River Islands halted a brutal five-game skid with its 46-35 victory at Bret Harte last Friday, and now the first-year varsity team without a senior class is in range of a postseason berth.
The Riptide needs to win its final two games of the regular season to finish 4-6, which would likely be good enough for a spot in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII bracket.
First up is a non-league date with Viewpoint, a K-12 independent school out of Calabasas. The Patriots visit River Islands on Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff. They’re a replacement opponent for River Islands, which originally scheduled to face Mother Lode League
“It’s just been all about perseverance this year,” RI coach Nick Hardenbrook said. “We had an interesting preseason schedule that was up and down, and then moved into the (league) season hitting that gauntlet against teams that are absolutely killing it.
“All year long, we’re just trying to stay resilient and build on what we’re doing. It’s been really cool to see that growth out of them.”
The Riptide recorded its historic first win on Aug. 30 against Modesto Christian 12-0, but that was sandwiched by two one-sided, blowout losses to much-improved large-school foes Franklin and Chavez.
The MLL schedule was unforgiving to start, kicking off with a 52-8 loss with fellow newcomer Big Valley Christian. River Islands was then routed in consecutive shutouts by established contenders Calaveras, Linden and Summerville. The Riptide has been held scoreless in five of its six defeats.
“As important as it was to get the win, it was as important just to get those points on the board,” Hardenbrook said. “To get the offense rolling with some momentum as well as the defense, it’s something we can hang our hat on. It’s crazy to go from zero points for however many weeks to 46 and 500 yards of offense in one game.
“The boys are feeling it. It felt like they understood that they really do just need to trust the process.”
Sophomore fullback Alex Henry III and junior Idrees ElFarra starred in the offensive explosion.
Henry rambled for 204 yards and four touchdown son 24 carries, while ElFarra put his speed and versatility on display with 224 yards and two touchdowns on 12 rushes. Additionally, quarterback George Dayeh hit ElFarra in stride for a 55-yard touchdown to give the Riptide a 32-6 lead late in the first half.
Free safety Michael Figueroa led the defense with three interceptions, while lineman Jaiveer Grewal came up with two fumble recoveries.
Hardenbrook expects a tough matchup from battle-tested Viewpoint, which was trounced by reigning Southern Section Division IX champion Rio Hondo Prep, 54-19. The Patriots squeaked by Nordhoff the previous week, 4-0.
Running back Ben Burkin and receivers Darren Haggerty and Shane Anderson — all sophomores — are among Viewpoint’s offensive standouts. The 6-foot-1 Haggerty was a key member on Viewpoint’s SS Division IV champion track team last spring as a freshman.
Solomon Grammer, a 6-2, 235-pound senior defensive lineman, anchors the defense.
“They do a lot of the same things we do,” Hardenbrook said. “They get the ball out to a few different players. I think it will be a very good test to us.”
The Riptide concludes MLL play next week at Riverbank (4-4), which is still winless in league.
“We’re not done yet,” Hardenbrook said. “We’ve been trying to communicate that with them during that tough stretch we went through. We’re back home and we have an opportunity to do something special. This is very cool for our community, and this gives them something fun to do on Saturday.”
Also in Week 9:
Valley Oak League
Manteca (4-0, 7-1) at Patterson (3-2, 5-4): Manteca can clinch at least a share of its first league title since it was part of a three-way split in 2019.
The Buffaloes will get reacquainted with VOL newcomer Patterson and quarterback Max Medina, whom they previously faced on a non-league game two years ago when he was a freshman. Manteca won that encounter, 43-10.
Medina helped lead the Tigers to a runner-up finish in the SJS Division IV playoffs last season. He’s now the section’s leading passer with 2,429 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions at an efficient 73.3% clip.
Noah Cozart (53 receptions, 795 yards, 11 TDs) heads Patterson’s talented corps of receivers, while Coby Joseph (508 yards, 6.9 per carry, five TDs) and Jeremiah Lugo (943 total yards, 10 TDs) split carries at running back. Daniel Mataele, a mountainous 6-6, 350-pound lineman, is a third-year junior.
