MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 football rankings

Video: Xcellent 25 High School Football Rankings
This week's national rankings include De La Salle at No. 25

There was little movement in the NorCal Top 25 rankings as teams either held steady or didn't play with a bye. Previous No. 3 Granite Bay lost to Folsom 35-14 in a Sierra Foothill League game and dropped down to No. 7.

Among the showdowns this week are No. 5 Pittsburg facing No. 6 Freedom and No. 11 Oakdale against No. 15 Manteca.

MaxPreps Norcal Top 25 high school football teams

1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord), 5-1
Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. California (San Ramon), Friday
Update: Top ranked by the Bay Area News Group and the San Francisco Chronicle, the Spartans blew out previous No. 20 Bishop O'Dowd 45-24, leading 38-3 at the half and 45-10 in the third before clearing the bench. Kairee Robinson scored on a 69-yard run on the game's first play, and Henry To'oto'o had two touchdowns to extend De La Salle's unbeaten streak to 284 games against Northern California schools since 1992 (north of Fresno). The Spartans lost this season to national power Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas. De La Salle seeks its 26th consecutive section championship and 30th since 1981 and its 12th consecutive CIF State final. The Spartans have gone 447-26-3 since 1980.



2. (2) Folsom, 6-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson
Next: vs. No. 14 Del Oro, Friday
Update: Top ranked by The Sacramento Bee and in The Bee's section rankings, the Bulldogs trailed 7-0 after the first quarter to previous No. 3 Granite Bay before pulling away 35-14. Brothers Joe Ngata and Daniyel Ngata had great efforts, Joe scoring on a touchdown reception from Kaiden Bennett and on an 80-yard run, and Daniyel led the way on two long scoring runs with down-field blocking. It's the 20th consecutive SFL win for Folsom, which is 102-9 this decade, one in which the Bulldogs reached seven successive section-title games, winning five, to go with two CIF State titles and two 14-0 teams that lost to De La Salle in NorCal Open title games.

3. (4) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 5-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Next: vs. No. 24 Rocklin, Friday
Update: The Trojans beat Woodcreek (Roseville) 42-14 as Marco Baldacchino passed for 202 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more for a fast start in a league that includes Folsom, Granite Bay, Del Oro and Rocklin. The defense has been led by linebacker Nate Otto. Folsom looms in Week 10 (a year after losing a heartbreaker in the closing seconds). Oak Ridge has won section titles in Division II and III and seek their first in Division I.

4. (5) San Ramon Valley (Danville), 5-0
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Aaron Becker
Next: vs. Amador Valley (Pleasanton), Friday
Update: The Wolves rolled Granada (Livermore) 41-14, leading 41-0 at the half as starting defense has allowed in the last four games 0, 0, 6 and 0 points. Clark Baker completed 14-of-16 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns. San Ramon Valley's best seasons include 2004 (11-2), 2006 (10-2), 2007 (12-1) and 2011 (10-4).

5. (6) Pittsburg, 4-1
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: vs. No. 6 Freedom, Friday
Update: The Pirates were idle. Their last game was a 35-13 win over a Vacaville team that lost in the final seconds to highly ranked Granite Bay and Oak Ridge. An earlier Pittsburg win was over previous No. 13 Serra 35-28. Pittsburg had a game canceled due to poor air quality and extreme heat and lost its opener to national power Centennial 63-21, playing short-handed due to injury. This is the last NorCal program to beat De La Salle, in the 1991 North Coast Section title game.

6. (7) Freedom (Oakley), 5-0
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Kevin Hartwig
Next: vs. Pittsburg, Oct. 7
Update: The Falcons were idle. The offense has been paced by Joey Aguilar, who had four touchdown passes to beat previous No. 18 Bishop O'Dowd 42-21 in the team's last showing. The regular-season winning streak is 18. Freedom finished No. 3 in these rankings last season, falling in the playoffs to top-ranked De La Salle and No. 2 St. Mary's after an 11-0 start.

7. (3) Granite Bay, 5-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jeff Evans
Next: vs. No. 3 Oak Ridge, Oct. 13
Update: The Grizzlies lost to No. 2 Folsom 35-14 after leading 7-0 after the first quarter in using long, sustained drives. Granite Bay has wins over Vacaville in nonleague and Del Oro in the SFL, which includes Folsom, Oak Ridge and Rocklin. The Grizzlies won the 2012 CIF State Division I championship and have made the playoffs 18 consecutive times.



