Week 5 NorCal Football Preview
Folsom-Rocklin is the headline game as the SFL schedule starts up. Also, Monterey and Palma meet in an undefeated matchup and King’s Academy aims for a third shutout.
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Friday
Dublin (2-1) at Windsor (3-0) 7:00 PM
Windsor quarterback Carter Vose III has thrown for 540 yards and seven touchdowns with three receivers having at least 100 yards. Rubio Gonzalez had a team high three touchdown catches. Dublin has held all three of its opponents to 14 points or less including a 14-10 loss to Vanden. Running back Andre Armendariz has rushed for 387 yards and five touchdowns.
Hayward (2-1) at American Canyon (2-1) 7:00 PM
American Canyon is averaging 178 rushing yards per game led by Andre Lopez. The Wolves’ loss came to undefeated St. Vincent when they surrendered 20 fourth quarter points. Hayward senior running back Maurice Hall has rushed for 399 yards and seven touchdowns while junior Lamont McDonald Jr. is another playmaker to watch.
Ripon (3-0) at Hughson (4-0) 7:00 PM
Ripon is averaging 250 rushing yards per game as part of its 3-0 start led by junior Kael Rangel, who has 319 yards and seven touchdowns. Hughson has played a number of close games with one possession wins over Atwater, Pitman and Linden. Running back Eli Wilbanks has 551 yards and three touchdowns and they are splitting time between two quarterbacks, including freshman Hudson Baldwin.
Downey (2-2) at Edison-Stockton (0-3) 7:00 PM
Downey has scored at least 39 points in three of four games after losing to Del Oro (39-14) in the opener. Julian Masaniai has thrown for more than 1,000 yards, but the Knights also have a good running game at 192 yards per game. Edison has challenged themselves with non-league losses to Franklin-Elk Grove, Clovis West and Central East. Stanford commit Langdon Horace has 15 catches for 270 yards and three touchdowns.
Amador Valley (0-3) at Liberty (2-1) 7:15 PM
Liberty bounced back from its loss to Los Gatos with a 42-11 win over Tracy. Jaxon Bell is averaging more than 100 rushing yards and Viliami Lotuaniu has 15 tackles and three sacks. Amador Valley is off to a winless start following a NorCal title winning season, but two of the three losses have come by one possession to Vanden and Monterey Trail. After this game, the Dons will play five straight home games.
Folsom (3-1) at Rocklin (3-0) 7:30 PM
The top game of the week sees Rocklin coming off a bye and hosting Folsom in a matchup of Top 10 ranked teams. The Thunder are led by quarterback Reeve Slone, who has eight touchdowns against one interception. The defense has 14 sacks led by Asher Runnion (5) and Breyden Dehner (4). Folsom beat Sacred Heart Cathedral last week without injured quarterback Ryder Lyons, but junior Brody Rudnicki showed off his talent with more than 300 passing yards and five touchdowns. EJ Coleman has 30 tackles and two interceptions.
Monterey (3-0) at Palma (3-0) 7:30 PM
Monterey comes into this big game following a 33-14 win over Aptos. Quarterback Bronson Gulley is part of a strong quarterback group in the Central Coast Section this season. Palma has scored at least 41 points in each of the three games. Running back Eli Dukes has rushed for 489 yards and six touchdowns.
San Ramon Valley (2-1) at Clovis North (3-0) 7:30 PM
Clovis North is averaging close to 500 total yards of offense with quarterback Lucas Smith, running back JR Cruz and wide receiver Tyree Sams. The Broncos are currently ranked No. 2 in the Central Section according to MaxPreps. San Ramon Valley is coming off a 41-27 win over Clayton Valley Charter as Colton Fitzgibbon had three touchdown catches. The Wolves’ loss came against undefeated Soquel.
Red Bluff (3-0) at Corning (3-0) 7:30 PM
Kaleb Flourney and Blake Ward have scored 11 rushing touchdowns in leading the Corning running attack that averages more than 300 yards. Ivan Jones is the go-to receiver for the Cardinals. Red Bluff is giving up nine points per game with Jaret Bridwell logging a team high 45 tackles. Jackie Graves has a pair of interceptions. Both teams have a win over University Prep by similar margins. (42-7 Colusa and 42-13 Red Bluff).
Saturday
King’s Academy (2-0) at Sacred Heart Prep (2-1) 2:00 PM
The Gators have won back-to-back games after losing their opener to Sacred Heart Prep. In last week’s win over Half Moon Bay, Maxime Morelle had 15 carries for 94 yards and returned an interception for a touchdown. King’s Academy has posted two shutouts over Aptos and Fremont-Oakland. Justin Turner has a team high 20 tackles and has 87 rushing yards on 11 carries. Sophomore quarterback Ricky Gutierrez has thrown for 370 yards and six touchdowns.