Northern California Regional Bowl Game matchups, predictions

Open Division
De La Salle (Concord) vs. Folsom
Diablo Valley College, 7:30 p.m. Saturday

It's a repeat of last year's Open game with even more intrigue. Folsom's record-breaking junior quarterback Jake Browning is a season better, which is almost hard to believe. He's broken his own records with a head-spinning 5,432 passing yards and 74 touchdowns (that's for the season, not a career). His line, running game and receivers are even better.

They'll need to be to dethrone the kings of high school football, who have won four consecutive Open Division state titles, along with a cavalcade of national records including a ridiculous 151-game win streak from 1992-2004. The Spartans, led by the biggest and best lines they've had in school history, are currently riding a 39-game win streak and with a stable of athletic, breakaway backs this one could be a who-will-score-last proposition. John Velasco (1,846 rushing yards, 24 TDs) leads a team that averages 364 rushing yards a game. Last year it was a 49-15 De La Salle runaway.

Records: De La Salle 13-0, Folsom 14-0
Rankings: De La Salle (5 Xcellent 25, 16 National, 4 State), Folsom (16 Xcellent 25, 11 National, 3 State).
Averages: De La Salle (44.0 for, 11.3 against), Folsom (52.4 for, 19.7 against).
Comparing schedules: Both teams played San Ramon Valley, with Folsom recording a 67-36 win on Sept. 20 and De La Salle victorious 47-21 a week later.
Comparing coaches: De La Salle's Justin Alumbaugh replaced legendary Bob Ladouceur (who is still a defensive line and running backs coach) and hasn't missed a beat this season. Co-head coaches Kris Richardson and Troy Taylor have turned Folsom into a national force and offensive juggernaut, having gone 73-9 since 2008.
History: They've only played once, a De La Salle 49-15 win for the Open title last year at Sacramento State University.
Prediction: De La Salle 42, Folsom 28

Division I
Serra (San Mateo) vs. Del Oro (Loomis)
San Jose City College, 7:30 p.m. Friday

Expect a bruising matchup in the trenches and a lot of hard hitting when these teams meet. The physicality of both teams was noted by De La Salle head coach Justin Alumbaugh, whose team played both squads. They both have shown great resilience when down, especially Del Oro. Last week in the SJS finals, it trailed 19-0 in the rain to Elk Grove before scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win 20-19. "If you're a football fan who likes to see two teams that hit, that's going to be fun," Alumbaugh said.

Serra has fought off numerous injuries and the rugged West Catholic Athletic League but feature league Co-Player of the Year and two-way standout Hamilton Anoa'i and 1,400-yard RB Kava Cassidy as its two main weapons along with elusive quarterback Matthew Fa'aita. Del Oro counters with 1,600-yard rusher Dylan Kainrath and 2,200-yard quarterback Michael Moore, who threw three TD passes against the wind and rain in the fourth quarter against Elk Grove.

Records: Serra 11-2, Del Oro 12-2.
Rankings: Serra (Nation 138, State 22), Del Oro (Nation 204, State 27)
Averages: Serra (35.8 for, 13.4 against), Del Oro (34.1 for, 21.3 against).
Comparing schedules: Both played De La Salle, with host Serra losing 21-14 on Sept. 7 and Del Oro falling 41-3 on the road two weeks later.
Comparing coaches: This is Patrick Walsh's 11th season at Serra and he's gone 31-7 his last three seasons. Del Oro coach Casey Taylor has won at least 10 games in eight of the last 10 seasons, including a 13-2 campaign in 2011 when the Golden Eagles lost in the State Division I Bowl Game, 35-24, to Helix.
History: The two programs have never played.
Prediction: Serra 21, Del Oro 20

Division II
Manteca vs. Enterprise (Redding)
Lincoln-Stockton HS, 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Two programs far removed from large Metro markets and with lots to prove square off in what promises to be a high-scoring affair. Manteca has piled up 680 points this season led largely by the senior duo of running back Alex Laurel (1,799 yards rushing, 34 touchdowns) and quarterback Joe Menzel (1,860 yards passing, 25 TDs). Buffaloes coach Eric Reis told the Modesto Bee that the two teams are mirror images of each other.

