Pick the Preps: Del Oro-Rocklin and Inderkum-Monterey Trail rematches in playoffs
The high school bowl madness is over, and now here come the real games. The banners that went to the winner of those 29 bowl games last week included the wording of “championship,” which added to the confusion to this new wrinkle to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section as it wheeled out this look for the first time. The only true championships in this postseason will be contested within the eight playoff brackets with an actual championship game held Thanksgiving weekend at Hughes Stadium. The title contenders hail from the largest-school Division I bracket to the 8-man ranks of Division VIII. We’re not passing around banners in our weekly Pick the Preps panel of yours truly, Nick Pecoraro of MaxPreps and Matthew Bessette and Scott Tedmon of the livestreaming NFHS Network by way of ABC JAM Productions, but we will commit to being the best version of ourselves. Section playoff openers are Friday. Previews include team seedings.
Division I
No. 5 Inderkum (9-1) at No. 4 Monterey Tail (8-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: This is a rematch of a season opener in which MT won, 27-22, and the visiting Tigers return to Elk Grove with a score to settle as an older and wiser team. Can Indy slow down MT’s run game? The winner likely draws top-seeded Folsom. In toss-up games, go with the home team, 30-28.
MatthewB: We will have a crew covering this one live on the NFHS Network. This was the 4-vs.-5 matchup in 2023. Inderkum took that one 50-21. Inderkum wins again, 35-31.
NickP: I covered the season opener between these two, and even though MT took that game, the Tigers have not lost since, including a perfect 6-0 mark in a competitive Capital Valley Conference. Indy takes this one, 35-24.
CoachT: After dropping their opener against Trail, the Tigers have rolled and are red hot heading into the playoffs. The Mustangs ground game is led by RB Odie Jefferson and the road graders up front. Powered by Jordan, Brody and Cruise Cole, Indy rides the Cole Train into the semis and wins, 34-31.
Division II
No. 7 Chavez (10-0) at No. 2 Granite Bay (8-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: How can a 10-0 team be seeded so low? Strength of schedule and league matters, and though irked by their rating, the Titans of Stockton can do something about it. But can they slow down GB star RB Isaiah Ene? Can GB handle the speed of Chavez? GB wins, 28-20.
MatthewB: Before the Week 10 loss to Folsom, Granite Bay was playing as good of football as anybody. The Grizzlies take it, 42-28.
NickP: Chavez’s Joel Donnell has comparable stats with Ene with both having rushed for more than 1,300 yards. Ene also gets it done on defense. The Grizzlies are far more battle-tested. GB wins, 38-20.
CoachT: Chavez is this year’s Cinderella squad looking to blow up the D-II bracket. GB’s human wrecking ball Ene blows up everything he hits. This one will be close, but the clock strikes midnight on the Titans’ terrific season. Grizzlies win, 34-27.
No. 6 Rocklin (5-5) at No. 3 Del Oro (7-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: This is a rematch of a Sierra Foothill League thriller from Oct. 24 in which Del Oro won, 15-14. Brock Sherman rushed for 103 yards and two scores for DO in that game, and Rocklin was held to 94 yards rushing on 24 attempts. Expect another smash-mouth contest. DO wins, 17-16.
MatthewB: I’ll be there bringing this one to you live on the NFHS Network. There’s nothing like a big-time rivalry in the playoffs, and that’s exactly what we have here. Rocklin wins, 24-21.
NickP: Rocklin and Del Oro have split four playoff meetings since 2005 as well as the last 22 meetings overall. Del Oro’s had one of the best bounce-back seasons of anyone in the section this year. DO wins, 21-14.
CoachT: No matter the stakes, when SFL teams collide, it is epic. Now the Thunder and Golden Eagles are in a high-stakes matchup. In this knockdown, drag-out battle of Placer County heavyweights, DO survives, 21-20.
Division III
No. 5 Rio Americano (6-4) at No. 4 Vacaville (8-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: The Raiders of Rio are irked that they didn’t get a higher seed or are not hosting this game, stressing a better strength of schedule, but Vacaville got the nod as a league champion while Rio was a third-place finisher in the Capital Valley Conference behind D-III top seed Woodcreek and 9-1 Inderkum. Rio can rock the bracket here, but Vacaville wins, 28-27.
MatthewB: Winner of this one likely takes on top-seeded Woodcreek. Both teams have flown under the radar a bit to this point but here they are ready to make a run. Vacaville wins it, 28-24.
NickP: Rio has had a tremendous season, but Vacaville is a tough place to win on the road. Bulldogs take this one, 28-24
CoachT: Rio earned a spot in the playoffs for a third straight year proving the Raiders are no longer just a basketball school. This one features Rio’s balanced attack against a Vacaville squad deep on talent and tradition. Bulldogs underrated senior QB Brendan Jackson has completed 70% of his passes with 16 TD strikes. Vacaville scores late to win it, 34-30.
Division VI
No. 5 Bradshaw Christian (8-2) at No. 4 Woodland Christian (9-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: This figures to be a good one between small-school powerhouse programs with championship pedigree. WC is riding an 8-game winning streak, losing only to Bay Area power St. Vincent de Paul, 43-41, and BC is eager to rock this bracket as the winner of this game likely draws unbeaten Sonora next. WC has too much firepower and wins, 30-26.
MatthewB: It doesn’t get much better than this. Both teams have championship aspirations, but only one will move on to the semifinals. Woodland Christian moves on, 27-21.
NickP: With as often as these programs have been in the postseason over the years, it shocked me to learn they’ve never faced each other in a playoff game. Versatile skill players Noah Hinkle and Isaiah Hunt bring championship experience to the Cardinals, who win, 24-22.
CoachT: This one will be decided by who gets a late defensive stop. WC’s senior LB Cesar Abraham Villegas has impressed all season, and the Cardinals defense rises up when it matters most. WC wins, 27-24.
Totals
JoeD: 1-3 last week, 44-21 this season
MatthewB: 2-2, 45-20
NickP: 2-2, 40-25
CoachT: 3-1, 41-24