Games to watch: Top Stanislaus District high school football matchups for Week 9
The final few games of league play are here and a lot of teams are jostling for playoff position in their respective leagues.
The Valley Oak League and Trans-Valley League remain the most competitive among its top teams, but the Central California Conference features three undefeated teams tied for first with two of them matching up this week.
Here are the Stanislaus Districts top Week 9 games:
Manteca (7-0, 3-0) at Central Catholic (6-1, 3-0), 7 p.m.
For the past three weeks, coach Roger Canepa has been asked “is this your biggest game of the year?” This time, it actually might be with the winner of this matchup between the fourth and fifth teams in the Sac-Joaquin Section gaining an edge in the race for a Valley Oak League title.
Manteca and Central Catholic play similar brands of football on offense and defense, focusing on pounding the ball on the ground and bringing physicality.
After handling Oakdale, the Raiders got one of the main strengths of their run game back in senior Julian Lopez against Kimball and he made an immediate impact with 102 yards and four touchdowns.
After holding Kimball’s high-powered offense to 16 points last week, the Raiders are going to have to do the same thing Friday against the Buffaloes and star Blake Nichelson. The wide receiver and safety has 1,104 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns and 280 yards and six touchdowns receiving.
In addition to Nichelson, the Buffaloes running game features Lyon Colon who has 456 yards and nine touchdowns.
Davis (7-0, 4-0) at Beyer (0-7, 0-4) at Downey High School, 7 p.m.
After leaving Friday’s win over Lathrop with what a neck injury, Davis’ transfer quarterback Jayson Munthe has been cleared to play by doctors and is excited to suit up Friday as Davis plays against his old team, Beyer, at the Patriots’ homecoming.
With starting running back Isaac Martinez still out with an injury, the Spartans have gotten great production in their run game from junior Daniel Ramos, who had a breakout performance in Friday’s win with 11 carries for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Ramos’ production along with Tyler Sanchez’s versatility in all areas of the game present an all-around attack for Davis that could propel them into the playoffs.
Downey (6-1, 2-0) at Enochs (4-2, 0-2) at Johansen High School, 7 p.m.
Enochs had 10 players out last game with injury or non-COVID-19-related illness so coach Jeremy Plaa and Downey know that the team on last Friday’s film isn’t going to be what they face this week.
The Knights are riding a six-game win streak and after beating CCAL powerhouse Turlock 38-14 last week. Some are saying this is the best Downey has played in recent memory.
The league leaders are playing their first road game since Week 1. The Knights had a game against Beyer where they were the designated road team but it was played on their home field.
After losing two straight league games, Enochs remains upbeat. Their mindset has shifted from remaining on the top to that of an underdog looking to prove people wrong as the Eagles look to clinch their first playoff birth in 10 years.
Oerstimba (4-3, 2-2) at Waterford (7-0, 4-0), 7:15 p.m.
Waterford just keeps turning out wins and Aaron Adams, Javier Nusom and Ryan Hilton continue to put the offense on their backs. The trio has accounted for 63% of the team’s total offense and 54 percent of its touchdowns.
Waterford’s success goes beyond offense as its defense has held up its end allowing the least amount of points in the Southern League.
But Orestimba comes into Friday’s matchup on the heels of two blowout victories against Mariposa County and Delhi, respectively.
This game could be a defensive battle as in their seven games, both teams have allowed less than 70 points.
Los Banos (2-4, 2-1) at Ceres (5-2, 3-1), 7 p.m.
Ceres enters the matchup tied for second place in the Western Athletic Conference with Lathrop.
After suffering a loss to the Spartans, the Bulldogs have won three straight games against Beyer, Johansen and Pacheco, averaging 40 points per game.
Los Banos is peaking at the right time with both of its wins coming in league games. The Tigers come into the matchup fourth in the WAC and a win could push them past the Bulldogs.
Ceres will have to execute in all areas of the game. Last week, Los Banos forced a fumble and recorded an interception on defense and on special teams, returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
Hilmar (5-2, 1-2) at Hughson (6-2, 2-2), 7:15 p.m.
This is the kind of game where both teams throw their respective records out the window and play for the pride of having a year’s worth of bragging rights in the rivalry.
Hilmar has been battling injuries all season and going into the Hughson game, it will be more of the same. The Yellowjackets will play without our linemen (3 are down after knee injuries), and tailback Luis Vargas, who is out with a concussion.
They are still without projected starting quarterback Hudson Azavedo, who tore his ACL prior to the season.
With all of the injuries, 6-foot-5 receiver Derek Taylor has constantly been one of Hilmar’s standout performers with 117 catches for 465 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Yellowjackets will have their hands full on defense with Hughson’s leading rusher, Will Nutcher, who is averaging 95 yards per game.
Golden Valley (3-3, 2-0) at Patterson (6-2, 4-0), 7 p.m.
Patterson returns home after securing its sixth straight win last Friday, 35-7 against Central Valley in Ceres.
This matchup between two of the Central California Conference’s top three teams will serve as senior night for the Tigers as they end the season next week on the road against league leader Buhach Colony.
The CCC has a three-way tie for first and though Patterson has the most league wins, it is pushed down to third because of the undefeated teams, it has allowed the most points.
Pitman (2-4, 1-1) at Gregori (4-3, 2-0), 7 p.m.
Gregori jumped ahead of Turlock in the CCAL standings after last week’s 43-15 win over Modesto High, the Jaguars are in second place.
While Cruz Marines has led the offense, the coaching staff believes last week’s emergence of Jayden Miller adds another layer to the offense. Miller went for 226 yards and four touchdowns on just 10 carries.
In the chase for a playoff spot, every game matters for the Jaguars. They are looking at every week as a big week and with Pitman coming off a win last week, Gregori is coming into this game “playing as if we’re the underdog”.
After beating Pitman in 2019, Gregori lost to the Pride during the spring, 48-20, and coach Lamar Wallace is making sure his team doesn’t forget how they felt after that loss. Going into games against Downey and Turlock with three league wins could be key for the Jaguars.
Escalon (6-1, 3-0) at Riverbank (0-6, 0-3), 7 p.m.
Escalon remains one of the premier teams in the competitive Trans-Valley League and is in second place behind Ripon.
The Cougars’ defense is special, averaging just 18 points a game. Standout freshman Ryan Lewis has been a bright spot on their defensive line.
The 6-foot-2, 200 pound defensive end has recorded 32 tackles, two tackles for loss, six sacks and has recovered two fumbles.
