QB star, Jackson. Panthers win, 33-17.
Coach T: This could be the year Coach Tenner’s crew gets to Hughes Stadium for a section final. The Panthers start their trek to a historic season with a 38-21 win.
No. 22 Vista del Lago vs. No. 21 Laguna Creek
When: 7:15 p.m. Friday, at Cosumnes River College
JoeD: It’s usually fast, fun and prolific when these programs meet. Vista welcomes back coach Mike Struebing, but it’ll be LC coach Ryan Nill and company with a 35-30 victory.
MattB: These are good programs that seem to fly under the radar. Last year’s game was one of the best opening games in the area. Look for another classic here. VDL pulls it out late, 42-36.
NickP: Vista was senior-heavy last year with holes to fill, especially on defense. LC is led by do-all Ryan Eddy, who enters his fourth year on varsity. Take LC, 24-19.
Coach T: LC is a confident bunch that will be tested by the talented, well-coached Eagles. The Cardinals pass the test in a 24-21 win.
Oakmont at Bella Vista
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
JoeD: In a meeting of first-year coaches, Jason Ott of BV and Cory Wilson of Oakmont are eager for a fast start to the season. Ott gets it done in a fun one, 21-20.
MattB: Oakmont looks to build off of a strong 2023 season and BV is looking to end an 11-game losing streak. Oakmont returns too much talent, 27-21.
NickP: The Vikings went from 0-10 in 2023 to 8-4 in 2024. Could such a reversal of fortunes be in the cards for Bella Vista after going winless in 2024? I’ll take Oakmont, 28-14.
CoachT: The vibe is alive on Madison Avenue as Coach Ott’s Broncos take on last year’s feel-good story in Oakmont. BV wins, 21-20.
Valley Christian at Delta
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: Say hello to the new era of 8-man football in this region as storied Delta of Clarksburg and Valley Christian of Roseville aim to light it up under the rustic old lights near the banks of the Sacramento River. Delta wins, 35-21.
MattB: We love small-school football where you can expect passionate fan bases and gritty performances. Delta wins in a shootout, 48-45.
NickP: VCA has a playmaker in Riley Garcia (five TD catches, six interceptions in 2024), and Delta leans heavily on QB Chase Parkinson (25 TD passes and six more rushing). Go with VCA, 22-16.
Coach T: In the battle of former Sacramento Metro Athletic League rivals, 8-man style, Saints prevail 54-34.
No. 1 Folsom at No. 2 Grant
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
JoeD: What a whopper of an opener in a series that included Grant winning season openers over Folsom in 2010 and 2011 and Folsom winning in the section finals in 2010 and the NorCal finals in 2014 when both teams were 14-0. If Grant can contain Folsom QB star Ryder Lyons, the Pacers prevail, but Lyons finds a way to engineer a 35-31 victory.
MattB: There have not been many, if any, football games bigger than this in Sacramento over the years with playmakers all over the placer. Folsom’s Lua DaBerry and Grant’s Julian Bruno are young defensive stars. The Pacers pull it out, 31-28.
NickP: Who is truly the top dog in this section? There is star power galore on both sides, and Folsom wins a thriller, 34-30.
Coach T: In the Rumble at Rutherford, this battle of titans has it all, but the difference will be good ol’ you-know-who — Ryder Lyons. Bulldogs win, 31-27.
