Week 11 prep football capsules

Vacaville (9-1) vs. Roseville (5-5)

When: Today, 7 p.m.

Where: Zunino Stadium, Vacaville High

Series: First meeting

Last week: Vacaville defeated Wood 64-17; Roseville lost to Granite Bay 45-20

Of note: Two schools that have been open for a combined 215 years and share the colors of black and orange finally meet in the first round of this year’s Division II playoffs. The 13th-seeded Tigers, who were 5-2 at one point, come into tonight’s contest on a three-game losing streak, the losses coming against the likes of Nevada Union, Del Oro and Granite Bay. Its other setbacks were against defending state champ Folsom and Pleasant Grove, the No. 2 seed in Division I. . . . Roseville, which averaged 34.3 points per game while giving up 37.8, according to Maxpreps.com, features a dangerously balanced offense. The Tigers have rushed and passed for more than 200 yards per game, 233.4 and 203.1, respectively. They led by QB Zac Cunha who’s thrown for 2,031 yards and 22 TDs and is the son of coach Larry Cunha. The attack also includes RB Casey Lambert, who’s rushed for 1,630 yards and 11 TDs, and receiver Cody Linder, who’s caught 41 passes for 1,046 yards and 11 TDs. . . . As always, the fourth-seeded Bulldogs are decidedly unbalanced, averaging 410.0 yards rushing and 70.5 passing per game. Leading the charge is RB Melvin Mason, who had a season-high 253 yards and 5 TDs against Wood last week, giving him 1,312 yards and 22 TDs on the year. Closing in on the 1,000-yard mark is RB Curtis Goins, who has 949 yards and 10 TDs. According to the numbers, Vacaville has the edge defensively, giving up 197.4 yards rushing and 84.0 passing to 230.2 and 173.9 for Roseville. . . . Granite Bay was the lone common opponent. The Bulldogs beat the Grizzlies 38-27 on Sept. 16, while the Tigers fell to Granite Bay last week 56-13.

Prediction: Vacaville 56, Roseville 20

Rodriguez (5-5) vs. Pleasant Grove (9-1)

When: Today, 7 p.m.

Where: Sheldon High, Sacramento

Series: First meeting

Last week: Rodriguez lost to Vanden 54-49; Pleasant Grove defeated Sheldon 63-3

Of note: It’s safe to say the Mustangs, seeded 15th in Division I, got into the playoffs thanks to one-point wins over Fairfield and American Canyon and a stunning upset of Benica. Their reward is a first-round appointment with Pleasant Grove, ranked 12th in the state, third in Northern California and first in the Sac-Joaquin Section. . . . The Eagles, who average 55.3 points per game, according to Maxpreps.com, get it done with averages of 303.6 yards per game and 9.8 yards per carry with Mark Jenkins doing most of the damage with 1,363 yards and 28 TDs on the season. But forget about QB Cody Demps and he’ll make you pay. He’s thrown for 1,292 yards and 17 TDs with just one interception. . . . The Mustangs are coming off an emotional loss to Vanden in which the Vikings scored the game-winning TD with 4.5 seconds remaining. It was easily Rodriguez’s best offensive showing it had season bests in points and rushing yards (323) with their 420 total yards ranking second. RB Myles Burton rushed for 172 yards, seventh-most in school history, on a season-high 27 carries. He now has 920 yards, which ranks fourth on the Rodriguez single-season list. His 1,536 career rushing yards also rank fourth. His 78 points on the season is tied for fifth, his 114 career points ranks fifth. . . . The one common opponent is Fairfield. A week before the Mustangs edged the Falcons 13-12, the Eagles crushed Fairfield 63-8.

If you go: Take Interstate 80 east to Sacramento and Business 80/Highway 50 to Highway 99. Head south on 99. Take the Cosumnes River Blvd/Calvine Road exit. Turn left on Cosumnes River Blvd/Cosumnes River College Blvd and continue on Calvine Road. Turn left on Elk Grove/Florin Road and right on Vintage Park Drive. Turn right on Kingsbridge Drive, which will take you to Sheldon High, which is at 8333 Kingsbridge Dr.

Prediction: Pleasant Grove 58, Rodriguez 14

Rio Vista (8-2 ) vs. Delta (6-4)

When: Today, 7 p.m.

Where: Rio Vista High

Last meeting: Aug. 26, Rio Vista won 54-8

Last week: Rio Vista lost to Highlands 50-34; Delta lost to Foresthill 34-8

Of note: There are few rivalries hotter than Rio Vista-Delta, and now it’s going to the playoffs. The fourth-seeded Rams cruised in the season-opener for both teams, rolling up 470 yards on the ground and completing their only pass for a 38-yard touchdown.  Don’t look for things to change much tonight. Rio Vista RB Javis Blalock, who leads area rushers with 1,618 yards and 23 TDs, according to Maxpreps.com, gave a preview of his outstanding season in the opener, rushing for 156 yards and two TDs on just three carries and had a TD catch. Charlie Chres and Tanner Webster also had big nights, rushing for 129 and 128 yards, respectively, and have 1,009 and 957 yards on the season. Rio Vista limited Delta to 126 total yards, 136 of it rushing. RB Vince Heffington led the Saints with 112 yards and a TD in the opener, finishing the regular season with 1,169 yards and 12 TDs. . . . The fifth-seeded Saints were 0-4 against teams making the playoffs, 6-0 against teams staying home. Their losses were by an average score of 42-6. . . . The winner gets to make the drive to top-seeded and 10-0 Le Grand.

