Pick the Preps: Granite Bay-Folsom, Casa Roble-Sutter and more showdowns
Week 10 is here, arriving on the schedule with the sudden force of a forearm blast to the chin strap. Where has the time gone?
The Sacramento-area high school football scene will have a full menu of games on Thursday night and then cap the regular season on Friday, Halloween Night, with the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section hosting a bracket-release streaming show 1 p.m. Sunday on the NFHS Network. As for our Pick the Preps crew, we take this action all the way to the CIF State finals, but regular-season win-loss records between us matter, and our race is a tight one between yours truly, Nick Pecoraro of MaxPreps and Matthew Bessette and Scott Tedmon of the streaming NFHS Network and ABC JAM Productions. Game previews include Sacramento Bee rankings.
No. 2 Granite Bay (7-2) at No. 1 Folsom (8-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: If GB wins, the Grizzlies are co-Sierra Foothill League champions with Folsom. How does GB deal with Folsom QB Ryder Lyons? How does Folsom handle Grizzlies RB Isaiah Ene? Folsom’s section winning streak is 41. Folsom has the speed advantage and wins, 35-27.
MatthewB: Granite Bay was the last team to hand Folsom an SFL loss back, in 2021, and it was at Prairie City Stadium. These are the two hottest teams in the SFL. The Folsom Bulldogs are just too good, 42-34.
NickP: Obviously, Lyons is the name everyone knows. But it’s the weapons he has around him that help make Folsom so dominant. The receiving crew of Jameson Powell, Isaiah Williams and Rob Larson push the Bulldogs past the Grizzlies, 31-24.
CoachT: Star power abounds on the blue turf. Folsom’s Paul Doherty and GB’s Joe Cattolico are coaching stars, too. The difference, and tell me if you haven’t heard this before, is the Bulldogs’ generational talent in Lyons. Folsom prevails, 38-24.
No. 7 Rocklin (5-4) at No. 4 Oak Ridge (6-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: Rocklin certainly doesn’t look like a 1-4 team in the SFL, but the hard-luck Thunder have absorbed more close losses than they care to share. Both teams need a win to ramp up momentum for the playoffs with Oak Ridge in Division I and Rocklin in Division II. Oak Ridge wins, 21-20.
MatthewB: It was a slugfest in Rocklin in the pouring rain last season when these teams last played, with Oak Ridge winning it. Rocklin is in desperate need of a win. Oak Ridge may lock up the No. 2 seed in Division I with a win. The Trojans win it, 24-23.
NickP: It’s been an uncharacteristic stretch for the Thunder, who had not lost back-to-back games before this season since 2018. One thing is certain, they’ll be battle-tested for what figures to be a loaded Division II playoff field. Rocklin wins, 28-26.
CoachT: Rocklin has struggled to close out games it could have won. OR is focused and ready to make another run to a Division I final at Hughes Stadium. This will go down to the wire with the Trojans it out, 24-21.
No. 14 Casa Roble (8-1) at No. 13 Sutter (9-0)
When: 7:15 p.m. Friday
JoeD: How fun is this? The Golden Empire League title on the line, on natural grass, a place where a horse or two races around the track with a rider holding an American flag before kickoff. Sutter may go to the ground to control tempo to slow down the pass-heavy Rams and star QB Aidan Lopez. Casa in a great one, 35-34.
MatthewB: We will be there broadcasting this live on the NFHS Network, and I am hoping to ride one of the Sutter horses before I put my headsets on. This could be a Division V Championship preview. The Huskies take down the Rams, 28-24.
NickP: Casa Roble was just two points away — on a safety against Ponderosa — from matching Sutter at 9-0. The Rams want to avoid a repeat of last year, when Sutter beat them on their home turf in Orangevale. Casa pulls it out, 27-24.
CoachT: We don’t root for teams unless, of course, we root for both of them, which is the case here. These are terrific programs and small-school juggernauts. The Huskies are dominant at home, and with Sutter-raised horses Darla and Skittles galloping all over the place, Sutter secures the league crown in a classic, 28-27.
No. 17 Placer (6-3) at No. 12 Roseville (7-2)
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday JoeD: What a way to cap a deep and talented Foothill Valley League race. Both teams run the ball well, and senior QB Mason Susnara could be the difference. Roseville wins, 30-28.
MatthewB: We will have live coverage on the NFHS Network for this one. A win here could be the difference between hosting in the first round of the playoffs or hitting the road. Roseville pulls it out late, 42-40.
NickP: This could also be a potential Division IV playoff rematch in a few weeks. Placer comes into Tiger territory and get it done, 42-35.
CoachT: Roseville is a legit factor in the Division IV playoffs. Placer is looking to regain form against a Tigers team that has been more consistent. Roseville wins, 34-24.
Amador (5-4) at Argonaut (4-5)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
JoeD: This is the 107th meeting between these forever rivals, for bragging rights and the bell that goes to the winner. Amador of Sutter Creek is led by dual-threat QB Brad Blankenheim, and Argonaut is paced by RB Errol Garner, who has rushed for 10 touchdowns. Amador wins the Sierra Valley Conference game, 24-23.
MatthewB: Small-town football rivalries are different, and this one should be a packed house with just 4 miles separating the schools. Amador wins, 35-30.
NickP: Amador had a solid win to begin the season over Wheatland, which has since gone 7-1. The Buffaloes also have the momentum of a 3-game win streak, scoring close to 50 points each time. Amador wins, 40-22.
CoachT: Throw out the record when these historical rivals meet. Amador won the last two meetings and makes it three straight winning a wild one over Argonaut, 48-45.
Totals
JoeD: 2-2 last week, 38-18 this season
MatthewB: 3-1, 39-17
NickP: 2-2, 35-21
CoachT: 3-1, 34-22