Pick the Preps: Folsom-Rocklin, Jesuit-Granite Bay and more football matchups
It’s happened a ton of times over the decades, a No. 1 vs. a No. 2 showdown of The Sacramento Bee’s top-ranked high school football teams.
That scenario highlights this week’s game menu. No. 1 Folsom heads to Placer County on Friday night to take on the No. 2-ranked Rocklin Thunder in a Sierra Foothill League opener with plenty at stake, and history serving notice that anything goes.
In 2021, No. 2 Rocklin rolled the top-ranked Bulldogs, 40-7, snapping Folsom’s 11-year league winning streak, dating back to the school’s Delta League days. Rocklin shredded Folsom’s 48-game SFL winning streak, though the Bulldogs got their revenge in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I finals in a rankings reversal rematch that season, a 20-3 effort, and then winning the next three section championships in succession.
A peek back at No. 1 vs. No. 2
The Bee No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdowns can be traced back to the 1950s when the Sacramento Dragons and McClatchy Lions filled up Hughes Stadium for the Turkey Day Game. In the 1960s, the top teams often included Capital Valley Conference championship battles between the top-ranked Mira Loma Matadors and the No. 2 El Camino Eagles, or vice versa. The winning coaches would get thrown into the pool, headsets and all.
In the 1970s, a top-ranked matchup might have featured Placer vs. Del Oro, or Placer vs. Nevada Union with SFL banners and regional pride at stake. In the 1980s, it was often the Cordova Lancers vs. the Christian Brothers Falcons to either decide the Metro League crown or the City Championship, or both. The programs won CIF section crowns in 1981, ’83 and ’85.
In the 1990s, no No. 1 vs. No. 2 rivalry topped the spirit and intensity of the Grant Pacers and the Nevada Union Miners of Grass Valley in meetings to decide Capital Athletic League and section crowns. The last 25 years have included top-ranked matchups in Placer County between Del Oro and Granite Bay and Folsom against Oak Ridge, Jesuit, Monterey Trail or Grant.
This season kicked off with a whopper that fizzled, which also happens in this sport. Folsom rolled preseason No. 2-ranked Grant 51-13 on ESPN. A rematch could happen in the section Division I finals.
Speaking of old-school rumbles, the two oldest chaps on our weekly Bee Pick the Preps roundtable combined to go 12-0 on game projections last week. That would be yours truly and the coach, Scott Tedmon, who doubles as color voice on the NFHS Network with play-by-play voice Matthew Bessette. Matthew and our longtime media friend Nick Pecoraro each went 5-1 last week in picks and guesses.
No. 2 Rocklin (3-0) at No. 1 Folsom (3-1)
When: 7:15 p.m. Friday
JoeD: Does Ryder Lyons play quarterback for Folsom, as he missed last week’s romp over Sacred Heart Prep of San Francisco? If so, Rocklin has to apply heat to the guy who impressively started in place of a sore-footed Lyons as Brody Rudnicki passed for five touchdowns. Wide receiver Jameson Powell is this region’s best catch and burn player. Folsom wins 24-20.
MatthewB: We will be in the house to broadcast this one. Rudnicki is a lesson in patience as he got a chance to shine. The Bulldogs remain on the top of the SFL mountain, 35-28.
NickP: Whether or not Lyons plays doesn’t seem to bother the Bulldogs as Rudnicki played marvelously. Rocklin will be rested off of its bye week, but the Bulldogs prevail, 27-21.
CoachT: With or without Lyons, Folsom has proven to be the top dawg. Rocklin plays a physical brand of football but it won’t be enough to take down the region’s best. Bulldogs win, 38-24.
No. 3 Oak Ridge (2-1) at No. 7 Del Oro (3-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: The last time Oak Ridge head coach Casey Taylor was in Loomis for a game was two seasons ago, a historic night. His Trojans beat Del Oro to give the coach his 200th career victory, most of those earned during his run at DO. Taylor and DO coach Josh Parry are old friends and hacks in golf. Both teams are physical, and OR’s Jasen Womack is the difference on both sides of the ball in a 24-20 victory.
MatthewB: This could very well be the game of the week. Del Oro is back after a tough year and Oak Ridge is one of the consistently great programs in the area. Oak Ridge wins, 28-25.
NickP: It’s always good when the SFL is absolutely stacked. This will be a tight one, but Oak Ridge takes it, 35-34.
