Clean slates as league seasons kick off

For the Lodi Flames, tonight's San Joaquin Athletic Association opener against Franklin couldn't come quick enough.

Despite losing star fullback/safety Conner Peterson to a season-ending knee injury and emerging star sophomore running back Jordan Perkins' lingering knee problem that currently has him listed as day to day, Lodi still managed to make it through its preseason with a 4-1 record.

Now its time for the Flames' real season to begin.

"I think we are all the happy the preseason is over," said Lodi head coach Todd Dillon.

Last year, the Flames started with a 6-0 mark, including a league win over Bear Creek. They then lost their final three games to Lincoln, Chavez and Tracy before getting a forfeit win over Franklin that wasn't enough to send them to the postseason.

Dillon believes he's got a talented squad that can contend in league this year, but is concerned with the injuries the team has faced thus far.

After Peterson went down, Perkins carried the load for the Flames, rushing for 801 yards and six touchdowns in the first four games of the season. In last week's 14-12 loss to Grace Davis, Perkins carried the ball five times for 13 yards before leaving with a knee injury.

Week 6 Football Schedule

Today's Games
Franklin at Lodi, 7:15 p.m.
Tokay vs. Stagg at Chavez HS, 7:15 p.m.
Union Mine at Galt, 7:30 p.m.
Brookside Chr. vs. Elliot Chr. at Lincoln HS, 7 p.m.
Chavez at Bear Creek, 7:15 p.m.
West at St. Mary's, 7:15 p.m.
Lincoln at Tracy, 7:15 p.m.
Edison at McNair, 7:15 p.m.
Vista del Lago at Ponderosa, 7:30 p.m.
Oak Ridge at Cordova, 7:30 p.m.

Week 6 Kickoffs

Franklin at Lodi
When/where: 7:15 p.m. today at the Grape Bowl.
Records: Lodi 4-1; Franklin 1-2.
Last week: Lodi lost to Grace Davis 14-12; Franklin lost to Nevada Union 77-7.
Last season: Lodi won by forfeit. Franklin beat Lodi 49-12 at the Grape Bowl in 2006.
Key matchups: Lodi's running game vs. Franklin's defense. With star sophomore running back Jordan Perkins listed as day to day with a knee injury, the Flames will need a big performance from Alex Santiago and more rushing scores from QB Patrick Armstrong.
Notes: This is San Joaquin Athletic Association opener for both teams. ... The Yellowjackets are allowing over 49 points per game. ... The Flames started the season 6-0 last season, but then lost three straight league games by a combined score of 156-29. Perkins is questionable for the game and leads the Flames with 814 yards (8.31 avg,) this season while Santiago has 401 (5.81 avg.). ... Armstrong leads team with seven rushing TDs. .... For the Flame defense, Mike Toon leads team with 6.2 tackles per game, Ryan Pudwell has three INTs and Doug Conner has four sacks.

Tokay at Stagg
When/where: 7:30 p.m. today at Chavez High School.
Records: Tokay 2-3; Stagg 2-3.
Last week: Tokay lost to Galt 38-7; Stagg lost to Miramonte 52-14.
Last season: Stagg defeated Tokay 35-28 at the Grape Bowl.
Key matchups: Tokay secondary vs. Stagg WRs. The Delta Kings love to throw the ball and QB Anthony Salter (744 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs) has triple targets in Shaquille Senegal (21 catches, 313 yards), James Jones (19 catches, 330 yards, 3 TDs) and Theo Wofford (16 catches, 259 yards).
Notes: This is the Tri-City Athletic League opener for both teams. ... The Tokay offense has been hit-and-miss, averaging 37 points in two victories and only seven points in three losses. Tokay RB Durrell Butler has rushed for 363 yards (5.34 avg.) and four TDs. WR Kevin Shilue has nine catches for 202 yards and two TDs. QB Luke McCurdy has completed 41.2 percent of his passes in throwing for 394 yards (4 TDs, 5 INTs). Michael Hernandez leads Tokay with 8.8 tackles per game and Esteban Chavez leads the team with five sacks.

Union Mine at Galt
When/where: 7 p.m. today at Galt High.
Records: Galt 3-2 1-0 SVC; Union Mine 1-4, 0-2 SVC.
Last week: Galt beat Tokay 38-14; Union Mine lost to Oak Ridge 30-7.
Key matchups: Galt defense vs. Union Mine offense. "They run multiple formations and love to screen the heck out of a defense," Galt coach Warren Schroeder said of Union Mine. "We can't just pin our ears back like in recent weeks. We have to be disciplined and play with our minds and not just physically."
Notes: The Warriors have won three in a row and their three wins this season eclipse the victory total (2) of the previous two seasons combined. ... Galt's current three-game winning streak is its longest since the Warriors won four straight to close out the 2005 season. ... Union Mine has lost four in a row. ... Galt RB Trevor Alcoriza has rushed for 483 yards (7.55 avg.) and eight TDs. WR Abram Piggee has 11 catches for 273 yards (24.8 avg.) and four TDs. QB Robert Byrd had thrown for 415 yards (3 TDs, 3 INTs). DB Trevor Alcoriza and Joey Ruiz both average 7.2 tackles per game.

