Estrada Football Rewind: Area teams could (should) have done better

It was a disappointing start to the Sac-Joaquin Section football playoffs if you're a Stanislaus District fan.

Only 12 of the 25 teams made it past the first round -- though the figure should have been 15 or 16 teams.

A lack of a proven kicker was a fatal flaw for Patterson and Modesto, and Manteca managed to lose a 25-point, second-half lead on its home turf.

A decade ago, kickers usually came off the soccer team and coaches were happy to convert two-thirds of the PAT kicks. Field goals? They were desperation kicks with a team down by 2 and the clock running out.

Some schools -- including Sierra, Escalon, Hilmar -- make it a point to not only find a good kicker, but work with him to make him even better.

You might see a few more doing it next year, because we were reminded Friday that kickers are as important as anyone else at the end of a game:

Modesto had an opportunity to beat Los Banos in regulation, but Jesus Ontiveros couldn't convert a 28-yard field goal with 4 seconds left. He also missed a PAT kick after a TD in overtime; LB scored and Freddie Romero nailed his PAT for the win.

Patterson scored with 1:30 to go at Benicia, tying the game at 20. The Tigers missed the PAT kick, though, and the game went OT with Benicia stopping Patterson and then scoring for a thrilling 26-20 victory.

Even more surprising: Patterson's soccer team just won a section title and Modesto's reached the playoffs, so you'd think there are plenty of reliable legs walking around campus.

While a baker's dozen departed, we still have 12 teams in five divisions. Here's a look at the teams and their chances of winning this week, from most likely to least unlike:

• Escalon (10-1) and Modesto Christian (11-0) meet in a Division 4B quarterfinal, after rolling past first-round foes. Escalon's wing-T demands precision handoffs and typically grinds its way downfield, while MC's scheme exploits over-anxious defenders with inside handoffs, reverses and deep passes to Kevin Roya. To win: Escalon must eliminate turnovers that contributed to its 21-16 loss to MC in Week 9 and pick up 5 or 6 yards a play to control the clock. MC has to follow the lead of QB Isaiah Burse, the most exciting player in this division with his ability to shed defenders at the line and juke 'em in the open field.

• Summerville (10-1) is a blast with junior QB Zach Roberson (35 TDs), but the Bears run into state power Central Catholic (10-1) in this week's D-4B quarterfinal. They met in last year's playoff opener, with Central winning 26-8. To win: Roberson's got to have the game of his life, as the Bears won't shut out Central the way they did Ripon on Friday. The Raiders win by continuing to mix the accurate tosses of Dylan Swartz with the running of ever-improving sophomore Craig Jones.

• Sierra (10-1) is the hottest team in the district, following its stunning, 44-42 win over Oakdale in Week 9 with two routs -- including Friday's 59-6 win over Mira Loma in D3. With three potent threats in RB Jarrod Daniels, QB Jonathan Davis and K/WR Anthony Hall, it's a nightmare for any defensive coordinator. To win: Don't change a thing against Benicia (9-2), which will struggle to stay with Daniels and will have to pass often.

• Oakdale (10-1) shed the memory of the Sierra loss, pounding Sonora (35-7) and Natomas (36-0) the last two weeks. The Mustangs ran 72 plays Friday -- that's 72 running plays! -- for 419 yards vs. Natomas in the D-3 rout, with three RBs getting at least 90 yards. To win: Stick to what works at Vanden (10-1), with the deceptive wing-T handoffs and a scheme that attacks the middle with fullback Tim House and the corners with speedy Devin Brooks and Blake Raham.