Sonora’ triple option offense last week but its offense saved the day

The Colfax Falcons and Bear River Bruins have been lining up against each other in football games for over three decades now with the first meeting between the two schools dating back to 1986.

And, while many of the previous Falcons Bruins battles have had league supremacy Ricardo Allen Jersey, playoff berths, and as in 2014 when a CIF championship was on the line, it’s doubtful that any of the prior Colfax Bear River frays will carry the high drama that will be at stake when the two schools meet this Saturday in the CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. V championship game.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Cosumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove.

Because of changes made in 2015 to the CIF state football playoff bowl system https://www.falconsatljersey.com/jake-matthews-jersey-c-64.html, the winner of Saturday’s game is guaranteed to advance to a Northern California bowl playoff game.

In 2014, when Bear River defeated Colfax, 27 14, to win the Sac Joaquin Section Div. V title https://www.falconsatljersey.com/trevor-robinson-jersey-c-63.html, the state bowl format was in the infancy stages where only five teams from the north advanced to play five teams from south for state honors.

“I remember the last time we played Colfax for the section,’ said Bear River co coach Terry Logue. “We won and then we sat around for two weeks and held some light practices thinking we might get a call. Now it’s totally different.”

Both the Falcons and Bruins will carry identical 9 3 records with them into Saturday’s game. Bear River advanced https://www.falconsatljersey.com/wes-schweitzer-jersey-c-65.html to the finals by virtue of its 14 7 defeat of Ripon in a semi final game played on a soggy Ramsey Field last Friday.

Colfax, meanwhile, had to stave off a two point conversion try by Sonora in the waning seconds of a high scoring affair that saw the Falcons prevail, 56 55.

Like in 2014, this will be the second meeting of the season between the Falcons and Bruins. In 2014, Bear River won the regular season meeting, 21 20, before taking the title bout.

Earlier this season, Oct. 20 to be exact, Colfax took a 31 14 win over the Bruins in a game that was tied at 14 14 with just over seven minutes left in the third quarter.

“It was a lot closer game than the score may have indicated,” said Colfax coach Tony Martello. “I think Bear River is playing their best football right now.”

Both the Bruins and Falcons were late comers to this year’s playoff party as Bear River turned back Center in overtime and Colfax defeated Foothill on the final week of the regular season to become playoff eligible.

However, once reaching the post season, the two teams have made some noise.

Bear River, the No. 6 seed, went on the road and opened the playoffs with a 26 7 win over a highly touted and No. 3 seed Capital Christian. Colfax, the No. 5 seed, meanwhile, made a long jaunt to Newman and handed previously undefeated Orestimba, the No. 4 seed, a 43 20 drubbing.

In two playoff games, the Bruins have allowed just two touchdowns. In fact, after Capital Christian scored on the first play of the game two weeks ago, the Bruins have allowed just one score over the last seven quarters.

“Knock on wood but we’re as healthy as we’ve been over the last month,” said Logue.

Martello also acknowledged that the Falcons still have a few “dings” but will be ready to go.

“At this point in the season we’re fairly good health wise,” said the Colfax coach. “We got a couple of guys back last week and that helped.”

Colfax’s defense had more than its share of issues stopping Sonora’ triple option offense last week but its offense saved the day with another high scoring effort.

“We want to shorten this game as much as possible,” said Logue. “We do not want to get in a shootout with them.”

For fans not going to the game, the contest will be aired live on radio or computer stream by Grass Valley radio stations KNCO 830 am and Star 94.1 fm . The game, for a fee of 9.95 will also stream on video via a live feed on www.nfhsnetwork.com.