MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings

There were no real upsets in Northern California, but there was a near stunner.

Serra (San Mateo) again pushed top-ranked De La Salle (Concord) to the brink before falling. And falling was the theme as De La Salle lost two key starters to serious injuries.

The other NorCal tilt of note was in the Sac-Joaquin Section with No. 2 Folsom beating previous No. 3 and defending CIF State Division I champion Granite Bay, 30-14. Another Sac-Joaquin Section meeting of intrigue between NorCal-ranked teams was new No. 6 Pleasant Grove beating previous No. 14 Burbank (Sacramento) 14-12.

In losing to De La Salle, his alma mater, Serra coach Patrick Walsh said, "Pain is good. I want to feel pain in losses. I don't want cold and timid souls who feel nothing in victory or defeat. We want to feel the pain, and obviously it hurts."

MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 Football Rankings

1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord) (2-0)
The Spartans generally receive a great game from Serra (San Mateo) and it played out again here, though the 21-14 come-from-behind victory that extended their Northern California unbeaten streak to 238 since 1991 came at great cost. RB Dasmond Tautalatasi dislocated his elbow and WR Adam Mayer went down with a broken leg. QB Chris Williams scored on a keeper with 3:18 left for the winner.
Next: at No. 9 St. Mary's (Stockton), Friday

2. (2) Folsom (2-0)
The Bulldogs beat previous No. 3 Granite Bay, 30-14, in a showdown of the Sac-Joaquin Section's top two teams from the end of last season and early this season. Jake Browning passed for 220 yards and two touchdowns in again receiving superb protection from his line, and Bailey Laolagi rushed for 106 yards and a score. The Bulldogs are not just a pass-heavy team. They can run, rushing for 186 yards against a stout Granite Bay D.
Next: vs. Roseville, Friday

3. (5) Bellarmine (San Jose) (1-0)
The Bells edged previous No. 6 El Cerrito 28-25 in a thriller that will benefit both clubs. Bellarmine ran out the final 4:17 of the clock. Vanderbilt-bound QB K.J. Carta-Samuels rushed for 103 yards and three touchdowns The Bells rushed for 262 yards and picked up four first downs on the final drive.
Next: at San Leandro, Friday

4. (4) Palo Alto (0-0)
The Vikings are antsy as the last NorCal ranked team yet to play. Palo Alto, home to Jim Harbaugh, had a banner State Bowl year in 2010 under coach Earl Hansen and they expect another this fall with returning QB and Stanford-bound Keller Chryst (2,165 yards, 28 TDs as a sophomore, 2,389 and 28 last season). WRs Malcolm Davis (675, nine TDs) is the top target.
Opener: vs. San Benito (Hollister), Friday

5. (7) Elk Grove (2-0)
The Thundering Herd, ranked second in the Sacramento region by The Sacramento Bee behind Folsom, rolled Foothill (Palo Cedro) of the Northern Section 60-7 behind three-year starters Tommy Arnold and Wadus Parker. Arnold completed all seven of his passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns to Shaunard Harts.
Next: vs. Del Campo, Saturday

6. (10) Serra (San Mateo) (0-1)
It's not often a team moves up in the rankings after a loss, but consider the club and the foe. Serra fell to national powerhouse De La Salle 21-14 despite not having a full team due to injuries. The Padres surged ahead 14-7 on an 85-yard pass from Matthew Fa'aita to Austin Jackson, and a late interception stalled any hopes of the upset. Serra nearly toppled DLS in previous early season games under coach Patrick Walsh, a former DLS star.
Next: at Encinal (Alameda), Sept. 20

7. (11) Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (2-0)
Depth is a sign of a championship team, and the Eagles of the Sac-Joaquin Section have some. Backup RB Demaree Morris rushed 31 times for 105 yards and a score, Deaundre Terrell ran for a score and the defense headed by Ennis Mayberry (13 tackles) was superb against a superb foe in exacting a measure of revenge with a 14-12 victory over Burbank (Sacramento).
Next: at Nevada Union (Grass Valley)

8. (6) El Cerrito (1-1)
The smaller-school Gauchos fell to Bellarmine 28-25, their only turnover dooming them late as it allowed the Bells to run out the clock. Keilan Benjamin accounted for 324 yards and four touchdowns for El Cerrito, which did not have the services of Cal-bound two-way star Jalen Harvey (ejected from opener).
Next: at No. 18 Cardinal Newman, Saturday

9. (14) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (2-0)
The Trojans beat Rocklin 23-21 in a thriller as sophomore QB Ian Book continued to sparkle, passing for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Josh Wellman ran for 72 yards and Drew Lackowski and Thomas Mahlman each had interceptions.
Next: at Franklin (Elk Grove), Friday

10. (3) Granite Bay (0-1)
The Grizzlies fell to Folsom 30-14 in the most anticipated showdown within the Sac-Joaquin Section. Four turnovers stung, but the potential is there to make a run as Division I champions with emerging QB Josh Neal, Fly back blur Tony Ellison and a defense headed by LB Cameron Smith.
Next: vs. Freedom (Oakley), Friday

11. (9) St. Mary's (Stockton) (2-0)
The Rams belted rival Central Catholic (Modesto) 47-27 as Kaleb Parrish completed 9 of 11 passes for 204 yards and four touchdowns, two to Jaelin Ratliff, and Marcus Lomas rushed for 157 yards and two scores in an impressive showing against the defending State D-III champions. Next is the four-time defending Open state champions in De La Salle, a year after a very competitive showing.
Next: vs. No. 1 De La Salle (Concord), Friday

