Playoff roundup: Top-seeded Sonora stunned by Colfax, 56-55; Gregori's dream season ends
No. 5-seeded Colfax stopped a two-point conversion attempt with 22 seconds to play and overcame an incredible individual performance by rival quarterback Jake Gookin to upset top-seeded Sonora 56-55 Friday night in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V semifinals in Sonora.
Gookin, who accounted for seven total touchdowns, threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Evan Bearden that enabled the Wildcats (9-3) to close to within a point 45 seconds after Colfax had taken a 56-49 lead.
But Gookin couldn’t work his magic on the two-point conversion attempt and Colfax (9-3) recovered the onside kick to advance to next Saturday’s championship game against Pioneer Valley League rival Bear River, 1 p.m. at Cosumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove.
Gookin passed for two touchdowns and rushed for six others, including a 68-yard burst up the middle that put Sonora ahead 49-42 with 10 minutes left.
But Mason Ahrens scored on a two-yard run and Alex Weir’s PAT kick knotted it at 49-49 with 4:36 to play. Then, Ahrens caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Ryland Heimann and Weir’s boot made it 56-49 with 1:07 to go.
Ahrens finished with three touchdowns and Heimann threw five touchdown passes, including three to Jake Green.
Colfax will play in its third section title game in the last four years and will seek its first championship since 2003.
DIVISION I
No. 2 Oak Ridge 49, No. 7 Gregori 14 in El Dorado Hills – Matt Jenner completed 12 of 19 passes for 159 yards and five touchdowns, three to Justin Poerio and two to Austin Jarrard, to lead the Trojans (11-1) past the Jaguars (11-1) and advance to next Friday’s semifinals against visiting St. Mary’s. Poerio had six catches for 89 yards and rushed for 78 yards on nine carries. Avant Jacobs returned an interception 45 yards for the Trojans.
DIVISION III
No. 4 Patterson 40, No. 5 Vista del Lago 22 in Patterson – Gabe Sanchez threw three touchdown passes and Phabian Threadgill scored two touchdowns as the Tigers (11-1) ended the season for the Eagles (7-5). Dominik Norris rushed for two touchdowns for Vista del Lago.
DIVISION V
No. 6 Bear River 14, No. 7 Ripon 7 in Lake of the Pines – Austin Baze ran for a 12-yard touchdown shortly after recovering a Ripon fumble; Travis Carpenter added a fourth-quarter, one-yard touchdown plunge and Luke Bagget had an interception and fumble recovery to lead the Bruins (9-3) over the Indians (8-4) and advance to the Division V championship game Nov. 25.
DIVISION VI
No. 4 Modesto Christian 21, No. 1 Bradshaw Christian 7 in South Sacramento – The Crusaders (7-5) scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to stun the Pride (8-4). Kyrese Robinson’s 10-yard run was Bradshaw Christian’s lone touchdown.
This story was originally published November 18, 2017 at 12:31 AM with the headline "Playoff roundup: Top-seeded Sonora stunned by Colfax, 56-55; Gregori's dream season ends."