Week Two Football Predictions

 High School Games Friday, Sept. 1 

It's Week Two of the high school football season (third game of the season for most...remember the first week is called "Week Zero"). We've got a couple pretty good games here in town this week. No one should stay home on Fridays in Elk Grove. Your local high school stadium is where you should be!

(Calpreps.com ratings in parenthesis)

Bradshaw Chr. (-7.7) vs. Pacheco (-27.3)

May the Pride Parade keep right on rolling to a 2-1 record in Los Banos. Bradshaw 27, Pacheco 7

Cosumnes Oaks (-6.5) vs. Woodcreek (19.2)

Woodcreek is one of the top Div. III schools in the Section. They manhandled Franklin in Week Zero shut out Whitney, a SFL team, 25-0 last week. They are good. Wolfpack look good last week vs. Pitman, but not sure they'll handle Woodcreek Friday. Woodcreek 28, Cosumnes Oaks 14

Menlo/Atherton (5.2) vs. Elk Grove (17.7)

The Thundering Herd offense was impressive last week at Antelope and that should continue in its home opener Friday. Elk Grove 34, Meno 21

Florin (-78.6) vs. Mesa Verde (-39.7)

Let's hope the Panthers find the key to victory, but perhaps not this week. Mesa Verde 24, Florin 6

Laguna Creek (-1.3) vs. Roseville (3.5)

If Halim Tholley is back in action and the Cardinal offense look as good as they did last week against Franklin, Laguna Creek should win this on the road. Laguna Creek 28, Roseville 24

St. Francis (11.9) vs. Monterey Trail (19.6)

One thing lost in the Mustangs' Week Zero loss to Folsom was their time of possession was over 35 minutes. They had a punt blocked, threw an interception in their own territory and allowed a long kickoff return all in the first quarter and got behind the 8-ball. Then Monterey Trail's veer running game got going, but just couldn't score. This week, it will.

Monterey Trail 32, St. Francis 18

Pleasant Grove (2.9) vs. West Park (3.1)

Ask Laguna Creek's Ryan Nill how good West Park is. Now the 2-0 Eagles get to take on the same guys with some excellent momentum. Let's say this week PG bombs in a few more field goals (rare in prep football) and pulls out an on-paper upset? Pleasant Grove 32, West Park 29

Tracy (2.7) vs. Sheldon (4.2)

After laying an egg last week in Vacaville, let's have the Huskies and its single-wing offense run around a bit leaving Tracy in the dust. Sheldon 33, Tracy 28

Valley (-89.6) vs. Ponderosa (-32.4)

I remember the days of Jr. Herd football when the Bruins were one of the toughest guys to beat. That was 20 years ago. Herd is still good. Pondo just isn't as good now. But they'll beat up on Valley. Have mercy guys.

Ponderosa 36, Valley 0

Community Colleges:

American River vs. Sacramento City (Saturday, Sept. 2, 1 p.m.) Hughes Stadium

It's too bad these Los Rios schools aren't in the same league, but they still play each other every year. City College will be better this season because they have the Nixon brothers from Sheldon, but the Beavers have Jon Osterhout and a good crew of guys back this season.

ARC 32, SCC 21

Girls Golf

Two of the top Division I girls golf teams played Wednesday with Granite Bay defeating defending Section champion Pleasant Grove 197-203. Absent for the match was the Eagles' Alaythia Hinds, but the rest of the squad did pretty well over nine holes of Rancho Murieta Country Club's North Course:

Pleasant Grove - Gianna Singh 36, Sophie Cook 37, Petra Yee 38, Aidie Smith 46, Aubrey 46, Hannah Ngo 50.

Coach Rob Rinaldi, "I was real happy with how we competed."

EG-Area Football Standings (Sept. 1, 2023)

