The prep football postseason is officially here, with local programs securing high seeds in Sac-Joaquin Section brackets and others receiving bowl game berths.
Over the weekend, the section revealed brackets for all eight of its football divisions along with 28 bowl games. The action is set to begin Friday, with all games slated for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
PLAYOFF GAMES
Hilmar vs. Casa Roble
Hilmar, undefeated in the regular season and this year’s Trans-Valley League champion, have earned the top seed in the Division V bracket. The Yellowjackets will welcome No. 8 Casa Roble of Orangevale (4-6) to McSweeney Field for Friday’s quarterfinal clash.
The two programs have plenty of playoff history. In 2021, the Yellowjackets defeated the Rams by a 41-8 score in the semifinal round. Casa Roble returned the favor in rainy conditions in the 2023 semifinal with a 34-14 victory.
The winner of this year’s game will take on either No. 4 Sonora or No. 5 Oakmont for a chance to appear in the section title game.
Hughson vs. Roseville
Speaking of postseason familiarity, the Division IV bracket will feature on the more highly anticipated rematches with Hughson looking to avenge last season’s stinging semifinal loss to Roseville.
After a third-place TVL finish at 4-2 and with a 7-3 overall record, the Huskies received the fourth seed in the Division IV bracket and will host the No. 5 Tigers (5-5) at Husky Memorial Stadium.
Last year, the Huskies came up inches short of pulling off a comeback and lost, 23-15. In the waning seconds, a pass by quarterback Hudson Baldwin was simultaneously caught by receiver Titus Beers and a Roseville defender in the front corner of the end zone, but was muscled away for an interception.
The winner of this playoff rematch will take on the winner of the quarterfinal match between top-seeded Twelve Bridges and No. 8 McNair.
Denair vs. River Islands
In the Division VII bracket, Denair also earned the No. 4 seed and will host No. 5 River Islands at Jack W. Lytton Stadium.
The Coyotes won the Southern League with an undefeated record against its seven conference opponents and sport a 9-1 overall record heading into the postseason. The Riptide went 8-2 in the regular season.
The programs have three common opponents this season — Delhi, Waterford and Modesto Christian. Delhi lost to Denair by a 26-3 score Oct. 30 and fell to River Islands 40-10 in the second week of the season. Waterford opened the year against the Riptide and lost 49-20, and faced the Coyotes last week, losing 42-20. Modesto Christian 55-22 to Denair last month and 46-20 to River Islands in September.
Friday’s winner will face either No. 1 Calaveras or No. 8 Rio Vista next week in the semifinal.
BOWL GAMES
Turlock vs. Atwater
Turlock will be at home at Joe Debely Stadium on Friday to wrap up the 2026 campaign against former Central California Conference rival Atwater in its second bowl appearance in as many years.
The Bulldogs finished runner-up in the Central California Athletic League to Downey with a 4-1 record. Turlock and Atwater have matching 4-6 overall records, and have had one common opponent this season in Pitman. The Pride defeated the Falcons by a 24-17 score in late September, and the Bulldogs in turn secured a 30-6 Harvest Bowl victory over its crosstown rivals on Oct. 23.
Pitman at Union Mine
Also appearing in a bowl game for the second straight season is Pitman, which clinched its first winning season since 2018 with a 6-4 overall record. In CCAL play, the Pride went 2-3.
The Pride will travel to El Dorado to face Union Mine, which achieved an identical overall record in the regular season.
