2023-24 Sac-Joaquin Section playoff brackets revealed: See where 209 teams landed

Shannon Mia Belt, The Stockton Record

Mon, Oct 30, 2023, 12:45 PM·6 min read

The stage has been set for the 2023-24 Sac-Joaquin Section high school football playoffs. On Sunday the SJS released the playoff brackets which featured 12 San Joaquin County teams across the seven divisions.

All the practices, ice baths, and Friday Night Lights glory led to the possibility of bringing home a blue banner. Before that, teams must get past the first round which is set to start on Nov. 3. For St. Mary’s, Manteca and Escalon postseason play won’t start until the quarterfinals on Nov. 10 as they all earned bye weeks in their respective divisions.

Here is a breakdown of all the first-round matchups for the teams hailing from the 209.

Edison wide receiver Isaac Sagapolu speeds past the defense on his way to an early touchdown in a game between Folsom High and Edison High School in Stockton Friday night

Niendorf: Kimball football defeats East Union, countdown to playoffs begins

Division 1

Two teams earned a spot in the Division 1 bracket in No. 7 Edison (8-2, 7-0 SJAA) and No. 8 Lincoln (6-4, 3-2 TCAL). Both the Vikings and Trojans will get to stay in the comforts of home for their first-round matchup.

Edison will host No. 10 Gregori (7-3, 3-2 CCAL) in a battle between pass-heavy and run-heavy offenses. The Vikings are led by sophomore quarterback Berrell Staples who is a lethal passer with tons of weapons at the wide receiver position. Gregori’s stat stuffer is senior Michael Marsden. He averages 167 rushing yards a game and has 22 total touchdowns in the regular season.

Lincoln’s matchup will be against No. 9 Consumnes Oaks (5-5, 4-2 DL). The Trojans put up 28 points against a stingy St. Mary’s defense in the regular season finale. They will look to ride junior running back Jordin Thomas all the way past Cosumnes Oaks. The Wolfpack has a junior running back of their own who can be a problem in Brandon Lambert.

2023 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs Division 1

Division 2

To no one’s surprise, St. Mary’s (9-1, 5-0 TCAL) earned the No. 1 seed following a perfect league finish and only losing one game all season against De La Salle. The Rams will play the winner of the No. 8 Elk Grove vs. No. 9 Vacaville in the quarterfinals.

No. 4 Manteca (7-3, 4-1 VOL) will play the winner of No. 5 Granite Bay vs. No. 12 Rodriguez. If the Grizzlies win the Buffaloes will face a familiar foe which they beat earlier this season and in last year’s SJS Division 2 championship.

St. Mary's Samson Hunkin, right, makes a move on Lincoln's Tristan Walker during a varsity football game at Lincoln's Spanos Stadium in Stockton on Oct. 27, 2023.

The final 209 team to make this loaded bracket is No. 7 Tracy (4-6, 4-1 TCAL). The Bulldogs almost lost their home game seeding after forfeiting their first four wins of the season due to having ineligible players. Luckily for them, they’ll be at the Wayne Schneider Stadium hosting No. 10 Downey (9-1, 4-1) in the first round.

Tracy took down Downey earlier this season with a 43-13 victory but it was one of the four wins that was taken away. Despite that, the Bulldogs have pulled off the win before and will look to do it again behind dual-threat senior quarterback Aidan Van Os.

2023 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs Division 2

Division 3

Linden junior quarterback Matthew Schallberger hands off to junior teammate Landen Ly in Friday’s SJAA contest against McNair at Lion Stadium.

Making the SJS Division 3 playoffs is extra sweet for No. 8 Linden (8-2, 6-1 SJAA) and No. 11 Mountain House (6-4, 4-3 WAC). Both teams missed out on the playoffs last year and redeemed themselves this go-round.

The Lions will host No. 9 Golden Valley (6-4, 3-3 CCC) a team that has won a section championship in the past. Both teams have solid passing games and top talents at the wide receiver position. Linden’s Deandre Smith averaged nearly 100 receiving yards per game as a go-to for their deep passes. The Cougars' senior wideout Jonah White is leading them in scoring with 14 touchdowns.

Mountain House will be on the road as the lower-seeded team takes on No. 6 Roseville (7-3, 4-2 CVC). The Mustangs' do-it-all senior Amare Brooks will be put to the test against a stiff Tigers defense. He currently leads his team in rushing yards, passing yards, and tackles per game.

2023 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs Division 3

Division 4

Not too many people can stop No. 1 seed Escalon (9-1, 5-0 TVL) so it’s fitting that it earns a bye to start the playoffs. The reigning Division 5 champions will play the winner of No. 8 Sierra (4-6, 1-4 VOL) and No. 9 Sacramento (4-6, 4-2 CAL).

Escalon football stands for the national anthem ahead of its game against Oakdale at Oakdale High School on Sept. 15, 2023.

Sierra had a hard go in league play only beating East Union 34-31. Playing those Goliath-like opponents will come in handy as it has prepped the Timberwolves for postseason play. Their junior quarterback Zak Wilson is hoping to show out in front of a home crowd against a solid Dragons squad.

The last area team to make the Division 4 bracket is No. 6 seed Kimball (5-5, 2-3 VOL) taking on No. 11 Nevada Union (6-4, 3-2, FVL). Despite the Jaguars having the higher seed they will be on the road due to not filling out the required forms to host the first round game. Kimball has had three different quarterbacks this season and has struggled to really get its passing game flowing. It will be a dogfight between the Jaguars and the Miners.

2023 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs Division 4

Division 5

The lone SJ County team to make the Division 5 bracket is No. 7 seed Lathrop (7-3, 6-1 WAC). This marks the second time the Spartans have made it to postseason play in the school’s history. They will host No. 10 Foothill (7-3, 5-0 GSL) which hasn’t lost a game since Sept. 22.

With a run-heavy offense led by senior Julio Garcia, the Spartans are looking to make a deep run in the postseason. Foothill has a steady offense led by senior quarterback Xiavior Smith and his go-to target senior Romaine Jones.

2023 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs Division 5

Division 6

No SJ County team made the Division 6 bracket.

Ripon Christian's Grant Sonke, right, evades Woodland Christian's Carter Lang during the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII football championship at St. Mary's High School in Stockton on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022.

Division 7

This year unlike previous years the Division 7 bracket will be broken up into two different brackets, 7A and 7B. The winners of each bracket will go head to head for the Division 7 championship.

In the Division 7A bracket the No. 1 seed is small school powerhouse Ripon Christian (9-1, 7-0 SL). The Knights are fresh off of a 7-0 Southern League finish, blowing out their past three opponents. Since there are fewer teams in each bracket in this division Ripon Christian won’t have a bye and will host No. 8 Golden Sierra (4-5, 3-2 SDL) in the first round.

The Knights have a loaded offense that can score in the air behind quarterback Mason Tameling and on the ground behind seniors Brady Grondz, Grant Sonke, and Trevor Van Elderen. Golden Sierra will have a tall task on its hands trying to take down the reigning Division 7 champions.

2023 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs Division 7

Record reporter Shannon Belt covers sports. She can be reached at sbelt@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ShannonBelt3. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: See where the SJ County prep football teams landed in SJS playoffs