Editor’s note: Sports editor Jon Gudel and writer John Hull will debate a new sports topic each week from around the city of Elk Grove and Sac-Joaquin Section.
Pleasant Grove.
If they lose again, which is quite possible with all of the injury problems, they would undoubtedly be considered one of the best two-loss teams in the history of the Sac-Joaquin Section.
Not exactly an honor they want, and one they likely won’t get.
Pleasant Grove, as the second seed in the Division I playoffs, has a favorable half of the bracket and won’t seemingly be tested until the semifinals at the earliest.
Forget Rodriguez in the first round. And forget either Pitman or West in the quarterfinals.
The first true test will come in the semifinals against either Grant or Bethel.
Somehow Pleasant Grove and the Division II second seed, Elk Grove, both seemed to draw the weaker half of their respective brackets despite not being the top seeds.
In Division I, top-seeded Lincoln of Stockton faces a talented but depth-deprived Sheldon team in the first round and then, pending that outcome, would face either No. 8 Nevada Union or No. 9 Franklin in the quarterfinals.
Either of those two teams could upset Lincoln.
The top half of the bracket also includes No. 4 Burbank, No. 5 Granite Bay and No. 13 Oak Ridge, which lost to Lincoln 37-35 in the first round last season.
In Division II, top-seeded Buhach Colony of Atwater could face No. 9 Del Campo in the quarterfinals and then either No. 4 Vacaville or No. 5 St. Mary’s in the semifinals.
Elk Grove will face a South team in the quarterfinals, either No. 7 Beyer or No. 10 Stagg. Not until the semifinals, when they likely face No. 3 Inderkum or No. 6 Folsom, will Elk Grove be tested.
Pleasant Grove and Elk Grove would both host playoff games through the first three rounds.
While the brackets seem to be favorable, both teams are dealing with injuries. Pleasant Grove already lost two-way starters Josh Adams and Shedric Allen for the season and defensive back Travis Davis dislocated his shoulder in Week 8.
Arik Armstead had a shoulder injury against Folsom in Week 9.
Elk Grove has played the past three weeks without the usual contributions from the team’s second leading rusher, Robert Frazier, who suffered a high ankle sprain against Franklin. Frazier played sparingly the previous two weeks before sitting out last Friday’s season finale against Laguna Creek.
Few, if any, teams are healthy this late in the season.
What Elk Grove and Pleasant Grove both possess is the ideal recipe for a deep postseason run: strong defenses, efficient running games and solid special teams.
Come Dec. 3, it’s possible the city of Elk Grove might have two Sac-Joaquin Section champions. If that happens, Pleasant Grove and Elk Grove should also be on the short list to receive state bowl invitations.
The brackets for this fall’s Sac-Joaquin Section football playoffs were hot off the presses Saturday evening and right away the bloggers were at it, just certain the No. 1 seeds in each division were going to be the winners of the championship games in early December at Hornet Stadium.
But, lots of us who have been watching these sorts of things the past several years know that there are always upsets that loom in post-season battles.
It is interesting that our two top local teams, Pleasant Grove in Division I and Elk Grove in Division II, are both No. 2 seeds. Lincoln of Stockton deserves the top seed because of the Week 1 win over the Eagles, but Buhach Colony grabbed the No. 1 spot in D-II. That may be a good thing for the Thundering Herd.
On that side of the bracket with the Atwater school is Downey (8-2), Del Campo (7-3), St. Mary’s (8-2) and Vacaville (9-1). Any one of those schools could make the title game.
On the Elk Grove side of the bracket, the only squad that could give the Herd fits might be Folsom, the defending D-II state champion. They would meet in the semifinals on Nov. 25.
That looks to be the only certainty of this year’s playoff picture. Division I and the other side of D-II’s bracket are too tough to predict.
Pleasant Grove will probably handle Rodriguez and the winner of Pitman/West the next week just fine. But, on the Eagles side of the bracket is Grant and the Pacers are ramped up after four impressive wins to conclude the regular season.
I just wonder about the injury situation with the Eagles and whether their top guys will be ready for Shaq Thompson and the Pacers. But Joe Cattolico coaches Pleasant Grove and if anyone can out-coach Mike Alberghini, it’s Joe.
I frankly see a one-and-out for Sheldon, which opens the postseason at Lincoln of Stockton. Franklin plays Nevada Union and that will be the best opening round game in any division. If the Wildcats can win that one, played in Grass Valley, they’ll have the winner of Lincoln and Sheldon. If it is Lincoln, Mike Johnson will get to coach against his old school, but probably won’t win that one.
Not to forget Cosumnes Oaks, a 14th seed in Division III, their opponent, Manteca, has a solid squad. If the Wolfpack gets by them, it’s likely Jake Rodrigues and Whitney next. That may be asking too much for Ryan Gomes’ squad.
So, here we go. The best four weeks of high school football are in front of us. The only prediction I would make right now is that Bradshaw Christian will hoist its third section football championship banner in its small gymnasium. Then next year, the section’s new “continued success” rule will force them to move up to Division V.
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