The hits just continue at Rocklin High School.
About nine months after winning its first Northern California basketball championships, the Thunder captured its first Sac-Joaquin Section football crown with a stirring 21-14 Division II triumph over arch-rival Del Oro Friday night at UC Davis.
Jackson Cummings, a star guard on that basketball team, also led play on the gridiron with 205 yards rushing and two touchdowns, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Rocklin will no doubt now get a state Bowl bid, either at Division II, where it belongs enrollment wise. But considering the Thunder won Northern California’s toughest playoff division, including a win last week against defending state Open Division champion Grant-Sacramento, and had two wins against Del Oro this season, the selection committee might just move them all the way up to the top game – the Open Division.
(Look how Friday’s results could possibly effect Bowl bids below).
Rocklin prevailed despite a third-quarter shoulder injury to the non-throwing arm of its starting quarterback Jimmy Laughrea.
He was replaced by more-than-capable Tiger Sorenson, who himself was the starting quarterback last year before an injury ended his season. That’s when Laughrea took over and he never relinquished the job.
Ironically, the game-winning touchdown was a Laughrea 29-yard pass to Sorenson in the second quarter.
There was no scoring in the second half thanks to some hard-hitting defense and a steady downpour of rain.
Del Oro (11-3), which had upset top-seed and Northern California’s top-ranked team St. Mary’s-Stockton and Folsom in earlier rounds, was once again led by Bryce Pratt who rushed for his 38th and 39th touchdowns of the year.
More big Northern California playoff games with Bowl implications:
Marin Catholic-Kentfield 27, Encinal-Alameda 0: As the rain poured down at Dublin High and Marin Catholic's football team began to celebrate the moment, there were no "state here we come" or "we're going to Disneyland" chants.
Marin Catholic QB Nate Kristoff ran offense superbly.
Photo by Dennis Lee
The Wildcats' surprising North Coast Section Division III championship victory over defending champion Encinal was so thorough and complete it was worth savoring all on its own.
Besides, Marin Catholic's complete and total focus since an opening-day 29-28 loss to St. Ignatius was the key to the championship season. This was just par for the course.
The birdie will probably come Sunday when they will almost assuredly be selected to the Division III CIF State Championship Bowl Game next week in Southern California.
"We haven't peaked under the tree all year and the boys aren't going to do so now," Marin Catholic coach Ken Peralta said. "Maybe they'll get an early present Sunday. Tonight, we're just going to enjoy this."
Under wet and chilly conditions throughout, the Wildcats from Kentfield (13-1) got another rugged performance from running back Chris Adams, who carried 22 times for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Quarterback Nate Kristoff ran the offense beautifully and contributed a 15-yard touchdown run, and kicker Joseph Wiessler added field goals of 29 and 38 yards. In all, the Wildcats managed 305 yards.
But the real story was their defense, which allowed only 147 yards and forced five turnovers, including interceptions by Chris Herrera and Chris Tewhill.
"Our defense came out harder than we've ever come out before ...," Adams said. "We knew we were a great team but we had to push it to the limit. I definitely think we deserve to go to state."
Modesto Christian 61, Placer-Auburn 40: In a SJS Division IV title game at Lincoln High in Stockton, Modesto Christian (14-0) won its first section title game and did so in record fashion, rolling up 581 yards of offense, according to the Modesto Bee.
Kevin Roya scored four touchdowns, including an acrobatic 27-yard touchdown pass with 3:34 to play to all but seal the highest scoring SJS title game in history.
Isaiah Burse did it all for the Crusaders (14-0), completing eight of 10 passes for 187 yards including a 48-yard TD pass to David Sjelin on the second play of the game. That set the tone for a wild contest that also featured two fourth-quarter TD runs by Placer running back and linebacker Asher Gotzer to help the Hillmen (12-2) to close to 46-40.
But Roya caught the 28-yard pass from Burse before a late TD tacked on the final margin.
It was the second second-place section finish for Placer, who won five SJS titles in seven years under Bill Miller, grandfather of current coach Joey Montoya.
Modesto Christian will now almost assuredly get a small-school state bowl bid.
Other Northern California scores
NCS Division II: Eureka 30, Montgomery-Santa Rosa 17.
NCS Division IV: Fort Bragg 23, Justin-Siena 18.
NorCal games Saturday
NCS: Division I, Pittsburg (9-4) vs. De La Salle-Concord (11-2) at Dublin HS, 8 p.m.
SJS: Division I, Monterey Trail-Elk Grove (11-2) vs. Nevada Union-Grass Valley (12-1) at University of Pacific, 1 p.m.; Division III, Del Campo-Fair Oaks (12-1) vs. Inderkum-Sacramento (13-0) at Folsom HS, 7 p.m.
Bowl update
NorCal Open/Division I
It’s pretty clear cut. The leader in the clubhouse is Rocklin. The Thunder is the shoe in choice unless De La Salle beats Pittsburg, which is probably a shoe in also considering De La Salle has won 18 consecutive NCS titles. Then again, the last team to beat them – any Northern California opponent for that matter – was Pittsburg in 1991. And Pittsburg, with at least four Division I seniors, is playing by far its best ball of the year.
If De La Salle wins, then many believe it will move to the Open Division game, Rocklin will be invited to Division II and either Central Coast Section Open Division winner Bellarmine (11-1-1) or the SJS Division I champion will get the Division I bowl bid. If De La Salle loses, the Pittsburg would also be a Division I consideration – even with four losses.
NorCal Division II
Rocklin (14-0) is the leader in the clubhouse here as well, but if it gets called up to the Open game, then Inderkum, if victorious, would likely move in. (Only section champions are eligible). Other possibilities: Eureka (12-2) and Del Campo, if it beats Inderkum.
NorCal Division III
Marin Catholic (13-1) is the slam dunk choice here, though Fort Bragg (12-2) through its helmet into the ring with its championship on Friday, along with CCS champions Carmel (12-0) and Seaside-Monterey (10-2-1). Marin Catholic’s strength of schedule and lopsided win over Encinal should earn the Wildcats an invitation.
NorCal Small School
Modesto Christian (14-0) is another slam dunk. The Crusaders have been the top-ranked small-school team the entire season and Friday’s win over a Division II school should cement the deal. Other longshots are Bradshaw Christian-Sacramento (11-1), Portola (12-0) and Capital Christian-Sacramento (9-3).
