Why a win in Friday’s football section semifinals would be a breakthrough for Patterson
The Patterson High football team has lots of experience in the first three rounds of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
The Tigers played in semifinals games from 2005 to 2008 as well as 2010, 2017 and 2021. When they weren’t in the semis, Patterson made the playoffs every other season since 2016.
Experience in the finals? Not so much.
The Tigers have been to one section championship in the school’s history, a 24-6 Division V loss in 2007 to Central Catholic. Despite years of regular season and postseason success, a trip to the title game has been hard to come by.
They’ve seen it all. Three different leagues – Trans-Valley League, two versions of the Western Athletic Conference and now the Central California Athletic League – and three different playoff divisions, from I-III.
“We’ve been through everything,” Patterson coach Rob Cozart said. “We’ve been through almost every division and league, we’ve been moved from a five to a four to a three. We just have to deal with the cards that are dealt to us. … It just is what it is.”
This year, the Tigers (10-1) are staring at a chance to get over the hump and into that elusive section championship game in the Division III semifinals at home Friday night at 7 against Grant High (8-2).
Patterson will host the first semifinals game since 2010. They were a two seed playing against Del Oro, which was dropped into Division III from Division II. Del Oro beat the Tigers, and went on to win the section title as a No. 11 seed.
Three of the past four postseasons, the Tigers have run into Oakdale. Losses in the 2017 and 2021 Division III semifinals and the 2019 Division IV quarterfinals had Patterson admittedly looking for a way to overcome the Mustangs in this year’s D-III playoffs.
But the Mustangs were upset by Roseville in the first round. Even with their budding playoff rival out, the Tigers knew they couldn’t just coast to the finals.
“Everybody here in town was rooting for Oakdale,” Cozart said. “Lots of people were rooting for Oakdale to beat Roseville because they felt like this is the year that we could have gotten them. But there’s no way of knowing … we just have to move on.”
They will face a Grant team that presents one of the section’s top scoring offenses.
The third-seeded Pacers are averaging 67 points in their last five wins with Metropolitan League wins of 76-8 and 84-0 and a 64-28 quarterfinals win over Yuba City.
Grant has sent numerous players to the NFL including Devontae Booker, Donte Stallworth, C.J. Wallace and current Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson. They have won seven section titles in eight appearances.
Quarterback Joseph McCray’s 2,419 passing yards are good for ninth in the section and he has thrown 34 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Receivers Kingston Lopa (700 yards, 13 touchdowns) and Kyrell Goss-Pruitt (667 yards, 11 touchdowns) provide two threats on the outside that can’t be ignored.
“They’re a historic program,” Cozart said. “These guys are good. The quarterback throws the ball around a lot and the running backs are good. They’ve got receivers on the outside that they like to throw to. It’s certainly a big test for us, no doubt.”
Sean Hansen missed last Friday’s game with a non-COVID illness but the Tigers made quick work of Roseville thanks to strong running from Lolo Mataele, who finished with a season high 345 yards and five rushing touchdowns.
After focusing on defense to start the season, Mataele has found his running legs, getting better with time. He’s rushed for 1,280 yards and 21 touchdowns this season in addition to being one of the defensive leaders at linebacker.
“Right now, he’s the MVP of our team because he’s valuable everywhere.” Cozart said. “That’s not counting just on the game film. He’s a big time leader for us; guys rally behind him.”
“Him having that game against Roseville offensively was fun to watch, but there was a big chunk of us that weren’t surprised because of who he is, and what he can do.”
Hansen and his 1,190 yards and 10 touchdowns should be ready to go Friday as he returned to practice this week.
As with many locales in the Stanislaus District, Patterson takes a lot of pride in being a one high-school town. With that comes a lot of history. And a lot of support.
Cozart says in any given year, multiple football players will have siblings, parents, aunts or uncles in attendance who have graduated from the school. The support at home games is always there.
Hosting the first semifinals game in more than a decade is an accomplishment in itself, but going to its first section title in 15 years would be that much better.
“It’s all connected now,” Cozart said. “Part of why we have such a good crowd following right now is just the community rallies around them. They’re just so supportive, so it would mean a lot for these guys to be able to represent our community.”
This story was originally published November 16, 2022 at 9:00 PM.
