Sac-Joaquin Section football projections: Oct. 22

By Steve Montoya Oct 23, 2015, 12:00am

New rules for his year's playoffs

Folsom look to defend its title in the DI bracket.
Folsom look to defend its title in the DI bracket.
Photo by Susan Lehner
With only three weeks left of the regular season in the Sac-Joaquin Section, we can start to see where teams will fall in this year's playoffs.

A total of 72 teams will be split into six different brackets, with Division I-III comprised of the 48 largest schools. Division I will be the 16 largest schools based on enrollment. Divisions IV-VI will be comprised of the 24 smallest schools, split into three separate eight-team brackets. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule:

1. A school may not play more than one division below their league placement.
2. If a school won a section championship last season, that school must play at or above that level.
3. If a team wins a league championship, that team must play at or above the level of its league competition.
4. Schools that win three championships in a row will be moved up a division.
5. If a team has maintained success over several years, the Section Commissioner can move a team up a division.

Division VII will be comprised of three teams from the CCAA and SMAL. We will not project those brackets as they are clear on who will make it.



*Note: These are just projections and nothing is final until official brackets are released by the Sac-Joaquin Section. We will update our projections each week.

Here are teams we think have already locked a playoff spot. These teams have won at least seven games and have at least two league wins. A team must have a minimum of two league wins to have a chance of making the postseason.

Seven or more wins
Ordered by enrollment size
School, League, wins, Enrollment Size

Oak Ridge (SFL) - 7 - 2,408
Folsom (SFL) - 8 - 2,179 (MUST BE D-I)
Napa (MEL) - 7 - 2,093
Elk Grove (Delta) - 7 - 1,866
Antelope (CVC) - 7 - 1,800
Inderkum (TCC) - 8 - 1,734
Patterson (WAC) - 7 - 1,722
Oakdale (VOL) - 7 - 1,637
Placer (PVL) - 7 - 1,360
Sonora (MLL) - 7 - 979
Marysville (GEL) - 7 - 902
Orestimba (SL) - 7 - 783
Bear River (PVL) - 7 - 711 (NO LOWER THAN D-V)
Gustine (SL) - 7 - 557
Capital Christian (GEL) - 7 - 406
Central Catholic (VOL) - 7 - 369 (MUST BE IN D-III OR ABOVE)

Six wins with two league wins
School, League, Enrollment Size

Kennedy (METRO) - 2,141
Downey (MMC) - 1,909
Grant (Delta) - 1,897 (NO LOWER THAN D-II)
Del Campo (CVC) - 1,836
River Valley (TCC) - 1,721
Manteca (VOL) - 1,503
Dixon (GEL) - 1,163
Christian Brothers (CAL) - 1,074 (NO LOWER THAN D-III)
Bradshaw Christian (SDL) - 354



LEAGUES - Who is currently in contention of making the playoffs?

The Delta and SFL will get four automatic bids into the postseason

Delta - Divison I
Team, enrollment, league record, overall record
Elk Grove (1,866) - 4-0 | 7-0
Grant (1,897) - 3-1 | 6-1
Franklin (2,768) - 3-1 | 5-2
Pleasant Grove (2,596) - 2-2 | 3-4
Jesuit (2,128) - 2-2 | 4-3

SFL - Division I
Folsom (2,179) - 4-0 | 8-0
Oak Ridge (2,408) - 4-0 | 7-1
Rocklin (1,841) - 2-2 | 5-3
Granite Bay (2,084) - 1-2 | 4-3
Woodcreek (2,216) - 1-2 | 5-2
Del Oro (1,695) - 1-3 | 2-5

The VOL, SL, PVL, TCC and TVL will receive three automatic entries

VOL - Division III
Central Catholic (369) - 4-0 | 7-0
Oakdale (1,637) - 4-0 | 7-0
Manteca (1,503) - 3-1 | 6-1
Lathrop (1,269) - 2-2 | 4-3
Sierra (1,321) - 2-2 | 4-3



SL - Division VI
Gustine (557) - 4-0 | 7-0
Orestimba (783) - 4-0 | 7-0
Mariposa Country (532) - 3-1 | 4-2
Ripon Christian (226) - 2-2 | 5-2

