MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings

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The season starts Friday for high school football in Northern California, which again offers a lot of teams and talent from the Central Coast Section, North Coast Section, Northern Section, Oakland City Section, San Francisco City Section and Sac-Joaquin Section. De La Salle occupies the stop spot, again, having gone unbeaten against NorCal foes since 1991 - a streak of 271 games.


1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord), 13-1 last season
Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. Amador Valley (Pleasanton), Friday
Update: The NorCal standard - and the state and often the nation - revs up for a new season with a host of new faces. The preseason No. 1 team by the San Francisco Chronicle won its 24th-consecutive North Coast Section title last season and 32nd since 1982, and then won its sixth CIF State title in in seven seasons. De La Salle's NorCal unbeaten streak is at 271, dating back to 1991. The Spartans are led by running back Kairee Robinson, lineman Tuli Letuligasenoa and defensive back Tre White.

2. Folsom, 14-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson
Next: vs. Coeur d'Alene (Idaho), Saturday
Update: Top-ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the Bulldogs are riding a 50-game winning streak against Sac-Joaquin Section opponents, dating back to 2012. Folsom won its fourth-successive section title last season, has gone 58-3 since 2012 with two losses to De La Salle in the NorCal Open Division final and lost last season to Bellarmine (San Jose) in the NorCal D-I final. Folsom won CIF state titles in 2010 and 2016 but has a new quarterback in Joe Curry, who has receivers such as Drake Stallworth and Eric Davis to throw to and running back Brandon Rupchock to hand off to. The defense is led by linebackers Brad Jenner and Ariel Ngata.



3. Del Oro (Loomis), 10-6
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Casey Taylor
Next: vs. St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs), Friday
Update: The Golden Eagles return seven three-year starters from their CIF state Division II-AA title team, including five linemen, quarterback Stone Smartt, 900-yard rushers Camrion Davis and Dalton Gee and receiver/defensive back star Mason Hurst. This team is loaded, and hungry after starting last season 2-6 and then finishing 8-0, including a 6-0 effort in the postseason.

4. Antioch, 11-1
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: John Lucido
Next: vs. Lincoln (Stockton), Friday
Update: The Panthers are led by one of the nation's top recruits in running back Najee Harris, an Alabama recruit known for his good cheer and good manners as much as his amazing athletic feats. Harris ran for 2,744 yards and
36 touchdowns and had 33 2-point conversion runs to lead Antioch to its first 10-0 regular season since 1977. The loss was to Foothill, 55-54 in the D-I playoffs.

5. St. Mary's (Stockton), 10-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Tony Franks
Next: at No. 6 Serra (San Mateo), Saturday
Update: Top ranked by the Stockton Record, the Rams have had a lot of stellar teams, groups that won section titles and reached the CIF Bowl finals, and this could be their best group yet. St. Mary's pushed Folsom to the wire in the playoffs last season and returns a wealth of talent, including quarterback Jake Dunniway, running back Dusty Frampton and receivers Dewey Cotton and Keaton Hampton, plus star lineman Popo Aumavae. An ambitious schedule will test and harden a team fully expecting a CIF Bowl run. 6. Serra (San Mateo), 6-4
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Update: The Padres are poised for a return to the playoffs after CIF sanctions from not wanting to play a consolation playoff game in 2014. Three setbacks were to NorCal title winners De La Salle (37-21), Bellarmine (36-28) and Saint Francis (Mountain View) 43-42. WCAL Player of the Year Leki Nunn is back after passing for 1,766 yards and 21 scores and running for 1,068 and 11. Lineman Atonio Mafi and linebacker TC Lavulo are standouts as well. The early schedule includes heavies St. Mary's, De La Salle and Pittsburg.

7. Saint Francis (Mountain View), 12-3
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: vs. No. 14 Oak Grove (San Jose), Friday
Update: The Lancers lost to No. 6 Oak Grove 27-21 in the final moments in the CCS Open Division II title game, but because that section has an Open Division, runners-up can advance. Saint Francis was seeking its 17th section title. It also beat Pleasant Valley (Chico) in the NorCal Regional D-IIA title game.

8. Elk Grove, 13-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Chris Nixon
Next: at No. 9 Inderkum (Sacramento), Friday
Update: The Thundering Herd, a powerhouse for decades, had their season end to Folsom in the playoffs, 35-27, but a host of stars return for another run. Quarterback Jayden Machado, receiver Gavin Reinwald, linebacker Jake Bellecci and defensive back Damario McLean are standouts. Elk Grove has reached the section final three times since 2012.

9. Inderkum (Sacramento), 12-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Terry Stark
Next: vs. No. 8 Elk Grove, Friday
Update: The Tigers have been a wing-T powerhouse for years, winning 10 or more games 10 successive seasons, though a section title eludes Stark and the Tigers. Quarterback/defensive back Trajon Cotton is one of the state's top two-way players, as is tight end/defensive end Josh Falo. Both are big recruits.



10. Foothill (Pleasanton), 12-1
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Coach: Matt Sweeney
Next: at San Leandro, Friday
Update: The Falcons beat unbeaten Antioch 55-54 in a wild NCS D-I semifinal thriller and then had the season end against De La Salle, 35-0, to cap their finest year since 2006. They're poised for another run under coach Sweeney, who is 251-84-5 in his 29 seasons at the school. Quarterback Ben Wooldridge and four returning offensive linemen are the anchors.

11. Central Catholic (Modesto), 16-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Next: vs. Marin Catholic (Kentfield), Friday
Update: The Raiders, top-ranked by The Modesto Bee, are four-time defending CIF small-school state champions with big wins last season over larger-school heavies such as St. Mary's and Oakdale. Central Catholic has won a record 19 Sac-Joaquin Section titles, and it returns 11 starters, including running back Montell Bland, to make another run under one of the great coaches in NorCal history.

