JP Abrew hasn’t had time to recover from his chaotic weekend schedule that continued after returning home from an out-of-state trip.  

He wouldn’t have it any other way.

After he helped East Union upset defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV champion and previously-unbeaten Twelve Bridges in Lincoln last Friday, the senior wide receiver was up at 5 the next morning for a college visit to Air Force — one of two Division I programs to have offered him a scholarship, so far.

Two days later, he joined some of his teammates and coaches for the annual SJS championship breakfast at Courtyard by Marriott in Sacramento.

The SJS football championships is on Friday and Saturday at Sacramento City College’s historic Hughes Stadium. Fourth-seeded East Union (9-3) will meet No. 2 Roseville (10-2) on Saturday at 4 p.m.

“As tiring as these last few days have been, I’ve been taking it all in,” Abrew said. “I love football and can do it all year round, if I could. It’s something that I understand is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“Having a huge win, one of the most historic in program history on one night, then visiting a big-time FBS program and getting recognized at the section banquet was a pretty awesome 72 hours.”

The final-round appearances have been a longtime coming for both East Union and Roseville.

The Lancers last made it in 1989, losing to Del Oro 29-22 in the Division II championship. Current first-year head coach Jason Stock was the standout running back for that EU squad. This is the third title-round appearance for the Lancers.

The drought has been even longer for Roseville, which is in its first final since 1987.

“It’s good to see two schools that have not been in that game for a long time playing for something meaningful,” Stock said. “It’s going to be a great environment. We packed the stands at Twelve Bridges and even brought the band. We’re going to have two Rooter Busses this time.”

On the field, it will be yet another interesting matchup for the Lancers and their high-octane offense that averages 52.4 points and 459.9 yards per game. Roseville also has an explosive offense, but its defense has come up big in several moments all season.

Last week, Justin Fischer came through with the game-clinching interception in the end zone for the Tigers, as they held off reigning Division V champion Hughson, 23-15. The pick is Fishcher’s eighth for the season. Senior safety Dylan Gates contributed two interceptions in the semifinal.

UC Davis commit Jackson Fay is flirting with a rate 1,000-1,000 season for East Union with 875 rushing yards and 915 receiving. He aims to build on his single-season school record of 33 total touchdowns, which ranks him third in the SJS and 12th in the state.

Then there’s Brayden Camara, the Lancers’ converted receiver who is now their single-season record holder for rushing yards with 1,644. He joins Fay among the section’s leading scorers with 28 TDs.

There’s more.

Abrew is enjoying a productive season (45 receptions, 755 yards, four TDs) despite missing two games with a hamstring injury, and prolific quarterback Kirk Simoni is back in form after recovering from a strained Achilles’ that had him missing a portion of EU’s big three-game stretch against Valley Oak League powers Oakdale, Central Catholic and Manteca. Simoni has completed 68.8 percent of his passes for 2,211 yards, 30 touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing for 275 yards and six scores.

The Lancers’ spread attack fired on all cylinders last week in the 61-55 triumph at top-seeded Twelve Bridges. Simoni completed a 3-yard touchdown to Fay with seven seconds to go.

“They’re a good team, and it’s going to be tough,” Fay said of Roseville. “We’ve been averaging a lot of points this year, and hopefully we can have another good showing.

“We have a lot of different weapons — it’s not just me. We have a great running back, great receivers and a great quarterback. Teams kind of have to pick their poison.”

The Lancers’ defense has the same type of challenge against Roseville’s balanced Gun-T attack.

Like East Union, the Tigers are led by a core of experienced seniors who have been calloused by past adversity and heartbreak. 

Among the stars are 6-foot-4, 205-pound receiver JJ Yong, who leads Roseville with 24 catches, 587 yards and six touchdowns in just seven games. He missed more than a month of action with a broken collarbone.

Quarterback Mason Susnara (1,325 yards, 14 TDs, four INTs) and running backs D’Marcis Gresham (718 yards, 7.8 per carry, seven TDs) and Cole Takahashi (315 yards, 5.9 per carry, five TDs) also missed time early in the season, but Roseville has rounded into form while at full strength to make its run.

The Tigers have other weapons in Colton Wolfe (315 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and receiver Kenny McClure (26 receptions, 401 yards, three TDs). Up front, they’re anchored by 6-3, 265-pound guard Trevor Kirby and 6-3, 300-pound tackle Caleb Barba.

Although EU has some experience against Wing-T offenses, Roseville’s presents some new challenges.

“They have some big bodies on the offensive line and a physical running back in 20 (Gresham),” Stock said. “No. 2 (Yong) is a great receiver that’s tall and athletic. He’s a handful.

“It’s a good team. What more can you say? The record speaks for itself. They beat a very good West Park team in overtime went toe-to-toe with Woodcreek, who is in the D-III title game.”

Roseville lost that Week 3 game at Woodcreek 21-11, and its other loss came at the hands of Twelve Bridges 44-34 in Foothill Valley League play.

While seeded lower, East Union has jumped up No. 16 in the MaxPreps overall rankings in the SJS, while Roseville is 20th.

The Lancers’ three losses all came in succession, losing to some of the top teams in the SJS — Central Catholic (the seventh seed in Division I), Manteca (No. 1 in D-II) and Oakdale (No. 2 in D-III).

“We’ve been in these environments already that have put us in that fire,” Stock said. “All those things prepared us for playoff football, and I still feel like we haven’t played our best game yet. We’re playing pretty well right now, there are just a few things to dial down and fix.”