De La Salle holds top spot while seeking 27th straight section title in NorCal Top 25 high school football rankings

1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord), 11-1
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Update: The Spartans rolled Monte Vista 49-14 after leading 49-0 in a NC D-I semifinal as Dorian Hale passed for 196 yards and three touchdowns, including an 87-yarder to sophomore Ezekiel Berry. Next is a chance to win the program's 27th consecutive section banner against the last program to beat the Spartans way back in 1991 — Pittsburg. De La Salle's unbeaten streak against NorCal teams north of Fresno is 309 (with two ties). The Spartans are 394-5-2 against NorCal opponents since 1984. They have been to a record 12 successive CIF State finals (those games started in 2006) and 10 in succession in the elite Open Division.
Next: vs. Pittsburg, Friday

2. (NR) Central (Fresno), 12-0
Section: Central
League: Tri-River
Coach: Kyle Biggs
Update: The Grizzlies have been a super power in recent years in this section and played in the previous two CIF NorCal Division I-AA title games — losses to Folsom, which is now eliminated. Central returned to the Central Section D-I title game this season after beating Bullard 35-7 in a semifinal as Jameson Silva passed for 230 yards and two touchdowns and Quali Conley ran for 166 yards. Central went 13-1 last season, 12-2 in 2017 and 11-2 in 2016.
Next: vs. Buchanan, Friday

3. (3) Serra (San Mateo), 11-1
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Update: Two time CIF Northern California winners in recent years, Serra Wilcox 27-14 after it was 7-all at the half as Hassan Mahasin scored two touchdowns to set up a rematch with WCAL rival Valley Christian for the CCS Division I finals. Serra won the first meeting 10-0. An early big win was over Pittsburg 58-21. Serra's best teams in recent years include the 13-2 team of 2017, the 10-5 group of 2015, the 11-3 team of 2013 and the 11-2 team of 2011.
Next: vs. Valley Christian, Saturday

4. (4) Valley Christian (San Jose), 11-1
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Update: The defending CCS Open Division II champions beat WCAL rival St. Ignatius 28-7 in a semifinal as Isaiah McElvane ran for 120 yards to earn another shot at Serra for the title. Valley Christian lost to Serra 10-0 in league play. A big early win was 23-13 over Wilcox. Valley Christian under coach Machado has had 12-1 teams in 2004 and 2005, an 11-2 team in 2010, a 13-2 team in 2016 and an 11-3 team in 2018.
Next: vs. Serra, Saturday

5. (5) Pittsburg, 11-1
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Vic Galli
Update: The Pirates beat Liberty 21-14 in a NCS D-I semifinal to earn a shot against De La Salle as Jerry Johnson hit James Battle III for a 77-yard score for the go-ahead score to beat Liberty for the second time this season. The loss was to Serra. Pittsburg is the last NorCal program to defeat De La Salle, doing so in the 1991 North Coast Section finals.
Next: vs. De La Salle, Friday

6. (15) Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 12-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metro
Coach: TJ Ewing
Update: The Mustangs played the perfect game to dethrone SJS super power Folsom in a D-I semifinal, 35-23, using ball control and scoring drives of 16, 15, 15 and 14 plays. Caleb Ramseur carried 38 times for 127 yards and three scores, and Monterey Trail had the ball for 40 of the game's 48 minutes to return to the D-I finals.
Next: vs. Oak Ridge, Saturday



7. (2) Folsom, (10-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Paul Doherty
Update: The two-time defending CIF State Division I-AA champion Bulldogs lost to Monterey Trail 35-23 in a D-I semifinal, undone by ball control and by having 10 snaps in the second half. The other loss this season was 42-27 to De La Salle. Folsom's lone loss last season was to De La Salle. Folsom went 136-12 this decade with four CIF State banners, seven section titles and nine league titles.
Next: Season complete

8. (9) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 10-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Update: The Trojans beat previously unbeaten Inderkum 56-21 in a D-I semifinal and now set aim on the program's first D-I title after winning championships in D-II and III in previous decades. Justin Lamson passed for 281 yards on 12 of 13 passing and had two scores, and reserve Gui Lozada had three short touchdown runs.
Next: vs. Monterey Trail, Saturday

9. (6) Liberty (Brentwood), 10-2
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Ryan Partridge
Update: The defending CIF State 1-A champion Lions lost 21-14 to Pittsburg in an NCS D-I semifinal, the second time this season Liberty fell to Pitt. Early Liberty wins included teams still alive in Cardinal Newman, Clayton Valley Charter and Oakdale.
Next: Season complete

10. (7) Inderkum (Sacramento) 11-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Capital Valley
Coach: Terry Stark
Update: The Tigers lost to Oak Ridge 56-21 in an SJS D-I semifinal, losing steam after it was 28-21. Inderkum has gone 34-3 the last three seasons. An early big win was over Elk Grove, which is in the D-II section finals.
Next: Season complete

11. (11) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 11-1
Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Paul Cronin
Update: The Cardinals rolled Piner 49-0 in an NCS D-4 semifinal as Jackson Pavitt passed for 206 yards and three touchdowns and Shane Moran ran for 116 yards and two scores. The loss was 17-13 to Liberty. The lone loss a year ago was to Liberty. This program in the 1970s had the state record for consecutive wins at 47.
Next: vs. Marin Catholic, Friday

