Sac-Joaquin Section Northern California Regional Bowl Game previews, predictions

There’s a line of thought that it is a good highschool soccer season whenever you observe on Thanksgiving week. It means you made it to the playoffs and might add to that good cheer with turkey, ham and all of the fixings.

So, what about those that observe the week after Thanksgiving? That is actually good residing, and it means you are in a CIF Northern California Regional bowl recreation.

The Sac-Joaquin Part has six groups left, every of them part champions as all part champions within the state advance to regional video games.

This is a more in-depth peek at what to anticipate in these video games. The winners advance to CIF State title video games towards Southern California winners.

Division I-AA

De La Salle-Harmony (9-3) at Folsom (12-1)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Why watch? These two packages have been top-tier for years within the NorCal heap, with Serra-San Mateo inching previous each of them of late, together with beating each this season. Serra is 13-0 and can, because the NorCal top-ranked group, advance straight to the distinguished, big-boy CIF State Open finals towards nationwide powerhouse Bosco-Bellflower. De La Salle owns a 5-2 file towards Folsom because the packages first met in 2012 and 2013 with DLS successful these NorCal title video games to snuff out Folsom’s 14-0 seasons. However Folsom has received the final two video games – 28-27 at De La Salle for the 2021 NorCal D1-AA title and 24-20 in Harmony on Sept. 23 – and is now not in awe of essentially the most famed program in NorCal historical past. DLS might not be as monstrous because it as soon as was, however it’s nonetheless DLS, winners of 30 consecutive North Coast Part championships.
What to anticipate from Folsom: Folsom will likely be with out its high two gamers in TE Walker Lyons, who broke his leg in a season opener, and Notre Dame-bound WR Rico Flores, Jr., who’s out with a damaged foot. However Folsom has depth, and that features rising-fast WR Brian Ray, who has had the very best video games of his life in his final two video games. QB Austin Mack beat DLS earlier this season on a last-second, 4th-down goalline play, leaping up and breaking the airplane of the purpose. He is even higher as a pocket passer, having handed for 3,370 yards and 40 touchdowns. Folsom may run the ball with Donovan Maxey-Parler, and his recent legs allowed him to tug away for 2 landing sprints to beat Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills 23-13 within the SJS D1 title recreation.
What to anticipate from De La Salle: Physicality within the trenches, excellent tackling, massive performs from the veer offense and on particular groups – all staples of the Spartans over the 40 years that program has been nice. DLS has devastated groups eternally with the bottom recreation, and meaning Charles Greer this season. He is rushed for 1,089 yards and 13 touchdowns. DLS has three losses this season to NorCal groups for the primary time since, when? Eternally? Shut sufficient. Most definitely not since 1979.
Predicted rating: DLS 24-23
CalPreps predicted rating: Folsom 28-20

Division 1-A

Manteca (11-1) at Pittsburg  (12-2)

When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Why watch: When you’re a fan of college-committed stars, notably with these headed to the state of Florida, that is your recreation. Manteca’s bruiser beast is RB/LB Blake Nichelson, headed to Florida State. Pittsburg’s chief is QB Jaden Rashada, certain for the Florida Gators. Each groups are enjoyable to look at, prolific and wanting to cap their season on high.
What to anticipate from Manteca: A floor recreation. A number of run performs and extra run performs, beginning with Nichelson, the highest participant within the SJS this season and a load at 6-foot-2 and 230 kilos of leg-driving fury. He has rushed for 1,547 yards and 26 touchdowns and has 39 scores in all. He had 5 scores in a 51-48 win over Granite Bay within the SJS D2 finals. Hudston Wyatt is a succesful QB and has handed for 1,228 yards and 20 touchdowns.
What to anticipate from Pittsburg: Emotion and plenty of playmakers. The Pirates don’t need their season to finish as a result of it’ll mark the tip of beloved coach Victor Gali, who has introduced that that is his ultimate season as coach. Rashada has handed for two,585 yards and 29 touchdowns, and Elijah Bow has rushed for 966 yards and 15 scores. Pittsburg is battle examined, having misplaced 23-15 to NorCal No. 2-ranked Folsom, and 30-23 to De La Salle, which hasn’t misplaced to an NCS group since falling to Pittsburg within the 1991 NCS finals.
Predicted rating: Pittsburg 35-30
CalPreps predicted rating: Manteca 34-31