12. Valley Christian (San Jose), 8-4
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: vs. No. 13 Campolindo, Friday
Update: The Warriors return eight starters on offense, anchored by a big offensive line with David Beltramo, Daniel Machado, Dylan McCreery and Bradley Murphy, each 290 or more pounds. Running back Javon Sturns and quarterback Miles Kendrick are also key.

13. Campolindo (Moraga), 14-2
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Kevin Macy
Next: at No. 12 Valley Christian, Friday
Update: The Cougars won the  NCS D-III title as the top seed last season, then beat Milpitas for the NorCal D-IAA title and played for a CIF Bowl championship for the second-successive season, winning it in 2014. The goal is to win a fourth section title in six seasons. Quarterback Jacob Westphal and defensive end Cole Berzins are the top players.

14. Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), 13-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Janda
Next: vs. Menlo-Atherton, Friday
Update: The Bells won their seventh overall CCS title and fourth since 2008 under famed coach Mike Janda, who has won 270 games here, the most in CCS history. Never mind those new 16 starters. There is talent, including new quarterback Ike Ogbogu. The defense is led by returning linebacker Cade Hall.

15. Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 13-2
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: vs. Reed (Sparks, Nev.), Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles won the NCS D-II title last season, beat Oak Grove in a D-IA NorCal final and returned to the CIF finals for the second-successive season, but still seeking that breakthrough win, having gone 51-7 the last four seasons with three section titles. The offensive line is anchored by a healthy Jalen McKenzie, and the defense is led by Heikoti Vaisima.



16. Oak Grove (San Jose), 11-3
Section: Central Coast
League: Mount Hamilton
Coach: Jay Braun
Next: at No. 7 Saint Francis, Friday
Update: The Eagles eliminated WCAL heavies Archbishop Mitty, Valley Christian and Saint Francis in the playoffs last season before falling to Clayton Valley Charter in a NorCal Regional D-IA final. Quarterback Tyler McGovern
leads the way. Oak Grove has won seven section titles since 1978 and three since 2004.

17. Grant (Sacramento), 10-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Mike Alberghini
Next: vs. No. 18 Rocklin, Friday
Update: The Pacers were rocked to the core by the stunning shooting death of popular cornerback Jaulon Clavo the day of a playoff opener and fell in the second round of the D-II playoffs. Grant is again big, fast and physical, and the next national-recruit Pacer is lineman Orlando Umana. New Quarterback Cameron Davis is the key. Grant seeks its ongoing section-record 25th-consecutive playoff berth, all under Alberghini, who is 258-50 with seven section titles.

18. Rocklin, 10-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Greg Benzel
Next: at No. 17 Grant, Friday
Update: The Thunder have been a regional force for years under Benzel, including a 14-1 CIF Bowl team in 2009. Last fall, Rocklin beat 12-0 Antelope 55-35 in SJS D-II semifinal play before falling to rival Del Oro 30-20 in the final. The strength will be on defense with linebacker Eric (kiko) Merino and defensive back Trey Overton.

19. Monte Vista (Danville), 7-4
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Craig Bergman
Next: vs. Deer Valley (Antioch), Friday
Update: The Mustangs were a quick out in the playoffs last season but return three players headed to Pac-12 Conference programs in quarterback Jake Haener (Washington), tight end Erik Krommenhoek (USC) and linebacker Nate Landman (Colorado).

20. Vacaville, 5-5
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Mike Papadopoulos
Next: at Liberty (Brentwood), Friday
Update: Section winners in 2011, and the last team to beat Folsom in section play, the Bulldogs were a rare non-playoff team last season. Running back Daniel Wright ran for 1,259 yards and 15 scores last season, and the team will usher in new quarterback Troy Claunch and returns linebackers Jacob Abramowicz and Colton Osborne.

21. Pleasant Valley (Chico), 12-1
Section: Northern
League: Eastern
Coach: Mark Cooley
Next: vs. Yuba City, Friday
Update: The Vikings blasted Shasta 49-7 to win the program's first Northern Section title since 1998 before falling to Saint Francis in a NorCal final. Running back Ryan Busby, wide receiver Payton Williams and offensive lineman Ashton Morgan lead the way. A big game looms against No. 3 Del Oro.



22. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 11-3
Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Paul Cronin
Next: at Fortuna, Friday
Update: The top team in the Redwood Empire area is powered by quarterback Jordon Brookshire and speedy receiver Damian Wallace. A key game early is against ranked St. Mary's (Stockton). Cardinal Newman, once the state-record holder with the longest winning streak at 47, is a regular to the section playoffs.

23. Palma (Salinas), 10-2
Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Jeff Carnazzo
Next: at Sutter, Friday
Update: The Chieftains lost to Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) 17-14 in the CCS Open Division III playoffs and return stars to make another run. Running back Emilio Martinez and lineman Drew Dalman power Palma.

24. Granite Bay (Granite Bay), 7-6
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jeff Evans
Next: at Jesuit (Carmichael), Friday
Update: In his first season as head coach, Evans led the Grizzlies to an upset win over top-seeded Grant in the second round before falling to league rival Del Oro. Granite Bay returns lineman Taylor "Tank" Tonda and defensive back star Isaiah Lewis.

25. Concord, 9-5
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo
Coach: Mark Bywater
Next: at Wood (Vacaville), Friday
Update: The Minutemen return a star in the making in quarterback Nick Nunez, who accounted for 19 scores last season. He is one of 13 returning starters, a group that includes defensive lineman DeAndre Morgan.

The Sacramento Bee on how the regional high school football product has never been stronger with the Sacramento Bee Top 20 football rankings. Click here

The Sacramento Bee on the remarkable staying power of a NorCal powerhouse...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