Two county matchups highlight tonight’s football action

Three intriguing games are in store tonight on the prep gridiron schedule, including two intracounty matchups: Ponderosa at Union Mine and Golden Sierra at El Dorado.

Oak Ridge travels to Del Oro for the annual battle with the Golden Eagles, who are coached by Casey Taylor, a former Oak Ridge player and and later, assistant coach.

All three games kick off at 7:15.

 Ponderosa (1-2)
at Union Mine (1-1)

This is a forget-the-records game between the rivals. Based on last year's performance and the number of returning players, Union Mine looks like the better team. The Diamondbacks are at home after playing their first two games on the road and ready to deliver for their fans.

"Everyone is healthy and ready to go," D'back coach Dave Johnson said. "Ponderosa is a big one for us even though it's a nonleague game. We try to take each game one at a time, but because of the close proximity, the Ponderosa game is special for our players.

"Sean (Tow) had a great game last week but we let down on defense and didn't throw or catch very well against Colfax. I think we've corrected those mistakes for this week's game."

The Bruins have confidence after their lop-sided win over El Dorado last week. Running back Chris Hobbs had a big 145-yard, four-touchdown night against the Cougars and he'll need another one to keep pace with Tow, who routinely racks up big numbers.

"We're excited to play Union Mine; we want to avenge last year's loss," Bruin coach Jason Tenner said. "They (D'backs) are a well-coached, tough group and we expect another physical four-quarter battle. Everyday we get healthier and gain more experience; we hope all our efforts pay off Friday."

If Union Mine's passing attack improves from last week, and Tow reels off another statistic-laden effort, Ponderosa could have a long night.

Golden Sierra (2-1)
at El Dorado (0-2)

The Grizzlies fell back to earth after Bear River dismantled them last week. While the Cougars aren't as powerful as Bear River, they can't be overlooked. Both teams want a win before league games start next week.

Golden Sierra's game plan worked well in its first two victories but hit the wall against the Bruins. El Dorado's good start against Ponderosa quickly evaporated into a 30-point loss.


The Cougars, with 39 players on the roster, have home-field advantage and need a victory. The short-handed Grizzlies have two wins already and plenty of heart. The question is whether Golden Sierra has gas left in the tank at the end. On paper, the Cougars have the edge but anything can happen when these two county rivals meet.

Oak Ridge (3-0)
at Del Oro (2-1)

This is always a big game for these teams — a real show of smash-mouth football in front of stands full of rabid fans.

Del Oro is the defending Division III Sac-Joaquin Section champion and is always a fearsome opponent. The Golden Eagles' only setback was a three-point loss to Westlake, No. 6 in the state. The game was tied after three quarters.

"It's always a big game with Del Oro," Trojan coach Eric Cavaliere said. "They make us better. They make us work harder. We love playing Del Oro."

The Trojans have big guns in their offensive arsenal — quarterback Jason Samuels, receivers Dylan Collie and Lance Berringer, kicker Jon David Smith, and a group of talented running backs. But this is Oak Ridge's first game on the road and against a team that would like nothing more than to ruin the Trojans' perfect record.

Even if Oak Ridge prevents Del Oro from getting off to a fast start and Samuels and Co. move the chains right away, the outcome is still a toss-up.