Sac-Joaquin Section quarterfinal playoff football games to watch
There is a chill in the air after months of warm to hot competition. It means many things, including that the CIF football playoffs are in full motion across the state.
In the Sac-Joaquin Section, there is a full menu of quarterfinal showdowns worth a peek (with division seeding):
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Division 1
No. 9 Cosumnes Oaks-Elk Grove (6-5) at No. 1 Folsom (8-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Can the upstart Wolfpack of the Elk Grove Unified pull a massive upset here against a Bulldogs team that seeks its third successive section banner and 10th since 2010? Well, it's football and anything can happen. But CO would have to unleash its QB in Marino Fragata (20 TD passes, four rushing) and the CO defense would have to slow down Folsom QB Ryder Lyons (28 TD passes, 14 rushing) and deal with a defense that is strong in the trenches and in the secondary and is a unit that held its own in losses to Northern California powers Serra-San Mateo (21-14) and De La Salle-Concord (14-7).
No. 5 Inderkum-Sacramento (10-1) at No. 4 Monterey Trail-Elk Grove (7-3)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Both teams are rolling, Inderkum with a 10-game winning streak since opening with a loss to Del Oro-Loomis and Monterey Trail with a 7-game roll after opening losses to Folsom, Saint Francis-Mountain View and Pittsburg. Indy is led by dual-threat QB Ricky Cole (1,907 yards passing, 39 TD passes, 606 rushing, eight TD runs) and a fast defense that has allowed seven or fewer points five times with four shutouts. MT runs the veer, so it's run-heavy with backs such as Vontrelle Waffer (1,131 yards, 15 TDs) and D'Adrien Sanders (710, 12) in what figures to be a fast and fun one - and the winner likely visiting Folsom in a semifinal.
Division 2
No. 5 Granite Bay (6-5) at No. 4 Manteca (7-3)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: What a showdown of storied programs, and it's a rematch times two. Manteca held off GB in a wild D2 section final last season, 51-48, and then the Buffaloes beat GB 15-0 in a nonleague game earlier this season. Manteca star RB Bryson Davis did not play in the 15-0 game due to an elbow injury but he will play here. He has 1,299 yards rushing and 15 TDs in just six games. GB can also run it with speed and power with Cal-bound junior burner Carter Jackson (1,279 yards rushing, 19 TDs) and sophomore grinder Isaiah Ene (643, four). GB is down to its fourth QB due to injuries in freshman Dom Cattolico, son of head coach Joe Cattolico.
No. 6 Del Oro-Loomis (7-4) at No. 3 Jesuit-Carmichael (9-1)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Outlook: If dual-threat quarterbacks are your thing, then this is your sort of game. DO is led by Caden Pinnick (2,471 yards passing, 28 TDs, 456 rushing, seven scores) and Jesuit is fueled by CJ Lee (1,475 passing, 13 TDs, 726 rushing, 10). But who wins the line of scrimmage? Both teams are strong there, and who has the breakaway runners and defensive backs? DO's losses have been in Sierra Foothill League play to Folsom, Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills, Rocklin and Granite Bay. Jesuit lost 28-27 to St. Ignatius-San Francisco in nonleague play. These teams are battle tested.
Division 3
No. 5 Merced (8-3) at No. 4 Oakdale (7-3)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Any game at the famed "Corral" in Oakdale is a worthy event, where scores of alum from decades past pack in to watch the next generation of Mustangs do their thing. Both are storied programs, having combined to reach 25 section title games. Merced is led by Quintell Dupree (1,306 yards passing, 17 TDs, 298 rushing, six scores) and Chase Smith (958 rushing, 15 scores). Oakdale is is a run-heavy team that traditionally does not post any statistics online, but we can tell you this: Their guys can play.
Division 4
No. 5 West Park-Roseville (9-2) at No. 4 Placer-Auburn (6-4)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Wait, didn't these two play just recently, on Oct. 20 in Auburn? Yes, with the Hillmen prevailing 35-21 to win the Foothill Valley League championship after an 0-4 start amid stout competition to teams that are still alive in the playoffs, including 9-1 teams Vista del Lago-Folsom and Casa Roble-Orangevale. WP wasn't at full strength in the last meeting but expects to be this time. But can WP reverse the domination in the trenches issued by Placer, which is led by RBs Baylor Kelley (1,106 rushing, 16 TDs) and sophomore Shaun Jones (792, 15)? WP is led by QB Jaden Jackson (1,871 yards passing, 25 TDs, 171 rushing, three TDs) and third-year starting back Westin Wade (538, nine) and WR Ryan Sisson (33 catches, 714 yards, 13 TDs) and Mason Johnson (32-630, 12)