Enterprise, considered one of the best teams in recent Northern Section history, is led by rugged 6-1, 205-pound back Isaiah Matthews (1,757 yards, 25 TDs), who runs largely behind 6-6, 290-pound Washington State-bound Brandon Evers. "They look a lot like us," Reis told the Bee. "They're very physical, they're well-disciplined and they block well."

Records: Manteca 13-1, Enterprise 12-0
Rankings: Manteca (56 State), Enterprise (29 State)
Averages: Manteca (48.5 for, 18.1 against), Enterprise (44.5 for, 15.4 against)
Comparing schedules: Both squads played Oakdale, with Enterprise recording a 23-22 road win on Sept. 6 and Manteca scoring a 35-20 road win on Oct. 11.
Comparing coaches: Manteca's Eric Reis has gone 103-25-1 since 2002, while Enterprise's Darren Trueblood has gone 78-38 since 2004.
History: Since 2004, the teams have not faced each other.
Prediction: Manteca 34, Enterprise 31

Division III
El Cerrito vs. Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton)
De Anza-Richmond HS, 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Sacred Heart Prep has won three of the last four small-school Central Coast Section titles based largely on a swarming, disciplined defense and the fly offense, this year led by Andrew Segre, who last week rushed for a school-record 361 yards and six touchdowns in a 56-21 win over Pacific Grove. The defense is led by 6-1, 205-pound junior Ben Burr-Kirven, who has recorded a gaudy 169 tackles and whom head coach Peter Lavorato called "the best high school player I've coached in 30 years." Burr-Kirven runs a legitimate 4.5-second 40-yard dash, Lavorato said.

Read more about Sacred Heart Prep coach Peter Lovorato's football journey

There's a handful of D-1 recruits on El Cerrito who have that kind of speed, including UCLA-bound Adarius Pickett, the 6-foot, 180-pound cornerback turned running back. Pickett rushed for 256 yards and four touchdowns in a 54-38 NCS title win over previously-unbeaten and top D-3 ranked Marin Catholic. Pickett is one of three Top 20 senior recruits in the state, according to 247Sports, the others being the Arizona State-bound duo of receiver-safety Jalen Harvey and linebacker Derik Calhoun. El Cerrito is the heavy favorite: "El Cerrito is bigger, stronger and faster than we are," Lavorato said. "Defensively, we can have players in the right spots doing all the right things and still not be able to stop them. ... But our kids have great pride. They're not going to back down or play scared."

Records: Sacred Heart Prep 12-1, El Cerrito 12-2
Rankings: Sacred Heart Prep (119 State), El Cerrito (47 State).
Averages: SHP (34.9 for, 8.9 against), El Cerrito (42.6 for, 15.8 against)
Comparing schedules: No common opponents.
Comparing coaches: Lavorato is 71-15-1 since 2007, while El Cerrito’s Kenny Kahn is 50-22-1 since he took over in 2008.
History: The two programs have never met.
Prediction: El Cerrito 35, Sacred Heart Prep 21

Division IV
Central Catholic (Modesto) vs. McClymonds (Oakland)
Lincoln-Stockton HS, 7:30 p.m. Friday

This is the third meeting between the two teams in a calendar year, with Central Catholic having won the previous two games — 42-12 in last year’s title game and 38-24 at home earlier this season. McClymonds has won eight of nine since then by a combined score of 349-93, mostly against league opponents, none of which had a winning record. The Warriors are blessed with game-breakers in Lavance Warren , Washington-bound Lavon Washington and Louis White.

Central Catholic, the defending state Division IV champ, has outscored its opponents 571-216, including a 24-10 win over previously-unbeaten Hilmar in the SJS title game. The Raiders, who won last year’s state bowl title game over Santa Fe Christian 66-7, are led by powerful running back Matt Ringer, who has rushed for 2,260 yards and 33 touchdowns. Running mate Reggie Bland has added 14 rushing touchdowns.

Records: McClymonds 10-2, Central Catholic 13-1
Rankings: McClymonds (314 State), Central Catholic (90 State)
Averages: McClymonds (43.2 for, 13.9 against), Central Catholic (40.8 for, 15.4 against).
Comparing schedules: Besides head-to-head meeting, no common opponents.
Comparing coaches: Longtime McClymonds assistant Michael Peters is in his first year as head coach. Central Catholic coach Roger Canepa is 66-15 since taking over in 2008.
History: The two previous meetings in the calendar year were the first games between the two schools.
Prediction: Central Catholic 42, McClymonds 21