Counting down the 11 best games of 2016 in the Stanislaus District, week by week
Week 1: Aug. 26
Oakdale at Sonora: Realignment and a new playoff format have stripped this century-old rivalry of much of its significance, but try telling that to the people who live at opposite ends of Highway 108. Oakdale travels to Dunlavy Field, which received a million-dollar facelift this summer. The venue has been outfitted with new artificial turf, an all-weather track and a new scoreboard in time for the rivalry’s 100th birthday. The game should serve as a litmus test for the former Valley Oak League foes, both of whom harbor Sac-Joaquin Section title hopes.
Other games: Marin Catholic-Kentfield at Central Catholic, Downey at Pitman, Enochs at Escalon.
Week 2: Sept. 1-2
Patterson at Downey (Sept. 2): Defending large-school league champions collide in what promises to be one of the most entertaining games of the season. Patterson returns a bevy of talent at the skill positions and one of the best triggermen in the Stanislaus District in Kevin Todd, who led the Tigers to a sweep of the Western Athletic Conference. About the only team that can match the Tigers’ speed and athleticism is Downey, the four-time defending Modesto Metro Conference champion. The Knights want respect outside the MMC, though, and this is when they’ll need to take it.
Other games: Central Catholic vs. Cathedral Catholic-San Diego (Sept. 1), Clovis at Turlock, East Union at Ceres, Stone Ridge Christian at Ripon Christian.
Week 3: Sept. 9
St. Mary’s at Central Catholic: The Raiders rallied to beat St. Mary’s 36-22 in the Holy Bowl last fall despite playing without two-time All-District Player of the Year Justin Rice for most of the game. Rice aggravated a foot injury early, thrusting running backs Montell Bland and Jared Rice into the spotlight. Those two are back, along with senior speedster DaRon Bland, who returned a kickoff for a touchdown against the Rams. Coach Roger Canepa would love nothing more than to balance out a lopsided record against St. Mary’s. He is 3-5 against the Rams since taking over at Central Catholic.
Other games: Tracy at Turlock, Modesto at Patterson.
Week 4: Sept. 16
Sonora at Hilmar: Both teams reached a Sac-Joaquin Section final last fall. Sonora pulled away from Bear River in the Division IV final with a strong finishing kick and then hosted and lost to Hanford in the CIF Northern California Division IV-AA bowl one week later. No stranger to a section final, Hilmar ran out of gas against Bradshaw Christian-Sacramento in the D-VI game. With loads of talent back, Sonora and Hilmar are favorites to clear the hurdles of yesteryear. That’s why you won’t want to miss this kickoff. It will have the feel of a playoff game in September.
Other games: Oakdale at Campolindo-Moraga, Downey at Lincoln, Gustine at Modesto Christian, Turlock at Modesto.
Week 5: Sept. 23
Sonora at Calaveras: It won’t take long to determine a favorite in the Mother Lode League; The Bee’s top-ranked small-school teams square off opening night in San Andreas. No. 1 Sonora has owned the foothills since moving into the MLL in 2014, amassing a 12-0 mark with a scoring differential of 35.5 points. BUT ... second-ranked Calaveras appeared to close the gap last fall when it nearly upset the Wildcats in a 28-27 loss. Calaveras has the deepest backfield among the small-school teams with Noah Preuss and Anthony Giangregorio, but will it be enough to stun the two-time defending champions? We’ll be there to find out. Will you?
Other games: Beyer at Gregori, Orestimba at Ripon Christian, Oakdale at Sierra, Patterson at Escalon.
Week 6: Sept. 30
Delhi at Gustine: Last season, the Southern League title came down to the final minutes of the regular season, as Orestimba stunned Gustine in a Week 10 meeting of 9-0 teams. Gustine promises to be in the hunt for a league title and third consecutive playoff berth with versatile quarterback Trevor Flores, which makes this game one of the most important in recent history for Delhi, a long-suffering program that plays in the shadow of its soccer teams. The Hawks are looking to establish themselves as title contenders, and a win over Gustine would give them confidence going into a Week 9 meeting with another hopeful – defending champion Orestimba.
Week 7: Oct. 7
Pacheco at Patterson: The Tigers are the odds-on favorites to repeat in the WAC, but they’ll face their toughest test in the Pacheco Panthers, a team led by returning running back TK Teneng and all-conference cornerback Chris Munoz. Pacheco went 4-2 in league last fall and traded punches with Patterson in a 60-42 loss, so this senior class has enjoyed a measure of success. What may be working in the Panthers’ favor is the momentum of their much-anticipated home opener one week earlier. Pacheco closes the nonconference portion of its schedule with a home date against Edison of Stockton. That night, Pacheco will unveil its new artificial turf. A victory could boost the Panthers as they go on the road to Patterson to start WAC play.
Other games: Beyer at Downey, Hilmar at Escalon, Sierra at Manteca.
Week 8: Oct. 14
Manteca at Central Catholic: And so it begins. The top three teams in the VOL will duke it out over the final four weeks of the season. The Buffaloes get first crack at the resident king. Manteca is 0-2 against Central Catholic since the parochial school moved into the VOL, but the Buffaloes possess a talented team that is young, explosive and experienced at all the right spots. Four sophomores cut their teeth at the varsity level last fall, including quarterback Gino Campiotti and defensive end Justin Kakala, absorbing lessons such as the 28-6 defeat administered by the Raiders.
Other games: Ripon at Modesto Christian, Hughson at Hilmar.
Week 9: Oct. 21
Downey at Modesto: Stunned by the Panthers a season ago and forced to carve out a share of its fourth consecutive MMC title, the Knights will have redemption on their minds. While Downey dominates the conversation among the public schools in town, Modesto has quietly and steadily turned itself into a perennial contender under former coach Richie Alkire and now Donnie Wallace. With a playmaker such as Markus Brady and the leadership ability of offensive lineman Justin Farkas, the Panthers believe they can keep the MMC up for grabs until the end.
Other games: Ripon at Escalon, Central Catholic at Sierra.
Week 10: Oct. 28
Merced at Turlock: The Central California Conference championship should be on the line when these two meet at Joe Debely Stadium. Merced has won the last three titles, but Turlock, with six returning all-conference selections, believes it has a dream team destined for league and postseason success. There’s just one problem: Beating Merced has become an impossible task for the Bulldogs, who have lost nine of the last 12 meetings, including four in a row. Turlock’s last league championship was in 2003, when the CCC included Modesto City Schools. Since then, Merced has raised six league banners.
Other games: Oakdale at Manteca, Modesto vs. Gregori (at Downey), Orestimba at Delhi, Hughson at Ripon.
Week 11: Nov. 4
Central Catholic at Oakdale: Ten weeks of football leads up to this moment – the most anticipated game of the season. Last fall, the VOL rivals didn’t disappoint, engaging in a shootout at David Patton Field to end the regular season and then met up again in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III final. Central Catholic won both games en route to a season flush with titles. Meanwhile, Oakdale suffered a cruel fate. The Mustangs were one of the best medium-sized-school teams in all of Northern California but weren’t allowed to play for a state title because of ... you guessed it, Central Catholic. The bitter rivals will be hard-pressed to recreate the drama of last season, especially as Central Catholic moves up in division for the playoffs, but the VOL title should be decided at The Corral. Isn’t it always?
Other games: Pitman at Turlock, Modesto vs. Beyer (at Johansen), Gustine at Orestimba.
– James Burns
This story was originally published August 25, 2016 at 3:56 PM with the headline "Counting down the 11 best games of 2016 in the Stanislaus District, week by week."