PVL - Division IV
Bear River (711) - 2-0 | 7-0
Placer (1,360) - 2-0 | 7-0
Lincoln (1,656) - 2-0 | 5-2

TCC - Division III
Inderkum (1,734) - 4-0 | 8-0
River Valley (1,721) - 3-1 | 6-2
Yuba City (1,777) - 3-1 | 3-5

TVL - Division V
Ripon (896) - 2-0 | 4-3
Modesto Christian (160) - 2-0 | 3-4
Hughson (724) - 1-1 | 6-1
Hilmar (633) - 1-1 | 4-3

The remaining leagues will receive two automatic entries

CAL - Division III
El Camino (1,592) - 2-0 | 5-2
Vista del Lago (1,514) - 2-0 | 5-2
Christian Brothers (1,074) - 2-0 | 6-1



CVC - Division II
Antelope (1,800) - 4-0 | 7-0
Del Campo (1,836) - 4-0 | 6-1
Whitney (1,926) - 3-1 | 5-2
Cosumnes Oaks (2,148) - 2-2 | 4-3
Bella Vista (2,033) - 2-2 | 4-3

CCC - Division I
Turlock (2,220) - 2-0 | 5-1
Merced (1,991) - 2-0 | 4-3
Golden Valley (1,722) - 1-1 | 4-3
Pitman (2,140) - 1-1 | 4-3

GEL - Division V
Capital Christian (406) - 3-0 | 7-0
Dixon (1,163) - 3-1 | 6-2
Marysville (902) - 3-1 | 7-1

METRO - Division II
Sacramento (985) - 4-0 | 4-3
Burbank (1,778) - 4-0 | 4-3
Kennedy (2,141) - 3-1 | 6-1

MMC - Division I
Modesto (2,392) - 3-0 | 5-2
Downey (1,909) - 3-1 | 6-2

MEL - Division I
Vacaville (1,924) - 2-0 | 4-3
Napa (2,093) - 2-0 | 7-0
Wood (1,606) - 1-1 | 6-1
Vintage (1,958) - 1-1 | 4-3



MLL - Division V
Sonora (979) - 4-0 | 7-1
Amador (628) - 2-1 | 5-2
Calaveras (1,063) - 2-1 | 4-3
Summerville (681) - 2-2 | 4-4

SDL - Division VI

Bradshaw Christian (354) - 4-0 | 6-2
Rio Vista (366) - 3-1 | 5-2
Highlands (900) - 2-1 | 5-2
Golden Sierra (413) - 2-1 | 4-3

SJAA - Division I
Chavez (2,484) - 2-0 | 4-3
Stagg (2,000) - 2-0 | 3-4
McNair (1,647) - 1-1 | 5-2

SVC - Division IV
Union Mine (1,029) - 2-0 | 5-2
Liberty Ranch (1,189) - 2-0 | 3-4
Rosemont (1,376) - 1-1 | 4-3
Cordova (1,687) - 1-1 | 4-3

SCAC - Division II
Benicia (1,690) - 2-0 | 5-2
Vanden (1,599) - 1-1 | 4-3
Fairfield (1,486) - 1-1 | 4-3
Amercan Canyon (1,586) - 1-1 | 2-5
Vallejo (1,760) - 1-1 | 2-5

TCAL - Division I
Tracy (2,094) - 2-0 | 4-3
St. Mary's (907) - 2-0 | 5-2
Lincoln (2,928) - 2-0 | 4-3

WAC - Division IV
Patterson (1,722) - 3-0 | 7-0
Pacheco (1,497) - 3-1 | 4-4
Los Banos (1,320) - 2-1 | 5-2
Central Valley (1,684) - 2-1 | 4-3



