Selection Sunday: SJS releases football brackets, Central Catholic, Turlock, Downey in D-I
The 2024 Sac-Joaquin Section postseason is finally here.
After the section’s selection show Sunday afternoon featuring SJS Assistant Commissioner Will DeBoard and guests Joe Davidson of The Sacramento Bee and Joe Cortez of the Turlock Journal, all speculation can be put to rest.
In Division I, The Bee’s top three teams, Central Catholic, Turlock and Downey, all earned top 8 seeds. Bee No. 1 Central Catholic earned a first-round bye with the No. 3 seed in the section’s top Division. The Raiders are looking to advance to the section semifinals for the third straight season. They have semifinals appearances in each season as a Division I member. Turlock, The Bee’s No. 2 team, is the No. 6-ranked team in the bracket. Bee No. 3 Downey is ranked No. 8 in the D-I bracket. All three D-I Stanislaus District teams will host their first playoff game.
In Division II, after Manteca earned its first outright VOL title in 11 years, the Buffaloes are the No. 4 team in the loaded bracket. Rocklin is the division’s top seed followed by No. 2 St. Mary’s and No. 3 Grant.
In Division III, Oakdale returns to a top-4 seed, earning a bye as the overall No. 1 seed in Division III. Despite a loss to D-II No. 4 seed Manteca on Friday night, Oakdale’s combination of overall record and strength of schedule were enough to earn it home field advantage through the section semifinals. Johansen is also in the D-III bracket. The No. 11 Vikings went from 1-9 just two seasons ago to a postseason berth.
In Division IV, Patterson is the Stanislaus District’s highest-ranked team, coming in at No. 2. The Tigers were helped largely by their strength of schedule, having games against California of San Ramon from the Bay Area and top-ranked Valley Oak League teams Central Catholic, Manteca and Oakdale, all of which earned byes in their respective divisions.
In Division V, Hughson is the No. 1 seed, as many predicted at the start of the season. The Huskies went a perfect 10-0 and captured their first TVL title since 1998. They pulled out close wins against Sonora and Ripon Christian along the way.
In Division VI, Ripon gets in. Its Week 9 win over Sonora and its Hilmar victory in the season finale earned Ripon a trip to the postseason as the No. 10 seed. While Ripon hits the road in the first round, No. 8 Ripon Christian and No. 5 Orestimba host.
In Division VII, Big Valley Christian is back in the postseason for the first time since 2021. Their success in the new Mother Lode League earned them a first-round home game as the Lions will host No. 12 Valley Christian at the 5 seed.
2024 Sac-Joaquin Section Playoff Pairings
DIVISION I
Byes: No. 1 Folsom, No. 2 Oak Ridge, No. 3 Central Catholic, No. 4 Inderkum
No. 9 Edison at No. 8 Downey
No. 10 Lincoln-Stockton at No. 7 Monterey Trail
No. 11 Laguna Creek at No. 6 Turlock
No. 12 Pleasant Grove at No. 5 Granite Bay
DIVISION II
Byes: No. 1 Rocklin, No. 2 St. Mary’s, No. 3 Grant, No. 4 Manteca
No. 9 Kimball at No. 8 Elk Grove
No. 10 Atwater at No. 7 Vacaville
No. 11 Lodi at No. 6 Jesuit
No. 12 Chavez at No. 5 Rodriguez
DIVISION III
Byes: No. 1 Oakdale, No. 2 West Park, No. 3 Vanden, No. 4 Christian Brothers
No. 9 Armijo at No. 8 Woodcreek
No. 10 Rio Americano at No. 7 Merced
No. 11 Johansen at No. 6 Vista Del Lago
No. 12 Ponderosa at No. 5 Destiny Christian
DIVISION IV
Byes: No. 1 Twelve Bridges, No. 2 Patterson, No. 3 Roseville, No. 4 Placer
No. 9 Sierra at No. 8 Yuba City
No. 10 East Union at No. 7 Nevada Union
No. 11 Del Campo at No. 6 Sacramento
No. 12 Fairfield at No. 5 Escalon
DIVISION V
Byes: No. 1 Hughson, No. 2 Sutter, No. 3 Lathrop, No. 4 Union Mine
No. 9 Lincoln-Lincoln at No. 8 El Dorado
No. 10 Dixon at No. 7 Oakmont
No. 11 Livingston at No. 6 Hilmar
No. 12 Foothill at No. 5 Casa Roble
DIVISION VI
Byes: No. 1 Bradshaw Christian, No. 2 Woodland Christian, No. 3 Sonora, No. 4 Linden
No. 9 Bear River at No. 8 Ripon Christian
No. 10 Ripon at No. 7 Liberty Ranch
No. 11 Calaveras at No. 6 Wheatland
No. 12 Delhi at No. 5 Orestimba
DIVISION VII
Byes: No. 1 Summerville, No. 2 Stone Ridge Christian, No. 3 Elite, No. 4 Waterford
No. 9 Golden Sierra at No. 8 Gustine
No. 10 Delta at No. 7 Denair
No. 11 Esparto at No. 6 Rio Vista
No. 12 Valley Christian at No. 5 Big Valley Christian
