Local schools are participating in the Sac-Joaquin Section Bowl Series for the first time.
For Sierra (4-6), coach Ryan Teicheira will get one last look at his returning talent with hopes of sending off his seniors with a victory on Friday. The Timberwolves will host Livingston (1-9) in the first grid-iron meeting between the two at the varsity level.
Meanwhile, Teicheira’s former team will rekindle an old rivalry, as Lathrop (6-4) heads to Los Banos (5-5) after narrowly missing out on a fourth straight berth to the SJS Division V playoffs. Outright league champions and at-large teams ranked in the top eight of their divisions qualify for the playoffs. Teams ranked 9-16th in their divisions are bowl eligible. This is the second year of the SJS Bowl Series after playoff brackets were cut from 16 qualifiers to eight in each division.
“It’s another game for us,” Teicheira said. “We’re holding practices like normal with the same mind set and preparation. It’s a chance to end the season on a high note. Winning five games would be a big step from last year. With all the work the kids put in, ending the season with a win at home in front of the home crowd would be a great deal for them.”
The return to his alma mater did not start smoothly for Teicheira, as returning All-Valley Oak League second-team safety Ozias Siga went down with a broken finger before the team’s scrimmage against Orestimba. The junior had his season debut last week against Patterson, finishing with three tackles and 23 yards on his lone carry. Siga was expected to take on a big role offensively as the wing back in the Gun-T this year.
The Timberwolves won three of their four non-league games but struggled in the grueling Valley Oak League, dropping their last four. The offense showed life in Sierra’s 62-26 loss to playoff-bound Patterson in Week 10. The last time it scored at least 20 in a game was in a 28-21 overtime win at Gregori on Sept. 17.
“Overall, I’m happy with the progress that we made all season,” Teicheira said. “A little frustrated we couldn’t pull out more wins or play at our best, at times, but love the group of kids that we have. They’re a fun group I wish I could have a couple more years with, especially the seniors.
“The transition was hard for them; new coach, new program, new expectations. Despite everything that happened for their senior season, they eventually bought in, took it and ran with it.”
As for the opponent, Teicheira and the assistants who joined him from Lathrop are quite familiar with Livingston, even if it’s Sierra’s first time ever playing the Wolves. Livingston is a charter member of the VOL but left in the early 90s before Sierra opened.
Teicheira coached Lathrop in the past five seasons, facing Livingston twice in Western Athletic Conference play.
“Having played them in my last couple years with Lathrop, we’re familiar with their game play,” Teicheira said. “They run the veer offense, which is hard to defend, unless you’re playing your roles. We told the kids you definitely have to do your jobs, or they will shred us apart.”
Livingston’s lone win of the season came against Beyer.
Both Sierra and Lathrop have elevated players from the JV teams to give a taste of the varsity game.
First-year Lathrop coach Justin Muschott did so last week after Beyer canceled its WAC finale with the Spartans, who were able to lock in a varsity road game with Sutter. The JV team was left without an opponent.
Sutter won 27-0 after a scoreless first half.
The hope for Lathrop was that the change in opponent would help get it into the postseason with a MaxPreps ratings boost, regardless of outcome.
The Spartans finished in a three-way split for their third straight conference championship. The tiebreaker for the automatic bid is MaxPreps rating, which favored Johansen (37.80) over Lathrop (35.10) and Central Valley (34.20).
“The ratings were constantly changing, but I had a vibe that there could be an issue there and that it wasn’t going to work out for us in the end,” Muschott said. “It’s hard to spin it (into a positive), because we felt like we did enough. We knew we needed to improve our rating and thought with us playing Sutter as tough as we did that would be the difference.
“I feel feel for the seniors, but they still get to play together one more week. They’re disappointed, and right fully so, but we’re not going to live in a world in regret. Whether this was going to be a playoff game or not, we have to bring our ‘A’ game.”
Muschott and the senior class know what they’re up against on Friday.
Los Banos was previously the team to beat in the WAC until it moved into the Central California Conference in 2024. The Tigers had claimed five consecutive WAC crowns until then and are 6-0 all-time against Lathrop. The first time they squared off was in 2015, when then-No. 8 seed Los Banos upset the top-seeded Spartans, 30-29.
Lathrop’s current senior class got to play LB at the freshman level and lost that game.
“We have a few guys who are aware of it, because they had some battles with Los Banos in the lower levels before they left,” Muschott said. “The guys are pumped at the opportunity. Of course, it’s not what they wanted, but they’ll get to see some familiar faces.
“It’ll be a challenge with the offense they run and the athletes they have, and they’re very well coached. We know that from past years and watching tape. They have good ball players.”
Los Banos ended up fourth in the CCC, dropping its regular-season finale to Golden Valley, 42-35. Lathrop started the season with a 23-6 loss at Golden Valley and was done in by five turnovers.
The Spartans dropped three of their first four contests, including a 24-7 setback to Johansen in the WAC opener.
With injuries to key contributors all season, the addition of transfer Roman Duvernay helped steer Lathrop in the right direction. The running back gave them a tough, between-the-tackles runner, and the Spartans went on to win five straight until the Sutter game.
“The guys set goals, and repeating as WAC champions was important,” Muschott said. “You always want to strive for goals that are set higher. We had some adversity during the season, but I’m proud of how they continued to battle.
“We’re not content, but it’s absolutely an accomplishment. We knew league was going to be tough this year, and it’s a testament to the league. We feel that the WAC doesn’t get the respect that it deserves with the quality at the top half of the league.”
