Playoff experience is there for all teams who remain in Division II.
Score projectionsFull Playoff BracketPlayoff LeadersPassing Yards -
Tyler Bailey,
Wood (Vacaville) - 223
Rushing Yards -
Omar Herrera,
Yuba City - 223
Receiving Yards -
Tanner Donaldson,
Vacaville - 159
Scoring -
Wadus Parker,
Elk Grove - 24 points
Tackles -
Deandre Whittington-Grays,
Grant (Sacramento) - 20
Sacks -
Ben Upega,
Grant (Sacramento) - 4
Interceptions
TieNeal Martin,
Grant (Sacramento) - 2
Justin Nishita,
Whitney (Rocklin) - 2
PreviewsInformation provided by Will DeBoard, Director of Communications for the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section.
No. 9 Whitney (Rocklin) (8-3) at No. 1 Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.) (9-2)Whitney is in the second round for the third time over the last four years. The Wildcats have had their share of playoff success, winning a D4 championship in 2008 and they have a 9-5 career postseason record in seven appearances. On the other side, however, is a school with a massive postseason footprint. Del Oro is in the second round for the ninth time over the last decade (it didn't make the playoffs in 2008) and has a 43-15 career record. The Golden Eagles are gunning for their ninth Section title; they won championships in 2010 and 2011 and they got there in 2009, losing to league rival Rocklin. These teams have met twice in the postseason before, with Del Oro winning comfortably both times (2010, 2011).
No. 5 Grant (Sacramento) (8-3) at No. 4 Yuba City (10-1)
Isaac Lessard, Yuba City
Photo by Rich Baum
Grant is in the playoffs for the 30th time and in the second round for the fourth time over the last five years. The Pacers lost to Burbank in the first round of last year's D1 playoffs. In those 30 playoff seasons, they boast a 46-23 record with six championships (the last one came in 2008). Yuba City is in the second round for the second time since 1987. The Honkers beat Lincoln-L in the first round of the 2010 D3 field and, before this year, was 1-8 in their previous nine postseason games. These teams have met three times previously in the playoffs. Grant won in first-round games in 1993 and 1997, while Yuba City beat the Pacers 30-28 in a D1 semifinal in 1987.
No. 6 Burbank (Sacramento) (9-2) at No. 3 Elk Grove (10-1)Burbank is into the second round for the second straight year; it made the D1 semifinals last year before losing to Oak Ridge. The Titans lost to Grant in the 2008 D2 championship game, their only title game appearance. Elk Grove is in the second round for the third consecutive year, and is looking to make the championship game for the second straight season. Last year, the Thundering Herd lost 44-18 to Folsom in the season finale. Elk Grove is 37-22 in 28 playoff appearances with five championships, the last one coming in 2001. These teams have never met in the Section playoffs.
No. 7 Vacaville (8-3) at No. 2 Rio Linda (10-1)Vacaville is into the quarterfinals for the fifth straight season. The Bulldogs have won six of their last seven playoff games, including the 2011 D2 championship game, a wild 39-35 victory over Folsom. Rio Linda is into the second round for the first time since 2009; the Knights are searching for their first Section championship appearance since 2004, a 20-6 victory over Oakdale in the D3 game. That remains Rio Linda's only Section championship. Vacaville, meanwhile, has two Section titles: 2011 and the 2006 D1 crown. These teams met in last year's D2 playoffs, a 35-21 Vacaville victory in the first round.
Tyler Bailey
