Games to watch: Top Stanislaus District high school football matchups for Week 2
Week 1 in the Stanislaus District featured some great games with five decided by six points or fewer.
This week, we have a rematch of the 2019 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV Championship along with a matchup of two reigning champions.
Here are the top games for Week 2:
Thursday
Central Catholic (1-0) at Merced (1-0), 7 p.m. at Golden Valley High School
After erasing a 21-0 deficit against Bellarmine to give coach Roger Canpea his 250th career victory, Central Catholic travels south on the Highway 99 to face Merced.
Raiders senior running back Jack Grisel had 98 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the win.
Merced held on to beat Buhach Colony, 17-13, in Week 1.
Senior running back Cody Chapman and junior quarterback Seth Scheidt had rushing touchdowns in the victory for the Bears.
The two schools have combined for 29 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section title appearances.
Friday
Oakdale (1-0) at Sierra (1-0), 7 p.m. at Sierra High School
A Valley Oak League clash between the Mustangs and the Timberwolves will also be a rematch of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV Championship in which Sierra scored the game-winning touchdown with under two minutes remaining to secure its first section title since 2015.
In its 38-35 win over Escalon last week, Oakdale piled up over 400 total yards.
Sierra senior running back Kimoni Stanley broke the school’s all-time career rushing yardage record in the team’s 55-7 win over Weston Ranch. Stanley had 13 carries for 84 yards and a touchdown and now has 3,571 career rushing yards, 25 more than Mark Paule, who had 3,546.
Stanley broke the single-season school record last year with 2,112 rushing yards.
Oakdale has its own superb running back in senior Zeke Saffar, who had over 100 rushing yards in Week 1.
Buhach Colony (0-1) at Hilmar (1-0), 7 p.m. at Hilmar High School
After beating one Central California Conference power (35-19 over Atwater) last week, the Yellowjackets face another when the Thunder travel to McSweeney Field.
Hilmar is hoping to get senior Cole Bailey back, who missed Week 1 after finding out hours before the season opener he had to quarantine due to possible COVID-19 exposure after a classmate tested positive.
Yellowjackets senior quarterback Seth Miguel had three touchdown passes against the Falcons.
Buhach Colony is led by senior running back and outside linebacker Nate Ruiz, who is one of the best players in the Merced region.
Gregori (1-0) at Pitman (0-1), 7 p.m. at Joe Debely Stadium
What a debut for Gregori junior quarterback Cruz Marines.
In a 54-20 victory over Modesto, Marines had 198 passing yards and four touchdowns and added 118 rushing yards. Senior running back Isaac Herman added 154 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Sophomore Joey Stout had a 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Pitman’s 30-24 loss to Enochs.
Gregori and Pitman have split the last two meetings.
Enochs (1-0) at Downey (0-1), 7 p.m. at Downey High School
Is this the year Enochs finally beats Downey?
It hasn’t happened since 2010 and the Eagles have a talented junior trio in running back Abayomi Babalola, wide receiver Kola Babalola, and quarterback Keith Orona.
Senior defensive lineman Marché Bullard could provide havoc against Downey’s offensive line.
The Knights fell to Turlock, 56-24, last week but senior running back Michael Nevarez had a big game with 14 carries for 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns and added eight receptions for 57 yards.
The quarterback competition will continue between sophomores Conner Stoddard and Hudson Wyatt.
Ripon (0-1) at Manteca (1-0), 7 p.m. at Manteca High School
It’s a battle of reigning section champions at Manteca as the defending Div. V Indians face the Div. III Buffaloes.
It was a tough opening week for Ripon, which fell to East Union, 37-6.
Manteca’s game plan in its win over Kimball was simple: run and run some more.
The Buffaloes had 342 rushing yards and were led by juniors Lyon Colon (11 carries for 150 yards, 2 TD’s) and Khalid Robinson (19 carries for 178 yards, 1 TD).
Amador (1-0) at Escalon (0-1), 7 p.m. at Escalon High School
How about a nice small-school battle between the Buffaloes and Cougars
Despite his team’s loss to Oakdale, Escalon senior running back Luke Anderson had 16 carries for 92 yards and three touchdowns and senior quarterback Ty Harris had 283 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Amador shut out Calaveras, 11-0, last week.
This is the first meeting between the schools since the first round of the 2013 Div. IV playoffs when Escalon won, 37-0.
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Stanislaus District Week 2 Football Schedule
All games at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted
Thursday
Non-League
Central Catholic at Merced (at Golden Valley HS)
Linden at Big Valley Christian
Friday
CCAL
Enochs at Downey
Gregori at Pitman (at Turlock HS)
Turlock at Modesto (at Gregori HS)
WAC
Ceres at Johansen
Patterson at Pacheco
Los Banos at Central Valley (at Ceres HS)
CCC
Buhach Colony at Hilmar
VOL
Oakdale at Sierra
Ripon at Manteca
SL
Waterford at Mariposa
Orestimba at Riverbank
Non-League
Amador at Escalon
Hughson at El Capitan (at Golden Valley HS)
Weston Ranch at Denair
Saturday
WAC
Mountain House at Beyer (at Downey HS), 3 p.m.
This story was originally published March 24, 2021 at 6:46 AM.
