Here’s what you should know about each Stanislaus District section championship finalist
Just three Stanislaus District teams remain.
After a long, grueling playoff stretch that knocked local teams in Divisions I-IV out before this weekend’s CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Championships, Escalon (Division V), Hughson (Division VI) and Ripon Christian (Division VII) remain. All three teams entering the weekend have a combined 30-7 record.
None of the Stanislaus District’s final three teams won a league title. Ripon Christian finished second to Orestimba in the Southern League while Hughson and Escalon were the Trans-Valley League’s second- and third-place finishers, respectively.
Hughson was the only Stanislaus District team remaining that had a first-round bye after being awarded the D-VI No. 2 seed. Fifth-seeded Escalon narrowly missed out on a week off, while Ripon Christian, despite earning the No. 1 seed, played its first week of the playoffs because Division VII has an eight-team bracket, meaning every team starts in the quarterfinals.
Here is a recap of how each Stanislaus District team reached this weekend’s Sac-Joaquin Section Championships:
Division VII – No. 1 Ripon Christian (10-2)
Opponent: No. 3 Woodland Christian (11-1)
Date: Friday, Nov. 25
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: St. Mary’s High School
The only two times Ripon Christian has made it to a section championship, it lost. This year, as the top seed in Division VII’s eight-team playoff, the Knights are looking to redeem themselves after falling in the 2017 D-VII and 2018 D-VI title games. After finishing second in the SL, the Knights blanked Rio Vista in the quarterfinals and blew out Stone Ridge Christian in the semifinals to set up a matchup with the third-seeded Cardinals. Just two setbacks kept the Knights from a perfect season: an opening-week loss to Central Valley Christian of Visalia and a league loss to SL champion Orestimba.
In wins, Ripon Christian is averaging almost 46 points a game, for which head coach Phil Grams credits offensive coordinator and play caller Randy Fasani. The two combined their offensive strategies, Grams’ more traditional offensive style with Fasani’s West Coast playing style. Quarterback Trey Fasani spreads the ball out, but no receiver has been more reliable than 6-foot-5 Griffin de Abreu. The senior duo have connected for 690 yards and 15 touchdowns. Running back Grant Sonke provides a threat on the ground with 867 yards and 13 touchdowns. Woodland Christian can put up points, too. The Cardinals are averaging 41 points a game and went on a run where they scored 50 or more points in five straight games. Running backs Billy Hinkle (900 yards, 15 touchdowns) and Keigi Kungu (438 yards, 12 touchdowns) lead the dominant rushing attack and Khai Brown has proved to be a threat in his eight games with 328 yards and nine touchdowns.
Division VI – No. 2 Hughson (10-2)
Opponent: No. 1 Summerville (11-1)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 26
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: St. Mary’s High School
The Huskies return to the section finals for the first time in 22 years. Their run from 1990-2000 was the best in school history, and coach Shaun King is ready to help Hughson return to that level of consistent play. The Huskies finished second in the TVL to Hilmar and beat Division V finalist Escalon to open league play. Hughson was awarded the second overall seed in Division VI after an 8-2 regular season that included a second-place finish in the TVL and preseason wins over playoff teams Orestimba and Argonaut. After a first-round bye, the Huskies beat Twelve Bridges and Orestimba in a rematch to get to Saturday’s championship matchup with the No. 1 seed, Summerville.
The more Hughson relies on the rushing attack, the better senior Liam Bridgford plays. Since the Summerville loss, he has rushed for at least 100 yards and scored a touchdown in six of the last seven games, including a 186-yard, three-touchdown masterpiece in the quarterfinals. The defensive backbone is linebacker David Burns. A junior who flies around and seems to be involved in every play, Burns has recorded at least 10 tackles in eight straight games and is eighth in the section with 116 total tackles. Saturday afternoon’s title game will be a rematch of a Week 4 matchup between the Huskies and the Bears. Summerville won, 23-14. The Bears boast a stout defense that held Hughson to a season-low 134 rushing yards in their first matchup.
Division V – No. 5 Escalon (10-3)
Opponent: No. 2 Sonora (10-2)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 26
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: St. Mary’s High School
The Cougars revived their season after starting TVL play 0-2 with losses to Hilmar and Hughson. Coach Andrew Beam called the homecoming loss to Hughson humbling, but since that game, their record has been spotless. Escalon has won seven straight games entering Saturday evening’s contest with Sonora. The Cougars were given a five seed entering the playoffs, meaning no first-round bye and just one home game throughout the postseason. They opened the playoffs by blowing out Pacheco, 55-0, and followed that with a 42-28 win over Hilmar and a near shutout of top-seeded Sutter, winning 23-2. Their opponent, another small-school power that finished at the top of the Mother Lode League, ran past Center and Dixon to reach its seventh championship game in school history.
Escalon’s Ryker Peters has continued to prove he’s back to his preseason form, but what makes the Cougars more dangerous is the emergence of its passing attack with quarterback Donovan Rozevink and receiver Owen Nash. In three of the past six games, Escalon has had 190 or more passing yards and 12 touchdowns. They will be facing a strong and physical Wildcats team led up front by 6-foot-5 lineman Roger Alderman, who committed to Utah. Sonora’s junior tandem of running back Audie Peeples and quarterback Adam Curnow have combined for 1,605 yards and 14 touchdowns.
This story was originally published November 23, 2022 at 1:30 PM.
