Who’s heading to the Sac-Joaquin Section football playoffs? Here’s our projections
With one game left in the regular season, the Sac-Joaquin Section football playoff picture is starting to take shape. To qualify for the postseason, teams must have at least four wins.
Teams who win or share their league title are the only ones receiving automatic bids.
Divisions I through VI will have 12-team brackets and Division VII will have eight teams.
After placing league champions in their respective divisions, other playoff spots are filled by top teams in each division, according to rankings website Cal Preps.
While most playoff teams will be taken from the top 12, some teams outside the CalPreps’ top 12 may make the playoffs if teams above them were either moved up in division, or do not qualify by virtue of not meeting the four-win minimum.
The Bee looks at what Stanislaus District teams are projected to make the playoffs based on overall record and CalPreps/Maxpreps rankings after nine games.
Of course, it will all be finalized on Sunday when the section announces its playoff brackets. Play begins Friday, Nov. 5.
These are just projections. Some teams may either be left out, make the playoffs or move up or down in Division based on results in the final week of league.
Central California Athletic Conference
Who’s in
Downey: Won the CCAL title. Division II
Turlock: Strength of schedule, four victories. Division I
Gregori: Strength of schedule, four victories but may drop from Division I to Division II
Who’s Out
Pitman, Modesto
On the bubble
Enochs
Central California Conference
Who’s in
Patterson: Clinched the CCC title. Division IV
Merced: Division IV
Who’s Out
Buhach Colony, Atwater, Central Valley, El Capitan
On the Bubble
Golden Valley: Division III. Plays Merced Friday.
Central California Athletic Alliance
Who’s in
Big Valley Christian: Anticipated CCAA champion. Division VII
Who’s out
Stone Ridge Christian, Millennium, Delta Charter
Southern Athletic League
Who’s in
Waterford: Anticipated SL champion. Division VI
Ripon Christian: Awaiting word on sanctions. Would be among the top teams in Division VII.
Orestimba: Division VI
Mariposa County: Division VII
Le Grand: Division VII
Delhi: Division VI. Teams ranked above them will not meet four-win minimum.
Who’s out
Denair
On the bubble
Gustine: Must win to reach minimum four-win minimum
Trans-Valley League
Who’s in
Escalon: Anticipated TVL champion. Moves up from Division VI to Division V if they win the league.
Hilmar: Division V
Ripon: Division V
Hughson: Division VI
Livingston: Division V
Who’s out
Modesto Christian, Riverbank
Valley Oak League
Who’s in
Central Catholic: Anticipated VOL champion. Must be in Division II.
Kimball: Anticipated top seed in Division IV. Must be in Division IV or higher.
Oakdale: Division III
Manteca: Division III
East Union: Division IV
Who’s out
Sierra, Weston Ranch
Western Athletic Conference
Who’s in
Davis: Clinched at least a share of the WAC title. Division III
Los Banos: Division V
Ceres: Division IV
Who’s out
Lathrop, Mountain House, Pacheco, Johansen, Beyer
This story was originally published October 28, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