8. (8) Central Catholic (Modesto), 4-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Next: vs. East Union (Manteca), Friday
Update: The Raiders beat Sierra (Manteca) 48-7 as Dauson Booker ran for 110 yards and three scores and Kyle Jacklich rushed for two touchdowns. This came a week after beating previous No. 8 Manteca 31-14. The season opening win was over No. 9 Valley Christian by two and there was a 20-7 win over previous No. 2 St. Mary's. An earlier contest for Central Catholic with Marin Catholic was cancelled due to extreme heat. Central Catholic won CIF State titles in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

9. (9) Valley Christian (San Jose), 4-1
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), Friday
Update: The defending NorCal Regional Division 2-AA champions are the No. 1 team in the Central Coast Section and backed it up with a 34-10 rout of St. Ignatius (San Francisco) as Juan Turner tossed three touchdowns. This followed a 28-21 win over previous No. 3 Saint Francis 28-21. The loss was 22-20 to Manteca, but Valley Christian's impressive recovery warrants being ranked ahead of Manteca.

10. (10) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 3-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: vs. St. Ignatius (San Francisco), Saturday
Update: The Lancers rolled Sacred Heart Cathedral 45-17 as Reed Vettel tossed two touchdown passes, and Darrell Page and Nicholas Robinson each ran for two touchdowns. The losses were to De La Salle (31-17) and Valley Christian (28-21). The Lancers seek their 17th section championship. 11. (11) Oakdale, 5-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Trent Merzon
Next: vs. No. 15 Manteca, Friday
Update: Top ranked by The Modesto Bee, ahead of Central Catholic, the Mustangs beat Weston Ranch 59-18 behind more wing-T run dominance. The defending CIF State Division III-A champions gave No. 2 Folsom a game on Sept. 8, falling 45-29.

12. (12) Milpitas, 6-0
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Kelly King
Next: vs. Wilcox (Santa Clara), Friday
Update: The Trojans beat Los Altos 50-7 in facing little competition this season as TyRee Bracy tossed three touchdowns and the ground game averaged 12.5 yards a carry. One win this season was by forfeit as Brookside Christian (Stockton) declined to play due to low roster numbers. Milpitas has won 11, 12, 10 and 10 games in each of the past four seasons and have made the playoffs 11 consecutive seasons.

13. (13) St. Mary's (Stockton), 3-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Tony Franks
Next: vs. Tokay (Lodi), Friday
Update: The Rams were idle. The losses were to national No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 52-14) and to No. 8 Central Catholic 20-7 after opening the season ranked No. 2 here. St. Mary's opened with a 41-13 rout of then-No. 4 Serra (San Mateo). The Rams are defending section Division I and NorCal Division I-AA champions.

14. (14) Del Oro (Loomis), 4-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jeff Walters
Next: vs. No. 2 Folsom, Friday
Update: The Golden Eagles beat Nevada Union (Grass Valley) 42-19 as Brice Edwards ran for three touchdowns and Dawson Hurst two. The losses were to previous No. 3 Granite Bay 28-21 and to Utah power Timpview 30-13 a week after beating state-ranked Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 22-12. The SFL includes Folsom, Granite Bay, Oak Ridge and Rocklin. The Golden Eagles won the 2015 CIF State Division 2-AA title and reached the CIF State finals in 2016 the fourth time this decade.



15. (15) Manteca, 4-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Eric Reis
Next: vs. No. 11 Oakdale, Friday
Update: The Buffaloes blasted Lathrop 50-0 to bounce back strong from a 31-14 loss to No. 8 Central Catholic. No. 11 Oakdale looms. Manteca, winner of five section titles, beat Valley Christian 22-20 in an opener but is now ranked below Valley Christian due to VC's overall body of work.

16. (16) Inderkum (Sacramento), 6-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Terry Stark
Next: vs. River City (West Sacramento), Friday
Update: The Tigers beat Yuba City 35-7 as Isaiah Ward tossed three touchdowns, two to Isaah Crocker. The Tigers reached the section Division II finals last season and have won 10 or more games 11 consecutive seasons.

17. (17) Sacramento, 4-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metropolitan
Coach: Joe McCray
Next: vs. Laguna Creek (Elk Grove), Friday
Update: Ranked fourth by The Sacramento Bee below Folsom, Oak Ridge and Inderkum, the Dragons rolled Florin (Sacramento) 66-0 as Derek Shelton tossed six touchdown passes. Sacramento lost to No. 2 Folsom 28-19 a year after snapping the Bulldogs' state-leading 48-game regular-season winning streak. The Dragons this season beat No. 19 Mitty 47-21 in an opener.