12. (8) Wilcox (Santa Clara), 9-3
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Paul Rosa
Update: The defending CIF State 3-A champion Chargers lost to Serra 27-14 in a CCS D-I semifinal. The career of running back Paul M. Rosa, son of the coach, included a farewell 188-yard rushing effort and two scores. The other losses this season were to Pittsburg and Valley Christian.
Next: Season complete



13. (11) McClymonds (Oakland), 9-0
Section: Oakland
League: OAL
Coach: Michael Peters
Update: The Warriors had an playoff bye and are huge favorites to repeat as Oakland Section champions. The program mourned the loss of Ramone Sanders, a starter for back-to-back CIF state title teams who died of bone cancer at 20. An early big win was 19-7 over Marin Catholic. McClymonds has won two CIF State titles since 2016 with a 12-0 team in 2010, a 12-1 team in 2015 and going 12-2 a year ago.
Next: vs. Skyline, Friday

14. (14) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 11-1
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Coach: Mazi Moayed
Update: The Wildcats beat Acalanes 7-0 in an NCS D-4 semifinals Matteo Perez ran for 209 yards and a score, and USC-bound Jamar Sekona helped lead the defensive charge as MC advanced to its ninth consecutive final. The loss was 19-7 to McClymonds. Marin Catholic teams have had teams go 12-1, 14-1, 14-2, 13-1, 12-2 and 12-1 this decade.
Next: vs. Cardinal Newman, Friday

15. (10) St. Ignatius (San Francisco), 9-3
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: John Regalia
Update: The Wildcats were slowed by the flu and then undone by WCAL rival Valley Christian 28-7 in a CCS D-I semifinal, trailing 14-7 at the half. A highlight was tying for the WCAL title with Serra and Valley Christian.
Next: Season complete

16. (19) Placer (Auburn), 10-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Foothill Valley
Coach: Joey Montoya
Update: The Hillmen beat previously unbeaten Buhach Colony 21-20 in a SJS D-III semifinal to reach a section final for the fourth successive season and 12th time in program history. One loss to Whitney and the other to Cardinal Newman, and both are in section finals.
Next: vs. Manteca, Saturday

17. (20) Los Gatos, 11-1
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Mark Krail
Update: The Wildcats beat Sacred Heart Prep 21-12 in a CCS D-II semifinal as Yost Girvan tossed two touchdown passes, Adam Garwood ran for 77 yards and had a score. The loss was to Wilcox. The program has won 10 or more games 14 times since 2000.
Next: vs. Oak Grove, Friday

18. (21) Paradise, 12-0
Section: Northern
League: Freelance
Coach: Rick Prinz
Update: The Bobcats downed previously unbeaten West Valley 28-13 in a Northern Section D-III semifinal after leading 28-0. Sophomore Tyler Harrison rushed for 243 yards and three touchdowns to continue a dream season after the Camp Fire leveled the town a year ago. Coach Prinz has another powerhouse brewing and has since 2004 produced six 11-1 teams and two 10-2 teams.
Next: vs. Sutter, Saturday



19. (26) Elk Grove, 9-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: John Heffernan
Update: The Thundering Herd beat Cosumnes Oaks 28-20 in an SJS D-II semifinal to return to their 10th section final. RB Hunter Hall and QB Carter Harris have led the rushing attack for Elk Grove, which is 3-0 in the playoffs.
Next: vs. Whitney, Friday

20. (24) Whitney (Rocklin), 7-6
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Zac McNally
Update: A year after going 0-10, the Wildcats have gone 3-0 in the SJS D-II field, including eliminating top seeded Rocklin 28-6 and fourth-seeded Jesuit to reach a section final for the first time since 2008.
Next: vs. Elk Grove, Friday

21. (18) Buhach Colony (Atwater), 11-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Central California
Coach: Kevin Navarra
Update: The Thunder lost to Placer 21-20 in an SJS D-III semifinal.
Next: Season complete

22. (30) Manteca, 10-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Mark Varnum
Update: The Buffaloes beat top-seeded Capital Christian 20-14 in a D-III semifinal and now set aim on the program's sixth section title this decade as Ryan Ward tossed two touchdown passes and Trabron Russell ran for 70 yards and had a score.
Next: vs. Placer, Saturday

23. (27) Campolindo (Moraga, Calif.), 10-2
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo
Coach: Kevin Macy
Update: The Cougars beat Vintage 28-21 in an NCS D2 semifinal as Grant Harper passed for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Campolindo and coach Macy have five section titles this decade and CIF State titles in 2014 and 2016.
Next: vs. Clayton Valley Charter, Saturday

24. (12) Capital Christian (Sacramento), 9-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Capital Athletic
Coach: Casey Taylor
Update: The injury-depleted Cougars lost to Manteca 20-14 in a D-3 semifinal, the lone NorCal loss of the season. A big early win was 32-7 over Cosumnes Oaks, the only team to beat Monterey Trail this season.
Next: Season complete



25. (23) Davis, 10-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Steve Smyte
Update: The Blue Devils beat Cosumnes Oaks 27-14 to secure the program's first league title since 1995, then won their first playoff game since 1994 and finished 10-2 after falling to Inderkum 43-21 in an SJS D-I quarterfinal.
Next: Season complete

The next 10
26. Sutter — 11-1
27. Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) — 11-1
28. Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) — 8-4
29. St. Mary's (Stockton) — 6-5
30. Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) — 7-4
31. Rocklin — 7-4
32. Jesuit (Carmichael) — 6-6
33. West Valley (Cottonwood) — 11-1
34. Half Moon Bay (Half Moon Bay) — 10-1
35. Turlock — 9-3

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