Division 3-AA

Grant-Sacramento (10-2) at El Cerrito (13-0)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Why watch: Pace. Athletes. Depth. Enjoyable. Touchdowns. Feelings. These packages are related in all of that. Grant is a storied program, having received eight SJS championships since 1991 and successful the primary state title for any SJS soccer program, taking the 2008 CIF State Open championship. Grant can be proof that packages can take a dip and roar proper again. The Pacers went 1-9 in 2019 and 0-9 final season (there was no 2020 season as a result of pandemic).
What to anticipate from Grant: The Pacers will cross with JoJo McCray, who absorbed each little bit of that 0-9 season a 12 months in the past because the starter. He by no means thought of leaving. He simply acquired higher. He has handed for 3,190 yards and 45 touchdowns, and he has big-play receivers in Kingston Lopa (15 TDs) and Kyrell Goss-Pruitt (15 TDs), and the Pacers have a runner in Semaje Mafu-Hart, who has produced his greatest video games within the final two video games.
What to anticipate from El Cerrito: The Gauchos are coming off their second NCS championship in program historical past, beating Windsor for D3 honors. They usually play terrific protection. El Cerrito allowed simply 62 factors in its first 12 video games, permitting seven or fewer factors 9 occasions. RB Tony McAdoo rushed for 282 yards within the NCS win, and dual-threat Michael Vanhook has had an enormous season.
Prediction: Grant 28-24
CalPreps prediction: Grant 35-34.

Division 4-AA

Nice Valley-Chico (9-4) at Escalon (11-3)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Why watch: Escalon represents the very best of small-town ball within the 209 space code with state-championship pedigree and 13 SJS titles, all since 1990. PV has emerged as the highest program within the Northern Part of late with state-championship pedigree (and it is the house of Inexperienced Bay Packers QB nice Aaron Rodgers).
What to anticipate from Nice Valley: A program on a mission and one that appears decidedly completely different than the early season. In an effort to additional elevate its profile, the Vikings ramped up their nonleague schedule, together with enjoying at SJS energy Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills, a 41-10 loss and to NCS regular Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park, a 32-21 loss. A 31-0 Japanese League opening loss to Enterprise-Redding was avenged within the playoffs as PV prevailed 38-20, and a 35-7 league-ending loss to Foothill-Palo Cedro was avenged within the North Part finals, 10-7. PV is balanced and on a roll.
What to anticipate from Escalon: The Cougars suffered September Trans Valley League losses to rivals Hughson, 29-14, and to Hilmar, 21-20, and have received eight consecutive video games since, together with an exciting SJS title effort to beat Sonora, 35-34, as Donovan Rosevink tossed three landing passes and Ryker Peters rushed for 140 yards.
Predicted rating: Escalon 24, Nice Valley 21
CalPreps predicted rating: Escalon 31-21

Division 5-AA

Ripon Christian (11-2) at Hughson (11-2)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Why watch: The fireworks. Not after the sport. Through the recreation with touchdowns as these are beautifully coached and entertaining small-school packages the place all the city comes and watches. These two are SJS members, so the journey is a breeze.
What to anticipate from Ripon Christian: A whole lot of Trey Fasani, RC’s gifted senior QB who has handed for 1,847 yards and 31 touchdowns and rushed for 454 and 6 extra. RB Grant Sonke has rushed for 934 yards and 14 scores and 6-5 TE Griffin De Abreu has 42 receptions for 737 yards and 15 scores. The losses have been Central Valley Chrsitian-Visalia, 42-14, and to Orestimba, 21-7. The successful streak is eight.
What to anticipate from Hughson: Stability and custom. Robert McDaniel has handed for 1,700 yards and 23 TDs. RB Liam Bridgford has rushed for 1,227 yards and 13 TDs and RB Alex Villareal has 775 yards and 10 scores.
Predicted rating: Hughson 21-20
CalPreps predicted rating: Ripon Christian 27-22.