MC's road to D4 section title won't be long one

By Richard T. Estrada
restrada@modbee.com

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Dynamic playmakers and a homefield advantage are crucial to winning a Sac-Joaquin Section title, so all eyes are on Modesto Christian and explosive senior Isaiah Burse.

The Crusaders are the only "perfect 10" in Division 4B, and will be on their own turf as long as they keep winning.

Their first road game would be the Division 4 final, when the Crusaders would go to Lincoln High in Stockton.

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Homefield is always important, but takes on new meaning in the playoffs due to raucous fans and long bus trips.

Colfax, for example, has to travel 125 miles today -- to be greeted by what is likely to be a standing-room only crowd. Then the Falcons must take the field to face Burse and the division's most athletic team.

Burse isn't the only player capable to taking over a game -- but he is the most exciting.

Central Catholic's Dylan Swartz and Summerville's Zach Roberson might be better passers, but neither is as frightening in the open field.

On the verge of a 1,000-yard season, both passing and running, Burse is surrounded by a half-dozen teammates that make it difficult on defenses.

Burse doesn't only pass and run, though, he's also the real deal on defense: He has four interceptions and returned every one for a touchdown.

The home field, the personnel and the path through the playoffs put MC in position to be the favorite. If the playoffs go to form, the Crusaders will not see a team that can match their quickness and agility.

What they will get is plenty of power football, starting Friday with Colfax and running back Pat Rawlins. The once-pass happy Falcons are dirt devils, with Rawlins pounding away for yards and TDs.

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They'd likely get Trans-Valley League rival Escalon and its compact wing-T in a quarterfinal, and MC already beat the Cougars. Next would be Central Catholic and its large line in the semifinal, with the Raiders coming across town, then a battle with plodding Lincoln of Placer County, Placer or Sonora in the final.

The Crusaders need to win the next four weeks to make it happen. If they do, a trip to the State Small School Bowl in Carson will be the reward.

MC has been ranked the top small school by CalHiSports all season and is probably the lone NorCal team capable of matching up with the more talented schools down south.

Central Catholic has a bowl bid of its own to focus on: The Raiders are in position to be invited to the Division 3 Bowl if they win the section title.

They can't both go, though, because only section champs are eligible to advance -- and at least one of them will lose.

While a Central vs. MC battle the third week of the playoffs would typically be for the title, that's not so this season. The playoffs extend an extra week, and the championship game would likely be against a school with three times the enrollment of Central or MC.

Lincoln (10-0), Placer (9-1), Dixon (9-1), Sonora (8-2) and Whitney (7-3) were in a larger division last year, but the restructured playoffs put them here among smaller schools.