Sac-Joaquin Section Top 5 semifinal playoff football games to watch
'Tis the season to fire up for football. OK, it's been football season since August, but now it gets serious in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section with semifinal rounds dotting the menu.
Sac-Joaquin Section | 2023 football brackets
A closer peek (with divisional seeding):
Division 1
No. 5 Inderkum-Sacramento (11-1) at No. 1 Folsom (9-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: There will be touchdowns scored here, maybe in abundance as both are prolific with star-power quarterbacks. Inderkum is on an 11-game winning streak since losing an opener to D2 semifinalist Del Oro-Loomis. Folsom is unbeaten in this section this season, having lost 1-touchdown games to Northern California No. 1 Serra-San Mateo and De La Salle-Concord. Dual-threat QB Ricky Cole is coming off of a combined six-touchdown effort for Inderkum, and the junior has passed for 2,382 yards and 48 touchdowns with just four interceptions and rushed for 645 and 11. Folsom's next QB star is only a sophomore. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has punished teams with his arm and legs with 2,818 yards passing and 32 TDs with five interceptions and 439 rushing and 14 scores. Who wins in the trenches? Who has the late breakaway speed? Folsom has had those elements in this section for years, and the Bulldogs seek their 10 section banner since 2010.
No. 3 Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills (9-2) at No. 2 Central Catholic-Modesto (9-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Oak Ridge badly wants another shot at Folsom, its longtime rival just down Highway 50, in the section finals, and Central Catholic seeks its on-going section record 21st section banner, most of those won in lower levels. Both teams are strong on the lines, and the grass could be soft from rain, so footing will be key. OR is balanced with QB Joaquin Graves-Mercado passing for 2,251 yards and 19 TDs and the 1-2 rushing attack of the speedy Jasen CORRECT SPELLING Womack (849 yards, seven TDs) and grinder Eric Orme (834, 15). CC has 6-foot-6 QB Tyler Wentworth, a MLB draft prospect pitcher, and the third-year starting senior has passed for 1,919 yards and 25 TDs to go with RB Joey Alcutt (1,76 and 13 TDs). WR Brooklyn Cheek has 40 receptions for 805 yards and 13 TDs for CC coach Roger Canepa, who just won his section-record setting 283rd game.
Division 2
No. 4 Manteca (8-3) at No. 1 St. Mary's-Stockton (10-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: These storied clubs met on Sept. 1 in a nonleague game, and the Rams rolled 44-7. That means little now as Manteca was without leading rusher Bryson Davis (elbow) but he's been in cruise control in the seven games in which he played, rushing for 1,442 yards and 18 TDs, averaging 206 yards. He opened the season with a monstrous 36-carry, 342-yard, four-touchdown effort against D4 semifinalist Vista del Lago-Folsom. St. Mary's will air it out as it generally always does under coach Tony Franks behind Samson Hunkin (1,941 yards, 23 TDs) but the Rams can also run it with Asante Carter (817 and 20 TDs). Hunkin and Carter combined for five TDs in the first meeting.
Division 3
No. 4 Oakdale (8-3) at No. 1 Grant-Sacramento (9-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Defending champion Grant steamrolled Linden 82-7 last week but will not overlook the tradition and ability of Oakdale, which has been to 17 section finals since 1982, mostly by running the ball. That's still the game plan for the Mustangs - to grind it out between the tackles and to get after it on defense. Grant won't be able to track down, however. The Pacers are balanced with QB Luke Alexander (2,527 yards, 37 TDs, seven picks) and backs Devin Green (283 yards, seven TDs) and Wayshawn Parker (1,538, 19). Grant's D is led by rush end Jeremiah Tuiileila, who has 19 sacks and 30 tackles for loss.
No. 3 Vanden-Fairfield (9-2) at No. 2 Woodcreek-Roseville (10-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Woodcreek is in the midst of its finest season since opening in Placer County in 1994, and Vanden is doing Vanden things: pursuing its third consecutive section championship after winning the last two in D4. Vanden is motivated to keep the coaching career of retiring alum coach Sean Murphy going a few more weeks, especially QB Kalani McLeod (3,089 yards, 28 TDs) and RB Jordan Jones (679 yards, nine TDs). Woodcreek is led by QB Austin Katapodis (1,056 yards, 12 TDs) and a rushing attack that has churned out 2,683 yards and 45 touchdowns, 12 by lead back Hakeem Anderson (711 yards).
More semifinal games:
Division 4
No. 5 West Park-Roseville (10-2) at No. 1 Escalon (10-1)
No. 3 Patterson (10-1) at No. 2 Vista del Lago-Folsom (10-1)
Division 5
Los Banos (10-1) at No. 1 Twelve Bridges-Lincoln (11-0)
No. 3 Hilmar (8-3) at No. 2 Casa Roble (10-1)
Division 6
No. 3 Bradshaw Christian-Sacramento (9-2) at No. 2 Sonora (10-1)
Division 7
No. 2A Orestimba (9-3) at No. 1A Ripon Christian (11-1)
No. 2B Stone Ridge Christian-Merced (9-1) at No. 2A Woodland Christian (11-0)