18. (18) Serra (San Mateo), 3-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Next: vs. No. 19 Mitty, Friday
Update: The Padres crushed Bellarmine 48-0 as Luke Bottari passed for 207 yards and two touchdowns for a 35-0 halftime lead. This came a week after rolling Riordan (San Francisco) 45-0, doing all the damage in the first half. Serra lost to No. 5 Pittsburg 35-28 and lost an opener to then-No. 2 St. Mary's. Serra is in a league that includes Saint Francis, Valley Christian, Bellarmine and Mitty. Serra started 0-4 last fall and reached the CIF State Division 2 -A finals.

19. (19) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 4-1
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Keith Burns
Next: vs. No. 18 Serra, Friday
Update: The Monarchs rolled Riordan (San Francisco) 43-0 after beating Bellarmine 14-7, so the defense has been the anchor. The loss was in the opener, 47-21, to No. 17 Sacramento. Mitty's best teams in recent years are the 11-2 squad of 2013 and the 9-1-1 team of 2009.

20. (20) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), 3-2
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda County
Coach: Napolean Kaufman
Next: vs. Piedmont, Friday
Update: The Dragons started the season fast, rolling past inferior foes, but have since lost to No. 6 Freedom (42-21) and to No. 1 De La Salle (45-24 after trailing 38-3 at the half and 45-10 in the third). O'Dowd is the defending CIF State Division 5-AA champion, and it will benefit long term from facing Freedom and De La Salle.



21. (22) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 5-0
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Coach: Mazi Moayed
Next: vs. Terra Linda, Saturday
Update: The Wildcats beat Analy 56-0 a week after rolling Tamalpais 54-0. Spencer Petras passed for 374 yards and three touchdowns, two to Peter Brown, and ran for a score. The game against No. 8 Central Catholic last month was cancelled due to extreme heat and poor air quality. Marin Catholic this decade has had teams of 13-2, 12-1, 13-1, 14-2, 12-1 and 12-2, reaching the CIF State finals in 2012.

22. (23) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 3-2
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: vs. Miramonte (Orinda), Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles were idle. The losses were to Nevada power Reed (38-22) and Hawaii power Mililani (49-30). Clayton Valley Charter went 15-1 and reached a CIF State Bowl in 2014, went 13-2 in 2015 and 12-2 and 11-2 in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

23. (24) Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park), 5-0
Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Gehrig Hotaling
Next: vs. Windsor, Friday
Update: The Cougars rolled Casa Grande (Petaluma) 56-7 a week after beating Montgomery (Santa Rosa) 63-0. Jake Simmons passed for 214 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran for 104 and three more. Rancho Cotate went 12-2 in 2010 and 13-1 in 2012.

24. (25) Rocklin, 4-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Greg Benzel
Next: vs. No. 3 Oak Ridge, Friday
Update: The Thunder were idle. The loss was to Clovis West (Fresno). The SFL includes NorCal ranked Folsom, Granite Bay, Oak Ridge and Del Oro. Rocklin went to a CIF State Bowl in 2009 with a 14-1 team.

25. (25) Sutter, 4-1
Section: Northern
League: Butte View
Coach: Ryan Reynolds
Next: vs. Oroville, Friday
Update: Top ranked in the Northern Section, the Huskies beat larger-school Chico 14-7 as Tyler Reynolds hit Drew Simard for a touchdown and Bryce Kunkle ran for 151 yards and a score. Tyler Gillming had three sacks. The loss came in an opener, to Utah power Orem, 34-18. Sutter this decade has had teams go 10-2, 13-1 and 13-1.

The next 12
Sheldon (Sacramento) — 4-1
Franklin (Elk Grove) — 4-1
Vacaville — 2-3
Jesuit (Carmichael) — 3-2
Antioch — 4-1
Liberty (Brentwood) — 5-1
Heritage (Brentwood) — 5-1
Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) — 4-1
Campolindo (Moraga) — 3-2
McClymonds (Oakland) — 5-0
Half Moon Bay — 5-0
Miramonte (Orinda) — 5-0



The Sacramento Bee on a Sac-Joaquin Section team taking a knee during the national anthem and what a Vietnam veteran who runs the scoreboard thinks ... click here

The Sacramento Bee on a football family with Bay Area and Sacramento-area ties ... click here

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and on Facebook: sacbeepreps and on Instagram: JoeDavidsonMedia