The Sac-Joaquin Section has postponed football playoff games scheduled for this Friday and Saturday because of the poor air quality stemming from the deadly Camp Fire in Butte County.
The announcement was made by SJS Assistant Commissioner Will DeBoard early Wednesday afternoon. The section’s decision is not surprising considering that on Tuesday the California Interscholastic Federation pushed back its regional and state championship bowl games a week. This allowed the CIF’s 10 sections to make changes to their postseason schedules to accommodate areas affected by the fires in Northern and Southern California.
“The Sac-Joaquin Section, after constant contact with various air quality boards throughout the region, has determined some playoff changes must be made due to worsening air quality expected through the weekend,” DeBoard said in a statement. “… This decision was made with the health of our student-athletes in mind. We understand this may cause some inconveniences and we appreciate your patience and understanding.”
Ripon and Ripon Christian’s football teams will play their semifinal contests next Friday, Nov. 23. The SJS Cross Country Championships, originally scheduled for last week, is still on for Saturday in Folsom but may be called off if the air quality is at unhealthy ranges. This Friday also marks the start of the winter season, and several soccer games have already been postponed.
Ripon football coach Chris Musseman has previously voiced his dislike for bye weeks but supports the section’s decision to postpone the upcoming games. The Indians (10-1), seeded second in Division V, next hosts No. 3 Bear River (10-1), while Ripon Christian (11-0) heads to Modesto Christian (10-1) for a Division VI semifinal. All four teams had first-round byes two weeks ago.
“It’s not ideal, obviously, but we have to do what’s best for the health of the kids,” Musseman said. “That should be the first consideration in everything we do. Did we want another bye? No, not at all. The CIF is doing the best it can in a horrible situation.”
Practices have been limited this week for Ripon and many other football teams still in the hunt. Musseman’s team was indoors for practice on Monday and Wednesday at the school’s multi-use room and gym. The Indians were outside for Tuesday’s practice, but didn’t do any conditioning. Today, they’ll study game film.
“The whole week has been different,” Musseman said. “There is not much we can do, and with basketball season getting started getting some time in at the gym has been really difficult.”
The section cross country meet, held annually at Willow Hills Reservoir, has been tweaked considerably. There will be no lower-level competitions and  four varsity-only races starting with the Divisions I-II boys at 9 a.m. Races for Manteca-area schools begin at 10 a.m. for Divisions III-V boys and 10:35 a.m. for Divisions III-V girls.
“The air quality is forecast to be within decent ranges,” DeBoard said in the release.
The meet will be called off if the Air Quality Index rises above 150 before the start of the first race. Results from the SJS sub-section meet would instead be used to determine qualifiers for the CIF State Championships set for Nov. 24. It’s common for runners not to expend their full energy in the sub-section meet, where the goal is merely to qualify for the next event.
“There is no point in winning sub-sections, so I held my guys back,” East Union coach Rick Cuevas said.
Cuevas’ Valley Oak League champion varsity boys team would not advance to state — though two individuals would — if sub-section results are used to determine qualifiers.
“What can we do? We can’t fight Mother Nature,” Cuevas said.
He questions why the section is keeping event in Folsom instead of moving it to a less-affected site such as the Calaveras County Fairgrounds, also known as Frogtown and the annual host of the sub-section meet.
The Lathrop-Sierra girls (Nov. 28 makeup date) and East Union-Mountain House boys soccer games have been postponed. Manteca athletic director Bill Slikker said he and Ripon’s Rod Wright will decide today if their girls soccer teams will square off Friday. Slikker said the game, scheduled to be played in Ripon, may take place at Manteca.