As the funnel narrows in the drive up to No. 1, we feature the second of three teams in the NorCal preseason top five from the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section, and a team that could make some big noise again this year with who they return if and when we have a season.
4. Monterey Trail-Elk Grove (12-2)
Just like the Sacramento Bee preseason rankings that have the Mustangs at No. 2 and ahead of the Folsom team they upset 35-23 in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinals, and the Cal-Hi Sports final rankings that had Coach T.J. Ewing and his boys at No. 4 in Northern California and No. 18 in the state, we duplicate Monterey Trail’s spot in the pecking order here in our pre-season NorCal rankings.
Of the 4,041 yards the Mustangs rushed for a year ago, they lose the 1,383 yards of Caleb Ramsuer, but it’s who they return that makes them one of NorCal’s top teams.
Senior Prophet Brown, a running back/slotback and defensive back with sprinter’s speed, made the National Preps top prospects list and has committed to USC after receiving 16 major D1 offers.
Brown had 779 rushing yards on only 64 carries and scored 11 times on the ground. He was also the leading receiver on a team that predominately runs the ball with 343 receiving yards on 17 catches with five touchdowns, including three in the Mustangs season-ending 35-27 loss to Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills in the Sac-Joaquin Section D1 title game.
If that isn’t enough, Brown also threw for three touchdowns on halfback option passes, including one in the 28-21 victory over St. Mary’s in the opening round of the playoffs, and in a game in which he returned one of his three interceptions on the season to the house for a touchdown.
Brown gets all the props but last year’s leading touchdown producer, senior and second leading rusher Otha Williams, returns after scoring 16 TDs on 90 carries for 834 yards last season, plus a TD on a kickoff return.
Another running back/defensive back that could break out is senior Chris Lands. On offense he had 438 yards rushing and six touchdowns, while on defense, he had 35 tackles and three interceptions.
On defense the top returner is Nekhi Broadway. The senior linebacker had 103 tackles and four sacks. Who will emerge as the favorite in D1 in the SJS could come from the Mustangs' opener at Folsom if the game is played.
Some other seniors to look for on defense are linemen Thaddeus Singleton, Will Reyes and Andrew Perkins, and defensive back Jamauri Jackson.
It was looking like Ewing and his Mustangs were going to get an opportunity to make a statement with its non-league schedule that was supposed to open on January 8 at No. 5 Folsom, followed by No. 16 and cross-town rival Cosumnes Oaks, Del Oro, state CIF Open Division Bowl Game champion St. John Bosco-Bellflower, and finally No. 6 Pittsburg.
Whether or not Monterey Trail gets to play any of those non-league games, or even gets a chance to defend its Metropolitan League title beginning with a league opener with McClatchy-Sacramento scheduled for February 19, is anyone’s guess at this point.