Prediction: Rio Vista 54, Delta 8

Vanden (7-3) vs. Los Banos (9-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Los Banos High

Series: First meeting

Last week: Vanden defeated Rodriguez 54-49; Los Banos defeated Pacheco 49-16

Of note: There’s nothing like a 132-mile bus ride and the forecast of rain to get you ready for a Division III playoff game — especially a passing team. If the 13th-seeded Vikings are to extend their season to next week they’ll need to overcome those obstacles and a talented Tigers team. . . . Fourth-seeded Los Banos has won nine straight since dropping its season opener at Rocklin, including a a 35-28 win over perennial power Central Catholic, prevailing by an average score of 39-15. The Tigers average 222.2 yards per game rushing, according to Maxpreps.com, with RB James Sams getting most of it with 1,321 yards and 15 TDs to his credit. QB Chris Corpuz is also a threat, throwing for 1, 292 and 18 TDs. . . . The Los Banos defense has 25 sacks, with Shane Hope recording 5.5, and 14 interceptions, Tramane Moore nabbing six. . . . The Vikings have momentum coming off last week’s thrilling 54-49 win over Rodriguez and the knowledge they can win in the playoffs on the road after last year’s upset of top-seeded Manteca. . . . Vikings RB J.J. Hong’s 5 touchdowns and two extra points gave him 32 points, tied for third most in city history, second most in school history. . . . Vanden QB Ben Scott tied career bests by throwing for 320 yards and 5 TDs against Rodriguez.  He set city records for career completions (412) and single-season completions (159), his 2,518 passing yards this season moving him to within 112 of the city record of 2,630 set by Fairfield’s Tra’Mayne Bondurant in 2009. . . . WR Christian Basden has an area-best 43 catches, which puts him in a four-way tie for seventh-best in city history and in a three-way tie for third-most in school history. . . . In last week’s win, Vanden set a school record for most points by both teams in a game with 103, topping the 98 amassed the week before in a 54-44 loss to Benicia and in a 50-48 win over Liberty of Brentwood in 2001.

If you go: Take Highway 12 east to Interstate 5. Take I-5 south and take the Highway 152/Pacheco Boulevard exit and go east (left) to Los Banos. Turn right at South 11th Street. Look for the school on the right at 1966 South 11th street.

Prediction: Los Banos 33, Vanden 26

Vacaville Christian (6-4) vs. Elliot Christian (7-3)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Lincoln High, Stockton

Series: Vacaville Christian leads 3-1

Last meeting: 2006, Vacaville Christian won 58-7 in the first round of the playoffs

Last week: Vacaville Christian lost to Bradshaw Christian 62-14; Jim Elliott Christian lost to Big Valley Christian 44-26

Of note: In a battle of the birds, the sixth-seeded Falcons are riding a three-game losing streak, the third-seeded Eagles a two-game skid. Elliot Christian has the more balanced offense, averaging 159.3 yards passing and 166.7 rushing in games reported to Maxpreps.com. QB Johnson threw for 1,371 yards and 19 TDs heading into last week’s loss to Big Valley Christian with Justin Santos leading the rushing attack with 510 yards and 6 TDs. . . . RB James Aarhus leads the Vacaville Christian running attack with 1,150 yards and 12 TDs, while QB Alec Gregorich has thrown for 1,069 yards and 10 TDs. . . . The Falcons and Eagles had three common opponents and could’ve had four if Stone Ridge Christian hadn’t forfeited to Vacaville Christian when officials failed to show. Both teams defeated Brookside Christian and Encina Prep (Vacaville Christian 50-36 and 50-8, respectively, Elliot Christian 34-14 and 42-8, respectively), while the Falcons shut out Sierra Ridge/Rite of Passage 30-0, while the Eagles fell 20-15.

If you go: Take Highway 12 east to Interstate 5. Take I-5 south and exit at Benjamin Holt Drive and go east to Alexandria Place. Turn left on Alexandria and look for the school on the right, at 6844 Alexandria Place, across the street from the Swenson Golf Course.

Prediction: Vacaville Christian 44, Elliot Christian 38

Last week’s prediction record: 4-1; Season record: (58-9)

Solano County rankings

1, Vacaville (9-1). 2, Bethel (9-1). 3, Benicia (7-3). 4, Vanden (7-3). 5, Rodriguez (5-5).  6, Wood (4-6). 7, Rio Vista (8-2). 8, Fairfield (2-8). 9, Dixon (4-6). 10, St. Patrick’s (2-7). 11, Vacaville Christian (6-4). 12, Vallejo (1-9). 13, Armijo (1-9).

Short URL: http://www.dailyrepublic.com/?p=106472

Posted by Paul Farmer on Nov 9 2011.

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