Del Oro football surges past Jesuit in SFL clash — rematch could loom
Both teams have answered the bell this fall, warding off the sort of searing critique common in a sport big on the theme of “What have you done for me lately?”
The Del Oro Golden Eagles of Placer County have used an uncharacteristic 2-8 win-loss showing in 2024 as inspiration to return to their smash-mouth ways that made this one of the storied football programs in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section.
The Jesuit Marauders have proven in Year 2 of the Sierra Foothill League that they do indeed fit in the most intense and competitive collection of blockers and tacklers in the section, including delivering recent victories over two Sacramento Bee-ranked No. 2 teams in Oak Ridge and Rocklin.
A year ago, Jesuit lost to all of the SFL heavies, except Del Oro.
On Friday night in Carmichael, No. 8-ranked Del Oro got the knockout whammy it has craved, dropping the No. 2 Marauders 29-16 in another SFL meat grinder. The triumph made for a jubilant post-game scene for the Golden Eagles, who suffered losses of 12-8 to Oak Ridge and 14-13 to Granite Bay this season.
A rematch between Del Oro and Jesuit could happen in the section Division II playoffs, which would bring to mind a 2023 postseason thriller in which Del Oro scored an overtime victory over the host Marauders. Landen Parry caught a touchdown in that game for Del Oro — and he caught a scoring pass on Friday night, a play that delighted the 6-foot-2, 240-pound junior tight end and his father, Del Oro head coach Josh Parry.
Parry is a man who is equal parts intense with his massive, flowing beard and jovial back-patting and bear-hug enthusiasm. A former NFL player, Parry downplayed the heat some fans in Loomis showered on him last fall in scathing social media posts, including some who demanded his termination for not winning enough games.
Parry never buckled, and neither did his proud program that moves to 5-3 on the season and 2-3 in the SFL. Jesuit is 5-3 and 2-2.
“I’m so proud of how our players have stuck with it, because the easy thing to do would be to quit,” Parry said. “I love the challenges because I know who I am and I know what these kids need in their lives and the future they have ahead of them. I know what football can offer. I know it’s teaching them life lessons, how to deal with tough losses, and these kids will have memories that are going to last forever.”
As far as criticism that he wasn’t a worthy coach for the program, Parry said, “That’s part of this sport. I know who I am and what I can do.”
Parry said the Golden Eagles knew they could compete with the bruisers of the SFL, even in defeat.
They just had to show it.
“We know we can go toe-to-toe with anyone,” Parry said. “We’ve been there. We had to throw that haymaker and get that knockout win.”
That came Friday.
Nolen Sauve was sharp again for Del Oro, hitting Landen Parry for the 4-yard TD to open the scoring, then hitting Brennen Gibbs for an 11-yard scoring strike for a 15-6 lead in the second quarter. Brandon Alfonso scored the final two touchdowns for Del Oro on runs of 2 and 16 yards with 2 minutes to play.
The final score came after Del Oro stopped Jesuit on fourth down at midfield.
Carmazzi at Del Oro and forever at Jesuit
In a unique cross-generational moment that binds these programs together, there is Chase Carmazzi. The sophomore defensive back sealed Del Oro’s biggest win of the bounce-back campaign with an impressive interception in front of his jubilant sideline to salt it away late.
Carmazzi is the son of Matt Carmazzi, an early 1990s Jesuit football and basketball player. Matt’s father is Dan Carmazzi, the winningest football coach in Jesuit history with more than 200 victories. Dan Carmazzi on Friday was inducted into the Jesuit Athletic Hall of Fame, as were sons Matt and Gio, members of the famed 1992-93 Jesuit basketball team that was coached by Hank Meyer.
Jesuit coach Marlon Blanton is similar to Dan Carmazzi with a low-key profile and big-time results. They are the only Jesuit football coaches to have won 100 or more games since the school opened in 1963.
“Our football program has been lucky to be able to hang our hats on two quality people and football coaches in Dan and Marlon,” said Phil Nuxoll, a 1983 Jesuit graduate and a fixture on campus as a football coach for 36 years and as an English teacher for 37. As far as Jesuit’s place in the SFL?
“We belong,” Nuxoll said.
Who else belongs? Some old Del Oro faces who are back in action.
Parry, the Del Oro coach, invited previous Golden Eagles coaches Jeff Walters, Bill Sherman and Steve Birch to lend a hand to the current edition, to bolster the coaching staff, to restore tradition. They all jumped at the chance. But even those moves came with criticism.
“I was questioned, ‘Why are you bringing them back?’” Parry said. “Well, why not? They’re great football coaches. They’re great men. They’re great for these kids. They’re great for me. Why wouldn’t you bring those people in? They’re great for the program, and we needed them.”
This story was originally published October 17, 2025 at 10:06 PM.