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 a 17-13 start through three weeks, The Record finally broke through with its best showing yet, going 8-2 in Week 3. Was that the start of something, or are county teams ready to humble us again?
Some picks will feel safe. Others could look much different by the final whistle.
All games are scheduled for Sept. 25 except St. Mary’s, which takes the field Sept. 26 at 11 a.m. at California Memorial Stadium, home of Cal.
Here are The Record’s 10 games to watch and predictions
for Week 4, along with the full schedule.
St. Mary’s (1-3) vs. Marin Catholic (1-3), 11 a.m. Saturday
Here comes a pretty interesting TCAL comparison. Marin Catholic escaped with a 37-31 win over Edison in Week 2, and now gets a St. Mary’s team it hasn’t beaten in two years. That gives us something to compare between two league favorites. For the Rams, it’s much simpler. Three straight losses against some of NorCal’s best make getting back in the win column the priority.
Prediction: St. Mary's 30, Marin Catholic 23
Manteca (2-2) at Patterson (3-1), 7:15 p.m.
A lot can change in a year. Manteca hammered Patterson 43-7 last season, but the Tigers didn't have Turlock transfer Scott Silva, a former MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Freshman of the Year, at quarterback. The Buffaloes have recovered from their first 0-2 start since 1996. Now comes the VOL opener and a chance to see if they're truly back.
Prediction: Manteca 42, Patterson 23
Ripon Christian (4-0) at Escalon (2-2), 7 p.m.
Six section championships since 2019. Two red-hot small-school powers. What more could you want from a TVL opener? Ripon Christian is undefeated, while Escalon just beat Oakdale and Nevada's No. 17 team in back-to-back weeks. The Knights won 38-8 last year. Don't expect Escalon to look like the same team this time around.
Prediction: Escalon 27, Ripon Christian 24
Calaveras (3-1) at River Islands (4-0), 7 p.m.
It doesn't get any bigger than this for River Islands. Four wins are already a program record just three years into its existence, with 40-plus points in every one. But beating Calaveras would blow everything else away. The Red Hawks are coming off CIF SJS Division VII and CIF State Division 5-A championships.
Prediction: Calaveras 35, River Island 28
Sierra (3-1) at Oakdale (1-3), 7 p.m.
Oakdale hasn't been here in a long time. Not since 2005 have the Mustangs started 1-3, making the response worth watching. Sierra, meanwhile, just beat Gregori in overtime and has already surpassed last year's win total under first-year coach and alum Ryan Teicheira. Don't expect Oakdale to take its slow start quietly.
Prediction: Oakdale 38, Sierra 17
Tokay (3-1) at McNair (3-1), 7:15 p.m.
Talk about two teams with something to get out of their system. McNair entered last week averaging more than 400 yards before falling to SJAA favorite Chavez. Tokay was even closer, letting a late lead slip away against Stagg in a “must-win” SJAA game. Somebody gets to turn that frustration into a bounce-back win.
Prediction: McNair 31, Tokay 25
Chavez (2-2) at Bear Creek (1-3), 7:15 p.m.
Bear Creek was one of only two SJAA teams to stay within four scores of Chavez during its undefeated season, falling 48-20. But Chavez's offense is clicking again, dropping 56 on McNair after a difficult non league slate. Could 60 be next? Either way, when two Stockton teams meet, city bragging rights come with it.
Prediction: Chavez 50, Bear Creek 14
Lincoln (2-2) at Downey (1-3), 7 p.m.
Remember when quarterback Julian Perez said “Lincoln’s back”? Well, beating Oakdale got people believing. Taking down West Park, ranked inside California’s top 115, gave them even more reason. Next comes Downey, another team inside the state’s top 150. Win that one, too, and Lincoln becomes another team nobody wants to see once TCAL play gets rolling.
Prediction: Lincoln 29, Downey 21
Placer (4-0) at East Union (3-0), 7 p.m.
A combined 127-6 is hard to argue with. The only question is who East Union has done it against, with none of its first three opponents ranked inside California's top 550. Undefeated Placer, which beat Ripon 14-7 in Week 2, changes that. If “more of the same” is coming for East Union in the VOL, this is where it starts getting interesting.
Prediction: East Union 32, Placer 27
Hilmar (4-0) at Ripon (2-2), 7:30 p.m.
Ripon wants last year's 1-5 TVL finish to look like a fluke? Here's quite the opportunity. Undefeated Hilmar comes in ranked inside California's top 150 and looking nothing like the team that tied for fifth last season. Making matters tougher, Ripon has been without starting quarterback Andrew Shaw for three straight games.
Prediction: Hilmar 24, Ripon 20
Nine more San Joaquin County games to watch
- Turlock (0-4) at Tracy (4-0), 7 p.m.
- Riverbank (2-1) at Linden (2-2), 7 p.m.
- Johansen (2-1) at Lathrop (1-2), 7 p.m.
- Franklin (Stockton) (2-2) at Stagg (2-2), 7 p.m.
- Central Catholic (3-1) at Mountain House (1-3), 7 p.m.
- Kimball (0-4) at Golden Valley (1-3), 7 p.m.
- Lodi (1-3) at Buhach Colony (0-4), 7:15 p.m.
- West (2-2) at Weston Ranch (0-4), 7 p.m.
- Millennium (2-1) at Kairos Public (2-1), 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin County high school football Week 4 predictions, schedule
