By admin 
It used to be that Sacramento-area high school football teams played local teams early, a neighborhood clash to kick off a campaign.
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For Sacramento Bee-ranked powerhouse programs, that trend has changed over the years, for the better. Out-of-section or out-of-state showdowns have elevated programs and the football brand in Northern California.
The top-ranked Folsom Bulldogs started the campaign against Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa, winning 23-17 in overtime, and now they prepare for another bruiser state-ranked program in Mission Viejo of Orange County with a score to settle.
No. 2 Oak Ridge of El Dorado Hills opened with a 27-26 comeback win at Argyle of Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, and now they prepare for a defending CIF State champion in Central East of Fresno, which looked the part of heavyweight in blowing out Grant, 40-12, last week.
No. 3 Grant breaks in its sparkling new football field and press box this week against Cathedral of Los Angeles, and No. 5 Del Oro of Placer County heads to Santa Clara County to take on storied Saint Francis in another big out-of-section tilt between programs that have won a combined 30 section championships.
As for our Pick the Preps panel of so-called insiders or experts, we collectively face-planted. Scott Tedmon, the longtime basketball coach and a color voice on NFHS broadcasts, won the week with a weak 4-3 showing. Yours truly and Matthew Bessette of ABC JAM Productions and NFHS went 3-4. More film work, sled work and eye black is needed.
Mission Viejo (2-0) at Bee No. 1 Folsom (1-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
On air: ABC JAM/NFHS
JoeD: Folsom’s special teams saved the day in beating Cardinal Newman, including a 99-yard kickoff return score by CJ Wallace to open the second half and a late blocked field goal by Lua DeBerry led to overtime. MV had eight sacks a year ago this week in rolling Folsom 53-14, which was the wake-up call Folsom needed as the Bulldogs finished 14-1 with a CIF State championship. The state-ranked No. 6 Diablos of Orange County are rolling already at 2-0, scoring 55 and 77. Mission Viejo wins 30-24.
MatthewB: I can’t wait to be on the call for one of the biggest games in the state. Mission Viejo boasts a balanced offense that is clicking early led by sophomore QB Brett Burnor. Folsom is going to get every team’s best shot as we saw in the opener. The Bulldogs offense explodes in victory, 34-27
CoachT: In what is a huge week of non-league monster matchups for area teams, the lead dog is Folsom. Mission Viejo is one of the elite SoCal “dawgs.” Folsom is almost unbeatable on its home blue turf — almost. Diablos win, 34-21.
Central East-Fresno (1-0) at No. 2 Oak Ridge (1-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
On air: NFHS
JoeD: Can Oak Ridge back its spirited effort in Texas with an even bigger win here? Central East looked all-world in beating Grant, and the top-ranked team in the Central Section with CIF State championship pedigree is fast and physical with visions of competing in the elite CIF Open state final despite crushing injuries to star players. Oak Ridge has stout lines and a balanced offense, and it leads to a 21-20 win.
MatthewB: It’s hard to find many teams in California with bigger wins than these two had a week ago. Nick Johnson was terrific in the opener, throwing for 298 yards while completing 72% of his passes for Oak Ridge. The Trojans keep it going, 31-28.
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CoachT: For their home opener, Oak Ridge might take the field wearing argyle socks after their win in the Lone Star State last week. Central East heads to El Dorado Hills with bad intentions. After demolishing Grant, who can blame them? Trojans play well, but the Bengals prevail, 24-21.
Cathedral-Los Angeles (2-0) at No. 3 Grant (0-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
On air: ABC JAM/NFHS
JoeD: It’s how teams bounce back that matters the most, and Grant bounced back after its opening loss last season to Folsom to beat Central East and advanced to a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinal. Can Grant do so again against an L.A. team that is 2-0, having scored 52 and 43 points? Cathedral gives up a lot of points, and Grant will get untracked here, winning 35-31 behind QB Blake Nycum and company.
MatthewB: North vs. South matchups like this are always fun. This one could very well be a shootout. Cathedral has scored 95 points through two games, and we know what Grant’s offense is capable of. Pacers take it, 42-38.
CoachT: Cathedral is averaging 47.5 points and looks to test Grant’s new digs by lighting up the scoreboard. The Pacers got pummeled last week and need to reset quickly. This will be a high scoring thriller with the Phantoms scoring late to take the victory, 45-40.
No. 5 Del Oro (1-0) at Saint Francis (1-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
On air: NFHS
JoeD: What a showdown between proven and storied programs. The host Lancers have won 17 Central Coast Section championships, the last in 2024, and Del Oro has 13 since 1989. More intrigue: Del Oro coach Josh Parry will match wits against his brother, Neil Parry, a Saint Francis assistant coach, whose son, Leonidus Parry, is a two-way player for the Lancers. Josh Parry’s son, Landen, is a two-way terror for Del Oro. Del Oro squeezes out a 24-23 victory.
MatthewB: This is a fantastic early season test for Del Oro as the Golden Eagles hit the South Bay. Del Oro figures to be a favorite in the Division II playoffs just like Saint Francis’ last opponent, Manteca. The Lancers pound their way to victory, 24-21.
CoachT: Saint Francis is loaded, including with all of its prominent supporters. Del Oro reflects the toughness of Coach Parry and the Golden Eagles don’t flinch. But the Lancers are at home and that’s the difference as Saint Francis prevails, 28-24.
No. 15 Casa Roble (0-1) at Bella Vista (0-0)
When: 7:15 p.m. Friday
On air: NFHS
JoeD: This is a neighborhood rivalry game of San Juan Unified School District programs with the host Broncos eager to send the Rams of Orangevale off to an 0-2 start. Casa Roble was turnover-prone in a tight loss at Placer but tidies it up and wins, 28-20.
MatthewB: Both teams are looking to bounce back from opening losses. Both have a talented back to hand the ball of to in Casa’s Dunedin Tupou and BV’s Dvaughn Norwood. Broncos by an inch, 28-27.
CoachT: Casa Roble made enough mistakes last week to last a season. Coach Chris Horner will clean up the mess this week. Bella Vista is trending up under the leadership of coach Jason Ott, but the Rams win, 17-14.
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Season totals
JoeD: 3-4
MatthewB: 3-4
CoachT: 4-3