Downey football still on playoff bubble

There are some things that are beyond Jeremy Plaa's control, like where his Downey football team ends up in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

The Knights are a "bubble" team between Division 1 and 2, and their enrollment determines the bracket they're in. The Bee's playoff projections had Downey in D2 last week.

Shuffle just two of the 80 or so smaller schools below it, though, and Downey goes D1. It's tough to scout playoff foes with that much uncertainty.

Plaa knows enough that he wouldn't mind his Knights going with the large schools, he said Monday at the Modesto Quarterback Club. He noted that D2 is laden with potent programs, and his Knights would receive a higher seed and a better shot at hosting a potential quarterfinal game.

Downey (7-1, 4-0 MMC) has two games remaining, but it has secured a playoff berth. It has Davis — a rivalry that has regained some of its old luster with the creation of the Block D sculpture — and Beyer left.

It would require a stunning upset, but Beyer could throw the race into a three-way tie if it beats Downey in Week 10. That would potentially leave those two and Enochs tied for first at 5-1, and a points differential formula would be used to determine the final order.

Enochs, staggered in a 45-14 loss to Downey last week, has this week off and faces a must-win against Davis on the final night of the regular season. A handful of teams could go 5-5 and earn at-large bids, but Enochs (5-4) isn't one of them.

This time of year is always an interesting one, given that report cards are distributed.

The first set of grades had come out for kids in Modesto City Schools, and most teams lose players to the 2.0 GPA requirement. Plaa, though, said his entire program came away perfect.

"We've taken a lot of pride in making sure we're focused on our academics," said Plaa, whose team hosts its annual Knight Under the Lights community event Wednesday.

The team invites kids from kindergarten to sixth grade to spend a few hours playing games and ricocheting in the bounce house set up on its glistening artificial turf. The program earned Downey the Sac-Joaquin Section Community Service Award last year.

The event is from 6-7:30 p.m., with registration at 5:30. The first 100 kids to register get a shirt and everyone gets a football program, and there is no cost.

While much of the focus on Central Catholic has been on its running game, kicker Kenny Smart made news by kicking his 51st consecutive PAT in a 77-7 win over Livingston.

That broke Gio Podesto's record. Smart has the state's longest active streak for consecutive PATs, and is second in California for PAT kicks.

The 11 PATs in one game also ties a Podesto record.

The Raiders will have more to celebrate today — center David Henriquez returns after injuring his knee two months ago. That forced coach Roger Canepa to restructure his offensive line and cut his depth on both sides of the ball.

Henriquez has two weeks to prep for the playoffs, as Central plays Central Valley and explosive Ja'Quan Gardner before finishing at Patterson.

Week 9 schedule. Page C-4Week 9 Schedule

Kickoffs at 7:30 p.m., unless noted

• THURSDAY'S GAMES

Modesto Metro Conference

Gregori at Johansen, 7:45

• FRIDAY'S GAMES

Modesto Metro Conference

Davis at Downey, 7:45

Modesto vs. Beyer (Johansen), 7:45

Central California Conference

Buhach Colony at Turlock

Merced at Atwater

Pitman at Golden Valley

Valley Oak League

East Union at Sonora, 7

Kimball at Weston Ranch, 7:15

Oakdale at Manteca

Sierra at Lathrop

Western Athletic Conference

Central Valley at Central Catholic, 7

Los Banos at Livingston, 7

Patterson at Ceres, 7

Trans-Valley League

Escalon at Modesto Chr.

Ripon at Orestimba

Riverbank at Hughson

Southern League

Gustine at Ripon Chr. (Ripon)

Le Grand at Mariposa

Turlock Chr. at Delhi

Waterford at Denair

Mother Lode League

Amador at Summerville

Bret Harte at Linden

Calaveras at Argonaut

Central California Athletic

Elliot Chr. at Big Valley