MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings

Top-ranked De La Salle (Concord) held firm with a 35-10 rout of Servite (Anaheim) in flexing some of that Spartan muscle, and new NorCal No. 3 Serra (San Mateo) downed rival and previous No. 3 Bellarmine (San Jose) in the top game in the North, 17-7.

A lot of NorCal heavies had a bye heading into league openers.

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MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 Football Rankings



1. (1) De La Salle (Concord) (6-0)
The Spartans rolled Southern California power Servite (Anaheim) 35-10 at the Santa Ana Bowl to extend their winning streak against California teams to 61. John Velasco took the first handoff of the game and went 66 yards to set up the first of three scores in rushing for 145 yards. The Spartans seek to win their ongoing state-record 26th consecutive North Coast Section title and a fifth successive CIF State Open title.
Next: No. 24 Logan (Union City), Oct. 18

2. (2) Folsom (5-0)
The Bulldogs were idle. Led by QB Jake Browning (a state-leading 30 touchdowns already), Folsom opens defense of its Delta River League and Sac-Joaquin Section Division II crown starting this week. The Bulldogs started 14-0 last season before falling to De La Salle in the NorCal Open game.
Next: No. 6 Oak Ridge, Friday

3. (5) Serra (San Mateo) (3-1)
The Padres beat two-time defending West Catholic Athletic League champion and previous No. 3 Bellarmine (San Jose) 17-7 in the top game of Northern California. Kava Cassidy rushed for 101 yards and a score and Anthony Smock passed for 170 and a touchdown, and the defense recorded five sacks and had two interceptions by Kelepi Lataimua. Serra
rushed for 346 yards and halted a seven-game losing streak to the Bells. The loss was 21-14 to No. 1 De La Salle (Concord) in an opener.
Next: Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), Friday

4. (4) Elk Grove (5-0)
The Thundering Herd were idle. Elk Grove and star RB Wadus Parker are the favorites to win the Delta Valley Conference and compete for another D-II Sac-Joaquin Section title.
Next: Laguna Creek (Elk Grove), Friday

5. (5) Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (5-0)
The Eagles were idle. With balance and a leader in QB Deaundre Terrell and a WR threat in Wyatt Demps, Pleasant Grove is a threat to win the Delta River League title and compete for a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I title.
Next: Sheldon (Sacramento), Friday

6. (7) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (5-0)
The Trojans were idle. With sophomore QB Ian Book and senior LB Thomas Mahlman, Oak Ridge expects to compete for the Delta River League title and return to the Sac-Joaquin Section D-I title game, this time to win it.
Next: No. 2 Folsom, Friday



7. (3) Bellarmine (San Jose) (3-1)
Despite the gritty efforts of QB K.J. Carta-Samuels, the Bells lost to new No. 3 Serra (San Mateo) 17-7, snapping a 14-game West Catholic Athletic League winning streak.
Next: No. 21 St. Francis (Mountain View), Friday

8. (10) Granite Bay (4-1)
The Grizzlies beat Lincoln of Stockton 36-21 as QB Josh Neal tossed three touchdowns, two to Marc Ellis and one to Dylan Keeney, and he ran for one. Granite Bay, the defending Sierra Foothill League and CIF State Division I champion, has won four straight since opening with a 30-15 loss to No. 1 Folsom.
Next: Roseville, Friday

9. (9) Marin Catholic (Kentfield) (5-0)
The Wildcats are heavy favorites to win the Marin County title again with a prolific offense headed by QB Morgan Mahalak, who had 196 yards and three scores to belt Redwood (Larkspur) 53-0.
Next: Novato, Saturday

10. (11) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (4-0)
The Monarchs beat Riordon (San Francisco) 51-7 in the West Catholic Athletic League as Dakari Monroe pulled in a 79-yard touchdown pass and ran for a 45-yard score. Trent Scharrenberg had three touchdown passes.
Next: No. 20 Valley Christian (San Jose), Friday

11. (12) Campolindo (Moraga) (6-0)
Nick Fadelli scored two touchdowns, none bigger than a 70-yard sprint, to key a 38-10 win over Miramonte (Orinda). The Cougars are favorites to win the Diablo Foothill League with a 2-0 conference start.
Next: Las Lomas (Walnut Creek), Oct. 18.