Delta League

                    W-L     All     Rating

Pleasant Gr. 0-0     2-0     2.9

Jesuit           0-0     1-0     20.3

Elk Grove     0-0     1-1     17.8

Sheldon       0-0     1-1      4.3

Cos. Oaks    0-0     1-1     -6.4

Franklin        0-0     0-2     -19.3

Davis           0-0     0-2     -24.7

Scores

Week One

Laguna Creek 35, Franklin 0

Cosumnes Oaks 49, Pitman 24

Pleasant Gr. 36, Christian Bros. 35

Vacaville 41, Sheldon 8

Jesuit 30, Bishop Manogue 14

Del Campo 21, Davis 13

Metro Conference

                    W-L     All     Rating

River City     0-0     2-0     -13.1

Grant            0-0     1-1     24.8

Burbank       0-0     1-1     -33.9

Laguna Cr.    0-0    1-1     -1.2

Monterey Tr. 0-0     0-1     19.7

McClatchy     0-0     0-2     -39.7

Kennedy        0-0     0-2     -61.9

Scores

Week One

Oak Ridge 21, Grant 18

Burbank 14, Weston Ranch 8

River City 21, Lincoln 7

Rio Americano 43, McClatchy 0

Bear River 52, Kennedy 0

Greater Sacramento League

                    W-L     All     Rating

Foothill         0-0     1-0     -24.5

Johnson       0-0     0-1     -30.9

Natomas      0-0     0-2     -26.9

Florin           0-0     0-2     -78.7

Cordova      0-0     0-2     -62.0

Valley          0-0     0-2     -89.5

Scores

Week One

Riverbank 28, Valley 6

Armijo 64, Florin 0

Bella Vista 36, Johnson 16

Foothill 20, Oakmont 13

El Capitan 28, Cordova 0

Sierra Valley Conference

                        W-L     All     Rating

Rosemont        0-0     2-0     -8.6

Union Mine      0-0     2-0     -17.4

Galt                 0-0     2-0     -43.7

Brads. Chr.      0-0     1-1     -7.6

Lib. Ranch       0-0     0-1     -14.2

El Dorado       0-0      0-2 -    42.3

Scores

Week One

Bradshaw Christian 41, Lathrop 7

Rosemont 31, Del Campo 28

Union Mine 26, Argonaut 6

Ponderosa 35, El Dorado 21

Galt 14, Franklin (Stkn.) 6

(Ratings courtesy Cal Preps. com)

Local high school football predictions (Aug. 25 games)

 Note: based on the team ratings from Calpreps.com

Pleasant Grove (-9.1) vs. Christian Brothers (16.5)

Prediction: Christian Bros. 35, Pleasant Grove 8

Franklin (-9.4) vs. Laguna Creek (-2.2)

Prediction: Cardinals 18, Franklin 12

Elk Grove (21.2) vs. Antelope (6.3)

Prediction: Herd 21, Antelope 6

Bradshaw Christian (-3.3) vs. Lathrop (-29.6)

Prediction: Bradshaw 31, Lathrop 7

Florin (-73.8) vs. Armijo (-16.5)

Prediction: Armijo 45, Florin 8

Sheldon (14.8) vs. Vacaville (12.2)

Prediction: Huskies 22, Vacaville 20

Cosumnes Oaks (-3.4) vs. Pitman (-28.6)

Prediction: Wolfpack 24, Pitman 6

BYE - Monterey Trail (22.7)

Week Zero Football Roundup

 Pleasant Grove 30, Lodi 14

Line Score              1          2          3          4          Total

Pleasant Grove (1-0) 7          0          6          17        30

Lodi (0-1)                 7          0          7          0          14

Notes:

A 7-7 halftime score was broken open on a 96-yard kickoff return by Marcus Tillotson. Caden Bemis iced the game for the Eagles with an 88-yard touchdown run.

Sheldon 26, Capital Christian 7

Line Score              1          2          3          4          Total

Sheldon (1-0)          14        0          6          6          26

Capital Chr. (0-1)     0          0          0          7          7

Notes:

Despite the loss of 10 underclassmen from last season’s team to transfers, the Huskies took command of its 2023 season opener early on. James Kamara had 185 yards rushing on 25 carries and two TDs. Malakai Savage (55 yards rushing) and Damarea Harden (76 yards rushing) each scored a touchdown for Sheldon. The Huskies had 382 yards total offense, all on the ground. They passed just twice.

Granite Bay 27, Elk Grove 13

Line Score              1          2          3          4          Total

Elk Grove (0-1)        6          7          0          0          13

Granite Bay (1-0)    13        7          7          0          27

Notes:

Thomas Koi had 81 yards rushing on eight carries to lead the Thundering Herd. A fumble and an interception proved costly to Elk Grove.

Woodcreek 44, Franklin 7

Line Score              1          2          3          4          Total

Woodcreek (1-0)      9          14        7          14        44

Franklin (0-1)           0          0          7          0          7 

West Park 35, Laguna Creek 20

Line Score              1          2          3          4          Total

West Park (1-0)       21        7          0          7          35

Laguna Creek (0-1)  0          7          6          7          20

Notes: (from Alejandro Barron)

For the second consecutive year the Cardinals fell to the Panthers to open their season. The contest at Cosumnes River College did not start well and at the end of the first quarter the Cardinals dug themselves into a hole with a 21-0 deficit. The offense was led by junior running back Armon Thorntona as he rushed for two touchdowns in the second and third quarter. The downfall for the Cardinals would be holding onto the football as numerous turnovers led to Panther touchdowns with the score at 35-13 during the fourth quarter. In the dying minute of this matchup, junior quarterback Mitchell Labrado connected with senior wide receiver Quincy Bootay for a 35-yard pass for a touchdown and with the extra point closed this matchup at 35-20. The Cardinals look to improve and be ready for the Franklin Wildcats on Friday at CRC.

