Granite Bay meets Folsom as SFL tensions simmer off field (and other games to watch) | The Sacramento Bee

Granite Bay’s meeting at Folsom on Friday is a subplot to the regular season fast winding up.

The most intense battle within the Sierra Foothill League for the top-ranked Bulldogs was waged in a September league meeting when SFL administrators floated a suggestion that Folsom move out of the league on the basis of competitive equity and player safety.

Said Granite Bay coach Jeff Evans to The Bee in a follow-up story, “No doubt Folsom should play independent. What they are doing is not high school football, not public high school football, anyway.

“It is not sour grapes. We can all handle losing because we are in this for more than just wins, but something has to be done.”

Folsom coaches said they felt ambushed. They insist they do not want out of the SFL and maintain they will play on.

Will the coaches even meet and greet before kickoff?

No. 10 Granite Bay (3-4) at No. 1 Folsom (6-1)

The Grizzlies need at least one more victory in the final three SFL games to have a shot at extending their playoff streak to 20 successive seasons. After this, they play at Oak Ridge and then at home against Rocklin. Folsom is roaring toward a Week 10 showdown against No. 2 Del Oro behind QB Kaiden Bennett, who has 30 touchdowns and two interceptions, none since the opener at De La Salle. Tyler Hardeman leads the Bulldogs with 4 1/2 sacks (the team has 16).

No. 2 Del Oro (7-0) at No. 9 Grant (4-3)

The Golden Eagles sizzled in taking apart Oak Ridge 56-21 last week, leading 48-7 at one point, and can ill-afford a let down now. The Pacers have their youngest team under coach Mike Alberghini, the head man since 1991, but they have impressed with rallies to beat Granite Bay and Rocklin behind QB Xavier Johnson.

Burbank (5-3) at No. 3 Monterey Trail (7-0)

This will be a meeting of speed as both Metro League leaders have a surplus of skill guys, including quarterbacks Lavelle Bailey at Burbank and Zach Larrier at Monterey Trail. This is the only competitive league game for either of these programs, and the intensity should be clear.

No. 18 Antelope (5-3) at No. 5 Inderkum (7-0)

In this meeting of Capital Athletic League unbeatens, the host Tigers (3-0 CAL) boast of a lot of speed and skill, and Antelope (4-0 CAL) must keep pace offensively to avoid a blowout, meaning plenty of touches for the versatile Carter Sullivan. Inderkum has been equally as tough on defense with 25 sacks, five by Devon Williams and four by Shamar Brown.

Foothill (5-2) at No. 12 Bear River (7-0)

Foothill has surged, already producing the most wins for the program in a season since 2009, but it wasn’t enough for second-year coach Anthony Eustace to keep his job. He was relieved of duties before last week’s upset over Center for unspecified reasons. Bear River, meanwhile, rolls on, including on defense, a unit led by Jared Baze. He has 10 of his team’s 23 sacks.

This week’s schedule

All kickoffs between 7-7:30 p.m. Friday, unless noted.

Top 20

No. 10 Granite Bay at No. 1 Folsom

No. 2 Del Oro at No. 9 Grant

Burbank at No. 3 Monterey Trail

No. 4 Placer at Oakmont

No. 18 Antelope at No. 5 Inderkum

No. 6 Oak Ridge at Whitney

Pleasant Grove at No. 8 Sheldon

Davis at No. 9 Jesuit, Saturday, 1 p.m.

Foothill at No. 12 Bear River

Franklin at No. 13 Elk Grove

No. 14 Colfax at Lindhurst

No. 15 Center at Marysville

No. 16 Rio Linda at No. 17 Lincoln

Nevada Union at No. 19 Ponderosa

Woodland at No. 20 Casa Roble

Bye — No. 7 Capital Christian

Other games

Christian Brothers at Vista del Lago

El Camino at Del Campo

Bella Vista at River Valley

Yuba City at Roseville

Pioneer at Dixon

Florin at Natomas

McClatchy at River City

Foresthill at Woodland Christian

Valley Christian at Delta

Golden Sierra at Vacaville Christian

Highlands at San Juan

Rio Vista at Linden

Bradshaw Christian at Union Mine

Galt vs. Rosemont at Liberty Ranch

Johnson vs. Valley at Rosemont

Laguna Creek vs. Kennedy at Cosumnes River College

Mira Loma vs. Mesa Verde at El Camino