The Abridged version:
- Joe Davidson of Abridged by PBS KVIE makes predictions for this week’s Sacramento-area high school football showdowns.
- No. 5 Del Oro takes on No. 9 Whitney on Friday, both teams touting a 6-2 record. Undefeated No. 10 Woodcreek plays at No. 11 Inderkum, No. 14 Jesuit plays at No. 8 Rocklin and No. 20 Franklin takes on No. 7 Monterey Trail.
- Hear from Davidson, as well as sports broadcasters Matthew Bessette and Scott Tedmon, on what to expect from these games as regular season hits its final stretch.
Find the latest Sacramento region sports news and analysis from Preps Insider with Joe Davidson, his newsletter for Abridged by PBS KVIE. Sign up here.
In what seems like a flash, the high school football regular season schedule in the greater Sacramento region and the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section has hit the final stretch.
A few conferences are in a fight-to-the-finish scramble to crown champions and to secure playoff positioning. Our Abridged by PBS KVIE Pick the Preps crew is also in scramble mode as we compete as expert guessers. That crew includes me — on the regional coverage beat since the pre-Internet days of the late 1980s — and Matthew Bessette and Scott Tedmon. Those two broadcast games for the streaming NFHS Network. Tedmon is also a longtime area basketball coach, so we call him CoachT. He often calls Matthew and me “Sir”.
Rankings listed below are from the JoeD Top 25 rankings that post each Monday.
No. 5 Del Oro (6-2) at No. 9 Whitney (6-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
On air: NFHS
JoeD: Del Oro players and coaches (and fans) are a fired-up lot after a wild 42-41 loss at Folsom last week as Folsom inched closer to another Sierra Foothill League championship. It was a game Del Oro had in its grasp. Whitney in this game has to deal with a red-hot QB in Del Oro’s Luke Taber, who found top target Chase Carmazzi for four of his six touchdown strikes against Folsom. Carmazzi had 11 catches for 218 yards. Whitney has stars, too, including QB Brad Duncan (17 TD passes). Del Oro wins, 30-28.
MatthewB: Brennen Gibbs is shining in all three phases of the game for Del Oro, and his offensive production stands out with more than 1,100 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns. Whitney’s jack-of-all-trades Easton Tarble has been a key to the team’s incredible season so far. Del Oro squeaks by, 35-34.
CoachT: Del Oro is playing as well as anyone right now and will need a stellar performance to win at Whitney. The Wildcats have gone from a nice story to a Division II title contender under the guidance of first-year head coach Brian Brickey. Whitney senior Bryson Leahey has scored eight TDs helping lead the Wildcats’ resurgence. This will be another SFL barnburner with the Golden Eagles getting it done, winning 28-24.
No. 10 Woodcreek (8-0) at No. 11 Inderkum (5-3)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
On air: NFHS
JoeD: This is for the Capital Valley Conference, and no one is surprised. These were the top contenders in the CVC last season, too. Inderkum started the season 1-3 in falling to Destiny Christian of Sacramento, state-ranked No. 1 Santa Margarita and Folsom, teams that are a combined 25-0. Inderkum is at full strength, including RB Cordell Radcliff and QB Brody Cole. Woodcreek has played the part of a defending CIF section champion. When it’s a toss-up, go with the home team, and Indy wins, 40-38.
MatthewB: Woodcreek is 0-10 all-time against Inderkum including a loss in each of the last eight seasons. Coach Justin Reber’s Tigers (Inderkum) haven’t flinched after a slow start and look to clinch at least a share of the league title here, but the Timberwolves (Woodcreek) win, 28-24.
CoachT: In this battle of two championship programs, the team that wins the turnover battle wins the CVC title. Woodcreek has forced 13 turnovers while Indy has 12 defensive turnovers. Both teams can light up the scoreboard, and in a high-scoring beauty, the Timberwolves force a late turnover to secure the win, 48-45.
No. 14 Jesuit (5-3) at No. 8 Rocklin (5-3)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
On air: NFHS
JoeD: This game isn’t just for SFL bragging rights but for section Division II playoff positioning. Jesuit has seen its 5-0 start to the season suddenly turn into a 5-3 season, including a stunningly lopsided 42-0 loss to No. 2 Oak Ridge last week. Rocklin players and coaches believe they outplayed Folsom in a double-overtime loss and Oak Ridge in a 28-14 setback that was much closer than the final score. Rocklin wins, 21-17.
MatthewB: This game could be the difference between a home or road game to open the D2 playoffs on Nov. 13. Jesuit has a couple of heartbreaking losses in league to Whitney and Del Oro. Rocklin had an interestingly timed non-league game against Monterey Trail last week, but it allowed the Thunder to see a run-heavy veer offense, similar to what Jesuit runs. Rocklin takes it, 31-28.