Early Bracket
Teams in yellow have only one league win

Division I
Folsom (SFL) - 8 - 2,179 (MUST BE D-I)
Elk Grove (Delta) - 7 - 1,866 (League leader)
Napa (MEL) - 7 - 2,093   
Oak Ridge (SFL) - 7 - 2,408       
Kennedy (METRO) - 6 - 2,141   
Franklin (DELTA) -  5 -  2,768  
Modesto (MMC) - 5 - 2,392
Turlock (CCC) - 5 - 2,220
Woodcreek (SFL) -  5 - 2,216
St. Mary's (TCAL) - 5 - 907  (League leader)   
Lincoln (S) TCAL) -  4 -  2,928   
Chavez (SJAA) -  4 -  2,484    
Cosumnes Oaks (CVC) - 4 - 2,148   
Pitman (CCC) - 4 - 2,140
Jesuit (DELTA) - 4 -  2,128
Pleasant Grove (DELTA) -  3 -  2,596   

Division II
Antelope (CVC) - 7 - 1,800   
Downey (MMC) - 6 - 1,909   
Grant (Delta) - 6 - 1,897 (NO LOWER THAN D-II)
Del Campo (CVC) - 6 - 1,836
Wood (MEL) - 6 - 1,606 (NO LOWER THAN D-II)
Whitney (CVC) - 5 - 1,926
Rocklin (SFL) - 5 - 1,841
McNair (SJAA) - 5 - 1,647 (NO LOWER THAN D-II) 
Tracy (TCAL) - 4 - 2,094   
Granite Bay (SFL) - 4 - 2,084
Merced (CCC) -  4 - 1,991
Vintage (MEL) - 4 - 1,958
Vacaville (MEL) - 4 - 1,924
Golden Valley (CCC) - 4 - 1,722 (NO LOWER THAN D-II)
Sacramento (METRO) - 4 - 985 (League leader)
Stagg (SJAA) -  3 -  2,000  

Division III
Inderkum (TCC) - 8 - 1,734 
Patterson (WAC) - 7 - 1,722
Oakdale (VOL) - 7 - 1,637 (NO LOWER THAN D-III)
Central Catholic - 7 - 369  (NO LOWER THAN D-III)
River Valley (TCC) - 6 - 1,721  
Christian Brothers (CAL) - 6 - 1,074 (NO LOWER THAN D-III)
Mateca (VOL) - 6 - 1,503  
Benicia (SCAC) - 5 - 1,690 
Lincoln (L) (PVL) -  5 - 1,656
El Camino (CAL) - 5 - 1,592
Vista del Lago (CAL) - 5 - 1,514  
Burbank (METRO) - 4 - 1,778   
Central Valley (WAC) - 4 - 1,684
Vanden (SCAC) - 4 - 1,599
Fairfield (SCAC) - 4 - 1,486 (NO LOWER THAN D-III)
Yuba City (TCC) - 3 - 1,777   
 
DIV
Placer (PVL) - 7 - 1,360        
Dixon (GEL) - 6 - 1,163
Los Banos (WAC) - 5 - 1,320
Pacheco (WAC) - 4 - 1,497   
Rosemont (SVC) - 4 - 1,376    
Sierra (VOL) - 4 - 1,321       
Lathrop (VOL) - 4 - 1,269   
Liberty Ranch (SVC) - 3 - 1,189   
  
Division V
Sonora (MLL) - 7 - 979
Marysville (GEL) - 7 - 902
Bear River (PVL) - 7 - 711 (NO LOWER THAN D-V)
Capital Christian (GEL) - 7 - 406 (League leader)
Union Mine (SVC) - 5 - 1,029  
Ripon (TVL) - 4 - 896 (League leader)
Calaveras (MLL) - 4 - 1,063   
Modesto Christian (TVL) - 4 - 160 (NO LOWER THAN D-V)

Division VI
Highlands (SDL) - 5 - 900
Orestimba (SL) - 7 - 783      
Gustine (SL) - 7 - 557
Hughson (TVL) - 6 - 724

Bradshaw Christian (SDL) - 6 - 354
Amador (MLL) - 5 - 628
Rio Vista (SDL) - 5 - 366      
Mariposa County (SL) - 4 - 532

Looking in
Hilmar (TVL) - 4 - 633   
Bella Vista (CVC) - 4 - 2,033   
Cordova (SVC) - 4 - 1,687   
Ripon Christian (SL) - 5 - 226