Le Grand ready for a championship rematch against Woodland Christian. ‘We want to play’
Head coach Aaron Martinez and his Le Grand High School football team are preparing for a rematch of last year’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII championship game against Woodland Christian on Friday night.
“We expect to play on Friday and we want to play,” said Martinez.
The game is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Le Grand High School.
The decision on whether the two teams play will likely be made in a Yolo County Superior Court.
Woodland Christian (10-1) rode a roller coaster of emotions last week as the Cardinals initially had their season ruled over when the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section’s governing office on Tuesday, Nov. 8 ruled the team was ineligible to continue its season because of a paperwork oversight tied to 11 freshmen players.
The following day the decision was upheld by a CIF appeals committee, but on Thursday — on the day of Woodland Christian’s first-round playoff game against Gustine — Yolo Superior Court Judge Samuel T. McAdam granted a temporary restraining order allowing the Cardinals to play.
The No. 3 seed Cardinals defeated No. 6 Gustine 45-8 later that night.
The next hearing for this case is late this week.
The issue stems from the Woodland Christian players not getting all the waivers needed to play varsity as 14-year olds.
“It was a total roller coaster,” Cardinals coach Michael Paschke told The Sacramento Bee after the win over Gustine. “It went from the lowest of the low, figuring we had no chance in the world ... (and) it was just an amazing day. We just had to keep believing and believing and it just happened today.”
All Martinez and Le Grand can do is prepare to play until they are told otherwise.
Martinez says Woodland Christian is a much better team than the Bulldogs (9-2) defeated 35-12 in the section title game last year.
“They’re bigger and they look more athletic,” Martinez said. “They are a dynamic looking team.”
Le Grand has weapons of its own as senior quarterback Julian Bucio has thrown for 1,481 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Senior running back Louie Aguallo returned from a hamstring injury last week and scored three touchdowns in a 49-0 win over No. 7 Delta. Junior Alexis Granados has rushed for 841 yards and 11 touchdowns in Aguallo’s absence.
The Bulldogs also have the receiving trio of Ronnie Ramirez, Reyes Diaz and Carlos Castaneda can all stretch the defense.
“It’s similar to last year in that we’re getting healthy at the right time,” Martinez said. “We’ve been running the ball well and our defense is flying around.”
No. 4 Stone Ridge Christian (9-2) vs No. 1 Ripon Christian (9-2) — These two teams are playing at a neutral site because both schools are facing sanctions from the Sac-Joaquin Section office for their involvement in club football during the pandemic.
This Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII semifinal game will be played at The Corral at Oakdale High School. The winner faces the winner of the Le Grand-Woodland Christian game in the section championship.
Stone Ridge Christian will have to slow down a balanced attack by Ripon Christian. RC quarterback Trey Fasani has thrown for 1,469 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Ripon Christian can pound the ball on the ground with a physical offensive line and running backs Grant Sonke and Derek Van Elderen.
It’s no secret Stone Ridge Christian wants to run the ball with running back Hector Esquivez, who has rushed for 1,759 yards and 15 touchdowns.
No. 3 Dos Palos (7-5) at No. 2 Atascadero (7-4) — The Broncos won in thrilling fashion, stopping a two-point conversion attempt by Morro Bay with just over 1 minute left in the game to hold on to a 28-27 victory in the Central Section Division V playoffs.
Now Dos Palos is a win away from playing for a section championship.
Freshman Andre Flores rushed for 253 yards and two touchdowns last week and the Broncos will again lean on running game again this week.
