Marquee matchups highlight prep football weekend

Two weeks remain in the most unpredictable high school football season, perhaps ever. Luckily for fans in Placer County, there are some delicious matchups that would make us salivate in any season. Let's take a look at what's on the menu: ROCKLIN (3-0) AT FOLSOM (4-0) This contest has "Game of the Year" written all over it. Folsom hasn't lost a league game since joining the Sierra Foothill League in 2014 and hasn't lost any league game since 2011, a streak of 51 games. Junior quarterback Tyler Tremain already has more than 1,300 passing yards and 17 touchdowns with three sophomore receivers – Rico Flores Jr., DJ Brown and Walker Lyons – in his arsenal. Rocklin has no shortage of firepower either. Richie Watts and Kenny Lueth continue to tag-team snaps with near identical numbers. Mason Thomas and Anthony Johnston have taken care of the ground attack while Jaylen Pickens, Elias Mullican, Nathan Kent and Torran O'Harran have been part of the Thunder air assault. The key to this game will come down to which defense can stop the other's offense. Get your popcorn ready. COLFAX (2-0) AT BEAR RIVER (2-2) There have been three instances where the Falcons and Bruins have met twice in the same season. Aside from the Pioneer Valley League regular-season tilts in 2014, 2017 and 2018, Colfax and Bear River met in the Sac-Joaquin Section championship game with the Bruins taking two of three head-to-head banners. Never before have these two played each other twice in the regular season. Of course, nothing is regular about this season, but if all goes well, we'll get back-to-back weeks of Bruins-Falcons to close spring football. Colfax leads the all-time series 20-15. Coaches Terry Logue of Bear River and Tony Martello of Colfax have 473 wins between them. PONDEROSA (1-3) AT PLACER (1-1) The Hillmen make their long-awaited return after a two-week quarantine. The last time we saw Placer, Dylan Logelin and Lavelle Davis combined for 453 yards out of the backfield in a 34-27 win over Nevada Union. Ponderosa, meanwhile, ran into red-hot Vista del Lago and suffered a 44-14 loss. With two weeks left in the season, it will be interesting to see how teams divvy out playing time. Play seniors as much as possible? Or give juniors and sophomores some reps to develop for next season? OAKMONT (2-0) AT RIO LINDA (1-2) Oakmont hasn't spent this season winning with flash and flare. It's more grit and grind for the Vikings, who fended off a tough Antelope squad 16-14 last week. James Mintmier booted the go-ahead field goal and Kannon Rosko got a hand on the kick that could have been the potential game-winner for Antelope in the closing moments. The Vikings hope to set up an undefeated showdown in the final week against a rolling Lincoln squad. LINCOLN (3-0) AT NEVADA UNION (1-1) Lincoln celebrated 15 seniors with eight of them putting points on the board in last week's 48-0 rout of Rio Linda. Averaging more than 45 points in three games, the Fighting Zebras haven't scored at such a rate since 2013. They are looking for their first 4-0 start since 2009. Nevada Union hasn't played since March 19 due to a two-week quarantine. GRANITE BAY (2-2) AT OAK RIDGE (2-2) Granite Bay had Rocklin on the ropes last week before running out of clock. Oak Ridge, meanwhile, cruised past Del Oro to give these Sierra Foothill League teams identical records heading into this week's matchup. Granite Bay senior Cole Roth has scored at least one rushing touchdown in every game. Oak Ridge junior Reese Catchings reached the end zone three times on 16 carries for 122 yards in his breakout varsity performance against Del Oro. Granite Bay is 4-5 against the Trojans over the past decade. WHITNEY (0-3) AT DEL ORO (0-3) Few expected both of these teams to be winless at this point, but something is going to give Friday night in Loomis. Whitney is playing without starting quarterback Perry Payne. Roman Floyd, who connected with Nick Tawney for a touchdown against Folsom last week, will likely take the snaps the rest of the way for the Wildcats. Junior running back Gavin Guillen has emerged as a bright spot for the Golden Eagles over the last two weeks. ANTELOPE (1-1) AT INDERKUM (2-2) Antelope was denied in the closing seconds at Oakmont last week but showed the same toughness it had in its opening win against Roseville the week before. Senior running back De'Magea Hogan has been a rock for the Titans to complement senior quarterback Quincy Gallon. Inderkum held off feisty Woodcreek last Friday with fourth-quarter takeaways in the 14-13 win. KENNEDY (2-0) AT WOODCREEK (0-2) It will surely be an emotional night in Roseville on Friday. Timberwolves coach Brad Hunkins said Woodcreek plans to honor Emmanuel Antwi, the Kennedy High School senior lineman who tragically collapsed during the March 19 game against Hiram Johnson and later died at a hospital. Kennedy beat Cordova in its return game last week. While Woodcreek searches for its first win, this game will be more about real-life perspective. YUBA CITY (2-0) AT ROSEVILLE (1-1), Saturday Another Saturday afternoon Capital Valley Conference special looms for the Tigers, who had a bounce-back victory over River Valley last week. Joe Brijs and Cole Errecart each scored for the second straight week in the 42-21 win over the Falcons. Roseville will need all hands on deck as coach Adam Reinking believes Yuba City is the team to beat in the CVC.