Sometimes, the best-laid plans fall apart in a very public way. Football scheduling has more than a few good examples of that syndrome. At the NorCal high school level, Central Catholic comes to mind. The Raiders had been preparing for a strong 2022. A schedule to reflect that hope has turned out to be a likely nightmare. The Modesto school has a four-game non-league set against St. Francis, St. Mary's (Stockton), Serra and St. John Bosco. CC has already lost to the first two. The loss to St. Mary's was a rout. Serra (No.1 in NorCal) and SJB (No.1 or No.2 in the nation depending on your preference) are up next. Prospects for wins in those two tests are iffy at best. At worst, things could get ugly. Fast. It wasn't supposed to be like this.
A 2022 miscalculation
- Thread starter colhenrylives
- Start date
Too much stock in wins and losses. An easy win vs cupcakes does little than to stroke the ego of a team/players who dont embrace challenge. I know nothing of CC, its players, etc, but based on their scheduling I know they embrace competition no matter the outcome.
This is always the schedule balance. If you can come out of a grueling schedule semi-healthy and with your confidence, then it pays off in the long run. However, I've seen teams that get really banged up and never reap the increased competition when it matters in league and/or playoffs.
Will have to wait and see come VOL action because Manteca has taken a different tactic on its schedule
Will have to wait and see come VOL action because Manteca has taken a different tactic on its schedule
I see CC play every year. I was at 3 quarters of Holy Bowl. This is not the average CC team too many 2 way players. Oakdale same. The most 2 way players I can remember. That's why I think Manteca will finally beat CC. Manteca just has too many athletes this year. CC will have at best a 6-4. More likely 5-5. If by chance Oakdale plays over their head CC could be 4-6! Now do I think Oakdale will beat them? Not this year 18 new starters? But Oakdale has good look for D3 playoffs. New QB by playoffs. Little work on O-line and Oakdale is Oakdale again. O- line Oakdale usually strongest part of game. Has some kinks this year? You have to know the mindset of Oakdale fans good is never good enough. We are spoilt badly.
From this post I am assuming you are an Oakdale fan. I grew up in Turlock, still live here, and have been watching games for over 60 years. Turlock and Oakdale have played 80 times, going back to 1922 (for the record, 37 Turlock wins, 38 Oakdale, 5 ties), by far the most non-conference games for Turlock (Oakdale and Turlock were in the same league in 1957 and 1958) against any school. And I would guess it would be the same for Oakdale (again, non-league only). Given this history the last game between the two teams was in 2015. I have never heard why the series was canceled, as I am not in contact with anyone who might know. Was it mutual, was it one side wanting out? Conspiratorial Turlock fans might note that 2016 was the start of Turlock's run of good teams, but I don't think either team is afraid of opponents. So, do you know anything?
Central Catholic would still have a very good shot at making the playoffs in D1 even if they only go 4-6 (necessary minimum--not a prediction). That might not be the case if they were still in D2 because it gets squeezed from two directions. At 5-5 or 6-4, they are almost assured a spot. Once in the playoffs, everyone's record is 0-0.
If we are talking conspiracy theories. At one time Turlock lead the series. But if you look it got more one sided of late . Turlock was a tough first game. With realignment Sonora was moved from VOL. So they weren't on schedule. So Sonora replaced Turlock as opening game.
PS. I don't believe in conspiracy theories!
I wouldn't believe in the conspiracy either. Coincidence in this case with Sonora leaving the league at the same time. Since I started high school in 1965 the record is Turlock 16 Oakdale 31 and 3 ties. At first I was going to say that Turlock had a lot of lean years in that time but actually they have had 35 winning seasons, 18 losing, and 5 at .500. Without knowing the record I would guess that Oakdale has been more consistent in that time period. There were a couple of stretches where Oakdale won 4 or 5 in a row. I'm getting this information, by the way, from a book called From the Fields - A History of Prep Football in Turlock, California. It's a comprehensive year-by-year history primarily of Turlock High and later including Pitman and Turlock Christian.
Now I heard this from a parent not coaching staff. But Turlock after Pitman had dropped competitiveness. And Sonora change gave them the opportunity to change schedule? Not from coaching staff I want to make clear
Could be. I have no connection to the Turlock program, just a fan that enjoys watching the games. Perhaps some irony here in that Pitman had some good teams early on and regularly beat Turlock but they have not been good at all for a number of years and don't show many signs of improving. When there's two high schools in town do the good players gravitate to the winning one? Don't know if that's it but it certainly happens in other places.
