Jeff Harbison’s well-intentioned pre-league schedule produced favorable results, but not the type of games he had hoped for his Sierra football team.

Through five weeks and four blowout victories this much is known about the 4-0 Timberwolves: they’re good. But how good? None of their first four opponents own winning records and are a combined 6-11.

Harbison understands the apprehension from outsiders to deem Sierra a real contender in the Valley Oak League where the upper-crusters — Central Catholic, Manteca and Oakdale — once again have Sac-Joaquin Section championship-caliber teams. Although the Timberwolves received a first-place vote in the Bulletin’s annual VOL media poll, they were predicted to finish fourth.

“Rightfully so,” Harbison said. “Those other three teams have history and deserved to be ranked above us. For us to get off the snide we gotta go out and perform, and it starts with Central.”

Ah, yes, Central Catholic (3-1). The state’s two-time defending small-school division state champions are back in the VOL for the first time since the late 1970s, and last week CC made its grand return with a thrilling 29-28 overtime win over Manteca.

The Raiders from Modesto visit Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium to provide Sierra its first true test.

“Our players just want to go out and play football,” Harbison said. “They only want to prove something to themselves and their teammates. We’ve preached the team concept and these guys have really bought into it. They play for their teammates, not anybody else.”

Harbison wanted his team to be battle-tested by this point. Truth is it’s not.

In rekindling the Timberwolves’ former area nonleague rivalry with Ripon, a rising Trans-Valley League powerhouse that had went 30-6 the past three years, Harbison’s hope was for the Indians to give Sierra a similar offensive look — and challenge — it expects to get from Oakdale in league.

Final: Sierra 54, Ripon 7.

Next up was Central Valley, which made the SJS playoffs for the first time last year and, in the first round, was the only team to truly push eventual Division III champion Manteca. The Hawks had since lost their head coach, and their two best offensive weapons graduated.

Scoreboard: Sierra 56, Central Valley 0.

Sierra capped its nonleague schedule at Chavez. Their 2013 shootout ended in a 61-58 win for Sierra, which needed to boot the winning field goal in a final seconds to get the edge. With Chavez returning the bulk of its standouts in its entertaining spread offense, surely this had the makings for another wild one, right?

Wrong. Sierra 63, Chavez 24.

Last week, the Timberwolves blasted Kimball 55-20 to begin VOL play.

Sierra has averaged 43 points in first halves and all of its games so far have ended with running clocks. The Timberwolves’ top players have put up some impressive stats despite playing no more than 2 ½ quarters in each game. Running back Mark Paule Jr. (909 yards, 22 touchdowns) ranks among the state’s best in rushing. Yet, Sierra hasn’t faced a defense that could push back its powerful spread attack.

Meanwhile, Central Catholic has been in wars against St. Mary’s, which won the Holy Bowl 18-13, and Manteca.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” Harbison said. “Our starters have not played in a fourth quarter. They haven’t had to play through the weariness of a fourth quarter and that can come back to haunt us. It’s also beneficial because we’re healthy and our non-starters have gotten a lot of good game experience.”

There will be plenty of experience gained Friday night for the Timberwolves. Win or lose, they’ll find out where they really stand among the VOL’s traditional greats.

In other Week 5 action:



Manteca (0-1, 3-1) at Lathrop (1-0, 2-2)

Both teams had different results to open the VOL.

Manteca is certain to be in no mood to join in on Lathrop’s homecoming festivities Friday after its tough-to-swallow overtime loss at Central Catholic.

The Buffaloes may be without standout RB/LB Hector Soto, who was sidelined for the second half of last week’s epic in Modesto with an apparent right leg injury. With or without Soto, they are still a formidable team with no shortage of talented skill athletes.

A much-improved Lathrop team looks to get its first win over Manteca.  Quarterback Diego Chavez threw for two touchdowns in the Spartans’ 31-20 win over Weston Ranch in the Battle of I-5.



Kimball (0-1, 1-3) at East Union (0-1, 1-3)

East Union had the daunting task of having to face Oakdale at The Corral in its VOL opener, losing 49-13.

The Lancers will see another Wing-T offense against Kimball, coming off a 55-20 loss to Sierra. Both teams have losses to three teams that are 3-1 or better. It’s a winnable game for East Union but it doesn’t get easier from here with a road trip to Central Catholic looming.



Weston Ranch (0-1, 1-3) at Oakdale (1-0, 4-0)

With the Battle of I-5 setback in the rear-view mirror, the Cougars now must take on the VOL’s lone undefeated team.

Oakdale started league with a bang, rolling to a 28-0 halftime lead against East Union while Darus Nelson gashed the Lancers for more than 200 yards rushing and five touchdowns.



Ripon Christian (1-0, 4-0) at Le Grand (1-0, 2-2)

In a battle of unbeatens, the Knights held off Orestimba 21-20 to kick off Southern League action last week.

They’re expecting another dogfight Friday when they head to Le Grand to face the defending league and SJS Division V champion. This has developed into an interesting rivalry with the teams splitting their last two meetings.

Though down from previous years, the Bulldogs proved they are still players in league after handing Gustine its first loss of the season, 22-19. The contest will feature two of the league’s most dynamic players in RC running back Brian Sytsma (493 rushing yards, 7 TDs) and Le Grand’s Christian Williams (147 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 215 receiving yards, TD).