As part of the first week of the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs that begin Thursday Nov. 9 due to Memorial Day, Prep2Prep will be previewing each playoff bracket. This feature focuses on the Division III bracket.
OVERVIEW
This division may very well have an even more prohibitive favorite than any of the other top four divisions we are previewing. Top seed Oakdale (9-1) is coming off a 27-21 win over Central Catholic to claim a 13th Valley Oak League title in the past 16 years, although it took a 44-yard run by Cameron Cherry on fourth-and-seven with 21 seconds left to get it done against a state-ranked top 50 opponent.
With the victory Coach Trent Merzon and his boys moved up to No. 3 in the P2P Sac-Joaquin Section rankings, No. 19 in the Cal-Hi Sports rankings and the Maxpreps computer has them at No. 39.
Manteca was state top 50 in some early rankings but the No. 2 seed and P2P SJS No. 12 ranked Buffaloes were beaten 36-15 by Oakdale, and maybe if they make it to the finals it could be a better game, but there really doesn’t seem to be anyone that can stop the mostly running and sometimes passing juggernaut of the Mustangs.
Last year Oakdale took care of current SJS No. 14 ranked and third-seeded Christian Brothers with a 51-14 victory in the D3 title game, and then beat Sutter at home 27-10 in the CIF Northern Regional Division 3-A Bowl Game before traveling to La Jolla where they blitzed Bishop’s 47-0 to claim the CIF state 3-A title.
The question this year would seem how to be how much higher will the CIF place Oakdale if they win this year’s crown and it could be as high as 2-AA or even 1-A.
Click here for full printable bracket.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Oakdale RB Cameron Cherry, Oakdale RB/DB/LB Bronson Harmon, Oakdale RB/DB Josh Jacobson, Oakdale QB Marc Dickson, Oakdale OL/DL Nico Sarale, Manteca QB Gino Campiotti, Manteca RB Trabron Russell, Manteca WR/DB Presley Keltner, Manteca LB/RB Ferrin Manulelua, Manteca LB Rayshon Dozier, Christian Brothers QB Gunnor Faulk, Christian Brothers TE/DE Spencer Webb, Manteca WR/DB/RET Tyler Green, Christian Brothers RB Jaiden Green, Christian Brothers DL/OL Daniel Simoes, Patterson QB Gabe Sanchez, Patterson SB Kendrick Bond, Patterson RB/OL/DL Jacob Vainuku, Patterson SB Phabian Threadgill, Vista del Lago RB Dominick Norris, Vista del Lago QB Grant Patterson, Vista del Lago LB/WR Brenden Pugh, Vista del Lago WR/DB Chad Wilson
SLEEPER TEAM
Looking at anyone that could topple Oakdale is not going to come from anyone outside the next two seeds, and that isn’t really a good prospect. Manteca can’t be the sleeper after their 19-point loss to Oakdale in league, although they do have a win over P2P Central Coast Section No. 2 Valley Christian in week two, but the sleeper can be a Christian Brothers team the Buffaloes beat 36-35 in week one. The Falcons then lost to Jesuit but have soared to eight straight wins since then although none of the teams are currently ranked in the P2P SJS rankings.
TITLE GAME PREDICTION
Oakdale over the winner of the Manteca versus Christian Brothers semifinal
