December 2nd 2024.
The much-anticipated rematch between Pittsburg and Folsom is finally here. A year ago, the Pittsburg team had to watch in disappointment as Folsom celebrated their victory on their famous blue turf field. It was a tough loss for the Pirates, who had a perfect season and were on a quest for their first state championship. But their dreams were crushed by the Sacramento-area powerhouse and their star quarterback, Ryder Lyons.
This time, the game will be played on Pittsburg's home turf, and the team is determined to redeem themselves. After a thrilling win against San Ramon Valley in the section final, the Pirates are eager to face Folsom in the CIF Division 1-AA NorCal regional. The winner of this game will move on to the state final against either Newbury Park or Lincoln of San Diego.
Coach Charlie Ramirez is confident in his team's abilities and is excited to have the home-field advantage. He believes that the atmosphere on Friday night will be electric. This will be the fourth consecutive year that Pittsburg and Folsom will face off, but the Pirates have yet to defeat the Bulldogs. Folsom has won every game, including a close one last season where Pittsburg came the closest to victory, but ultimately fell short with a 28-25 score. Folsom went on to win the state title against St. Bonaventure-Ventura.
Coach Ramirez knows that facing a team like Folsom is no easy task. They have a high level of execution, and in order to beat them, the Pirates will have to perform at their best. Folsom's quarterback, junior Ryder Lyons, is considered one of the best in the state. He has impressive stats, with 2,636 passing yards and 43 touchdowns, as well as 548 rushing yards and 11 scores. Many teams have tried to contain him by keeping him in the pocket, but only Serra has been successful in beating Folsom in their season opener.
Pittsburg's strategy for Friday's game will be different. Coach Ramirez learned from last year's match and believes that containing Lyons is nearly impossible. Instead, the Pirates will focus on rallying and tackling him. The players are motivated and determined to face Folsom once again, especially after feeling like they had a chance to win last year.
In another exciting matchup, Wilcox will be taking on Twelve Bridges for the Division 2-A crown. This will be a 2 ½-hour, 145-mile drive for Wilcox, but it's a trip they are willing to make for the chance at a championship. Twelve Bridges, a relatively new school, has had an undefeated season so far and won the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV title with a dominant 55-7 victory over Patterson. Wilcox's key to success will be their defense, as Twelve Bridges has been averaging an impressive 51 points per game. Their closest game was against Reed of Nevada, where they won by just three points.
This will be Wilcox's second-longest trip in the MaxPreps era, with their longest being in 2021 for the 2-A state final, where they unfortunately lost. In a different matchup, the West Catholic Athletic League will have two teams representing them in the state playoffs. St. Ignatius and St. Francis have both been selected for two of the Top 5 divisions. St. Ignatius, who won the CCS Open Division crown, will be playing Central-Fresno on the road in the Division 1-A NorCal final. Central is a tough opponent, playing in a highly competitive league and having a solid record of 10-3 this season.
St. Francis will also have a challenging game in their NorCal matchup against Grant-Sacramento. Grant has been a consistent contender and won the Division 2-AA title last season. They are currently 10-3 and will be a formidable opponent for St. Francis. The Lancers will be looking to advance to their third state championship game.
Lastly, Acalanes will be facing off against Carmel for the 5-AA state championship game. After winning the 3-AA regional and state titles last season, Acalanes is determined to repeat their success. They secured the NCS Division III championship with a close 20-17 win against rival Campolindo, despite being shorthanded. Star players Niko White and Deonte Littlejohn were not able to play due to injuries, but Coach Floyd Burnsed hopes to have them back for the regional game.
Acalanes will have to face a high-scoring Carmel team, who has yet to be held under 30 points in a game this season. However, Acalanes' strong defense, led by players like Bethel Imasuen and Drew McKenzie, will give Carmel a run for their money. On the other side of the field, Acalanes' offense, led by quarterback Tyler Winkles, will have to keep up with Carmel's high-scoring games. It will be a tough matchup, but Acalanes is ready for the challenge.
The highly-anticipated rematch between Pittsburg and Folsom is finally here, and both teams are gearing up for an epic battle on the gridiron. Last year, Pittsburg suffered a heartbreaking loss to Folsom in the CIF NorCal regional, crushing their dreams of a perfect season and a state championship. But this time, Pittsburg will have home-field advantage as they seek redemption against their Sacramento-area rivals.
After a thrilling 35-28 victory over San Ramon Valley in the section final, Pittsburg is fired up and ready to take on Folsom. Head coach Charlie Ramirez is confident in his team's abilities and is looking forward to the electric atmosphere of Friday night's game. This will be the fourth consecutive year that Pittsburg and Folsom face off, with Folsom coming out on top in each of their previous meetings.
Last year's NorCal game was the closest Pittsburg has come to beating Folsom, but they ultimately fell short with a score of 28-25. Folsom went on to defeat St. Bonaventure-Ventura in the state title game. Ramirez knows that in order to overcome a powerhouse like Folsom, his team will need to execute at a high level. Folsom's junior quarterback, Ryder Lyons, is a force to be reckoned with, having thrown for over 2,600 yards and 43 touchdowns this season. But Pittsburg is prepared and has a game plan in place to contain him and come out on top.
For Pittsburg's players, this matchup against Folsom is personal. Linebacker Jewelous Walls expressed their determination to come out on top, saying, "Playing Folsom last year, we felt like we had them. If it's Folsom, we're ready. We want it. Pittsburg on top."
In another exciting matchup, Wilcox will be facing off against Twelve Bridges for the Division 2-A crown. This will be a long road trip for Wilcox, with a 2 ½-hour drive to Lincoln, where Twelve Bridges is located. Despite being a relatively new high school, Twelve Bridges has already made a name for themselves with an undefeated season and a dominant win in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship game. Wilcox knows that their key to success will be their defense, as Twelve Bridges has been averaging a whopping 51 points per game. But Wilcox has proven themselves to be a tough team, and their previous longest trip to the state finals in 2021 shows that they are not afraid of a challenge.
The West Catholic Athletic League will also be well-represented in the state playoffs, with St. Ignatius and St. Francis selected for two of the Top 5 divisions. St. Ignatius, coming off a CCS Open Division championship win, will play Central-Fresno in the Division 1-A NorCal final. Central has a strong track record and plays in a highly competitive league, making this a tough matchup for St. Ignatius. Meanwhile, St. Francis will be facing Grant-Sacramento, a team that has made it to the state playoffs for the third consecutive year. St. Francis will be aiming for their third state championship game appearance.
In yet another exciting matchup, Acalanes will take on Carmel for a chance at the 5-AA state championship game. Acalanes, coming off a victory over rival Campolindo in the NCS Division III championship, is looking to defend their title. Despite being shorthanded in their previous game, star players Niko White and Deonte Littlejohn are expected to return for this crucial game. Acalanes' defense will have their work cut out for them against the high-scoring Carmel, but they are confident in their abilities and ready to take on the challenge.
The stage is set for an epic showdown between these powerhouse teams, and fans can expect an intense and thrilling night of high school football. Who will come out on top and earn a spot in the state championship games? Only time will tell.
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