Pick the Preps: Grant-Oak Ridge, Del Oro-Granite Bay among CIF section semifinals
In a flash, the high school football season has arrived at the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section semifinal rounds.
Divisions I through VIII — largest enrollments to the smallest — are in the final four of each bracket. The section championships are on Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 28-29, at Hughes Stadium.
Our roundtable crew also collectively wants to up our game as none of us produced a winning effort last week in yours truly, Nick Pecoraro of MaxPreps, and Matthew Bessette and Scott Tedmon of the NFHS streaming network by way of ABC JAM Productions.
This week’s games are listed by division seeding.
Division I
No. 4 Monterey Trail (9-2) at No. 1 Folsom (10-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: Monterey Trail impressed in its 45-3 drilling of a 9-1 Inderkum team, and Mustangs coach T.J. Ewing knows what it takes to beat Folsom. MT pulled a 12-point stunner over the Bulldogs in the 2019 D-I semifinals with four long, time-consuming scoring drives. MT rushed 44 times for 383 yards and five scores against Inderkum, but Folsom will make enough stops and has a guy named Ryder Lyons leading the offensive show at QB to a win, 42-21.
MatthewB: We will be there covering this one live on the NFHS Network. Don’t count out Monterey Trail and sensational freshman RB Nigel Flowers. Folsom is looking to reach the D-I championship for the fifth consecutive year. Bulldogs get it done, 35-24.
NickP: The Mustangs certainly made a statement rolling Inderkum last week, but the Bulldogs were equally loud with a season-high 62 points against Downey of Modesto. Folsom moves on, 47-22.
CoachT: Can history repeat itself with another Trail shocker over Folsom? Coach Ewing is one of the best around, and the Mustangs will bring everything they have to the blue turf. RB Odie Jefferson will break free for some big gains, but the Bulldogs are just too tough. Folsom wins, 42-24.
No. 3 Grant (7-4) at No. 2 Oak Ridge (8-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: The Pacers will be a tough handle for gritty Oak Ridge, which rallied late to topple Central Catholic of Modesto last week, 14-13. Grant RB Jayson Williams raced 98 yards for a score last week in a 35-22 win over Edison of Stockton, and the receivers are as good as they get. Grant wins, 21-20.
MatthewB: The semifinals are loaded with great matchups, but this might be the premiere game of the week for any division. The Pacers pull it off, 28-25.
NickP: Both teams are vying for a fourth straight section championship appearance. In its first year back in the D-I bracket, Grant hopes for a potential rematch with Folsom in the finals. The Pacers win, 25-16.
CoachT: Most of us had this one circled when the brackets came out. It’s the power of Oak Ridge against the speed of Grant. Pacers WR Koby Shabazz will electrify for a late touchdown, and Grant gets its chance at the D-I blue banner, taking down the Trojans in a tight one, 28-24.
Division II
No. 6 Rocklin (6-5) at No. 2 Granite Bay (8-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: The D-II bracket is heavy with Sierra Foothill League teams, including these two. Granite Bay beat Rocklin 29-20 on Oct. 17, and here we go again. Isaiah Ene rushed for two scores for GB in the last meeting. It may take three touchdowns from one of the section’s top players this time to do the job, and he does the job in a 24-23 victory.
MatthewB: We will have this one covered on the NFHS Network. Granite Bay forced three second-half turnovers when these teams last met, though the Thunder out gained the Grizzlies 377-248. Rocklin wins it, 21-17.
NickP: You can’t complain about more bonus SFL play. The Thunder showed their mettle last week against Del Oro in a gritty win. But GB head coach Joe Cattolico has the Grizzlies peaking. GB moves on, 28-25.
CoachT: Rocklin proved that it is built for the postseason with its impressive win over Del Oro last week. The Thunder might be the best 6-5 team in America, and with resilient QB Reeve Slone running the show, Rocklin survives, 28-27.
Division III
No. 5 Rio Americano (7-4) at No. 1 Woodcreek (10-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: It’s hard to go against Rio after the Raiders impressively downed Vacaville last week, 17-14, behind offensive cogs QB Ryder Trantham and RB Raymar Griffith. But Woodcreek is on a roll and wins, 28-24.
MatthewB: Nearly two months have passed since these teams met at Woodcreek, with the Timberwolves winning 20-7. Both teams have a 3-point loss to Inderkum. Woodcreek wins again, 17-14.
NickP: That was a great win for the Raiders last week at Vacaville. Jayden Beasley came out of nowhere for the Timberwolves with 133 receiving yards and a score. Woodcreek has plenty left in the tank and wins, 35-14.
CoachT: Rio keeps proving the experts wrong and the Raiders now look to secure a spot in the finals. Coach Kyle Stowers has Woodcreek playing championship-level football, and the Timberwolves win, 31-28.
Division V
No. 3 Sutter (10-1) at No. 2 Hilmar (7-4)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
JoeD: Sutter coaches and players were understandably irked at their seeding in this bracket, but the Huskies can now do something about it against the storied Yellowjackets of Merced County. Hilmar’s record is misleading with several close losses, including 22-21 to 11-0 Sonora. Sutter’s offensive balance and defense prevails, 21-17.
MatthewB: Sutter’s 143-mile trip down to Hilmar will be the farthest travel of any team in this year’s playoffs. This is a true coin-flip game. Sutter prevails, 20-14.
NickP: All Sutter has done since joining this section is advance deep in the playoffs, inching closer and closer each year to the coveted blue banner. This could finally be the year. Huskies head back to the finals, 21-20.
CoachT: Hilmar’s sensational sophomore RB Adam Branco is a scoring machine with 18 touchdowns. Sutter brings a championship swagger and can back it up with DE Troy Bowens and company. The Huskies have scored 50 points or more a whopping eight times. The first team to 40 wins, and Sutter wins, 48-38.
Totals
JoeD: 2-3 last week, 46-24 this season
MatthewB: 2-3, 47-23
NickP: 1-4, 41-29
CoachT: 1-4, 42-28
This story was originally published November 20, 2025 at 1:04 PM.