Some believe the Waterford High football team is the runaway favorite in the Southern League, playing with generational talent, and they may be right.
But here's a hard truth to chew on: It's been about that long since the Wildcats (5-0, 2-0) have topped Friday's opponent, the Ripon Christian Knights.
Title implications at the Corral
American Chevrolet Athlete of the Week
Ripon Christian (4-1, 1-0) has won eight straight contests with the Wildcats and only one of those games -- just one! -- have been decided by less than a score, a 28-27 decision in 2014. Since then, it's been a rush of Ripon Christian routs, games remembered as much for the defense as the awesome offensive onslaught. In the last six meetings, Ripon Christian has yielded a total of 26 points and has three shutouts.
After splitting last week's return to "Bold or Just Bald?" -- Cortez and I were in lockstep, 17-7 with our picks -- Friday's small-school Game of the Week looks to be the difference-maker. It's the one of only two games on the slate that we stand opposed. Coincidentally, both games are in the Southern League.
Here's a closer look at those picks:
2021 WEEKLY PREDICTIONS
Last Week -- Burns: 17-7. Cortez: 17-7
FRIDAY, OCT. 1
Central California Athletic League
Enochs at Gregori, 7 p.m. Burns: Enochs Cortez: Enochs
Modesto at Downey, 7 p.m. Burns: Downey Cortez: Downey
Pitman at Turlock, 7 p.m. Burns: Turlock Cortez: Turlock
Central California Conference
Atwater at Patterson, 7 p.m. Burns: Patterson Cortez: Patterson
El Capitan at Merced (Golden Valley H.S.), 7 p.m. Burns: Merced Cortez: Merced
Western Athletic Conference
Johansen at Ceres, 7 p.m. Burns: Ceres Cortez: Ceres
Mountain House at Los Banos, 7 p.m. Burns: Los Banos Cortez: Los Banos
Pacheco at Davis (MJC), 7 p.m. Burns: Davis Cortez: Davis
Valley Oak League
Central Catholic at Oakdale, 7 p.m. Burns: Central Catholic Cortez: Central Catholic
East Union at Manteca, 7 p.m. Burns: Manteca Cortez: Manteca
Sierra at Weston Ranch, 7 p.m. Burns: Weston Ranch Cortez: Weston Ranch
Trans-Valley League
Hilmar at Escalon, 7 p.m. Burns: Escalon Cortez: Escalon
Modesto Christian at Hughson, 7 p.m. Burns: Hughson Cortez: Hughson
Riverbank at Ripon, 7 p.m. Burns: Ripon Cortez: Ripon
Mother Lode League
Amador at Sonora, 7 p.m. Burns: Sonora Cortez: Sonora
Calaveras at Argonaut, 7 p.m. Burns: Argonaut Cortez: Argonaut
Southern League
Delhi at Gustine, 7:15 p.m. Burns: Delhi Cortez: Gustine
Denair at Le Grand, 7:15 p.m. Burns: Le Grand Cortez: Le Grand
Mariposa at Orestimba, 7:15 p.m. Burns: Orestimba Cortez: Orestimba
Waterford at Ripon Christian, 7:15 p.m. Burns: Ripon Christian Cortez: Waterford
Non-League
Ygnacio Valley at Stone Ridge Christian, 7 p.m. Burns: Ygnacio Valley Cortez: Ygnacio Valley
Big Valley Christian at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m. Burns: Hamilton Cortez: Hamilton