Elliot Christian vs. Brookside Christian
When/where: 7 p.m. today at Lincoln High School.
Records: Elliot Christian 2-3; Brookside Christian 1-4.
Last week: Elliot lost to Maxwell 38-6; Brookside lost to Dixon 43-0.
Last season: Brookside beat Elliot 34-6 in Week 10; Elliot beat Brookside 27-26 in Week 4.
Key matchups: Elliot defense vs. Brookside offense. "They have a lot more outside speed," Elliot coach Dean Davis said of Brookside. "We need to contain them on the outside and force them inside."
Notes: This is the Harvest Christian League opener for both teams. ... Brookside has lost four in a row. ... Elliot RB Brandon Ivy has rushed for 396 yards (4.5 avg.) and three TDs and also has four TD catches. WR Nathan Fickert has 24 catches for 302 yards and three TDs. Mason Vickers has thrown for 603 yards (6 TDs, 4 INTs). Nik Vega has 6.2 tackles per game.

If he can play, Perkins probably won't be looking at his average of 23 carries per game. Alex Santiago will be another option in the backfield for the Flames as he has been all season. He's totaled 401 yards with a 5.8 per carry average.

The Flames' first SJAA battle will come against the rebuilding Franklin Yellowjackets (1-2), who were forced to forfeit their season last year after the program was rocked by a recruiting scandal. Despite Franklin's status, Dillon is expecting a challenge when things kick off at tonight at the Grape Bowl.

"They are athletic and talented," he said of the Yellowjackets. "They can hurt you on any given play, so we will have to make our own breaks. We will need to capitalize when opportunities arise."

Tokay at Stagg

Tokay High coach Louis Franklin has a firm grasp on his team's recent struggles — the Tigers can't get a grip on the football, he says.

After two turnover-laden performances in back-to-back blowout losses to Lodi and Galt to close out the preseason, the Tigers (2-3) start with a clean slate tonight when they open Tri-City Athletic League play against Stagg (2-3) at Chavez High School.

And if they can hold onto the pigskin, Franklin believes the Tigers can get a grip on their season and play like the team that won two of its first three games.

"On offense, taking care of the ball," Franklin said without hesitation when asked why his team struggled the last two games.

"In each of the games we had four turnovers, and most were unforced."

The giveaways not only stymied the offense — the Tigers averaged 25.3 points through their first three games and only 10.5 the last two — but overburdened the defense as well.

Tokay's tired defenders have been unable to stop the run and get off the field, making the unit vulnerable to big plays.

"The offense has been putting the defense on the field more than they need to be," said Franklin, whose squad had surrendered only 53 points after three games before allowing 35 and 38 against Lodi and Galt, respectively.

"We're missing tackles and people aren't swarming to the ball and that's when big plays occur."

Franklin said he expects the Tigers' secondary to be tested tonight against a Stagg team that loves to air it out. Stagg quarterback Anthony Salter will spread the ball around, with three receivers already having posted at least 16 catches and more than 250 yards receiving.

On offense, Franklin says the Tigers need to establish the running game in order to open up the passing attack that has been grounded in recent weeks.

"The team feels pretty good going into league," Franklin said. "The kids are excited and ready to move on. Everybody is 0-0 now."

Union Mine at Galt

Galt High coach Warren Schroeder says a three-game winning streak has done wonders for a Warrior team coming off consecutive 1-9 seasons.

But as confident as his team is after winning its last three — the school's first such streak since ending the 2005 season with four straight wins — Schroeder doesn't think the Warriors have done enough to earn the respect of their Sierra Valley Conference foes.

The Warriors (3-2, 1-0 SVC) will get an opportunity to make believers out of the doubters when they return to league action tonight with a home game against Union Mine (1-4, 0-2 SVC).

"The SVC is tough and we still haven't been given our due respect," Schroeder said. "Union Mine is going to come out and fight expecting to win."

Schroeder said an aggressive defense that swarms to the ball is the biggest reason the Warriors have been successful this season and added that the ability to control the ball on offense has kept fresh defenders on the field. It's been reflected on the scoreboard, as the Warriors allowed 31.5 points a contest in losing the first two games and just under 7.0 points during their winning streak.

"It's a much different feeling than last two years," Schroeder said of the program's turnaround. "It feels great. The players are confident and know they can win."

Elliot Chr. vs. Brookside Chr.

Whether they play in the league opener or league finale, the game is likely to have playoff implications when Elliot Christian (2-3) and Brookside Christian (1-4) hook up on the gridrion.

Elliot coach Dean Davis says this year shouldn't be an exception, even though the teams are meeting in their Harvest Christian League openers tonight at Lincoln High instead of their customary end-of-the-season battle.

"It will be a big game for both of us," Davis said. "We're rivals and the last two or three years we've played in the last league game and it's had playoff implications.

"I'm looking at it the same way this year even though it's at the beginning (of league). We're among the contenders. Our kids are jazzed up."

Davis said his biggest concern heading into the game is the health of his team, which is down to 14 players. The offensive line has been hit particularly hard by injuries, and Davis said the outcome of tonight's contest could be determined by which Eagles can suit up and how effective they can be.

"One week we're doing fine and the next we can't score," Davis said. "We're losing running backs and linemen. But like any game, you go in with what you got."

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