A three-game losing skid to end the regular season was not enough to knock Manteca (7-3) out of the top-four seeds — which comes with a coveted first-round bye — for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs.
Meanwhile, East Union (5-5) and Ripon (6-3) are No. 5 seeds in Divisions IV and V, respectively, and will be the only postseason qualifiers from the area that will be in action this Friday. As for Ripon Christian (7-3), its fate will soon be determined in court.
Eighty teams in all make up the SJS’ postseason field and are spread across seven divisions. Divisions I-VI each consist of 12 teams, and Division VII is made up of eight.
The Section released brackets with an online selection show on the NFHS Network on Sunday but held off on unveiling first-round pairings for Divisions III and VII. Court hearings deciding the postseason fate of Capital Christian (D-III) and Ripon Christian (D-VII) were scheduled for later in the week.
Both schools were among three (Stone Ridge Christian) in the SJS that received two-year playoff bans for their football programs after participating in what were deemed illegal club football contests last spring. Capital Christian’s hearing was Monday, and Sacramento Supreme Court judge ruled in favor of the Section upholding its ban. Ripon Christian’s hearing is set for Thursday in San Joaquin County.
Since the Division-VII bracket remains in flux, the Section has decided to push first-round games to next week. Nov. 12. Division III openers are now on Saturday, unless teams agree to meet the night before.
Manteca’s string of quality wins at the start of the season provided enough of a boost in the CalPreps computer ratings to keep it in contention for a first-round bye. It may have been bumped up a spot with the exclusion of Capital Christian, which was projected by MaxPreps to take the second seed.
The reigning Division-III champion Buffaloes were blanked 28-0 in their Valley Oak League finale last Friday at Oakdale, which was vaulted to the No. 1 seed. Manteca will host the winner of No. 6 Sacramento (8-2) and No. 11 Golden Valley (4-5) in the quarterfinals on Nov. 12. The bye gives the Buffs’ additional time to lick their wounds after their top two playmakers, Lyon Colon and Blake Nichelson, missed the Oakdale game with ankle injuries.
“Very happy we got the bye,” Manteca coach Mark Varnum said. “Excited to get healthy and back to playing like us. Whoever we play, we will be ready and at full strength.”
East Union is coming off a heartbreaking 54-53 loss to Kimball (9-1), the top seed in the Division-IV bracket and runner-up in the rigorous VOL.
The Lancers are looking to earn their first postseason win in more than 30 years. First-year coach Mike Kuhnlenz’s team will host No. 12 Del Campo (4-6) of Fair Oaks at Dino Cunial Field. The Cougars placed fifth in the competitive Capital Athletic League, as did East Union in the VOL. The winner travels to No. 4 Merced (7-3) in the quarterfinals.
East Union could be viewed as a darkhorse contender in Division IV after playing Central Catholic (top seed in Division II), Manteca (top-four in D-III) and Kimball (No. 1 in D-IV) tough in the final month of league play.
“The team is excited to be in the playoffs and to be able to host a playoff game,” Kuhnlenz said. “We don’t know much about Del Campo, so we’re going to get to work on breaking down the tape and hopefully have a great Monday practice.”
Ripon dropped its last two games to Escalon (No. 1 in D-V) and Hughson (No. 4, D-VI) but has an opportunity to regain its footing against No. 12 Ceres (5-5) in the Division V opener. The victor takes on No. 4 Pioneer (8-1) in Woodland. The Indians are defending champions of the division.
“Surprised with the number after how we have played the last two weeks,” Ripon coach Chris Musseman said. “I guess you could say we are on the big school side of the bracket having Ceres and Pioneer. That being said, if you are going to win it, you have to beat them anyway. The extra game might be good for us, if we can get through the first game.”
Ceres makes the postseason for the first time since 2004. The Bulldogs are in despite losses to Western Athletic Conference rivals Lathrop (5-4) and Mountain House (5-5), both of which missed the cut. Mountain House wound up with a lower CalPreps computer rating — used by the SJS to help determine seeds — while Lathrop just so happens to be in a more competitive enrollment column.