defeated them in last year's Metro League conference showdown. Then on the 21st, the held off Granite Bay late in the first-round Sac-Joaquin Section playoff game to move to 11-0 and advance to the semifinals next week against Woodcreek.

The Pacers are psyched, oozing with confidence. And why not? They've won eleven games, dismantling two state-ranked No. 1 teams from Idaho and Utah.

"We feel good at No. 1," says talented wide receiver Darvin McCauley. "That's where we have belonged from the start of the season."

"We're going all the way," says senior right tackle Alesana Laban. "Our goal is to make it to the state championship."

The perennial powerhouse Pacers had their first perfect season in 2006 when they went 13-0 and won the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II title. They were, however passed over for a bowl bid in favor of De La Salle, a six-time national champion.

"A lot of the players who were on that team are family, older cousins," says quarterback Kipeli Koniseti. "We have tried to live up to their standards. My cousin (Christian Tupou) was on that team and he's now a defensive tackle at USC. We want that championship ring and we want to go to state."

No doubt about it, this is a special team with amazing chemistry. McCauley says it's because they're "family."

"We've been together for a long time," he says. "Half of us played Pop Warner together and some of us went to preschool together."

The head of the "family" is Mike Alberghini, who has coached his share of great Grant football teams, winning an impressive five Sac-Joaquin Section titles-1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2006.The Grant High Pacers led the Sacramento area by signing six players to Division I programs in 2006.

Alberghini's record is also impressive-189 wins and 32 losses over 18 years.

He likes what he sees in this year's team. Players are focused, upbeat, and always ready to play, plowing through opponents week after week.

"They are a good football team," says Alberghini. "We have the capability."

This year, if Grant wins out, they stand a great chance at getting either a Division I spot or in the new Open Division spot.

"We can't let our guard down and we can't look down on other teams because that's when they beat you," says Koniseti. "But we are motivated, everyone vibes off of each other. Ever since I've been at Grant it's been a really good experience. I love the team. The coaches and the players are like a second family."

Players say they’re more than ready; it’s all about Pacer pride.