Woodland Chr. 15, Bradshaw Chr. 14

Line Score                1        2          3          4          Total

Bradshaw (0-1)          0          0          7          7          14

Woodland Chr. (1-0)   0          0          0          15        15

Notes:

In a defensive battle, the Pride’s Mateo Mojica gained 80 yards on the ground on 17 carries. Quarterback Ethan Rickert was five of 11 passing for 72 yards and a TD pass to Devyn Mcdonald.

Defensively, Mojica and Mcdonald led Bradshaw with 12 tackles apiece. 

Vanden 22, Cosumnes Oaks 20

Line Score              1          2          3          4          Total

Cos. Oaks (0-1)        7          0          7          6          20

Vanden (1-0)            7          9          0          6          22

Lindhurst 34, Florin 6

Line Score              1          2          3          4          Total

Florin (0-1)              0          0          0          6          6

Lindhurst (1-0)        14        20        0          0          34

Golden Sierra 35, Valley 22

Folsom 35, Monterey Trail 0

Line Score              1          2          3          4          Total

Folsom. (1-0)           28        7          0          0         35

Monterey Trail (0-1)  0          0          0          0          0

Notes:

The Bulldogs dominated in the first quarter scoring quickly on Ryder Lyons’ 5-yard run and then blocked a Monterey Trail punt deep in Mustang territory. It was scooped up by Jaron Hodson and run in from 10 yards out. Following an interception of a Joseph Barrientos’ pass by R.J.Whitten and a return to the Monterey Trail 17, Lyons scored a second time on a 4-yard run.

Though the Mustangs recovered enough to stop the bleeding the rest of the way, they couldn’t find the end zone. The last time Monterey Trail was shut out was Aug. 28, 2015, a 28-0 loss to

Antelope. D’Adren Sanders led the Mustangs in rushing with 71 yards on 17 carries.

Full Statistics:

  ScoringSummary:                                               FL - MT

  1st 09:57 FL – Ryder Lyons 5 yd run (Lincoln Phelps kick)

                           5 plays, 45 yards, TOP 2:03            7 - 0

08:02 FL - Jaron Hodson 10 yd blocked punt return (Lincoln Phelps kick)

                                                                             14 - 0

      05:44 FL – Ryder Lyons 4 yd run (Lincoln Phelps kick)

                         3 plays, 16 yards, TOP 0:40            21 - 0

      02:17 FL – Daym Rivera 4 yd run (Lincoln Phelps kick)

                         2 plays, 47 yards, TOP 0:37            28 - 0

  2nd 04:50 FL - Jameson Powell 71 yd run (Lincoln Phelps kick)

                          1 play, 71 yards, TOP 0:11             35 - 0

                                                 FL                     MT

  FIRST DOWNS...................      14                     16

  RUSHES-YARDS (NET)...........12-136             49-178

  PASSING YDS (NET).............  152                   94

  Passes Att-Comp-Int...........  17-10-0            13-4-1

  TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS.29-288         62-272

  Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0                   0-0

  Punt Returns-Yards............   1-33                 0-0

  Kickoff Returns-Yards.........    1-47                3-24

  Interception Returns-Yards...   1-19                 0-0

  Punts (Number-Avg)............  0-0.0               3-22.7

  Fumbles-Lost..................      1-1                   1-0

  Penalties-Yards...............     2-20                 6-68

  Possession Time...............   12:48               35:12

  Sacks By: Number-Yards........1-5                  1-8

RUSHING: Folsom-Jameson Powell 1-71; Ryder Lyons 6-37; Abram Woodson 4-24; Daym Rivera 1-4. Monterey Trail-D’Adrien Sanders 17-71; Joseph Barriento 11-47;

  Vontrell Waffer 12-32; Gabe Coronado 8-24; Denzell Butler 1-4.

  PASSING: Folsom-Ryder Lyons 10-17-0-152. Monterey Trail-Joseph Barriento 4-13-1-94.

  RECEIVING: Folsom-Brian RayIII 4-48; Taniela Tupou 2-42; Jameson Powell 2-17; Isaiah Williams 1-43; Abram Woodson 1-2. Monterey Trail-Arik Phillips 2-57; Denzell Butler 2-37.

  INTERCEPTIONS: Folsom-RJ Whitten 1-19. Monterey Trail-None.