CoachT: It’s great to see the Golden Eagles back in the SFL mix. Speaking of mix, Oak Ridge loves to mix it up with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Trojans take down DO in a dandy, 27-24.
De La Salle (3-0) at No. 4 Grant (2-2)
When: 7 p.m Friday
JoeD: We can all appreciate the DLS brand: California’s most decorated program, rising to power in 1982 and blasting most all NorCal teams ever since. DLS rolled Grant last season, though the Pacers went on to win their second CIF state crown in three years. DLS is a defensive nightmare: sound, fundamental, tough and fast. That helps the Spartans win 21-14.
MatthewB: De La Salle is unquestionably the top team in NorCal and Grant has a huge opportunity to make a statement on its home field. The Spartans are just a bit too strong for the young Pacers, 36-31.
NickP: Huge respect for Grant’s scheduling. The Pacers aren’t afraid of anybody. They’ll have to play as clean a game as possible to overcome the Spartans, who have only allowed six points through three games. DLS wins, 24-17.
CoachT: Grant continues to line up powerhouses, and here comes mighty DLS. The Pacers have been inconsistent and need to find their next gear, and soon. The G plays better this week but it won’t be enough as DLS prevails, 34-20.
No. 11 Jesuit (3-1) at No. 5 Granite Bay (3-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: In rolling Christian Brothers 28-7 in the Holy Bowl, Big Red celebrated the 400th win in school history, dating back to 1963, and Jesuit needs that momentum to stall the rolling Grizzlies. That includes slowing down running back Isaiah Ene and wide receiver Darnell Turner. GB in a fierce one, 24-23.
MatthewB: Coach Marlon Blanton has a seemingly endless supply of quality backs at Jesuit, and Granite Bay has a workhorse in Ene. The Grizzlies open SFL play with a big win, 30-27.
NickP: Both teams have been on a roll defensively, each allowing just seven points in each of the past two games, respectively. It’ll be a slugfest in the trenches, where GB comes out of the pile with a 19-16 win.
CoachT: This one has all the makings of an SFL instant classic. Big Red and the Grizzlies have hit their stride by hitting their opponents in submission. The difference will be Jesuit’s emerging sophomore star, Kwanna Smith. Marauders win, 28-27.
No. 22 Elk Grove (1-2) vs. No. 23 Franklin (3-1)
When: 7:15 p.m. Friday at Cosumnes Oaks
JoeD: This is a grand opportunity for Franklin to jolt the Delta League, especially if the Wildcats have visions of winning the thing. Elk Grove runs with speed and power and Franklin is paced by quarterback Braylon Robinson, who has 14 touchdown passes and two interceptions. EG wins 35-27.
MatthewB: Records don’t mean a whole lot when it comes to league matchups. Elk Grove is a regional power but Franklin scores a win for the ages, 21-17.
NickP: Alphonso Moore Jr. had a monster night with 162 yards and three scores as the Herd beat Golden Valley. If Franklin can’t contain the Elk Grove pass rush, which had four sacks last week, it’ll be a long night for the Wildcats. Elk Grove wins, 44-21.
CoachT: Franklin is making its presence felt and Elk Grove knows it needs to bring it. The Herd’s run game and physical play at the point of attack will be the deciding factor in a 24-21 win.
Wheatland (3-1) at Bear River (3-1)
JoeD: Here’s our small-school rumble of the week, and it’ll be on real grass. Wheatland has bounced back big from an opening 42-14 loss to Amador, with coaches taking full ownership, to peel off three straight wins. BR beat Golden Sierra last week 19-12 behind running quarterback Jayden Brock. Wheatland wins, 28-21.
MatthewB: Small-school football at its finest. Wheatland’s defense has come alive the last three weeks behind two-way star, Konley Cova. Bear River has impressed in a 3-1 start but the Pirates win, 16-10.
NickP: A great game to kick off the Pioneer Valley League, which has become a small-school power league. Cova is a menace on both sides of the ball and will power the Pirates to a win, 34-31.
CoachT: Wheatland is on a three-game burner while Bear River has won two straight. The Pirates’ physicality will be the difference in a 31-21 win.
Season totals
JoeD: 6-0 (19-7)
MatthewB: 5-1 (18-8)
CoachT: 6-0 (18-8)
NickP: 5-1 (15-11)
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 5:00 AM.