CoachT: It’s hard to get a read on Jesuit. After a red-hot start, the Marauders have gone cold, and they need to find their fire in a hurry. Rocklin has played excellent football, and consistency matters. Rocklin controls the game behind their offensive line and outstanding senior RB Luke May to win, 24-20.
No. 20 Franklin (7-2) at No. 7 Monterey Trail (7-1)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
On air: NFHS
JoeD: Who says the Elk Grove Unified School District doesn’t have good teams? Monterey Trail has been a force for years under founding program coach TJ Ewing, and here comes cross-town Franklin Wildcats ready to compete for its first Delta League crown since the 12-1 team of 2012 under coach Mike Johnson. Under current coach Joseph McCray, Franklin went from 1-9 in 2023 to 8-3 last season to this talented group. MT wins behind its veer run game, 30-24.
MatthewB: Franklin has a plethora of weapons surrounding star QB Braylon Robinson. Monterey Trail has the second longest league winning streak in the section behind St. Mary’s of Stockton as the Mustangs have not lost a league game in nine, spanning the Metro and Delta leagues. Trail pounds out a win, 35-30.
CoachT: Franklin is competing for a playoff berth, and this is a huge game for the Wildcats. Trail is accustomed to playing big games and experience spells the difference. MT’s ground-and-pound duo of Xander McKee and Nigel Flowers will be just enough to counter Franklin’s own dynamic duo of QB Robinson and WR Caden Bowers. Trail takes it in a tight one, 38-37.
No. 21 Twelve Bridges (6-2) at No. 16 Yuba City (7-1)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
On air: NFHS
JoeD: The Foothill Valley League may well be decided here as these two clubs have the only unbeaten marks in league play. The Raging Rhinos of Placer County have playmakers such as WR Dylan Amos and RB/LB Joshua Chittom, and Yuba City is led by stars such as RB Cody Haase (20 total touchdowns) and LB Zeke Mendieta (10.5 tackles per game). Twelve Bridges in a thriller, 31-30.
MatthewB: I can’t wait to be on the NFHS call for this one. Peyton Jennings has been running the show in the middle of the Rhinos defense with double digit tackles in the past two games. Yuba City’s defense has been flying to the ball with 80 tackles for loss and 25 sacks. Twelve Bridges wins, 38-34.
CoachT: Yuba City will be rocking as the home Honkers host the juggernaut that is Twelve Bridges. Eyebrows were raised when 12B fell to Whitney and Franklin in Weeks 2 and 3, but it turned out that both of those Wildcat squads are really good. Since then, the Raging Rhinos have ripped off four straight wins. Twelve Bridges wins, 37-34.
Sonora (4-5) at Escalon (5-3)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
JoeD: Hilmar at 5-0 in the Trans Valley League has clinched the league crown, but any Escalon-Sonora game is worthy of conversation. These are storied programs with Escalon winning 12 section banners and Sonora winning a boatload of those as well, including two in a row to go with two CIF state crowns. What does it all mean? A good game. Escalon wins, 27-24.
MatthewB: The TVL has proven once again to be one of the most difficult small-school leagues in the country. Sonora’s Lemar Vaughn and Escalon’s Dylan Ball are bonafide two-way stars. Escalon takes it, 24-20.
CoachT: This battle brings tradition, championship culture, and bare knuckle in-your-face football. The difference is Escalon RB Dylan Ball, who averages 142.4 rushing yards to go with 13 total TD’s. Playing in front of their loyal and passionate home fans, Escalon wins, 31-28.
Colfax (5-3) at Center (7-1)
When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.
JoeD: The Lincoln Zebras are in control of the Pioneer Valley League race, and others in the league expect to make a charge in the playoffs, including Colfax and Center. Colfax last week honored its 1986 Division III section championship team when this section only crowned three champions, Divisions I through III. RB Graeson Howard has had a monstrous season for Colfax with 1,458 yards and 19 touchdowns in averaging 182 yards rushing a game. Colfax wins, 33-30.
MatthewB: Colfax has a chance to shake things up in the PVL the last two weeks of the season as the Falcons finish with Center and Lincoln. The Falcons are led on defense by Henry Rollins, who is on pace to finish with more than 100 tackles. Center has to figure out how to bounce back from a loss for the first time this season after their remarkable 7-0 start. Center wins it, 21-17.
CoachT: Center has put together one of its best seasons in recent memory while Colfax has rebounded from last year’s subpar season. The Cougars have put up big numbers on everyone. Colfax will look to play ball control behind their physical offensive line and senior RB phenom Howard. This one goes back and forth, but the Falcons wear down the Cougars in a 27-21 win.
Season totals
Last week and season
JoeD: 6-2, 39-16
MatthewB: 6-2, 39-16
CoachT: 5-3, 35-20
