Let The Postseason Begin

The district's die-hard football fans will have another Friday night to let it all hang out.

Three of our teams are in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. The Rio Linda Knights, Foothill Mustangs and Grant Pacers have first round games Nov. 21.

Foothill takes on Whitney (Rocklin). Rio Linda will travel to Manteca to play Sierra. And the Grant Pacers will be at home to welcome football power Granite Bay.

"We know it's going to be a real big game, an overflow crowd for sure," says coach Mike Alberghini. "Everybody expected the two of us to meet in the championship game, not the first round. But we're excited and we will have to play extremely well. That's what the playoffs are all about. Good teams going after good teams ... Granite Bay is a very good football team. It should be an exciting night."

The Division II showdown between Grant and Granite Bay is attracting its share of attention, but Foothill and Rio Linda are on Alberghini's radar, too.

"I'm happy for both Foothill and Rio Linda," he says. "It's nice whenever we have good things happening in our district."

Practices this week have been intense, more so than usual.

"We're excited," says FHS coach Allen Berg. "If we continue to progress the way we have, we'll definitely be competitive ... you play to get into the playoffs every year and it has helped that we have scheduled tough preseason games to prepare us better."

All three teams have been in the playoffs over the past several years, but no one takes anything for granted. Players know as long as they keep going, they have a shot at the title game.

"For some of the juniors, this is an eye-opening experience," says Rio Linda coach Mike Morris. "The rise in the intensity level sometimes takes them off guard. But I think we can beat them (Sierra). If we're physical with them and limit our mistakes we have a great chance of beating them."

Playoff Schedule, Friday, Nov. 21

Sac-Joaquin Section Division II

Grant Pacers vs. Granite Bay

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Grant High School

Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV

Rio Linda vs. Sierra

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Manteca

Foothill vs. Whitney

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Rocklin