12. (13) Del Oro (Loomis) (3-2)
The Golden Eagles beat previous No. 10 St. Mary's (Stockton) 24-14, pitching a second-half shutout and offering a lot of RB Dylan Kainrath, who chugged 30 times for 167 yards and three touchdowns. The defense is led by DE Tanner Woods and LB Tyler Meteer. This is a team expecting to win the Sierra Foothill League title and chase down another Sac-Joaquin Section D-II crown.
Next: Woodcreek (Roseville), Friday



13. (14) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) (4-1)
The Eagles of the Diablo Valley League rolled Hayward 49-7 behind Ryan Cooper, Miles Harrison and QB Gabe Taylor. The loss was a competitive one to No. 1 De La Salle (Concord) in an opener.
Next: College Park (Pleasant Hill), Friday

14. (15) Deer Valley (Antioch) (5-0)
Nsimba Webster passed for 250 yards and a score and ran for two touchdowns and Malik Hutchings had 17 tackles and two fumble recoveries in a 45-34 victory over Sac-Joaquin Section power Vacaville. This is your Bay Valley League favorite.
Next: Freedom (Oakley), Friday

15. El Cerrito (4-2)
The Gauchos rolled Salesian (Richmond) 40-14 behind QB Keilan Benjamin and versatile stars Jalen Harvey and Keith Benjamin.
Next: Berean Christian (Walnut Creek), Saturday

16. (17) Grant (Sacramento) (3-2)
The Pacers were idle. With size, speed and depth, Grant expects to compete for the Delta Valley Conference title, led by RB Deandre Whittington-Grays.
Next: Franklin (Elk Grove), Friday

17. (18) Foothill (Pleasanton, Calif.) (6-0)
The Falcons rolled Monte Vista (Danville) 38-3 behind leader Jamirr Holland. The defense has allowed a single-game high of 14 points, in a 51-14 rout of Livermore, making this an East Bay League contender.
Next: No. 18 California (San Ramon), Friday

18. (19) California (San Ramon, Calif.) (4-1)
The Grizzlies beat 4-0 Amador Valley (Pleasanton) 29-7 in the team's best defensive effort of the season. It was a season-low in points allowed. The loss was 35-33 to Pittsburgh.
Next: No. 17 Foothill (Pleasanton), Friday



19. (10) St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.) (3-2)
The Rams lost at No. 12 Del Oro (Loomis), 24-14, and were shut out in the second half despite some gritty efforts by QB Kaleb Parrish. A 95-yard interception return for a score was negated due to a sideline warning penalty before the throw, in the second quarter. The other loss was to No. 1 De La Salle (Concord).
Next: Tokay (Lodi), Friday

20. (20) Valley Christian (San Jose) (3-1)
The Warriors beat Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 21-0 in a West Catholic Athletic League opener. Mark Quinby rushed for two touchdowns. The loss was a thriller to Sac-Joaquin Section power Vacaville.
Next: No. 10 Mitty (San Jose), Friday

21. (22) St. Francis (Mountain View) (4-0)
The Lancers beat St. Ignatius (San Francisco) in a West Catholic Athletic League opener behind a 54-yard touchdown from Ryan Johnson to Alex Andrighetto and a 59-yard scoring run by Landon Baty.
Next: No. 7 Bellarmine (San Jose), Friday

22. (21) Burbank (Sacramento) (3-2)
The Titans survived a Metro Conference scare at Sacramento, holding on for a 34-32 victory as Calvin Green was the difference with a late 95-yard kickoff return for a score. QB Ernest Jenkins hit him with a 60-yard TD strike, too. The losses are to Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) and Grant (Sacramento).
Next: Florin (Sacramento), Friday

23. (23) Pittsburg (3-2)
The Pirates were idle. The last effort was a 39-35 loss to No. 8 Granite Bay. RB Harris Ross leads the way for the longtime East Bay powers.
Next: Heritage (Brentwood), Friday

24. (24) Logan (Union City) (5-1)
The Colts beat Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 22-14. The loss was at No. 12 Del Oro (Loomis) 27-14 in an opener. Logan looms as the Freelance League champions.
Next: No. 1 De La Salle (Concord), Oct. 18



25. (25) Central Catholic (Modesto) (5-1)
The Raiders beat Pacheco (Los Banos), 24-21, in Western Athletic Conference play, leading 21-0 and then holding on. Star RB Matt Ringer had just one carry before suffering an ankle injury, though freshman Montell Bland carried 33 times for 194 yards and a score, and senior brother Reggie Bland went for 53 and two scores. The loss was to St. Mary's (Stockton).
Next: Los Banos, 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.