The Tigers’ physical defensive front is anchored by linebackers Hunter Droogsma (61 tackles) and Royale Tago (60 tackles, 5.0 sacks) and defensive ends Tressor Mulumba (55 tackles, 22 for losses, 6.0 sacks) and Dasen Pettis (40 tackles, 4.0 sacks).
Sierra (2-2, 5-3) at Oakdale (3-1, 6-2): The hits keep coming for the Timberwolves, who lost edge rusher Ryan McIntyre to a leg injury in a 55-27 homecoming loss to Patterson. They had already lost standout linebacker Brock Felt to a season-ending leg injury after he had emerged as an offensive weapon.
Sierra limps to The Corral where it has only won once (2009). In fact, the T’wolves have only beaten Oakdale once in their last 10 matchups, though the one win came in the 2019 SJS Division IV title game.
Freshman Darien East was promoted from the JV team to replace Felt at running back, and he exploded for 102 yards and three TDs in his varsity debut last week.
Oakdale is coming off a 46-27 loss at Central Catholic, ending a six-game winning streak that included a 56-40 triumph over Patterson. Running back Wes Burford is the section’s leading rusher with 1,666 yards (9.6 per carry) and 20 touchdowns. He’s complemented by Chase Lopez (813 yards, six TDs) in the Wing-T attack.
Western Athletic Conference
Lathrop (5-0, 7-1) at Central Valley (0-5, 1-7): The Spartans already have their first conference championship wrapped up, and a win in Ceres secures the outright claim.
The toughest part of their regular-season schedule is now behind them. Lathrop’s next two opponents, including Beyer at home next week, are 3-13 combined.
Central Valley has struggled after its 27-0 season-opening win against Pitman, averaging just 8.3 points since while getting shut out twice.
The Hawks’ spread offense is quarterbacked by sophomore Dominic Delatorre, who has passed for 95 yards, seven TDs and seven interceptions. His top target Andre Flores, has caught 27 passes for 365 yards and four scores. Safety Cesar Pimentel has the 10th most tackles in the SJS with 92.
Trans-Valley League
Escalon (2-2, 3-5) at Ripon (1-3, 3-5): The longtime rivals each pulled off big wins last week to improve their playoff chances — Ripon shocked once-beaten Sonora 27-15, while Escalon took care of Ripon Christian on its homecoming, 43-20.
The winner of their 77th meeting earns the requisite fourth win for postseason consideration.
Both teams have been hampered by injuries, but key players have returned.
Escalon QB Logan Huebner threw for three TD passes last week after missing three games with a knee injury. Carter Yates replaced fellow freshman Dylan Ball (groin) in the Cougars’ balanced backfield last week, contributing 55 rushing yards and a receiving TD. Six-foot-4, 220 pound tight end/defensive end Ryan Lewis is the Cougars’ leading receiver and tackler.
For Ripon, third-year starters RB Anden Ries (knee) and receiver/cornerback Dru Orlando (back) are rounding into form after each played their third game of the season, and both were instrumental in the win over Sonora.
Ripon Christian (1-3, 4-4) at Orestimba (1-3, 5-3): These former Southern League rivals reunite in Newman.
The last time they met was for the 2023 SJS Division IV-A final, which Ripon Christian won, 35-14. The Knights have beaten Orestimba in five of their last six showdowns and hold a 6-4 all-time lead. The Warriors claimed at least a share of four titles in nine seasons in the SL, while RC claimed four in 13 seasons.
Both have struggled in their returns to the TVL, with each owning a win over Ripon, so far. Undefeated Hughson took care of Orestimba last week 48-12, while RC was dealt a 43-20 loss at Escalon.
QB Jacob Valenzuela (1,392 yards, 15 TDs) and 6-4, 200-pound receiver Dylan McCauley (32 receptions, 574 yards, eight TDs) lead the Warriors’ spread offense, while 6-1, 220-pound RB/LB Nicolas Cuevas (399 yards, seven TDs; 74 tackles, three sacks) is a key two-way contributor.
