Non-league play is nearly over. Now, the games start counting a little more.
Each week, The Record will provide the full San Joaquin County high school football schedule while highlighting 10 matchups that deserve a closer look, complete with a preview and prediction for each.
After going 32-18 through four weeks, The Record delivered its best showing yet with a 9-1 record in Week 5. Dare we say we’re getting the hang of this? Or, with every league now officially in league play, are the picks only getting tougher?
One note before we get to the picks. All SJAA teams are on an open date this week, along with Oakdale, Ripon, Millennium and Linden, leaving exactly 10 games on the schedule.
Anyway, some picks will feel safe. Others could look much different
by the final whistle.
Here are The Record’s 10 games to watch and predictions for Week 6.
Edison (4-1) at Tracy (5-0), 7 p.m.
Could this really be the game that decides the TCAL? It’s only the league opener, but Tracy and Edison have given plenty of reasons to believe it. Both sit inside The Record’s county top three, Tracy is undefeated and ranked inside California’s top 65 for the first time since 2014, and Edison has scored 194 points while surviving three games decided by seven points or fewer. St. Mary’s has owned this league since 2014. If someone is finally going to change that, this game could tell us who.
Prediction: Edison 38, Tracy 35
Central Catholic (5-1) at Manteca (4-2), 7 p.m.
Go ahead and circle this one as the VOL championship game. Too early? Look at the resume. Central Catholic is ranked No. 70 in California by MaxPreps, while Manteca sits at No. 84. The Buffaloes have won the last two VOL titles, immediately following Central Catholic’s run of three straight. Is Manteca headed for a three-peat, or is Central Catholic taking its league back?
Prediction: Manteca 31, Central Catholic 28
Lodi (2-3) at St. Mary’s (1-4), 7:15 p.m.
One win, four losses and St. Mary’s suddenly looks vulnerable. Sound familiar? The Rams started 1-4 in 2019, then went 5-0 in league. They’ve actually won 57 straight league games dating back to 2013. Lodi probably isn’t expected to end that streak, but after a brutal non-league slate, this should give everyone a better idea of whether somebody can.
Prediction: St. Mary's 50, Lodi 7
Hughson (4-1) at Escalon (3-3), 7 p.m.
Welcome to the TVL, where one loss may not ruin anything this year. Escalon sits at 1-1 in league play, but with a race this loaded, the Cougars are hardly out of it. A second loss? That’s where things get tricky. Hughson won the league and reached state in 2024. Escalon might be the slight favorite, but a cakewalk? Not even close.
Prediction: Escalon 24, Hughson 21
Patterson (3-3) at East Union (3-2), 7 p.m.
The Patterson “hype” coach Mark Varnum talked about has certainly quieted. Back-to-back losses to Manteca and Oakdale will do that. Still, this isn’t last year’s 4-7 team, which lost 27-21 to East Union as the two finished fourth and fifth in the VOL. This one could do the same, with an added bonus. Both are in Division IV, making playoff positioning another reason this matters.
Prediction: East Union 27, Patterson 25
Ripon Christian (4-2) at Orestimba (4-1), 7 p.m.
Worst team in the TVL? Orestimba would probably like a word. After going winless in league play last year, the Warriors have already doubled their overall win total. Ripon Christian presents quite the chance to prove things have changed. The Knights finished second and reached a section final last year, but have opened TVL play 0-2, losing by a combined 66-14. Both have something to prove.
Prediction: Ripon Christian 32, Orestimba 20
Kimball (0-5) at Lincoln (3-2), 7 p.m.
Points. Points. And probably some more points. Lincoln might be outside the TCAL’s top three, but don’t mistake that for the Trojans being an average team. MaxPreps has them No. 95 in California, their two losses came against top Northern California competition and their three wins impressed. The scoreboard operator might be busy in this one. Lincoln might have something to say about that TCAL top three, too.
Prediction: Lincoln 66, Kimball 3
Riverbank (2-3) at River Islands (5-1), 7 p.m.
Most wins in program history. Officially playoff-eligible. Three losses from last year already avenged. So, what happens when River Islands faces a team it already beat? The Riptide rolled past Riverbank 42-14 last year and are averaging 42.6 points in their five wins this season. How high does the score get this time?
Prediction: River Island 45, Riverbank 17
Livingston (0-5) at Lathrop (2-4), 7 p.m.
Nothing fancy needed here. Lathrop went 7-0 in the WAC in back-to-back seasons, finally lost a league game this year and responded with a win. Next up is winless Livingston. Upsets happen, sure, but everything about this matchup points one way.
Prediction: Lathrop 42, Livingston 23
Sierra (3-2) at Mountain House (1-5), 7 p.m.
Sierra alum and first-year coach Ryan Teicheira has already surpassed last year’s win total. His first VOL win could be next, but don’t pencil it in just yet. Mountain House beat the Timberwolves 28-10 last season, as Sierra eventually finished last in the league.
Prediction: Sierra 30, Mountain House 10
This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin County high school football Week 6 predictions, schedule
