Front Row Preps

SACRAMENTO—The Modesto Christian Crusaders sequestered behind a large white locker room door for at least 20 minutes Friday night as they no doubt processed a chance missed. That shut door was more than just a metaphor Friday night for the Sac-Joaquin Section’s most decorated basketball program. The Crusaders, who've made championship celebrations their calling card, were rejected this time by Folsom 62-52 in the Division I title game at Golden 1 Center.

HUGHSON—As the final seconds ticked away Friday night, Hughson High quarterback Robert McDaniel tugged at his shoulder pads, his black helmet unable to hide the tears. He received a brief hug from his brother Bryce, and then it was over, the career of the most prolific and decorated quarterback in school history. That he’s headed to Westwood and UCLA didn’t matter much at that moment, not after the Huskies fell hard in the CIF 4-AA Regional Final to St. Vincent de Paul of Petaluma 42-14.

SACRAMENTO—Disappointment trumped tear-shed as the Patterson High Tigers trudged off the Hughes Stadium turf Friday night. There was nothing subtle about what Twelve Bridges of Lincoln, a new school and a nouveau Sac-Joaquin Section power, did to Patterson in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV final. The clock was wound in the fourth quarter of the Raging Rhinos’ 55-7 cakewalk. “Getting a beat-down like that puts things in perspective,” Patterson coach Rob Cozart summarized.

SACRAMENTO—The Sonora High Wildcats stared at a fourth-and-an-inch for a Sac-Joaquin Section championship Friday afternoon. The decision on the sideline was easy—play to our strength. “Coach,”  Eli Ingalls, the Wildcats’ 6-foot-4 quarterback, began to coach Kirk Clifton. “We just ran a play that gained two yards. They couldn’t stop us. If we run it again, I know we can gain an inch.” Clifton liked what he heard.

The Hughson High Huskies learned that many things change over the course of three weeks. For starters, the weather. “The temperature was cold,” Hughson coach Shaun King said as he remembered the chilly conditions during the Huskies’ 28-6 win over El Dorado. “We had some cobwebs but our defense last week was on-point.” The Huskies (11-0), top-seeded in Division V, will meet Union Mine at home Friday night in the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals.

MODESTO—The Turlock High Bulldogs made a beeline for the east end zone at Patton Field—both players from the bench and students sprinting from the bleachers. “Happy” didn’t begin to describe how they felt. It was their moment. Seconds before, Alex Ventura caught the 2-point conversion pass from quarterback Scout Silva—a bold win-or-lose gambit in overtime—and Turlock extended its memorable season Friday night with a hard-to-believe 43-42 victory over Central Catholic.

Turlock and Central Catholic did not want their first-ever meeting football meeting to be in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I quarterfinals. But that is how it has played out—two tradition-steeped programs colliding for lofty stakes Friday night at Patton Field. “Two good football teams,” Central Catholic head coach Roger Canepa summarized. “At this point, you should be good.” The second round of the postseason brings everyone onto the field, including the teams who enjoyed first-round byes.

MODESTO – Downey High’s Antwain Harper swatted away the final desperation pass, and the Knights jumped up and down and celebrated like they were catching cash falling from the sky. Nearby, two members of the Edison Vikings fell to the turf in anguish. A three-hour melodrama was done, and not often does one witness major-league emotion in the  first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

MODESTO – The Modesto Junior College Pirates have entered their bye week with preparations to make and goals to be achieved. MJC (6-2, 3-0), ranked seventh in California according to the JC Athletic Bureau, own the inside track toward a fourth straight Valley Conference title. The Pirates earned that position by holding on to beat rival Fresno 31-27 at Ratcliffe Stadium last month. For perspective, the Rams and the Pirates have dominated the Valley since 2018.

ESCALON – A soft rain pelted the helmets of the Orestimba Warriors and Escalon Cougars during the final minutes Friday night, and Escalon loved the reminder. It’s November. The Cougars love November. They ended the regular season with a by-the-numbers 41-14 victory over Orestimba, a hard-earned 5-5 season record and a tie for second place behind Hughson in the Trans-Valley League.