San Joaquin County high school football Week 1 predictions, schedule

One week down. Plenty more football to come.

Each week, The Record will provide the full San Joaquin County high school football schedule while highlighting 10 matchups which deserve a closer look, complete with a preview and prediction for each.

The Record's predictions started 7-3 in Week 0. Now, it’s time to see if that success carries into another week.

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 1, along with the full schedule.

St. Mary’s (1-0) at Central Catholic (0-1), 7 p.m.

Officials perform the opening coin toss at the so-called

Central Catholic is accustomed to being among California's top 100. St. Mary's hasn't seemed to care. The Rams have won four straight in the series by a combined 86 points, but the Raiders are still No. 83 in California according

to MaxPreps and remain one of the favorites, alongside Manteca, to win the VOL.

Prediction: St. Mary's 40, Central Catholic 24

Manteca (0-1) at Buchanan (1-1), 7 p.m.

From one heavyweight to another. Manteca's first regular-season loss since Sept. 13, 2024, came against a St. Francis team among NorCal's best, and the reward is a trip to Fresno to face a Buchanan team ranked inside California's top 40. A section final remains the expectation, and competing closely here would show why.

Prediction: Manteca 27, Buchanan 21

Edison (1-0) at Franklin-Elk Grove (1-0), 7 p.m.

Franklin beat Edison. Chavez beat Franklin. Franklin just beat Chavez. So Edison beats Franklin, right? Not so fast. Football doesn't work by process of elimination, especially when Week 0 suggested both teams may be much different than they were a year ago.

Prediction: Edison 38, Franklin 31

Lincoln (0-1) at Oakdale (1-0), 7 p.m.

The Lincoln varsity football players raises their helmets during the national anthem before the Sac-Joaquin Section football bowl game against Turlock at Lincoln’s Spanos Stadium in Stockton on Nov. 7, 2025. Lincoln won 54-15.

Part 1 belonged entirely to Oakdale. The Mustangs ran 52 times for 592 yards and nine touchdowns in a 70-30 win over Lincoln. With much of that rushing production gone, perhaps Part 2 would be different. Then Oakdale opened by beating a two-time defending champion and showing the ground game hasn't disappeared. Lincoln's air raid, though, brings the complete opposite approach.

Prediction: Oakdale 50, Lincoln 35

Chavez (0-1) at Escalon (0-1), 7:30 p.m.

Escalon High's Dylan Ball runs up the middle against Chavez High Friday night August 29, 2025

Chavez's 37-30 win over Escalon became the "biggest win in program history" and helped spark its first perfect regular season. But remember, Escalon was "a year away." Well, that year has arrived. With both teams 0-1 after facing quality opponents, this game could provide either with a much-needed early boost.

Prediction: Chavez 30, Escalon 28

Valley Christian-San Jose (1-0) at Tracy (1-0), 7 p.m.

Want proof Tracy can contend in what St. Mary's coach Tony Franks called the toughest TCAL in years? Beat Valley Christian, or even keep it close. Tracy has the talent, and a strong showing against a top-100 team in California would go a long way toward proving it.

Prediction: Valley Christian 45, Tracy 26

Stagg (0-1) at Ripon Christian (1-0), 7:30 p.m.

Stagg’s Darnell Holmes dives into the end zone past Franklin’s Donavon Xiong for a touchdown during a varsity football game at Franklin in Stockton on Sep. 12, 2025.

Welcome to the job, Sopeter Mao. Stagg is coming off its best season in more than a decade, but after an opening loss, its first-year coach gets defending section finalist Ripon Christian. Stagg can show last year wasn't a fluke, or Ripon Christian can show why it won back-to-back section titles in 2022 and 2023.

Prediction: Stagg 24, Ripon Christian 20

Lathrop (0-1) at Sierra (1-0), 7 p.m.

Ryan Teicheira helped take Lathrop somewhere it had never been, winning the program's first league titles in 2024 and 2025. After five years, he returned to Sierra, where he graduated in 2001, leaving longtime assistant Justin Muschott to take over. Mentor meets protégé. No bad blood, just a reunion worth watching.

Prediction: Sierra 31, Lathrop 28

Bear Creek (0-1) at Linden (0-1), 7 p.m.

First meetings are always a little more fun. Bear Creek and Linden have never played, but the two county programs enter with something in common after both lost their openers by a touchdown. Linden is coming off its first section final since 2004, while Bear Creek is coming off a 5-5 season.

Prediction: Linden 27, Bear Creek 10

Modesto (0-1) at East Union (0-0), 7 p.m.

East Union’s varsity football team reacts to losing 31 to 29 to Roseville in the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. IV football championship Sacramento City College’s Hughes Stadium in Sacramento on Nov. 29, 2025.

Best season in program history. School-record nine wins. First top-150 state ranking. First section championship appearance since 1989. East Union lost plenty from that team, but believes this season can bring "more of the same." Time to find out.

Prediction: East Union 42, Modesto 13

Ten more San Joaquin County games to watch

Ripon captains Andrew Shaw, left, Tipeti Paini, Mike Evans and Walker Leamer make their way to midfield for the opening coin toss before a varsity football game against Ripon Christian at Ripon High’s West Stouffer Field in Ripon on Oct. 10. 2025. Ripon Christian won 35-21.