12. (8) Del Oro (Loomis) (1-1)
The Golden Eagles fell 41-24 to Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) in Oceanside in the Honor Bowl to honor Wounded Warriors, the highlights including Tyler Meteer catching two touchdowns from Michael Moore. The bad news was RB Tevon Rhyne going down with a dislocated ankle after rushing for 76 yards.
Next: at No. 1 De La Salle (Concord), Sept. 20

13. (13) Marin Catholic (Kentfield) (2-0)
MC rallied from 10 down to beat St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 31-20 behind Nevada commit WR Andrew Celis. He caught a touchdown and threw one, kicked a 46-yard field goal and recovered an onside kick for a team surging without Jared Goff, now starting at QB at Cal.
Next: vs. Heritage (Brentwood), Saturday

14. (18) Grant (Sacramento) (2-0)
The Pacers, looking strong in the early going, belted longtime rival Nevada Union (Grass Valley) 46-6 behind QB Donovan Brown (two touchdowns) and a punishing ground game headed by Deandre Whittington-Grays. The defense allowed less than 100 yards of offense. Next is one of the fun rivalry games within the Sac-Joaquin Section in rival Burbank (Sacramento).
Next: vs. No. 14 Burbank (Sacramento)

15. (16) Burbank (Sacramento) (1-1)
The Titans have all the ingredients to make a run to a Sac-Joaquin Section D-I championship, but special teams have to improve, and point-after-touchdowns proved fatal in a 14-12 loss to Pleasant Grove. The next test is just as formidable. DT Ngalu Tapa is off to a good start.
Next: at No. 13 Grant (Sacramento), Friday

16. (21) Vacaville (1-0)
The Bulldogs beat Valley Christian (San Jose) 20-17 with Chad Hekking passing for two touchdowns in the final eight minutes and also unleashing some timely punts. His go-ahead touchdown of 16 yards to David Mewborn was the difference. Mewborn had 133 yards rushing.
Next: at Lincoln (Stockton), Friday

17. (24) San Ramon Valley (Danville) (1-0)
The Wolves were idle. In their opener, SRV rolled Zero Week No. 24 Buhach Colony (Atwater) 67-30 behind a prolific running game that piled up 320 yards of total offense in the first half. Marcus de la Pena rushed for 209 yards and 4 touchdowns and Matt Winaker accounted for four scores. Next is a chance at revenge as Logan won 35-0 last season.
Next: vs. Logan (Union City), Friday

18. (19) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) (1-0)
The Eagles were idle. If there's a team primed to soar in these rankings, it's this one. Falling to top-ranked De La Salle 34-14 in an opener that was a great deal more competitive than the final score indicated is proof. Miles Harrison rushed for 175 yards and a score and QB Gabe Taylor is also a threat.
Next: vs. Castlemont (Oakland), Friday

19. (22) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) (2-0)
The Cardinals drubbed Novato 41-9 as Keaton Dunsford completed 17 of 22 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown with eight passes going to Kevin Lucey for 156 yards. A major test looms against El Cerrito.
Next: vs. No. 7 El Cerrito, Saturday

20. (23) Merced (2-0)
The Bears rolled Downey (Modesto) 43-6 as Tyrone Williams passed for 248 yards in the first half and a touchdown and scored on two 1-yard runs. Merced squeaked out a 40-39 win over Clovis West (Fresno) in an opener.
Next: vs. Edison (Fresno), Friday

21. (25) Analy (Sebastopol) (2-0)
A week after beating Pittsburg 37-21 in a shocker statement, the Tigers beat Maria Carrillo (Santa Rosa) 34-30 on a late Will Smith to Jaxon Cantu touchdown pass.
Next: vs. Miramonte (Orinda), Friday

22. (25) Pittsburg (1-1)
The Pirates bounced back strong from their 37-21 setback to Analy by beating previous No. 12 California (San Ramon) 35-33. Harris Ross rushed for 233 yards and four touchdowns on 30 workmanlike carries.
Next: at Monte Vista (Danville), Friday

23. (NR) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 1-0
The Monarchs hail from the same West Catholic Athletic League as Bellarmine, Serra and Valley Christian. They downed Los Gatos 28-14 as Dakari Monroe opened with an 87-yard scoring sprint and then helped in a 7-minute drive in the third quarter. Monroe had 150 yards in adding a 51-yard scoring effort.
Next: at Leland (San Jose), Friday

24. (NR) Foothill (Pleasanton) (2-0)
The Falcons of the North Coast Section routed preseason NorCal-ranked Freedom (Oakley) 32-6, denying All-American RB Joe Mixon from any end zone access. This is a group that expects to win the East Bay Athletic League.
Next: vs. Las Lomas (Walnut Creek), Friday

(TIE) 25. (12) California (San Ramon) 1-1
There's no shame falling to Pittsburg, though no one liked the porous run defense. Cameron Owen passed for 154 yards and three touchdowns and Blake Bierwith rushed for 158 yards and two scores.
Next: vs. Castro Valley, Friday

(TIE) 25. (20) Valley Christian (San Jose) 0-1
The Warriors fell at No. 15 Vacaville 20-17. Kirk Johnson rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown and Michael Machado hit Collin Johnson for a touchdown.
Next: vs. Bishop O'Dowd, Friday

(TIE) 25. (15) Central Catholic (Modesto) (1-1)
The Raiders lost the annual Holy Bowl to St. Mary's 47-27 a year after prevailing, en route to a CIF State D-III championship. Matt Ringer rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns and Reggie Bland went for 57 and two.
Next: vs. McClymonds (Oakland), Friday

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Joe Davidson has covered high school sports at The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter @SacBee_JoeD and on www.sacbee.com.