Pick the Preps: Folsom-Mission Viejo, Del Oro-Placer and other HS football games
Big-time scheduling isn’t a new thing on the Sacramento-area high school football landscape, but it has received a great deal more visibility with the avalanche of social media.
The Sacramento Bee top-ranked Folsom Bulldogs opened against No. 2 Grant with a rousing victory on ESPN, then went to San Mateo to down the top-ranked team in Northern California from 2002-2024 on Saturday, 56-42, and they now prepare for another showdown.
Folsom plays at Cal-Hi Sports No. 4-ranked Mission Viejo of Orange County on Friday night in the most intriguing game on the state menu. Folsom coach Paul Doherty called the Serra victory “taking the next step.” Ultimately, Folsom aspires to compete in the highest classification game of the season, the CIF State Open championship in December, and that would against be against national No. 1-ranked Mater Dei of Orange County or national No. 2 Bosco of Bellflower of Los Angeles County.
That’s months from now, but wins will continue to enhance Folsom’s chance as the top-ranked team from Northern California.
The Placer Hillmen once played Mission Viejo in an ambitious scheduling effort, decades before it became something of the norm. They did so in the heyday of the Hillmen’s dynasty.
It happened in 1980, when Placer coaches Bill Miller and Tom Johnson scheduled a road game to Mission Viejo, which was ranked fourth in the state. The Hillmen won 6-0 in a season opener on an interception return by Carl Hanley, en route to an 12-0 campaign and a Cal-Hi Sports State No. 1 ranking in Division II (the CIF state playoff tournament did not start until 2006).
In our Pick the Preps roundtable of wild guessing last week, Matthew Bessette of ABC JAM Productions and the NFHS Network went 6-0. He saved face. The rest of us went 5-1 — yours truly, regional media man Nick Pecoraro and Scott Tedmon, a championship basketball coach and a color voice on NFHS broadcasts.
No. 1 Folsom (2-0) at Mission Viejo (2-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: This one will have a CIF state championship feel to it with Folsom bent on showing that it is the top-ranked team in Northern California and Mission Viejo determined to defend home turf. The health of Folsom QB star Ryder Lyons is a storyline as he hobbled throughout the Serra victory with a tender ankle, refusing to step aside. Lyons grits this one out and Folsom wins a great one, 21-20.
MatthewB: There might not be a team in the country that is starting with three straight road games tougher than Folsom. The Bulldogs could very well be NorCal’s best with a chance to prove it against nationally ranked Mission Viejo. Folsom wins, 45-40.
NickP: The Bulldog defense showed up when it counted against Serra with E.J. Coleman coming through by way of the game-sealing pick-6. Folsom will have to continue that defensive effort to slow Mission Viejo, which put up 58 points last week. Bulldogs grind out another one, 30-27.
CoachT: Mission Viejo is ranked 11th nationally, and many expect the Diablos to put a leash on Lyons and the prolific Bulldogs In (coach) Doherty I trust. ‘Dawgs get it done, 34-31.
No. 16 West Park (1-1) at No. 9 Roseville (2-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
JoeD: What a fun new-school vs. old-school rumble this figures to be as 5-year-old West Park visits 113-year-old Roseville. WP’s defense faces a running attack that averages 239 yards, headed by Cole Takahashi and D’Marcis Gresham. Roseville has to deal with WP QB Jaden Jackson. Tigers have key personnel banged up, and WP squeezes out a 28-21 win.
MatthewB: Old school vs. new school, this matchup is a bit like the “Pick the Preps” crew. Roseville has shown grit in the fast start, and West Park has allowed just 23 points. WP emerges victorious, 24-16.
NickP: West Park rebounded from its opening week loss with a defensive effort that included four sacks, two interceptions and 6 points allowed. The Panthers take this one, 24-19.
CoachT: I’m leading the West Park bandwagon, shouting to the rooftops that this is their year. Roseville is tough and physical but WP’s Jackson is the difference. Bandwagon rolls on as WP wins, 27-24.
No. 12 Del Oro (1-0) at No. 11 Placer (1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
JoeD: For decades, these two bruisers slugged it out in rivalry games, then the series stopped, but both alumni bases kept chirping, and now the rivalry is rolling again. Del Oro’s physical defense has to slow down the power of Hillmen RB Shaun Jones, fresh off of a 300-yard, five-touchdown effort. DO in a slugfest, 21-20.
MatthewB: Del Oro looks poised for a bounce-back season. Placer boasts the section’s top running back in Shaun Jones. The early bye for Del Oro gives the Golden Eagles the edge, 34-31.
NickP: They call Auburn the “Endurance Capital of the World” and this one figures to be a track meet in which Placer’s Jones and DO’s Brock Sherman will be off to the races. Take Placer in what should be a festive environment, 33-30.
CoachT: Both teams love to hit so get the ice baths ready after this one. With Jones toting the pigskin and playing at home, Placer wins, 27-24.
Bellarmine-San Jose (1-0) at No. 14 Jesuit (1-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: Bellarmine has great tradition, winners of 20 West Catholic Athletic League crowns and eight Central Coast Section championships and taking home a CIF NorCal title in 2022. But the Bells dipped to 0-10 last season. Still, forever beware the Bells. Jesuit wins in a great atmosphere, 24-16.
MatthewB: Jesuit shook off the opening-week loss in a big way. The Marauders handled the Bells last year, and I expect more of the same as Jesuit rolls, 35-20.
NickP: Brayden Quinn led the Marauders past Rio Americano with seven tackles and a 57-yard pick-six in a 35-0 win. Bellarmine was only able to muster a pair of field goals offensively last week in a 6-0 win over Sobrato of Morgan Hill. It’ll take more than that to stop Jesuit, which wins 24-17.
CoachT: The question in Carmichael is what team are we getting in Jesuit this season? After getting thumped by Woodcreek and then rebounding against Rio Americano, the Marauders need to provide the answer in a tough one against Bellarmine. Jesuit rings the Bells, 28-10.
Chavez-Stockton (2-0) at Franklin (2-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday at Cosumnes Oaks
JoeD: The Wildcats of Elk Grove are off to a hot start again under coach Joseph McCray, rolling Johnson of Sacramento 66-0 and Edison of Stockton 40-29 as Braylon Robinson has passed for nine touchdowns to just one interception. Chavez is coming off a big win over section powerhouse Escalon, 37-30, as Joel Donnell rushed for 272 yards and two scores, including a 97-yarder. Franklin wins, 40-38.
MatthewB: A 3-0 start would be massive for either program. Franklin is putting up points in bunches. Chavez scored a huge win a week ago, but the Wildcats are too much, 42-31.
NickP: Chavez seeks its first 3-0 start since 2007. and sophomore QB Elijah Walker has been impressive and efficient. Franklin looks to continue its resurgence and comes through, 37-28.
CoachT: Franklin lit up two teams, but Chavez brings a talented, physical, confident bunch. Donnell will rumble over the Wildcats, who win, 42-35.
Season totals
JoeD: 11-4
MatthewB: 11-4
NickP: 9-6
CoachT: 10-5
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.