By admin 
In a flash, league openers dot the Sacramento-area high school football landscape this week — and what a menu for the best collection of teams in Northern California.
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The Sierra Foothill League includes Sacramento Bee-ranked No. 1 Folsom, No. 2 Oak Ridge, No. 4 Del Oro, No. 5 Rocklin, No. 6 Granite Bay, No. 7 Jesuit and No. 11 Whitney. That’s the entire league towering collectively over the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section.
Our Pick the Preps crew towers over nothing more than our own bland of bluster, bravado and noise with yours truly, Matthew Bessette of the streaming ABC JAM Productions and NFHS, and longtime area basketball coach and NFHS color voice Scott Tedmon.
We preview some of the area’s best games.
No. 5 Rocklin (3-0) at No. 1 Folsom (4-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
On air: NFHS
JoeD: Rocklin had last week off, all the more to prepare for their fierce rivals with a shot to jolt the regional landscape. QB play will be crucial, as it always is in this sport, and that includes pass protection for Rocklin’s Parker Lively and Folsom’s Brody Rudnicki. Folsom has found its gear and wins, 28-20.
MatthewB: Rocklin has outscored its opponents 124-7 through three games. Folsom comes in with a 16-game winning streak at home. The Bulldogs take it, 42-31.
CoachT: Games are won in the trenches, and this is a beauty with the beasts going at it full force. Brody and the Bulldogs bruise their way to a hard-fought win, 31-21.
No. 4 Del Oro (4-0) at No. 2 Oak Ridge (2-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
On air: NFHS
JoeD: There will be welts and bruises aplenty after these titans collide. The coaches know each other well, including Oak Ridge leader Casey Taylor facing off against Josh Parry, who has inspired the Golden Eagles to a fast start. Former Oak Ridge assistant coaches Marco Baldacchino and Mike Kravich now wear Del Oro colors. Oak Ridge wins, 17-16.
MatthewB: Del Oro has been getting it done in all three phases of the game. Oak Ridge has traveled as much as any team to start the season. The Trojans win, 17-14.
CoachT: This is a toss-up when these SFL rivals collide. In a low scoring slobberknocker, Trojans score late to seize a 17-14 victory.
No. 7 Granite Bay (3-0) at No. 6 Jesuit (4-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
On air: NFHS
JoeD: Both teams are balanced offensively and tough on defense. Does Jesuit get pressure on Granite Bay QB Dominic Cattolico, who has standout RB Gabe Smyth to work with? Can the Grizzlies slow down Jesuit’s playmakers such as Kwanna Smith and John Giovannettone? Big Red wins a fun one, 17-16.
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MatthewB: Granite Bay and Joe Cattolico continue to roll despite all the talent that graduated from last year’s team. Jesuit is coming off a short week, having played in Saturday’s Holy Bowl, but you can bank on the Marauders being ready. The Grizzlies prevail, 28-24.
CoachT: The Grizzlies were impressive on the road last week against Ponderosa. Jesuit won the Holy Bowl and now returns to the SFL wars. The Marauders make a statement, winning, 28-24.
No. 12 Inderkum (1-3) at No. 19 Ponderosa (3-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
On air: NFHS
JoeD: Inderkum coach Justin Reber scheduled up in an effort to test his guys for the Capital Valley Conference, but what toll is there on back-to-back losses to state No. 1 Rancho Margarita and Folsom? Winning solves such concerns, and Indy bounces back, 28-24.
MatthewB: This is an incredible opener in the CVC between the defending champion, Inderkum, and the upstart Bruins of Ponderosa. I’ll take the Bruins in a tight one, 35-34.
CoachT: The Tigers tested themselves running through a gauntlet of non-league games expecting the payoff to start this week. Indy opens its CVC bank account with a win, 34-21.
Gridley (3-0) at Colfax (2-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
On air: NFHS
JoeD: The visiting Bulldogs of the Northern Section take on a storied Sac-Joaquin Section program that has maintained decades of staying power. Gridley has scored 34, 34 and 39 points, but Colfax has a team just as capable and wins it, 35-30.
MatthewB: Colfax squandered a lead against Union Mine in the opener but has bounced back, winning its last two games. Give me the host Falcons off of a bye, 31-24.
CoachT: This intersectional matchup figures to light up the scoreboard. Gridley heads to the hills and returns home with the win, 41-38.
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Season totals
JoeD: 6-1 last week (17-8 for the season)
MatthewB: 7-0 (18-7)
CoachT: 5-2 (15-10)