The Abridged version:
- The high school football season is winding down, with the playoffs now less than two weeks away.
- Folsom plays Jesuit with a shot to win its 11th Sierra Foothill League championship since 2014.
- Other big games include Whitney facing off against Oak Ridge and Rocklin taking on Del Oro.
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The high school football season kicked off in August, when teams across the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section set a path to producing winning seasons.
The playoffs start Nov. 13-14. I will join Will DeBoard of the CIF section office on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. for the football bracket release show on the streaming NFHS. That free link is https://www.cifsjs.org/football
Speaking of NFHS, our weekly Pick the Preps crew includes talking heads Matthew Bessette and Scott Tedmon. They are regulars on NFHS games.
Rankings below are from our weekly JoeD Top 25 package.
No. 1 Folsom (9-0) at No. 16 Jesuit (5-4)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
On air: NFHS
JoeD: A Folsom victory secures the program’s 11th Sierra Foothill League championship since 2014, when the Bulldogs entered the section’s toughest league. Folsom has won five consecutive section Division I titles and 12 since 2010, so the momentum is there to keep on rolling. Jesuit started the season 5-0 and has lost every game since, a reminder of the unforgiving nature of the SFL. A solid showing by Jesuit matters here on Senior Night. Can Jesuit topple Folsom? Well, Oak Ridge, Del Oro and Rocklin nearly did, so, yes. It’s possible. Folsom wins 30-17.
MatthewB: Folsom looks to complete its first unbeaten regular season since 2017 when they went 16-0 and won the CIF State 1-AA championship over Helix of San Diego. Jesuit is playoff bound despite losing four straight, and a win over Folsom would give the Marauders a huge boost. The Bulldogs win, 42-30.
CoachT: Despite the Marauders’ recent slide, this is no gimme for Folsom. Playing under the lights in Carmichael on Senior Night makes for a legit home-field advantage. Folsom is remarkable at taking care of business in winning all its tight games this season, and senior QB Brody Rudnicki has been the man for the job. Brody and the Bulldogs win, 34-14.
No. 10 Whitney (6-3) at No. 2 Oak Ridge (6-3)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: These SFL teams sport the same win-loss record, but this is a bit misleading. Oak Ridge has suffered agonizingly close losses to bruiser programs such as Central East of Fresno, Folsom and one from Massachusetts, teams that are a combined 24-1. Whitney is in the midst of its best season in years, and the Wildcats figure to be a factor in the Division II playoffs. Oak Ridge wins, 24-17
MatthewB: What a season it has been for Whitney as the Wildcats will end a five-year playoff drought. Oak Ridge has played a gauntlet of a schedule, and the Trojans now sit just three weeks away from a potential rematch with Folsom. Oak Ridge takes it, 31-25.
CoachT: Whitney has been one of the best stories of the year, and what a way to close out the SFL season if the Wildcats can beat the Trojans. Oak Ridge is as talent-rich as anyone with QB Nick Johnson running the offense complimented by a ferocious defense led by seniors Brayden Molloy and Blake Meggers. Expect this one to be close into the third quarter with Oak Ridge putting it away late, winning 27-21.
No. 9 Rocklin (6-3) at No. 3 Del Oro (7-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
On air: NFHS
JoeD: The SFL has high-drama games right down to the final week of the regular season, and that includes these longtime Placer County rivals. Del Oro has tight losses to Oak Ridge and Folsom, and the passing combination of Luke Taber to Chase Carmazzi has been impossible for teams to slow down. Rocklin has a fine quarterback, too, in Parker Lively, with some terrific receivers. Del Oro wins, 20-17.
MatthewB: I’ll be on the NFHS call for a game that could very well decide the top seed in the Division II playoff bracket. Rocklin welcomes back a healthy RB/DB in CJ Taylor. Del Oro might be the favorite in the D-II bracket for hoisting the championship blue banner. DO gets it done, 35-33.
CoachT: Both teams have stars aplenty. The deciding factor is who best takes care of the ball. DO has forced 11 turnovers while Rocklin has taken the ball away 20 times. The Thunder offense has given it away 12 times while the Golden Eagles offense has been less charitable with only eight turnovers. Del Oro is peaking and will win the turnover margin and the game, 28-27.
De La Salle (9-0) at Granite Bay (3-6)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Online: NFHS
JoeD: How in the world did this game appear on the schedule? Well, Granite Bay had a rare Week 10 opening, as did the storied Spartans of Contra Costa County, and here comes DLS in playing the part as the top-ranked team in Northern California. GB has not won since starting 3-0. That doesn’t mean the Grizzlies suddenly forgot how to play football. The SFL is just that stacked. Might this be the last game as GB coach for guru coaching leader Joe Cattolico? He’s put in his time as a 200-game winner across multiple schools with the bonus thrill of being able to coach his sons, including quarterback Dominic Cattolico the past three seasons. Here’s hoping he continues to coach. DLS wins, 24-7.
MatthewB: Whenever De La Salle comes to town, you can’t help but be intrigued. Granite Bay is having a season not typical for the Grizzlies, but will no doubt compete as they always do. The Spartans win, 34-20.
CoachT: Shout out to the Grizzlies for scheduling the mighty Spartans – and for DLS to take the trip north. Coach Cattolico will have the Griz ready to fight and claw, supported by one of the best student sections in the area. This is a DLS squad with its sights set squarely on another CIF State Open Division berth, and the Spartans win, 31-10.
Hughson (7-2) at Hilmar (9-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: If the SFL is the premier football league in the Sac-Joaquin Section, then the Trans Valley League still stands as the elite small-school league in this state. How fitting that this showdown has all sorts of meaning. Hilmar can clinch the TVL outright with a win, and Hughson can tie for the crown with a victory. Hilmar wins, 21-20.
MatthewB: A Hughson victory would create a three-way tie for the league championship in the TVL with Escalon representing the third team. A Hilmar victory could very well lock up the top seed in Division V for the Yellowjackets. Hughson pulls it out, 28-27.
CoachT: This is a classic TVL battle where bragging rights really do mean something. Hilmar’s dual-threat senior QB Cohen Felber has had a big season, and the Yellowjackets have turned away all comers. Hughson is led by two-way RB/LB star Titus Beers and is intimidated by no one. Sophomore RB Blake Hobbs scores late and the Huskies pull the upset as Hughson wins, 31-30.
Season totals
Last week and season
JoeD: 4-3, 43-19
MatthewB: 6-1, 45-17
CoachT: 5-2, 40-22
