Score projectionsFull Playoff BracketPlayoff LeadersPassing Yards -
Jake Pruitt,
Sierra (Manteca) - 453
Rushing Yards -
Kyle Kerlee,
Hughson - 256
Receiving Yards -
Chas Reisinger,
Colfax - 223
Scoring -
Matt Ringer,
Central Catholic (Modesto) - 24 points
Tackles -
Jake Medeiros,
Colfax - 24
Sacks
Michael Morris,
Ripon - 2
Lucas Bunting,
Ripon - 2
DJ Williams,
Capital Christian (Sacramento) - 2
Interceptions -
Jace McFetridge,
Ripon - 2
PreviewsInformation provided by Will DeBoard, Director of Communications for the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section.No. 8 Colfax (9-2) at No. 1 Central Catholic (Modesto) (10-1)These teams have combined for 76 postseason victories and 20 Section championships. Colfax returns to the second round for the third time in four years after missing last year's playoffs altogether. The Falcons (23-13 in the postseason with four titles) last won a Section title in the 2003 D3 game. Central Catholic is the defending D4 champion, beating Escalon 52-10 in last year's finale. In fact, the Raiders went on to win the CIF State Division IV Championship Bowl Game. They are currently on a five-game Section playoff winning streak; that's very good, but paltry compared to their 29-game winning streak that stretched from 1997-2008. Despite their lengthy postseason history, these teams have never met in the playoffs.
No. 5 Calaveras (San Andreas) (9-2) at No. 4 Ripon (10-1)
Nick Price, Ripon
Photo by Dennis Stiff
Calaveras is into the second round for the first time since 2010, when it got all the way to the Section championship game. That year, the Redskins lost to Escalon on a Hail Mary followed by a lengthy field goal in the game's final seconds. It was the closest Calaveras has come to winning a Section title, it is 0-8 in championship games. Ripon is into the second round for the second straight year; last year the Indians lost to eventual champion Central Catholic at that point. They have one Section title: the 1996 D4 banner. These teams have met twice in the playoffs, each with one win. Calaveras won 27-16 in the 1992 D3 semifinals and Ripon returned the favor, 24-7, in the 1994 D3 first round.
No. 14 Placer (Auburn) (6-5) at No. 6 Center (Antelope) (8-3)Placer is into the quarterfinals for the sixth straight year. The Hillmen were undefeated and the top seed in last year's D4 playoffs, but were stunned, 27-26, by Escalon in the quarterfinals. They last made it to the championship game in 2009, a 61-40 loss to Modesto Christian. Placer has won five Section titles, the last one coming all the way back in 1981, a 30-7 victory over Mira Loma in the D2 game. Center is into the second round for the second straight year, it advanced to the semifinals last year before losing to Central Catholic. The Cougars have made one Section championship in their history, a 24-14 loss to Galt in the 1988 D3 title game. These teams are both from the PVL and they shared the league title. Center beat Placer 34-19 when they met two weeks ago.
No. 10 Escalon (7-4) at No. 2 Hilmar (11-0)These teams have combined for 73 playoff victories and 14 Section championships. Only the Colfax-Central Catholic matchup, also in D4, features teams with more combined playoff experience. Escalon advances to the quarterfinals for the 16th consecutive season and for the 21st time in 22 years. Only in 1995, when the Cougars didn't make the playoffs at all, did they miss getting this far. Hilmar, the TVL champion and one of three undefeated teams in the Section playoffs, returns to the second round for the second time in three years. Last year the Yellowjackets lost to Placer in the first round. These teams have met in the playoffs four times, with Escalon holding a 3-1 edge. They've met in three Section championships; Hilmar won 20-17 in 2011 and Escalon won in 2003 (21-20) and 2005 (23-0). Hilmar beat Escalon 28-14 in their TVL meeting this year.
