Central, SJM, Selma, Caruthers set for regional football finals. What coaches are saying
Winning their third straight Central Section Division I high school football championship will always be a special memory for the Central Grizzlies.
But since January, the focus has always been about winning the state championship.
You see, Central has been stymied two straight years by powerful teams from Folsom High that each went on to win state titles.
This year, Folsom was eliminated in the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals. The Bulldogs’ league rivals advanced. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hillls (11-2) will host the Grizzlies (13-0) at 7:30 p,.m. Friday in a Division 1-AA North game. It’s one of four this weekend involving Fresno-area teams.
“We had one goal all year long – win state,” coach Kyle Biggs says. “We get one step closer to our goal with a win. They know what’s at stake and they have been dialed in all week and they will be ready to go.”
The Grizzlies are coming off a 28-21 victory over Buchanan for their third straight section title. Oak Ridge defeated Monterey Trail-Elk Grove 35-27; Monterey Trail vanquished top-seeded Folsom the week before.
Quarterback Justin Lamson is Oak Ridge’s leader. The junior ran 24 times for 129 yards and three touchdowns against Monterey Trail in the Sac-Joaquin D-I championship but established himself this year as an elite passer with 2,904 yards and 22 touchdowns against seven interceptions.
Oak Ridge’s two losses came against Folsom (36-33) and Rocklin (28-22).
“They are a very good team,” Biggs said. “Well-coached team that is big and physical and have a very good quarterback.”
Central has loaded up its nonleague schedule with Northern California teams the past two seasons and has two common opponents with Oak Ridge:
Whitney-Rocklin: Central beat the Wildcats 45-16, Oak Ridge beat them 26-14 in Sierra Foothill League play.
Grant-Sacramento: Central beat the Pacers 38-7, Oak Ridge beat them 45-23 also in the SFL.
DIVISION 1–A: SAN JOAQUIN MEMORIAL AT SERRA
San Joaquin Memorial has been to two straight CIF playoffs, losing 31-28 at Southwest-El Cajon in SoCal Division 4-A (2017) and 20-12 to Lawndale in last year’s state Division 2-A final last year. (The original version of this story incorrectly reported that SJM lost in the 2018 regionals. The Panthers beat Tulare Union 69-25 in the North final.)
Both of those games were in the South. Now the Panthers (12-1) head north – and step up a division – to face Serra-San Mateo (12-1) at noon Saturday.
The Padres are winners of three straight after a loss to St. Ignatius-San Francisco 14-13 on Nov. 9. Serra shut out Valley Christian-San Jose 17-0 last week for the Central Coast Section D-I title. Serra also beat Valley Christian 10-0 in the regular season; VC beat Clovis West 34-12 this year.
The Panthers defeated Tulare Western 35-16 last week for the Central Section D-II title, their third straight section crown.
“We are focusing on ourselves and what we can do better,” Memorial coach Anthony Goston said. “We always try to and play our best football at the end of the season, and we have been doing that throughout the playoffs.
“Serra is big and well-coached and the challenge will be to create the best matchups for us and take advantage of them.”
Fun fact: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady prepped at Serra but didn’t get the Padres into the playoffs in his two varsity seasons (1993-94).
DIVISION 4–AA: SELMA AT HIGHLAND-PALMDALE
Selma coach Matt Logue said his team is excited to play another game.
The Bears (11-2) will face Highland-Palmdale (11-3) at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Selma defeated Washington Union 35-21 in the section Division IV final.
The Bulldogs rolled to a 24-12 victory over North-Torrance in a Southern Section Division 9 final.
Logue’s message to his team: “Just enjoy this. It is special not something everyone gets to do.”
The Bears were at this stage in 2016, falling 28-27 to Bakersfield Christian.
DIVISION 5–A: MILPITAS AT CARUTHERS
Caruthers is the lone area team staying home this weekend.
The Blue Raiders (13-1) host Miliptas (7-6) at 6 p.m. Saturday.
The focus remains the same for Caruthers coach Brandon Ward: “Doing their job and getting the win on Saturday.”
Milipitas’ record is not eye-popping, but the Trojans have won six straight including a 27-26 overtime victory over Branham-San Jose in the Central Coast Division IV championship.
Ward’s scouting report: “Big up front on offense. Quarterback has a strong arm and they have a couple running backs and receivers that are fast. Defense is aggressive and they’re a good football team.”
Milpitas won the state 4-A title in 2017 beating the same Southwest team that had eliminated San Joaquin Memorial.
Caruthers was last in the regionals in 2017, also, falling 46-43 at Orange in the South 6-AA game.
This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 4:11 PM.
