Pitman (2-0) @ Pleasant Grove (0-2)
Last week: Pitman beat Lincoln of Stockton, 49-28
Preview: Pitman High football is coming off a victory over Lincoln of Stockton, avenging last year’s close loss. With two wins under their belts, the Pride have outscored their opponents 104-35. Now they hit the road again up north to take on Pleasant Grove, a squad that is coming off a one-point loss to Christian Brothers last Friday. Look for PG to come out and play like they have nothing to lose against one of the more physical teams in Pitman, which loves to run the ball. Running back Jakob Partida was vital in last week’s win and stamped his mark in the record book by amassing the most rushing yards in a single game, breaking Anthony Harding’s record from 2004 of 273 yards rushing against Beyer High. Partida carried the ball 21 times for a school record 303 yards, and scored four touchdowns in the process. Partida, along with back Payton Bass and Treyton Fair, who has shown that his ability to throw in all areas, especially on the run, is very effective and valuable. Look for Pitman to not hold back and keep the foot on the pedal, playing their smash mouth style with a line that could very well be one of the best run blocking lines in the area. Look for this to be a tough game that is the one to watch this week.
Turlock (1-1) v. Tracy (2-0)
Last week: Turlock beat Reno, 48-21
Preview: The Turlock Bulldogs are coming off a memorable moment that saw them handedly defeat the No. 6 team in Nevada in the Reno High Huskies. The Bulldogs shook off their seven-point loss to Freedom in week one and look like they are starting to hit a stride that could see them matchup with Tracy very well. The battle for the ‘Dog Bone’ could provide an early test for two potential playoff contenders and league contenders as well. Tracy’s offense after week two looks incredible on paper after scoring 75 and 62 points, respectively. Turlock lost to Tracy twice last season, which included a playoff game, and so payback is definitely on the Bulldogs’ agenda. Every single score will matter in a game like this. Look for this game to be a low-scoring nail biter.
Hilmar (2-0) v. Gustine (1-0)
Last week: Hilmar defeated Los Banos, 41-9
Preview: This is a game that the Hilmar Yellowjackets football team wants back from last season. A game that haunted them, against a foe that is just down the road essentially. Hilmar has seen more success than Gustine since that game, winning the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-VI title after a 5-5 regular season. The Gustine Reds are boasting 11 fewer players this season, limiting the depth and roster to 24. Last year they started off the year 8-1 and earned a playoff berth with 35 strong. Gustine is coming off a 21-18 victory over Linden High while Hilmar’s 41-9 road win over Los Banos secured the team’s second straight victory to start the year, and five of the last six games dating back to the start of the playoffs last year. During that span, Hilmar’s offense has been on a tear, racking up 47, 41, 42, 52 (despite losing in state opener), and then 48 and 41 points in the first two games this season, respectively.
Denair (1-0) v. Millennium (0-2)
Last week: Bye
Preview: Their first week 32-0 shutout victory over Woodland Christian was a great way to start the season, but head coach Anthony Armas knows there are plenty of games left. With only two games before league kicks off in the Southern Athletic League, Denair is looking to start hitting on all cylinders if they wish to continue on their goals, one of them being a league title. Their next opponent is Millennium, a team that is coming off two straight losses and was outscored in both 98-12. Denair’s lone game and win of the year was against a Woodland Christian squad that won the Sacramento Metropolitan Athletic League with a perfect 4-0 record last season. They went 10-2 for the year, losing in the semifinal game of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-VII playoff bracket. Denair has its tandem of backs in Hunter Musgrave and Steffin Winston ready. Winston notched three scores in their week one win and quarterback Drew Pritchard is just getting started, while Musgrave is one of the most talked about backs in the area. Armas is expected to continue with his aggressive and power style of play against a Millennium squad that should not be underestimated by any means.
Turlock Christian (0-2) @ Waterford (1-0)
Last week: Turlock Christian lost to Vacaville Christian, 39-0
Preview: Waterford will be a really tough test for the Turlock Christian Eagles, but what better way to improve than to face a squad that could be in the running for a league title. The TC Eagles are coming off a 39-0 loss to Vacaville Christian and while the loss set them back, they are still eager to progress. Head coach Rich Goodwin is excited coming off a successful closing to last year’s season. TC went on to win two of their final three games, to amass a 4-6 overall record. This game is a big opportunity for TC to create early sparks to carry momentum for the remainder of the season, but it’s going to be a challenge. Waterford crushed Johansen on Aug. 17 in a 47-0 shutout. The running game for Waterford tallied 365 yards on 32 carries split between six players while they averaged 11.4 yards per carry.
Delhi (0-2) @ Livingston (0-2)
Last week: Delhi lost to Johansen, 26-0
Preview: Delhi and Livingston High have many similarities and are not too far from one another. It is 5.1 miles to be exact to go from one town to the other and they are separated by highway 99. The Delhi Hawks are coming off a 26-0 shutout at the hands of Johansen last week and are eager to pick up their first win of the season along with the Livingston Wolves. At 0-2, both know that this early in the season, a win could possibly turn around their early misfortune to a positive outlook. Combined both have notched just 27 points in two games played so look for the limitations on that side of the ball.
Bye week: None
