Prep football roundup: See who punched tickets to Sac-Joaquin Section finals
Five Stanislaus District football teams played the biggest games of the 2025 high school football season Friday night. With a spot in this year’s section championships on the line, local players strapped up their helmets, put on their shoulder pads and cleats with the hopes of getting one step closer to a blue banner.
Two teams punched their tickets with wins Friday night thanks to top performances in the biggest moments. Now, they earned the coveted opportunity to practice on Thanksgiving.
The Sac-Joaquin Section championship games are Friday, Nov. 28, and Saturday, Nov. 29, at Sacramento City College’s Hughes Stadium. Odd divisions (7, 5, 3, 1) are Friday and even divisions (8, 6, 4, 2) are Saturday. On each day, the first championship game starts at 9 a.m. and the final contest is slated to start at 7:30 p.m.
Two teams played Friday with a chance to get back to section title games in consecutive years. Oakdale secured a spot in its second straight title game with a win against Vanden. Hughson failed to qualify for its fourth straight title game in a third different division, losing in the SJS semifinals on the road to Roseville.
Division IV
No. 2 Roseville 23, No. 3 Hughson 15: Hughson could not extend its season and reach its first Division IV section title game in recent history, falling on the road to the second seed in the division, Roseville. The Huskies trailed 16-7 at halftime and fell behind 23-7 by the end of the third quarter. A rushing touchdown and two point conversion in the fourth quarter cut into the lead, but a last second drive was not successful. The Huskies finish the season 9-3.
Division VI
No. 3 Ripon Christian 52, No. 2 Liberty Ranch 49: Ripon Christian won a barnburner to advance to the D-VI section finals thanks in large part to Amos Cady’s 11 catches, 317 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback Mason Tameling completed his fifth touchdown pass of the night for the game-winner, finding Daniel Lambdin to complete the upset with 38 seconds left. The Knights recovered a late Hawks fumble to seal the victory. Ripon Christian will play Trans-Valley League foe Sonora for a second time this season in the section title game Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Division VII
No. 1 Calaveras 41, No. 5 Denair 0: Denair’s season ends at an impressive 9-3 after a loss to the D-VII top seed Calaveras. The Coyotes were 5-0 at home and 5-1 in league in 2025. Denair’s nine wins this season is the most since 2019.
